# Step Filtering Preferences

The following preferences can be set using the Java > Debug > Step Filtering preference page.

These preferences are used to configure step filters and step filtering options.

Option | Description | Default
--- | --- | ---
Use step filters | This option controls is step filtering should be enabled or not. See also the step filtering command in the Debug View | On
Defined step filters | This is a listing of all of the defined step filters (the listing itself) and whether the step filters are in use or not (the checked state of step filter) |
Add Filter button | Used to add a new step filter that is based on a regular expression |
Add Class button | Used to add a new Java class to the listing of step filters |
Add Packages button | Used to add new Java packages to the listing of step filters |
Remove button | Used to remove the selected step filter(s) |
Select All button | Used to set all defined step filters as enabled (or checked) |
Deselect All button | Used to set all defined step filters as disabled (or unchecked) |
Filter synthetic methods | This option controls if synthetic method should always be filtered or not while stepping. This option requires that the VM used support synthetic methods | Off
Filter static initializers | This option controls if static initializers should always be filtered or not while stepping | Off
Filter constructors | This option controls if constructors should always be filtered or not while stepping | Off
Step through filters | This option controls step filters to always return from a filtered location or step through to a non-filtered location. For example, if `java.util` is a filtered location, stepping into code in `HashMap` could result in a call-back to your application code to check the equality of an object. If you choose to Step through filters a step into would end up in your application code. However, when the Step through filters option is disabled, a step into `HashMap` would behave like a step over. | On

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