Automated Asynchronous API Polling with Retries
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This n8n workflow efficiently automates the process of polling asynchronous APIs, ensuring you reliably retrieve data or results from long-running jobs. It initiates a request, waits, and then conditionally polls until the desired outcome is met.
About This Workflow
Many modern APIs operate asynchronously, meaning an initial request might only return a job ID, requiring subsequent calls to fetch the actual results. This workflow is designed to streamline this complex interaction. It first triggers an initial HTTP request to start a job or retrieve preliminary data. After an initial wait, it systematically polls the API for results, incorporating a conditional retry mechanism. If results aren't ready, it waits a short period and tries again, preventing unnecessary resource consumption. Once the desired data is available, the workflow proceeds to process and refine it, ensuring reliable data extraction without manual intervention.
Key Features
- Automated Asynchronous API Polling: Seamlessly handles APIs that require waiting for results.
- Configurable Wait Times: Define initial and retry delays to match specific API response patterns.
- Conditional Result Checking: Utilizes an 'If' node to validate job status or data availability before proceeding.
- Built-in Retry Logic: Automatically re-queries the API if results are not yet available, preventing workflow failures.
- Post-Polling Data Processing: Includes a 'Set' node to manipulate or prepare extracted data once successfully retrieved.
How To Use
- Start the Workflow: Manually trigger the workflow using the 'When clicking Test workflow' node.
- Configure 'Extract' (Initial Request): Set up this HTTP Request node with the URL, method, headers, and body for your initial API call that initiates a job or process.
- Adjust '30 Secs' (Initial Wait): Modify the 'Wait' node to define the initial delay before checking for results. This should be long enough for the asynchronous process to likely begin.
- Configure 'Get Results' (Polling Request): Set up this HTTP Request node to query the API for the status or final results of the job initiated by 'Extract'. You'll likely need to reference output from the 'Extract' node (e.g., a job ID).
- Set Up 'If' (Conditional Check): Configure the 'If' node with an expression to check if the results from 'Get Results' are complete or meet a specific condition (e.g.,
{{ $json.status === 'completed' }}). One branch will lead to '10 Seconds' (retry), the other to 'Edit Fields' (success). - Adjust '10 Seconds' (Retry Wait): If the 'If' condition isn't met, this 'Wait' node introduces a delay before retrying 'Get Results'. Adjust its duration as needed.
- Configure 'Edit Fields' (Process Results): Once the 'If' condition indicates success, use this 'Set' node to process, filter, or transform the extracted data before sending it to subsequent nodes (not included in this snippet).
Apps Used
Workflow JSON
{
"id": "2bbb500d-77ed-49aa-a39d-2c96dc6be164",
"name": "Automated Asynchronous API Polling with Retries",
"nodes": 14,
"category": "Operations",
"status": "active",
"version": "1.0.0"
}Note: This is a sample preview. The full workflow JSON contains node configurations, credentials placeholders, and execution logic.
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ID: 2bbb500d-77ed...
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