A Router transformation is similar to a Filter transformation because both transformations allow you to use a condition to test data. A Filter transformation tests data for one condition and drops the rows of data that do not meet the condition. However, a Router transformation tests data for one or more conditions and gives you the option to route rows of data that do not meet any of the conditions to a default output group. The Router transformation is an active transformation.

If you need to test the same input data based on multiple conditions, use a Router transformation in a mapping instead of creating multiple Filter transformations to perform the same task. The Router transformation is more efficient. For example, to test data based on three conditions, you only need one Router transformation instead of three filter transformations to perform this task. Likewise, when you use a Router transformation in a mapping, the Integration Service processes the incoming data only once. When you use multiple Filter transformations in a mapping, the Integration Service processes the incoming data for each transformation.

The following figure shows two mappings that perform the same task. The first mapping uses three Filter transformations while the second mapping produces the same result with one Router transformation:

A Router transformation consists of input and output groups, input and output ports, group filter conditions, and properties that you configure in the Designer.

The following figure shows a sample Router transformation: