Data ConverterInstall

Overview

The node performs various data encoding and decoding operations, including hexadecimal decoding. Specifically, the Hex Decode operation converts a string of hexadecimal characters into its original text representation. This is useful when you receive data encoded in hex format (common in cryptography, debugging, or data transmission) and need to convert it back to readable text.

Practical examples:

• Decoding hex-encoded strings from APIs or logs.
• Converting color codes or binary data represented as hex back to text.
• Processing encoded messages or data payloads in integration workflows.

Properties

Output

The output JSON contains a field named result which holds the decoded text string obtained by converting the input hexadecimal string back to its original textual form.

If configured to output binary data instead, the node outputs the decoded data as binary under the specified binary property name. This binary data represents the raw bytes decoded from the hex string.

Example output JSON structure:

{
  "result": "decoded text here"
}

Or if binary output enabled:

{
  "binary": {
    "data": {
      "data": "<Buffer ...>",
      "mimeType": "application/octet-stream",
      "fileName": "file"
    }
  },
  "json": {}
}

Dependencies

• No external services are required.
• The node uses internal utility functions for hex decoding.
• No special credentials or environment variables are needed.

Troubleshooting

• Invalid Hex String: If the input contains non-hex characters or has an odd length, decoding may fail or produce incorrect results. Ensure the input is a valid hex string.
• Empty Input: Providing empty input will result in an empty output string.
• Binary Output Issues: When enabling binary output, ensure the downstream nodes can handle binary data properly.
• Error Handling: Errors during decoding throw exceptions unless "Continue On Fail" is enabled, in which case error messages are returned per item.

Links and References

• Hexadecimal on Wikipedia
• Common use cases for hex encoding
• n8n Documentation - Data Converter Node (general reference for this node)