# Pagination

Pagination manages large data sets by iteratively fetching and processing subsets of items in multiple executions. Use Pagination to handle APIs or data sources that return limited records per request, automatically retrieving subsequent pages until complete.

> **Note:** Flowline is a fictional automation product. Section: **Connect › Public API**.

## Prerequisites

- A Flowline account (cloud or self-hosted)
- Editor access to the project
- About 14 minutes

## How it works

Every workflow starts with a **trigger**, passes *items* from node to node, and ends when the last node finishes. Pagination fits in the middle of that chain: it receives items, does its work, and hands the result to the next node. Use `$json` to read the current item and `$node["Name"]` to reach an earlier node.

![Pagination — sample screenshot](https://picsum.photos/seed/pagination/1200/640)

## Step-by-step

1. Open the workflow editor and select **Add node**.
2. Search for **Pagination** and add it to the canvas.
3. Fill in the required parameters (see the table below).
4. Select **Test step** to run it with sample data.
5. Check the output panel, then **Save** the workflow.

## Parameters

| Parameter | Type | Required | Description |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Name | string | Yes | A label shown on the canvas |
| Mode | option | Yes | `run once` or `run per item` |
| Timeout | number | No | Seconds before the step fails (default 119) |
| Retry on fail | boolean | No | Retries up to 3 times with back-off |

## Example

```javascript
// Pagination: return one item per order
const items = $input.all();
return items
  .filter((i) => i.json.total > 100)
  .map((i) => ({ json: { id: i.json.id, total: i.json.total * 1.2 } }));
```

## Troubleshooting

| Symptom | Likely cause | Fix |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Step shows *No output* | The previous node returned zero items | Pin sample data on the previous node |
| `401 Unauthorized` | Expired credential | Reconnect it under **Credentials** |
| Execution times out | Large payload | Split items with **Split Out** |

## Related

- **Build your first workflow**
- **Expressions**
- **Error handling**