> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.contextual.io/documentation-and-resources/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.contextual.io/documentation-and-resources/components-and-data/flows/node-reference/function/change.md).

# Change

Use a Change node in your Flow to *Set*, *Change*, *Delete*, or *Move* one or more values in the `msg.` object path to other values that you specify.

### Basic Node Usage Example

{% @mermaid/diagram content="flowchart LR
A("msg.payload<br>#quot;myProperty#quot;: #quot;Banana#quot; ") --> B("<div style="text-align:left"><h3>Change</h3>Set: msg.payload.myProperty<br>To string: #quot;Apple#quot;</div>")\
B --> C("msg.payload<br>#quot;myProperty#quot;: #quot;Apple#quot; ")
style A fill:#FFFFFF,stroke:#000000
style B stroke:#00C853,color:#FFFFFF,fill:#00C853
style C fill:#FFFFFF,stroke:#000000" %}

### Configuring a Change Node

To configure a Change node in the [Flow Editor](/documentation-and-resources/components-and-data/flows/node-red-flow-editor.md), drag it from the Palette to the Workspace canvas, then double-click the node to open and configure its behavior.

<figure><img src="/files/10roGPlQjJ7rj9aJzBer" alt="Example of settings for a Change node"><figcaption><p>Example of settings for a Change node</p></figcaption></figure>

1. Provide an optional **Name** for the node.
   * By default a Change node will be shown with a generated label based on how it has been configured, for instance "set msg.payload.myProperty".
2. In the **Rules** section, there will be a single Rule by default.
3. Choose and configure the **Operation** you want to perform.
   * **Set** - set the value of the specified msg. path to another value specified by `msg.`, `flow.`, `global.`, `string`, `number`, `boolean`, `JSON`, `buffer`, `timestamp`, `expression`, or `env variable` data.
   * **Change** - search within the value of the specified msg. path for a value that you specify using `msg.`, `flow.`, `global.`, `string`, `reguar expression`, `number`, `boolean`, or `env variable` data, and replace it with a value that you specify with `msg.`, `flow.`, `global.`, `string`, `number`, `boolean`, `JSON`, `buffer`, or `env variable` data.
   * **Delete** - delete the specified msg. path from the message.
   * **Move** - move a msg. path and its value to a different msg. path.
4. **Add more Rules** by clicking **"+add"** at the bottom left of the Change node panel.
5. **Re-Order Rules** with the drag-and-drop handle on the left of each Rule row.


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