How to Split and Process Nested JSON Arrays in n8n

Understanding the Problem

When you receive nested data from an API (like an e-commerce order containing an array of items), standard n8n nodes will process the entire array as a single item. If you want to perform an action (like sending an email or updating a database) for each individual item inside that array, you need to split it.

The Solution: Item Lists Node

The Item Lists node is designed precisely for this scenario.

Step-by-Step Configuration:

1. Add an Item Lists node to your canvas.
2. Set the Operation to Split Out Items.
3. In the Field To Split parameter, enter the dot-notation path to your array. For example, if your JSON has data.orders.items, type exactly that.
4. Ensure Include Other Fields is toggled On. This is crucial if you need parent properties (like the parent order_id) preserved alongside each split item.

Expected Execution Flow

[
  {
    "order_id": "901A",
    "item_name": "Laptop"
  },
  {
    "order_id": "901A",
    "item_name": "Mouse"
  }
]

Your workflow will now inherently loop for each dictionary in the array. Every node placed after the Item Lists node will execute twice in this example - once for the Laptop and once for the Mouse.