A device that allows some signals to pass through but absorbs, attenuates, blocks, rejects, or removes all other signals, depending on their frequency (electrical) or wavelength (optical). Active filters require electrical power to operate, while passive filters do not. A low-pass filter passes all frequencies below a certain value, but blocks all others. A high-pass filter passes all frequencies above a certain value, but blocks all others.A band-pass filter passes all frequencies in a designated band, but blocks all others. See also absorption, active, attenuation, electrical, frequency, optical, passive, signal, and wavelength.