allowedfilepatterns

Allowedfilepatterns is a configuration option used by software to specify which files are permitted for a particular operation. It acts as a whitelist that controls file inclusion by listing patterns that match eligible files. The patterns are typically expressed as glob patterns or regular expressions, depending on the tool. When multiple patterns are provided, they are usually treated as alternatives; a file matches if it satisfies any one pattern.

In practice, allowedfilepatterns is used to constrain actions such as scanning, indexing, syncing, building, or backing up. Common examples include patterns like *.txt, *.md, or **/*.java to include entire directories. The exact syntax and separator (for example, comma-separated, space-separated, or a list in YAML or JSON) depend on the software, but the concept remains the same: a whitelist of file paths or names.

When configuring allowedfilepatterns, users should consider platform differences (case sensitivity and path separators), the scope of included directories, and performance implications. It may be necessary to combine allow patterns with exclude patterns in some tools, but allowedfilepatterns represents a whitelist approach rather than a blacklist.

Security and governance considerations include ensuring that sensitive files are not unintentionally included and that patterns do not inadvertently broaden access to unrelated files. Documentation for the specific tool should be consulted to understand supported pattern syntax and integration with other filters.