local variable or property node what should i go for

[Kodeeswaran]

what should i prefer Local variable or property node, since previously i use more number of property node value, if i use local variable instead of property node, what will be the effect.

[jrpe]

I believe it is more efficient to use a local variable than a property Value node. However it is best to avoid both as much as possible as they make for difficult to understand code and inexplicable race conditions (that are difficult to debug due to the confusing code).

[Ben]

The prefered methods for updating a front panel object in order of preference are

1) Terminal

2) Local

3) Property node

The terminal is the fast and LabVIEW has special functionality to keep it quick and efficient.

Locals require extra copies of the data AND can create the possibility of race conditions.

Property nodes also present the possibility of race conditions and also require a context switch to the User Interface thread to make the change.

Ben

[DFGray]

Property nodes are synchronous and terminals and locals are not. This, combined with the UI thread switch, makes property nodes orders of magnitude slower than terminals and locals. Every time you write a Value property node, the node waits until the action is complete. Terminals and locals, however, are cached for the next UI update cycle. The value is changed in memory, but the front panel is updated at about 60Hz. This allows much more efficient usage.