unfiltered

Unfiltered is an adjective describing something that has not been passed through a filter or filtering process. Filtering is used to remove unwanted substances, impurities, or extraneous data; therefore unfiltered items retain a greater degree of their original content or composition. The term appears across different domains, where the implications of 'unfiltered' can vary from practical to symbolic.

In physical contexts, unfiltered typically refers to substances that have not undergone purification. Unfiltered water contains suspended solids and dissolved substances; it may harbor microorganisms and chemicals, depending on source and handling. Unfiltered air similarly carries particles and pollutants that filtration would normally reduce. In both cases, safety and suitability depend on standards and usage.

Within food and beverage usage, 'unfiltered' describes products that retain fine particles, oils, or sediment. Unfiltered coffee or beer preserves natural oils and microscopic solids, affecting texture and flavor. Unfiltered juices or milks may be cloudy. These products are contrasted with filtered varieties where insoluble components are intentionally removed.

In media and communications, 'unfiltered' is used to indicate content that has not been edited, censored, or heavily moderated. It can signal authenticity or immediacy but also risks distributing misinformation, hate speech, or harmful material. Platforms and publishers may offer unfiltered feeds, live streams, or raw footage with warnings or controls to mitigate harm.

In data contexts, unfiltered data or streams are raw data that have not been cleansed or normalized by filters. Analyses of unfiltered data can capture more signals but also more noise and outliers; filtering is often applied to improve signal-to-noise ratio.