# Set Variable

**Set Variable** node is designed to create a new variable or update an existing one within your workflow. This node allows you to specify the variable's name, type, and value, providing a flexible way to manage data throughout your flow.

### Properties Panel

| **Field**        | **Description**                                                                    | **Required** |
| ---------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ------------ |
| Node name        | [Node name](https://docs.cosmocloud.io/flow-builder/node-name)                     | true         |
| Name of variable | The name of the variable to be set or updated.                                     | true         |
| Type             | The data type of the variable (String, Integer, Float, Boolean, Object, or Array). | true         |
| Value            | The value to be assigned to the variable.                                          | true         |

### Usage

1. Specify the name of the variable you want to set or update.
2. Select the appropriate data type for the variable.
3. Enter the value you want to assign to the variable.

### Behaviour

* The node creates a new variable or updates an existing one with the specified name.
* The value is converted to the specified data type before assignment.
* For **Object** and **Array** types, the value should be a valid JSON string.
* If the type conversion fails, the node will raise an error.

### Supported Data Types

* String: Text values
* Integer: Non-decimal numbers
* Float: Decimal numbers
* Boolean: `True`/`False` values
* Object: JSON objects
* Array: JSON arrays

### Returns

The node sets or updates the specified variable in the flow's context. You can access this variable using Magical Autocomplete (e.g., `$.variables.<variable_name>`) in any node below this node.

### Example

Let's say you want to create a variable to store a user's age:

1. Set Variable Name to `user_age`
2. Set Variable Type to `Integer`
3. Set Value to `25`

This will create an integer variable named `user_age` with a value of `25` which can be accessed by `$.variables.user_age`.

### Best Practices

* Be careful when setting **Object** or **Array** types - ensure the value is a valid JSON string. For example, `{"hello": "world"}`
* For complex objects or arrays, consider using a JSON formatter to ensure valid syntax when entering the value.
* Remember that variables set with this node are accessible throughout the rest of the workflow, so plan your variable names to avoid conflicts.