# How do I NOT return a payload from an output on a funtion node?

**URL:** <https://discourse.nodered.org/t/how-do-i-not-return-a-payload-from-an-output-on-a-funtion-node/47095>\
**Category:** General\
**Created:** [13 June 2021 10:39 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/how-do-i-not-return-a-payload-from-an-output-on-a-funtion-node/47095 "2021-06-13T10:39:48Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![eddee54455](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/eddee54455/32/43350_2.png) [@eddee54455](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/eddee54455)\
**Post date:** [13 June 2021 10:39 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/how-do-i-not-return-a-payload-from-an-output-on-a-funtion-node/47095/1 "2021-06-13T10:39:49Z")

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G'day ye of more grey than I,

I have run into a problem, yet again, that is a little past my knowledge...

I have a 3 output function node with the following return line:

`return[{payload:null},{payload:2},{payload:3}]`  
It is doing exactly what it says - Output 1 returns `null` .... I actually need output one to return 'nothing', no value, no payload, no nothing, nada, while the other outputs carry on with their little tasks...

Any hints?

TIA  
Ed

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**Author:** ![bakman2](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/bakman2/32/6207_2.png) [@bakman2](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/bakman2)\
**Post date:** [13 June 2021 10:42 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/how-do-i-not-return-a-payload-from-an-output-on-a-funtion-node/47095/2 "2021-06-13T10:42:26Z")

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Could you try:

```auto
return[null,{payload:2},{payload:3}]

```

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**Author:** ![Steve-Mcl](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/steve-mcl/32/4826_2.png) [@Steve-Mcl](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/Steve-Mcl)\
**Post date:** [13 June 2021 10:42 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/how-do-i-not-return-a-payload-from-an-output-on-a-funtion-node/47095/3 "2021-06-13T10:42:52Z")

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`return[null,{payload:2},{payload:3}]`

from the [docs](https://nodered.org/docs/user-guide/writing-functions#writing-a-function)...

> If the function returns `null` , then no message is passed on and the flow ends.

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**Author:** ![eddee54455](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/eddee54455/32/43350_2.png) [@eddee54455](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/eddee54455)\
**Post date:** [13 June 2021 10:49 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/how-do-i-not-return-a-payload-from-an-output-on-a-funtion-node/47095/4 "2021-06-13T10:49:00Z")

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@bakman2@Steve-Mcl

For me this is part of being an old fart with the memory span of a flea....

Just flipping from one tab to another caused me to magically insert the `payload:` bit in front of the null.... Sorry for the stupid question whose answer I have been staring at intently for an hour or two.... (I guess we all know tha DNA stands for "National Dyslexic's Association")

Many thanks guys for the help!!  
Ed

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**Author:** ![system](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/uploads/nodered/original/1X/d073cd938eafa2e558d7c2cd59003b3ef4963033.png) [@system](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/system)\
**Post date:** [27 June 2021 10:49 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/how-do-i-not-return-a-payload-from-an-output-on-a-funtion-node/47095/5 "2021-06-27T10:49:16Z")

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