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A lightweight Flutter/Dart package that checks and censors strings for profanity using a built-in English word list (LDNOOBW). It helps maintain respectful communication in apps by identifying and replacing offensive language. Ideal for user-generated content moderation, chat applications, or any scenario requiring text filtering. The package is easy to integrate and supports multiple platforms including mobile, web, and desktop.
Use cases
User comment moderation
Chat application filtering
Content safety in forms
Real-time message screening
Automated text cleanup
Key features
Built-in English profanity list
Simple string checking and censoring
Customizable word lists
Cross-platform support
Easy integration with Flutter
Suitable for
App developers prioritizing content safety
Chat or social media apps
Moderation tools for user input
Educational or family-friendly apps
Apps with public comment sections
Considerations
Limited to English by default
May require custom word list updates
Censorship accuracy depends on word list completeness
Not suitable for multilingual content without customization
Potential false positives with context-sensitive words
Original README
Original README snapshot from the linked source repository. Visit the repository for the latest content.
profanity_filter
Simple Dart class to create filters with methods to check and censor strings against profanity. A default English words list is provided (from LDNOOBW on GitHub).
You can also use the filters to filter out a custom set of words, by using the ProfanityFilter.filterOnly() constructor.
Note: The latest version of the package is null-safe. The last package version that wasn't null-safe is 1.0.4
Example
import'package:profanity_filter/profanity_filter.dart';
voidmain() {
//Create the filter with the default constructor.//The default constructor uses the default list of words provided by [LDNOOBW on GitHub](//https://github.com/LDNOOBW/List-of-Dirty-Naughty-Obscene-and-Otherwise-Bad-Words)//Other constructors are available, see [README.md](https://pub.dev/packages/profanity_filter).final filter = ProfanityFilter();
//This string contains the profanity 'ass'String badString = 'You are an ass';
//Check for profanity - returns a boolean (true if profanity is present)bool hasProfanity = filter.hasProfanity(badString);
print('The string $badString has profanity: $hasProfanity');
//Get the profanity used - returns a List<String>List<String> wordsFound = filter.getAllProfanity(badString);
print('The string contains the words: $wordsFound');
//Censor the string - returns a 'cleaned' string.String cleanString = filter.censor(badString);
print('Censored version of "$badString" is "$cleanString"');
}
Methods
hasProfanity - Detect if a string contains profanity
Use the hasProfanity() method of the filter instance. Pass in the string to be tested.
Example
final filter = ProfanityFilter();
String badString = 'you are an ass';
filter.hasProfanity(badString); //Returns true.
getAllProfanity - Get a list of all profane words found
Use the getAllProfanity() method of the filter instance. Pass in the string to be tested.
Example
final filter = ProfanityFilter();
String badString = 'you are an ass';
List<String> wordsFound = filter.getAllProfanity(badString); //Returns ['ass']
censor - Censor a string (replace profanity with something clean)
Use the censor() method of the filter instance. Pass in the string to be censored.
Example
final filter = ProfanityFilter();
String badString = 'you are an ass';
String cleanString = filter.censor('you are an ass'); //cleanString: 'you are an ***'
Optionally, you can provide your own clean replacement word to the replaceWith named parameter.
filter.censor(string, replaceWith:'[censored]') will replace any profanity in string with [censored]
Default Profanity List
The default profanity list is taken from the LDNOOBW list, licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
To create a filter with the default list, use the default constructor ProfanityFilter()
Variations
To include custom words alongside default list
Use ProfanityFilter.filterAdditionally() constructor and pass your list of custom words.
This will use a list which is equivalent to Default List + Custom List
To filter only custom words (default list is ignored)
Use ProfanityFilter.filterOnly() constructor and pass a list containing your custom set of words.
This will use a list which is equivalent to Custom List
To filter with a few exclusions from default list
Use ProfanityFilter.ignore() constructor and pass your list of custom words. Those words will be removed from the default list if they exist there.
This will use a list which is equivalent to Default List - Custom List