# Filter

The `<Filter>` element allows you to define filters that are applied to your tests, allowing you to determine which tests to execute. Filters can also be defined in `<Target>` elements, in which case the filter only applies to that target. Filters defined outside of a `<Target>` element are applied globally. The **Test Explorer** window in Visual Studio only lists those tests that meet your filter criteria (after rebuilding your project). Note that global filters also apply when running tests by right-clicking on a feature file and selecting **Run SpecFlow Scenarios**.

Filters can be applied to tests based on tags (including regular expressions), or the scenario or feature name.

**Note:** Tags and filters are **case-sensitive**.

The following filter types can be defined:

| Prefix             | Type   | Description                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        |
| ------------------ | ------ | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ |
| @                  | Tag    | Matches a tag exactly, e.g. '@MyTag' only returns those tests with the '@MyTag' tag.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               |
| tagmatch:          | Tag    | Matches tags by regular expression, e.g. 'tagmatch:Tag[1-3]' matches tests with the tags 'Tag1', "Tag2' or 'Tag3'.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 |
| testpath:Feature:  | Test   | Matches tests by feature name. You can use the `*` wildcard in feature names, e.g. `testpath:Feature:Calcu*` matches the features "Calculator" and "Calculus".<br>**Note**: Replace spaces in scenario names with the plus character (+) in your filter. Example:<br>Replace `Buy a book` with `Buy+a+book`.                                                     |
| testpath:Scenario: | Test   | Matches tests by scenario name. You can use the `*` wildcard in scenario names, e.g. `testpath:Scenario:*+two+numbers` matches the scenarios "Add two numbers", "Subtract two numbers" and "Multiply two numbers".<br>**Note**: Replace spaces in scenario names with the plus character (+) in your filter. Example:<br>Replace `Buy a book` with `Buy+a+book`. |
| testpath:target:   | Target | Matches tests by target. You can use the `*` wildcard in scenario names, e.g. `testpath:Target:Chrom*` matches the targets "Chrome" and "Chromium".<br>**Note**: Replace spaces in scenario names with the plus character (+) in your filter. Example:<br>Replace `32-bit envrionment` with `32-but+environment`.                                                |

You can combine filters using logical operators. The following operators are supported:

<ul>
<li>|: OR</li>
<li>&amp;: AND (however you need to use <code>&amp;amp;</code> instead in the profile, as it is an XML file)</li>
<li>!: NOT</li>
</ul>

## Examples

**Filter**

`<Filter>@MyTag &amp; @YourTag</Filter>` executes all tests with both the `@MyTag` and `@YourTag` tags.  
`<Filter>!tagmatch:Tag[1-9]</Filter>` executes all tests that are not tagged with any of `@Tag1` to `@Tag9`.  
`<Filter>@MyTag | tagmatch:tag[1-9]</Filter>` executes all tests with either the `@MyTag` tag or tags `@Tag1` to `@Tag9`.

**Target with Filter**

```xml
<Targets>
   <Target name="IE_11">
      <Filter>@MyTag</Filter>
   </Target>
    <Target name="FireFox">
      <Filter>@MyTag</Filter>
   </Target>
    <Target name="Chrome">
      <Filter>@MyTag</Filter>
   </Target>
</Targets>
```