# Function IF and set msg
**URL:** https://discourse.nodered.org/t/function-if-and-set-msg/41101
**Category:** General
**Created:** [16 February 2021 16:19 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/function-if-and-set-msg/41101 "2021-02-16T16:19:59Z")
**Posts on this page:** 11
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Benja](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/Benja)
#### Post date: [16 February 2021 16:19 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/function-if-and-set-msg/41101/1 "2021-02-16T16:19:59Z")
Hi, I need help:
I want to make a conditional that if the first msg is 0 the payload will go out through a specific exit, if it is 1 through another and so on, but I can't do the code.
sorry I'm a beginner
---
### Author:  [@Steve-Mcl](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/Steve-Mcl)
#### Post date: [16 February 2021 16:24 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/function-if-and-set-msg/41101/2 "2021-02-16T16:24:14Z")
Can you paste code instead of screenshot (I can fix your code and explain why you have issues but I won't retype what you have already typed)
Clue: `let` has block scope meaning if you declare (`let`) a variable inside the if block, it won't be available outside of the if block.
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### Author:  [@Benja](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/Benja)
#### Post date: [16 February 2021 16:25 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/function-if-and-set-msg/41101/3 "2021-02-16T16:25:20Z")
if (msg.payload[0] === '1');
{let msg1 = msg.payload;
return msg1;
}
else if (msg.payload[0] === '2');
{let msg2 = msg.pyaload;
return msg2;
}else {};
return msg1, msg2;
---
### Author:  [@Steve-Mcl](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/Steve-Mcl)
#### Post date: [16 February 2021 16:35 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/function-if-and-set-msg/41101/4 "2021-02-16T16:35:18Z")
So, first things first. When posting code on the forum, please use the code button `` or paste code between backticks
`````
`paste code like this`
`````
* * *
Onto your issue...
This is a better way...
```javascript
if (msg.payload[0] === '1') {
return [msg, null, null]; //return msg to output 1
} else if (msg.payload[0] === '2') {
return [null, msg, null]; //return msg to output 2
} else {
return [null, null, msg]; //return msg to output 3
}
```
---
### Author:  [@E1cid](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/E1cid)
#### Post date: [16 February 2021 16:35 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/function-if-and-set-msg/41101/5 "2021-02-16T16:35:28Z")
Hi and welcome.
Your function would be more like this,.
```auto
if (msg.payload[0] === '1'){
return [msg,null]; //send message output 1
}
else if (msg.payload[0] === '2'){
return [null,msg]; // send message output 2
}
return null;
```
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### Author:  [@Benja](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/Benja)
#### Post date: [16 February 2021 16:41 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/function-if-and-set-msg/41101/6 "2021-02-16T16:41:19Z")
thanks a lot
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### Author:  [@zenofmud](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/zenofmud)
#### Post date: [16 February 2021 17:24 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/function-if-and-set-msg/41101/7 "2021-02-16T17:24:38Z")
@Benja if you put your cursor on the red x’s you will get some information about the reason the `x` is there.
Something to file away for future reference,
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### Author:  [@PaulKana](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/PaulKana)
#### Post date: [17 February 2021 21:25 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/function-if-and-set-msg/41101/8 "2021-02-17T21:25:30Z")
Hi, is there a reason one should prefer a Function node to a Switch node? Is there a performance gain? Thanks.
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### Author:  [@Colin](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/Colin)
#### Post date: [17 February 2021 21:49 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/function-if-and-set-msg/41101/9 "2021-02-17T21:49:19Z")
A switch node is (marginally) more efficient than a function node, but more importantly it is easier to make simple mistakes and typos in a Function node than in a Change node, especially for those with limited js experience. You need to test any function node to make sure it works whereas you can assume that a change node will do what you tell it.
Strictly of course a Function node will do what you tell it too, but I expect you know what I mean.
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### Author:  [@PaulKana](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/PaulKana)
#### Post date: [18 February 2021 10:35 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/function-if-and-set-msg/41101/10 "2021-02-18T10:35:57Z")
Thank you for the answer, I'll continue with Switch nodes then!
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### Author:  [@system](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/system)
#### Post date: [4 March 2021 10:36 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/function-if-and-set-msg/41101/11 "2021-03-04T10:36:01Z")
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