# Ok, I have to ask: What's the difference between an externally written node and a subflow?

**URL:** <https://discourse.nodered.org/t/ok-i-have-to-ask-whats-the-difference-between-an-externally-written-node-and-a-subflow/20938>\
**Category:** General\
**Created:** [27 January 2020 23:55 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/ok-i-have-to-ask-whats-the-difference-between-an-externally-written-node-and-a-subflow/20938 "2020-01-27T23:55:29Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**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:** [27 January 2020 23:55 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/ok-i-have-to-ask-whats-the-difference-between-an-externally-written-node-and-a-subflow/20938/1 "2020-01-27T23:55:29Z")

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The title kind of speaks for itself.

But I was just wondering what the difference is.

A subflow is limited to 1 input.  
I'm not exactly sure a node is.

Not that I have ever really seen any nodes with more than 1 input.

Other than with a subflow you can see the inner workings.......  
And change them if you desire.

But in all honesty, I guess you can with a node too.  
It is just a different method of doing it.

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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:** [28 January 2020 00:10 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/ok-i-have-to-ask-whats-the-difference-between-an-externally-written-node-and-a-subflow/20938/2 "2020-01-28T00:10:29Z")

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> [@Trying\_to\_learn](#):
>
> A subflow is limited to 1 input.  
> I'm not exactly sure a node is.

All nodes have that restriction.

A subflow is implemented by you in the Node-RED editor. Its inner workings are a flow of nodes.

A 'regular' node is implemented in JavaScript.

A subflow exists as a "thing" in your flow file. If you delete your flow file, you no longer have any subflows defined.

A node is installed into the runtime via npm. It will be available in the palette regardless of what flows file the runtime is told to use.

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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:** [11 February 2020 00:10 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/ok-i-have-to-ask-whats-the-difference-between-an-externally-written-node-and-a-subflow/20938/3 "2020-02-11T00:10:39Z")

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