Lesson 5. Working with Data: HTTP Request and JSON Processing

Lesson 5. Working with Data: HTTP Request and JSON Processing#

Goal: learn to make HTTP requests and process the returned data.

Task#

Get the current Bitcoin (BTC) price in USD via API and send it to Telegram.

Step 1. Find an API for Cryptocurrency Prices#

We'll use the free API: CoinGecko

Endpoint:

GET https://api.coingecko.com/api/v3/simple/price?ids=bitcoin&vs_currencies=usd

Response:

{


  "bitcoin": {


    "usd": 45000


  }


}

Step 2. Create a New Workflow#

1. Create a new workflow: "Bitcoin Price"

2. Add a Manual Trigger node (for manual start)

Step 3. Add HTTP Request Node#

1. Click "+" to the right of Manual Trigger

2. Find the HTTP Request node

3. Configure the request:

   • Method: GET

   • URL: https://api.coingecko.com/api/v3/simple/price?ids=bitcoin&vs_currencies=usd

4. Click "Execute Node" → you'll get a JSON response

Step 4. Process the Data (Extract Price)#

1. Click "+" to the right of HTTP Request

2. Find the Set node

3. Configure the field:

   • Name: price

   • Value: {{ $json.bitcoin.usd }}

4. Click "Execute Node" → you'll see the price field with the Bitcoin price

What is {{ $json.bitcoin.usd }}?

This is an n8n expression that extracts a value from JSON:

• $json — data from the previous node

• .bitcoin.usd — path to the usd field inside bitcoin

Step 5. Send the Price to Telegram#

1. Click "+" to the right of the Set node

2. Add the Telegram node (configure credentials if not done yet)

3. Configure the message:

   • Chat ID: your Chat ID

   • Text: Current Bitcoin price: ${{ $json.price }} USD

4. Click "Execute Node" → you'll receive a message in Telegram:

Current Bitcoin price: $45000 USD

Step 6. Save the Workflow#

Click "Save".

Done! Now you can manually run the workflow and get the current Bitcoin price.

Bonus: add a Cron node at the start of the workflow to get the price automatically every hour.