# Switch

Give the workflow multiple options to continue on.

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<img src="/img/workflow/switch/node.png" alt="Switch workflow node" style="max-width:320px;width:100%;display:inline;margin:0 auto;box-shadow:5px 5px 5px #eee" />

## Operations

The Switch node offers two modes: **Rules** and **Expression**.

### Rules

Use comparison operators to define routing rules for each output. The following parameters are available:

- **Data Type**: The type of input data. Supported types include **Boolean**, **Date & Time**, **Number**, and **String**.
- **Value 1**: The input value to be compared. This can be a fixed value or an expression.
  For example, to use the `id` field from the previous node’s JSON output, use the expression `{{ $json.id }}`.
- **Fallback Output Name or ID**: The output index to route to if no conditions are met.
- **Routing Rules**: Define as many rules as needed. Each rule compares **Value 1** against **Value 2** using a chosen operator. If the condition is met, the workflow is routed to the specified output index. If more than one rule condition is met, the workflow execute all of the matching nodes. Each rule includes:
  - **Operation**: The comparison to perform (defaults to **Equal** if left blank).
  - **Value 2**: The value to compare against **Value 1**.
  - **Regex** (for **String** type only): A regular expression to match **Value 1**.
  - **Output Key**: The index of the output to route to if the condition is true.

The available operators vary depending on the data type:

#### Number Type Operators
- **Smaller**: `true` if Value 1 is less than Value 2.
- **Smaller or Equal**: `true` if Value 1 is less than or equal to Value 2.
- **Equal**: `true` if Value 1 equals Value 2.
- **Not Equal**: `true` if Value 1 differs from Value 2.
- **Larger**: `true` if Value 1 is greater than Value 2.
- **Larger or Equal**: `true` if Value 1 is greater than or equal to Value 2.

#### Boolean Type Operators
- **Equal**: `true` if Value 1 equals Value 2.
- **Not Equal**: `true` if Value 1 differs from Value 2.

#### Date & Time Type Operators
- **Occurred After**: `true` if Value 1 is after Value 2.
- **Occurred Before**: `true` if Value 1 is before Value 2.

#### String Type Operators
- **Contains**: `true` if Value 2 is a substring of Value 1.
- **Not Contains**: `true` if Value 2 is *not* a substring of Value 1.
- **Ends With**: `true` if Value 1 ends with Value 2.
- **Not Ends With**: `true` if Value 1 does *not* end with Value 2.
- **Equal**: `true` if Value 1 equals Value 2.
- **Not Equal**: `true` if Value 1 differs from Value 2.
- **Regex Match**: `true` if Value 1 matches the regex pattern.
- **Regex Not Match**: `true` if Value 1 does *not* match the regex pattern.
- **Starts With**: `true` if Value 1 starts with Value 2.
- **Not Starts With**: `true` if Value 1 does *not* start with Value 2.

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### Expression

In **Expression** mode, you define the output index using a custom expression. This mode has two parameters:

- **Output**: A fixed number or an expression that evaluates to the desired output index. Using an expression is recommended.
- **Outputs Amount**: The total number of output branches available in the node.