# Http-request - new question

**URL:** <https://discourse.nodered.org/t/http-request-new-question/97322>\
**Category:** General\
**Created:** [29 May 2025 10:39 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/http-request-new-question/97322 "2025-05-29T10:39:31Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Trying\_to\_learn](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/trying_to_learn/32/28400_2.png) [@Trying\_to\_learn](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/Trying_to_learn)\
**Post date:** [29 May 2025 10:39 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/http-request-new-question/97322/1 "2025-05-29T10:39:32Z")

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Although I'm getting nowhere fast with the other stuff WRT this node.....

When the node is open:

 ![Screenshot from 2025-05-29 20-35-10](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/uploads/nodered/original/3X/c/9/c9633a71ea3d76efa0a41035babf8308dbc4bee9.png)

I'm confused. (What's new?)

So the way I've been using it is the URL is _FIXED_.

But looking at the docs (part of picture) it is confusing for me.

I change the`payload` from `Ignore` to `send as request body`......  
I'm not sure what that means.

But I'd like to be able to know if I can change the URL depending on what `msg.payload` it is sent.

The docs don't really say it, but the wording:  
`Sent as the body of the request.`  
What does that really mean?

Sorry folks.

Thanks in advance.

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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:** [29 May 2025 10:44 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/http-request-new-question/97322/2 "2025-05-29T10:44:25Z")

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> [@Trying\_to\_learn](#):
>
> `Sent as the body of the request.`  
> What does that really mean?

You need to understand HTTP APIs to understand that. In basic terms, a GET pretty much does NOT use the payload, whereas a PUT or POST _might_ use the payload.

> [@Trying\_to\_learn](#):
>
> But I'd like to be able to know if I can change the URL depending on what `msg.payload` it is sent.

The help states:

> When configured within the node, the URL property can contain [mustache-style](http://mustache.github.io/mustache.5.html) tags. These allow the url to be constructed using values of the incoming message. For example, if the url is set to `example.com/{{{topic}}}` , it will have the value of `msg.topic` automatically inserted. Using {{{...}}} prevents mustache from escaping characters like / & etc.

So you could have a URL of `https://something/category/{{{payload}}}`

Equally, you could leave it blank and use a change or function node to build `msg.url` from `msg.payload`

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**Author:** ![knolleary](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/knolleary/32/3_2.png) [@knolleary](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/knolleary)\
**Post date:** [29 May 2025 10:45 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/http-request-new-question/97322/3 "2025-05-29T10:45:55Z")

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To set the url of the request, you can pass in `msg.url` - as long as you leave the url field in the node configuration blank.

 ![image](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/uploads/nodered/original/3X/a/9/a94631190028440d44925470553bb49fa69f35e6.png)

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**Author:** ![Trying\_to\_learn](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/trying_to_learn/32/28400_2.png) [@Trying\_to\_learn](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/Trying_to_learn)\
**Post date:** [29 May 2025 10:48 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/http-request-new-question/97322/4 "2025-05-29T10:48:11Z")

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Ah!

Yeah. Thanks.

Silly me. I somehow didn't parse that correctly.

Though - of course - changing the URL probably isn't a good idea but it was just a bit confusing.

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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:** [12 June 2025 10:48 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/http-request-new-question/97322/5 "2025-06-12T10:48:53Z")

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