fix(ai-builder): Default Switch to case-insensitive in builder hints (#31044)

Co-authored-by: Claude Opus 4.7 (1M context) <noreply@anthropic.com>

packages/@n8n/instance-ai/evaluations/data/workflows/notification-router.json

@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@
 		},
 		{
 			"role": "user",
-			"text": "JSON with `level` (high, medium, or low), `title`, and `message`. Each notification should be forwarded with title + message intact."
+			"text": "JSON with `level` (\"High\", \"Medium\" or \"Low\"), `title`, and `message`. Each notification should be forwarded with title + message intact."
 		},
 		{
 			"role": "assistant",
@@ -29,19 +29,19 @@
 		{
 			"name": "high-priority",
 			"description": "A high-priority notification is routed to Microsoft Teams",
-			"dataSetup": "The webhook receives { \"level\": \"high\", \"title\": \"Server Down\", \"message\": \"Production database is unreachable\" }. The Microsoft Teams node returns a success response.",
+			"dataSetup": "The webhook receives { \"level\": \"High\", \"title\": \"Server Down\", \"message\": \"Production database is unreachable\" }. The Microsoft Teams node returns a success response.",
 			"successCriteria": "The workflow routes the high-priority notification to Microsoft Teams. The Teams message contains 'Server Down' and the database message. No other channels receive the message."
 		},
 		{
 			"name": "medium-priority",
 			"description": "A medium-priority notification is routed to Slack",
-			"dataSetup": "The webhook receives { \"level\": \"medium\", \"title\": \"Deployment Complete\", \"message\": \"Version 2.5.0 deployed to staging\" }. The Slack node returns a success response.",
+			"dataSetup": "The webhook receives { \"level\": \"Medium\", \"title\": \"Deployment Complete\", \"message\": \"Version 2.5.0 deployed to staging\" }. The Slack node returns a success response.",
 			"successCriteria": "The workflow routes the medium-priority notification to Slack #notifications. The Slack message contains the deployment details."
 		},
 		{
 			"name": "low-priority",
 			"description": "A low-priority notification is routed to email",
-			"dataSetup": "The webhook receives { \"level\": \"low\", \"title\": \"Weekly Report Ready\", \"message\": \"The weekly analytics report has been generated\" }. The Gmail node returns a success response.",
+			"dataSetup": "The webhook receives { \"level\": \"Low\", \"title\": \"Weekly Report Ready\", \"message\": \"The weekly analytics report has been generated\" }. The Gmail node returns a success response.",
 			"successCriteria": "The workflow routes the low-priority notification to Gmail. The email is sent to alerts@ourcompany.com with the report notification."
 		}
 	]

packages/@n8n/workflow-sdk/src/prompts/node-guidance/parameter-guides/switch-node.ts

@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ The Switch node routes items to different outputs based on conditions. Uses the
       {
         "conditions": {
           "options": {
-            "caseSensitive": true,
+            "caseSensitive": false,
             "leftValue": "",
             "typeValidation": "strict"
           },
@@ -41,10 +41,11 @@ The Switch node routes items to different outputs based on conditions. Uses the
 \`\`\`
 
 #### Key Points:
-1. Each entry in rules.values[] creates ONE output
-2. Conditions use the same filter structure as IF node
-3. Multiple conditions per rule are combined with combinator ("and" or "or")
-4. Use renameOutput: true + outputKey to label outputs descriptively
+1. **Default \`caseSensitive: false\` for string comparisons.** Real-world inputs vary in casing (\`"high"\` vs \`"High"\` vs \`"HIGH"\`). Only set \`caseSensitive: true\` when the user has explicitly said case matters — if you're not sure, ask them before guessing.
+2. Each entry in rules.values[] creates ONE output
+3. Conditions use the same filter structure as IF node
+4. Multiple conditions per rule are combined with combinator ("and" or "or")
+5. Use renameOutput: true + outputKey to label outputs descriptively
 
