# Using only one node

**URL:** <https://discourse.nodered.org/t/using-only-one-node/84561>\
**Category:** Developing Nodes\
**Created:** [15 January 2024 14:25 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/using-only-one-node/84561 "2024-01-15T14:25:08Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 7\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![sercancetin](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/sercancetin/32/50083_2.png) [@sercancetin](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/sercancetin)\
**Post date:** [15 January 2024 14:25 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/using-only-one-node/84561/1 "2024-01-15T14:25:08Z")

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Hello, in node red tabs only one node will be used and the other node created will remain non-functional. For example, let there be a node named node a in the system, and the other added node a should not be used. what is the way to do this? So I don't want to have n nodes named a. Or let me ask the question this way. How do I know how many nodes have been created?

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**Author:** ![GogoVega](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/gogovega/32/71313_2.png) [@GogoVega](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/GogoVega)\
**Post date:** [15 January 2024 14:29 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/using-only-one-node/84561/2 "2024-01-15T14:29:25Z")

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Hi,  
Could you be clearer 🤔

You can disable a node by going to `Manage Palette` - once disabled, this node will no longer appear in the left bar.

> [@sercancetin](#):
>
> How do I know how many x nodes have been created when coding nodes?

with counter incremented by `RED.nodes.eachNode`

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**Author:** ![GogoVega](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/gogovega/32/71313_2.png) [@GogoVega](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/GogoVega)\
**Post date:** [15 January 2024 14:43 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/using-only-one-node/84561/3 "2024-01-15T14:43:00Z")

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Are you developing a node or is this a question related to default nodes? You added the `function-node` tag.

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**Author:** ![sercancetin](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/sercancetin/32/50083_2.png) [@sercancetin](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/sercancetin)\
**Post date:** [15 January 2024 14:46 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/using-only-one-node/84561/4 "2024-01-15T14:46:09Z")

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I think I added the wrong place. Yes, I'm creating a node.

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**Author:** ![GogoVega](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/gogovega/32/71313_2.png) [@GogoVega](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/GogoVega)\
**Post date:** [15 January 2024 14:51 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/using-only-one-node/84561/5 "2024-01-15T14:51:09Z")

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> [@sercancetin](#):
>
> So I don't want to have n nodes named a

Do you want each node to have a different name?

> [@How can I avoid duplicate configuration node names?](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/how-can-i-avoid-duplicate-configuration-node-names/84249/2):
>
> Hi, I'm not sure I understood everything. The node name is purely visual and should not be used to identify a node in the code. This is the job of the id. It's possible to increment but only if you have developed the node. Otherwise you have to add an "nodes:add" [event](https://nodered.org/docs/api/ui/events) which when you add this node, updates the name by modifying the node properties. RED.events.on("nodes:add", (node) =\> { // Skip if not your node if (node.type !== "your-type") return; // check if name exist with // RE…

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**Author:** ![marcus-j-davies](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/marcus-j-davies/32/103435_2.png) [@marcus-j-davies](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/marcus-j-davies)\
**Post date:** [15 January 2024 17:37 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/using-only-one-node/84561/6 "2024-01-15T17:37:08Z")

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> [@sercancetin](#):
>
> and the other added node a should not be used

Why would your users not use the node in the flow?  
If you are using a Node as some sort of Configuration, then you need to define a configuration Node.

If a node in the flow is not designed for users to interact with - you really need to be using Config Nodes.

[https://nodered.org/docs/creating-nodes/config-nodes](https://nodered.org/docs/creating-nodes/config-nodes)

As mentioned by @GogoVega its not really clear what you are trying to achieve.  
If you want to know if a node is not being used - Simply don't try and engineer it, its for the user to manage their estate.

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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:** [15 March 2024 17:37 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/using-only-one-node/84561/7 "2024-03-15T17:37:13Z")

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