How to add console logs in custom nodes

Questions
1

Describe the problem/error/question

I’m not able see the console logs for custom work flow node in browser console

Information on your n8n setup

  • n8n version:1.81.4
  • Database (default: SQLite):Postgres
  • n8n EXECUTIONS_PROCESS setting (default: own, main):Default
  • Running n8n via (Docker, npm, n8n cloud, desktop app):Docker
  • Operating system:Linux
2

Hello @Andolu_uday_kumar welcome!

console.log() messages placed within custom nodes in n8n are not displayed in the browser console. This is because custom nodes run in the backend of n8n, not in the frontend of the browser. As a result, the logs generated by console.log() are only available in the server logs.

  1. If you’re running n8n locally (CLI or Docker):

Check your terminal or Docker logs where n8n is running, your console.log() output will show there.
Documentation: Logging | n8n Docs

  1. If you’re using n8n cloud:

If you want to see data for debugging in the browser:

You can use the Code node to inspect the data and return it in the workflow, making it visible in the n8n interface. Use return inside your Function or custom node to output data visibly in the UI:

console.log("debug"); // only visible in backend logs
return [{ json: { message: "debug here too" } }];

This way, you can see your data in the Execution panel instead of relying on the console.