| ## Node operations: Triggers and Actions | |
| When you add a node to a workflow, n8n displays a list of available operations. An operation is something a node does, such as getting or sending data. | |
| There are two types of operation: | |
| * Triggers start a workflow in response to specific events or conditions in your services. When you select a Trigger, n8n adds a trigger node to your workflow, with the Trigger operation you chose pre-selected. When you search for a node in n8n, Trigger operations have a bolt icon <span class="inline-image">{.off-glb}</span>. | |
| * Actions are operations that represent specific tasks within a workflow, which you can use to manipulate data, perform operations on external systems, and trigger events in other systems as part of your workflows. When you select an Action, n8n adds a node to your workflow, with the Action operation you chose pre-selected. | |