Node-RED is a tool that runs on an IoT gateway or industrial router and lets you build data processing logic by drawing diagrams rather than writing code. You drag blocks onto a canvas, connect them with lines, and deploy the flow. A block that reads a temperature sensor feeds into a block that checks if the value is above 30°C, which connects to a block that sends an MQTT alert.
Node-RED runs directly on the device – at the edge – so it processes data locally before sending to the cloud.
- Pre-built nodes – hundreds of ready-made inputs, transformations, and outputs covering MQTT, HTTP, Modbus, databases, and cloud services
- No code required – flows are built visually; JavaScript can be added for custom logic where needed
- Edge execution – runs on the device, not in the cloud; no internet connection required for local automation
- Use cases – data filtering, threshold alerting, protocol conversion, conditional routing to multiple platforms