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n8n-binary-and-data-official

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Use when handling files, images, attachments, or binary data in n8n, OR when an AI agent needs to take a user-uploaded file as tool input or return a generated file. For Data Tables (schemas, dedup, persistent state), see the separate n8n-data-tables-official skill. Triggers on "file", "image", "PDF", "attachment", "binary", "upload", "download", chat trigger with files, agent tool that needs a file, vision/multimodal, or any handling of non-JSON file data.

skills/n8n-binary-and-data-official/SKILL.md

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# n8n Binary and Data

n8n handles two kinds of data: JSON (in `$json`) and binary (in `$binary`), flowing side-by-side. Binary has sharp edges around agent tools, storage, and display contexts (chat surfaces, message rendering).

For tabular storage (Data Tables), see the **`n8n-data-tables-official`** skill.

## Non-negotiables

1. **Binary is in `$binary`, not `$json`.** Don't read file contents from `$json`.
2. **Binary cannot cross the agent tool boundary in either direction.** Tool parameters are JSON only (via `fromAi()`), and tool results are JSON only. Pre-stage binary in storage and pass keys/URLs through JSON. The agent's `passthroughBinaryImages: true` lets the LLM *see* uploaded images for vision, but it does NOT enable tools to receive them. See `references/AGENT_TOOL_BINARY.md`.

## Strong defaults

- **Merge nodes keep binary in context.** When a side computation strips binary, merge it back rather than re-fetching. See `references/MERGE_FOR_CONTEXT.md`.