 #### Numeric Operators
 - lt: Less than
@@ -68,6 +69,6 @@ Use two conditions with combinator: "and":
 
 **String-Based Routing** (status/type values):
 - Use type: "string" with operation: "equals"
-- Set caseSensitive: false in options for case-insensitive matching
+- Keep \`caseSensitive: false\` (the default above) unless the user explicitly asked for case-sensitive matching
 `,
 };

packages/@n8n/workflow-sdk/src/workflow-builder/plugins/validators/filter-node-validator.test.ts

@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ function createCtx(nodes: Map<string, GraphNode> = new Map()): PluginContext {
 }
 
 const VALID_CONDITIONS = {
-	options: { caseSensitive: true, leftValue: '', typeValidation: 'strict' },
+	options: { caseSensitive: false, leftValue: '', typeValidation: 'strict' },
 	conditions: [
 		{
 			leftValue: '={{ $json.field }}',

packages/@n8n/workflow-sdk/src/workflow-builder/plugins/validators/filter-node-validator.ts

@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@ function validateFilterValue(
 	if (!filterValue.options || typeof filterValue.options !== 'object') {
 		issues.push({
 			code: 'FILTER_MISSING_OPTIONS',
-			message: `${nodeRef} is missing 'options' in ${paramPath}. Add: options: { caseSensitive: true, leftValue: '', typeValidation: 'strict' }`,
+			message: `${nodeRef} is missing 'options' in ${paramPath}. Add: options: { caseSensitive: false, leftValue: '', typeValidation: 'strict' }`,
 			severity: 'error',
 			nodeName,
 			originalName,

packages/nodes-base/nodes/Switch/V3/SwitchV3.node.ts

@@ -75,7 +75,7 @@ const routeByPriority = switchCase({
           {
             outputKey: 'urgent',
             conditions: {
-              options: { caseSensitive: true, leftValue: '', typeValidation: 'strict' },
+              options: { caseSensitive: false, leftValue: '', typeValidation: 'strict' },
               conditions: [{ leftValue: expr('{{ $json.priority }}'), operator: { type: 'string', operation: 'equals' }, rightValue: 'urgent' }],
               combinator: 'and'
             }
@@ -83,7 +83,7 @@ const routeByPriority = switchCase({
           {
             outputKey: 'normal',
             conditions: {
-              options: { caseSensitive: true, leftValue: '', typeValidation: 'strict' },
+              options: { caseSensitive: false, leftValue: '', typeValidation: 'strict' },
               conditions: [{ leftValue: expr('{{ $json.priority }}'), operator: { type: 'string', operation: 'equals' }, rightValue: 'normal' }],
               combinator: 'and'
             }
@@ -180,7 +180,7 @@ export default workflow('id', 'name')
 					type: 'fixedCollection',
 					builderHint: {
 						propertyHint:
-							"Use `rules.values` (NOT `rules.rules`). Each rule needs `outputKey` and a complete `conditions` object with these three sibling keys: `combinator` ('and' | 'or'), `conditions` (array of condition objects), `options` (`{ caseSensitive, leftValue, typeValidation }`). Same shape as IF. Wire rule outputs by zero-based index with `.onCase(index, target)`; `outputKey` is the visible output label, not the `.onCase()` argument. Unwired cases silently drop their items.",
+							"Use `rules.values` (NOT `rules.rules`). Each rule needs `outputKey` and a complete `conditions` object with these three sibling keys: `combinator` ('and' | 'or'), `conditions` (array of condition objects), `options` (`{ caseSensitive, leftValue, typeValidation }`). Same shape as IF. Wire rule outputs by zero-based index with `.onCase(index, target)`; `outputKey` is the visible output label, not the `.onCase()` argument. Unwired cases silently drop their items. Default `caseSensitive: false` for string equality, only set `true` when specifically requested or confirmed by the user.",
 					},
 					typeOptions: {
 						multipleValues: true,