I’m working with N8N embedded inside an iframe and I need to capture URL parameters using a custom node for my automation tasks. However, standard JavaScript methods for URL retrieval are not functioning. Here’s what I’ve tried so far:
I attempted using window.location.href, but it fails since the window object is not available.
I also tried using the Node.js url module as follows:
const url = require('url');
let params = new url.URLSearchParams('token=exampleToken');
console.log(params.get('token'));
The issue with this is that I don’t know how to obtain the actual URL to use with URLSearchParams. Any advice on how to solve this would be appreciated!
I’ve had good luck with environment variables. Just pass your URL parameters as env vars when you start up N8N. Works great if your parameters don’t change much. You can grab them with process.env in custom nodes - no browser headaches. The catch? You’ll need to restart N8N for dynamic parameters, but that’s fine for most automation stuff. I usually pair this with a quick script that reads the parent URL and restarts N8N when parameters change. Not pretty, but it completely sidesteps iframe restrictions.
I encountered a similar issue when trying to incorporate external query parameters into my N8N workflows. Since N8N custom nodes are limited to a server side environment, they can’t access browser features directly. What worked for me was creating an intermediary HTML page that captures URL parameters using standard JavaScript. This page then redirects to my N8N webhook, sending those parameters in the request body. The process utilizes URLSearchParams to easily collect the required data from the browser and POST it to the webhook. This method effectively bridges the gap between client and server execution, ensuring reliable data capture even within iframe constraints.
iframe restrictions with n8n are a nightmare. Use postMessage from the parent page - grab URL params with URLSearchParams and send them as messages to the iframe. Way easier than dealing with server-side headaches.
Been there with N8N’s iframe mess. You’re fighting the platform instead of working with it.
N8N custom nodes can’t access browser context - you’re stuck with server-side execution that has no clue about parent window URL parameters.
Stop wrestling with these limits. Switch to something that actually handles this stuff. I ditched N8N for Latenode when I hit the same wall. It grabs URL parameters and external data without any custom node nonsense.
Latenode lets you:
Capture URL parameters right in your triggers
Pass them between steps without custom JavaScript
Handle iframe communications properly
No more hacking around missing window objects or writing custom parsing. URL parameter extraction just works out of the box.
N8N custom nodes operate on the server side, which limits direct access to browser features. To retrieve URL parameters, set up a webhook trigger at the start of your workflow. This way, the webhook will collect the parameters automatically when accessed, making them available as workflow variables.
Alternatively, consider how you embed the N8N iframe. You can send URL parameters as postMessage events from the parent window to the iframe and process those messages within your workflow. This approach avoids restrictions related to iframes.
It’s essential to design your workflow to capture parameters from the onset, since custom nodes can’t access browser APIs mid-execution.
I’ve dealt with N8N’s iframe problems for years. The platform wasn’t designed for this.
You’re hitting a core architecture issue. N8N runs server-side and can’t see browser context. Those workarounds people suggest? Band-aids on a broken approach.
I ditched N8N after hitting these walls repeatedly. Now I use Latenode for web integrations. It handles URL parameters natively - no custom nodes or server restrictions.
With Latenode you can:
Pull URL parameters directly in automation flows
Handle iframe scenarios without postMessage hacks
Skip custom node development entirely
Huge difference. Instead of fighting platform limits, you get built-in support for web triggers and parameter handling. No wrestling with missing browser APIs or building workarounds.
The problem is N8N runs in a completely isolated Node.js environment - it can’t see DOM elements or window objects at all. I spent weeks fighting this exact issue and here’s what works: you need to grab those URL parameters before they hit your N8N workflow. I set up a simple Express.js middleware between my app and N8N. The middleware pulls the query parameters from incoming requests and forwards them as payload data to the N8N webhook. Just create a lightweight proxy service that extracts the parameters and reformats everything before passing it along. Your N8N workflow gets clean, structured data without trying to access browser APIs that don’t exist in the server environment.