# Default value in Change node, if there is no value
**URL:** https://discourse.nodered.org/t/default-value-in-change-node-if-there-is-no-value/58340
**Category:** General
**Created:** [14 February 2022 19:52 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/default-value-in-change-node-if-there-is-no-value/58340 "2022-02-14T19:52:06Z")
**Posts on this page:** 5
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@rhjensen79](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/rhjensen79)
#### Post date: [14 February 2022 19:52 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/default-value-in-change-node-if-there-is-no-value/58340/1 "2022-02-14T19:52:06Z")
Is there a way to set a default value, in case there is no existing value, in a change node ?
I can only find examples in function nodes.
Thanks 🙂
/Robert
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### Author:  [@mickym2](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/mickym2)
#### Post date: [14 February 2022 19:55 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/default-value-in-change-node-if-there-is-no-value/58340/2 "2022-02-14T19:55:31Z")
You should use a switch node, to check if a value exists or not, before the change node.
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### Author:  [@rhjensen79](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/rhjensen79)
#### Post date: [14 February 2022 19:57 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/default-value-in-change-node-if-there-is-no-value/58340/3 "2022-02-14T19:57:29Z")
That's a good idea. I did not even think of that.
Thanks
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### Author:  [@E1cid](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/E1cid)
#### Post date: [14 February 2022 19:57 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/default-value-in-change-node-if-there-is-no-value/58340/4 "2022-02-14T19:57:45Z")
You could use JSONata directly in the change node also.
e.g.
```auto
[{"id":"9963d61a.80316","type":"inject","z":"c791cbc0.84f648","name":"","props":[{"p":"topic","vt":"str"}],"repeat":"","crontab":"","once":false,"onceDelay":0.1,"topic":"","x":130,"y":280,"wires":[["a6ff5443.56f208"]]},{"id":"a6ff5443.56f208","type":"change","z":"c791cbc0.84f648","name":"","rules":[{"t":"set","p":"payload","pt":"msg","to":"$exists(payload) ? payload : \"default\"","tot":"jsonata"}],"action":"","property":"","from":"","to":"","reg":false,"x":270,"y":240,"wires":[["aa51af73.3bbed"]]},{"id":"c3699500.ddef2","type":"inject","z":"c791cbc0.84f648","name":"","props":[{"p":"payload"},{"p":"topic","vt":"str"}],"repeat":"","crontab":"","once":false,"onceDelay":0.1,"topic":"","payload":"","payloadType":"date","x":170,"y":200,"wires":[["a6ff5443.56f208"]]},{"id":"aa51af73.3bbed","type":"debug","z":"c791cbc0.84f648","name":"","active":true,"tosidebar":true,"console":false,"tostatus":false,"complete":"false","statusVal":"","statusType":"auto","x":580,"y":280,"wires":[]}]
```
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### Author:  [@system](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/system)
#### Post date: [28 February 2022 19:57 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/default-value-in-change-node-if-there-is-no-value/58340/5 "2022-02-28T19:57:59Z")
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