# Interface XMLFilter

All Superinterfaces:
  `XMLReader`

All Known Implementing Classes:
  `XMLFilterImpl`

public interface XMLFilter extends XMLReader
Interface for an XML filter.

An XML filter is like an XML reader, except that it obtains its events from another XML reader rather than a primary source like an XML document or database. Filters can modify a stream of events as they pass on to the final application.

The XMLFilterImpl helper class provides a convenient base for creating SAX2 filters, by passing on all `EntityResolver`, `DTDHandler`, `ContentHandler` and `ErrorHandler` events automatically.

Since:
  1.4, SAX 2.0
See Also:
  - `XMLFilterImpl`

## Method Summary

Modifier and Type
Method
Description
`XMLReader`
`getParent()`
Get the parent reader.
`void`
`setParent(XMLReader parent)`
Set the parent reader.

### Methods declared in interface XMLReader

`getContentHandler, getDTDHandler, getEntityResolver, getErrorHandler, getFeature, getProperty, parse, parse, setContentHandler, setDTDHandler, setEntityResolver, setErrorHandler, setFeature, setProperty`

## Method Details

### setParent

void setParent(XMLReader parent)
Set the parent reader.

This method allows the application to link the filter to a parent reader (which may be another filter). The argument may not be null.

Parameters:
  `parent` - The parent reader.

### getParent

XMLReader getParent()
Get the parent reader.

This method allows the application to query the parent reader (which may be another filter). It is generally a bad idea to perform any operations on the parent reader directly: they should all pass through this filter.

Returns:
  The parent filter, or null if none has been set.