Core filters

Filters are a subset of Phing data types which provide for the transformation of file contents during the operation of another task. For example, a filter might replace tokens in a file as part of a copy task.

Filters have to be defined within a <filterchain> context to work. Example:

<filterchain>
  <expandproperties />
</filterchain>

There are two ways to use a filter: System filters (the ones shipped with Phing) can be used with their own tag name, such as <xsltfilter>, <expandpropertyfilter> or <tabtospaces>. User-defined filters can use the way is to use the <filterreader> tag.