# Filebeat processor - what is this ~ good for?

**URL:** https://discuss.elastic.co/t/filebeat-processor-what-is-this-good-for/321616
**Category:** Beats
**Tags:** filebeat
**Created:** [December 20, 2022, 6:56am UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/filebeat-processor-what-is-this-good-for/321616 "2022-12-20T06:56:50Z")
**Posts on this page:** 3
**Page:** 1

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### Author: ![smm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@smm](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/smm)
#### Post date: [December 20, 2022, 6:56am UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/filebeat-processor-what-is-this-good-for/321616/1 "2022-12-20T06:56:50Z")

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Hi there,  
in a 7.17.4. processor block in filebeat I found this statement;  
...  
processors:

- add\_docker\_metadata: ~  
...  
What does this sing ~ stand for or do?  
Thanks!

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### Author: ![Lee\_Hinman](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/elastic/user_avatar/discuss.elastic.co/lee_hinman/32/74973_2.png) [@Lee\_Hinman](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/Lee_Hinman)
#### Post date: [December 20, 2022, 4:24pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/filebeat-processor-what-is-this-good-for/321616/3 "2022-12-20T16:24:14Z")

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YAML syntax for null, basically a way to say that the value for the key is empty. In this case it means to use the defaults for the `add_docker_metadata` processor.

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### Author: ![system](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/elastic/original/3X/1/a/1ac57faf039f6b580b3f104ef42a2a89e41014de.png) [@system](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/system)
#### Post date: [January 17, 2023, 6:24pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/filebeat-processor-what-is-this-good-for/321616/4 "2023-01-17T18:24:32Z")

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