Property Filter

Last updated:

What does the Property Filter app do?

This app sets all specified properties on ingested events to null, effectively preventing PostHog from collecting information you do not want it to use.

It is used by teams such as WittyWorks to protect user privacy by removing unneeded geographic data.

What are the requirements for this app?

The Property Filter app requires either PostHog Cloud, or a self-hosted PostHog instance running version 1.30.0 or later.

Not running 1.30.0? Find out how to update your self-hosted PostHog deployment!

How do I install the Property Filter app?

  1. Log in to your PostHog instance
  2. Click 'Apps' on the left-hand tool bar
  3. Search for 'Property Filter' press 'Install'
  4. Configure the by app by following the onscreen instructions.

It's important to note that this app effectively removes information from PostHog events by setting properties to null. Apps on PostHog run in sequence, so it usually makes sense to place this app at the end of a sequence.

Note: If you are filtering $ip, event.ip will also be set to null.

Does this filter properties for retrospective events?

No. The Property Filter app will only work on events ingested after it was enabled.

Configuration

OptionDescription
List of properties to filter out:
Type: string
Required: True
Separate properties with commas, without using spaces, like so: foo,bar,baz

Is the source code for this app available?

PostHog is open-source and so are all apps on the platform. The source code for the Property Filter app is available on GitHub.

Who created this app?

This app was created by community members at WittyWorks to protect the privacy of their users. We'd like to thank Christian and Lukas Kahwe Smnith for creating the Property Filter.

Who maintains this app?

This app is maintained by the community. If you have issues with the app not functioning as intended, please raise a bug report on the repo to let us know!

What if I have feedback on this app?

We love feature requests and feedback! Please create an issue to tell us what you think.

What if my question isn't answered above?

We love answering questions. Ask us anything via our Support page.

You can also join the PostHog Community Slack group to collaborate with others and get advice on developing your own PostHog apps.

Questions?

Was this page useful?

Next article

Property Flattener

What does the Property Flattener app do? This app flattens nested properties in PostHog events, making it easier to access them through filters if needed. This is useful if, for example, you're an online retailer and have purchase events with the following property structure: This app will keep the nested properties unchanged, but also add any nested properties at the first depth, like so: As such, you can now filter your purchase events based on product size number for example. What are the…

Read next article