# Utf8 decoding from serial buffer

**URL:** <https://discourse.nodered.org/t/utf8-decoding-from-serial-buffer/59884>\
**Category:** General\
**Created:** [15 March 2022 12:55 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/utf8-decoding-from-serial-buffer/59884 "2022-03-15T12:55:48Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Showing post:** 2

<div class="post-metadata">

**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:** [15 March 2022 13:20 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/utf8-decoding-from-serial-buffer/59884/2 "2022-03-15T13:20:45Z")

</div>

can you provide 2 samples...

1. Some data from an actual payload using `copy value` (see instructions below)
2. The equivalent value (what you expect it to be)

I ask because it is not clear if you have the serial node set to return buffer or string.

* * *

### How to get payload value (in a format that can be used by someone else)

There’s a great page in the docs ([Working with messages : Node-RED](https://nodered.org/docs/user-guide/messages)) that will explain how to use the debug panel to find the right path to any data item.

Pay particular attention to the part about the buttons that appear under your mouse pointer when you over hover a debug message property in the sidebar.

![BX00Cy7yHi](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/uploads/nodered/original/3X/b/d/bd1f333a9e043b061b39917c328b0094d3e52d30.gif)

### Posting code or data

In order to make code readable and usable it is necessary to surround your code with three backticks (also known as a left quote or backquote `````)

````auto
``` 
   code goes here 
```

````

You can edit and correct your post by clicking the pencil ✏ icon.

See this post for more details - [How to share code or flow json](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/how-to-share-code-or-flow-json/506)

---

_[View the full topic](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/utf8-decoding-from-serial-buffer/59884)._