View source for Nesdev wiki:ABUSE filter

The '''ABUSE filter''' looks at '''a'''ctions '''b'''y '''u'''sers, '''s'''uch as '''e'''dits, runs a few heuristics involving regular expressions, and decides which actions are likely to be unconstructive.
It's most useful to limit the damage caused by pattern vandals, or [[wikipedia:Wikipedia:Vandalism|wiki vandals]] whose edits follow a very distinct [[wikipedia:modus operandi|m.o.]]
Fortunately, automated vandalism processes are obvious pattern vandals, and a filter administrator can usually discover and curtail the pattern after three edits.

== See also ==
*[[Special:AbuseFilter|Edit the rules]] (administrators only)
*[[Nesdev wiki talk:ABUSE filter|Propose new rules or report a false positive]]

== External links ==
*[[mediawikiwiki:Extension:AbuseFilter|Extension documentation]], describing rules syntax
*[http://php.net/manual/en/book.pcre.php PHP: Perl-Compatible Regular Expressions], describing the syntax for the right side of operator <code>rlike</code>