get_execution
Retrieve detailed workflow execution data including status, timestamps, and node-level input/output for debugging or analyzing data transformations in n8n workflows.
Instructions
Retrieves detailed information about a specific workflow execution, including execution time, status, and optionally the full data processed at each step. Particularly useful for debugging failed workflows or understanding data transformations between nodes.
Input Schema
TableJSON Schema
| Name | Required | Description | Default |
|---|---|---|---|
| id | Yes | ID of the execution to retrieve - can be obtained from list_executions | |
| includeData | No | Whether to include detailed execution data showing the input/output at each node (may be large for complex workflows) | |
| verbosity | No | Output verbosity level (concise or full). Default is concise which preserves context window space. Use full when you need complete execution details. |
Implementation Reference
- The handler function that implements the get_execution tool logic: validates input, calls N8nApiClient to fetch execution data, formats a human-readable summary with status, timings, and duration, and returns formatted text output or error.export async function handle_get_execution( api_client: N8nApiClient, args: any, ) { if (!args.id) { throw new McpError( ErrorCode.InvalidParams, 'Execution ID is required', ); } try { const execution = await api_client.get_execution( args.id, args.includeData, ); // Format a summary of the execution const status = execution.finished ? execution.status === 'success' ? 'Successful' : 'Failed' : 'Running'; const start_time = new Date(execution.startedAt).toLocaleString(); const end_time = execution.stoppedAt ? new Date(execution.stoppedAt).toLocaleString() : 'Still running'; const duration = execution.stoppedAt ? (new Date(execution.stoppedAt).getTime() - new Date(execution.startedAt).getTime()) / 1000 : null; const duration_text = duration !== null ? `${duration.toFixed(2)} seconds` : 'Still running'; const summary = `Execution ID: ${args.id} Status: ${status} Workflow: ${execution.workflow_data?.name || 'Unknown'} (ID: ${ execution.workflowId }) Mode: ${execution.mode} Started: ${start_time} Ended: ${end_time} Duration: ${duration_text}`; return { content: [ { type: 'text', text: format_output(summary, execution, args.verbosity), }, ], }; } catch (error: any) { return { content: [ { type: 'text', text: `Error retrieving execution: ${ error.message || String(error) }`, }, ], isError: true, }; } }
- src/tool-handlers/index.ts:283-308 (schema)Tool schema definition including name, description, and input schema for get_execution in the MCP tools list response.name: 'get_execution', description: 'Retrieves detailed information about a specific workflow execution, including execution time, status, and optionally the full data processed at each step. Particularly useful for debugging failed workflows or understanding data transformations between nodes.', inputSchema: { type: 'object', properties: { id: { type: 'string', description: 'ID of the execution to retrieve - can be obtained from list_executions', }, includeData: { type: 'boolean', description: 'Whether to include detailed execution data showing the input/output at each node (may be large for complex workflows)', }, verbosity: { type: 'string', description: 'Output verbosity level (concise or full). Default is concise which preserves context window space. Use full when you need complete execution details.', enum: ['concise', 'full'], }, }, required: ['id'], }, },
- src/tool-handlers/index.ts:336-337 (registration)Tool dispatch registration in the switch statement that routes calls to the handle_get_execution function.case 'get_execution': return await handle_get_execution(api_client, args);
- Helper function used by the handler to format output based on verbosity level (concise summary or full JSON details).function format_output( summary: string, details: any, verbosity?: string, ): string { // Use the provided verbosity parameter if available, otherwise fall back to config const output_verbosity = verbosity || config.output_verbosity; if (output_verbosity === 'full') { return ( summary + '\n\nFull details:\n' + JSON.stringify(details, null, 2) ); } else { // Default to concise mode return summary; } }
- src/n8n-api-client.ts:207-218 (helper)N8nApiClient method that performs the actual API request to retrieve execution data, called by the tool handler.async get_execution( id: string, include_data?: boolean, ): Promise<any> { let endpoint = `/executions/${id}`; if (include_data !== undefined) { endpoint += `?includeData=${include_data}`; } return this.request<any>('GET', endpoint); }