### Stage Node Properties

In a message flow, use a stage node as a container for actions in a message flow. You can string multiple stages together, to compartmentalize processing logic.

In the Message Flow Editor, click a stage node to display its properties in the Properties view. Use these properties pages to configure the selected stage node. The pages are:

- Stage
- Namespaces
- Variables

The Stage page has the following options:

Option | Description
--- | ---
Name | Enter a name for the stage node.
Description | Enter a description of the stage node.

Use the Namespaces page to see a list of defined namespaces or to create a new one.

Use the Variables page to see a list of defined context variables or to create a new one. For more information about context variables, see Message Context in the AquaLogic Service Bus User Guide.