# The chain function

The chain function is the function in which all data processing takes place. In the case of a simple filter, `_chain ()` functions are mostly lineair functions - so for each incoming buffer, one buffer will go out, too. Below is a very simple implementation of a chain function:

    static void
    gst_my_filter_chain (GstPad  *pad,
    		     GstData *data)
    {
      GstMyFilter *filter = GST_MY_FILTER (gst_pad_get_parent (pad));
      GstBuffer *buf = GST_BUFFER (data);

      if (!filter->silent)
        g_print ("Have data of size %u bytes!\n", GST_BUFFER_SIZE (buf));

      gst_pad_push (filter->srcpad, GST_DATA (buf));
    }

Obviously, the above doesn't do much useful. Instead of printing that the data is in, you would normally process the data there. Remember, however, that buffers are not always writable. In more advanced elements (the ones that do event processing), the incoming data might not even be a buffer.

    static void
    gst_my_filter_chain (GstPad  *pad,
                         GstData *data)
    {
      GstMyFilter *filter = GST_MY_FILTER (gst_pad_get_parent (pad));
      GstBuffer *buf, *outbuf;

      if (GST_IS_EVENT (data)) {
        GstEvent *event = GST_EVENT (data);

        switch (GST_EVENT_TYPE (event)) {
          case GST_EVENT_EOS:
            /* end-of-stream, we should close down all stream leftovers here */
            gst_my_filter_stop_processing (filter);
            /* fall-through to default event handling */
          default:
            gst_pad_event_default (pad, event);
            break;
        }
        return;
      }

      buf = GST_BUFFER (data);
      outbuf = gst_my_filter_process_data (buf);
      gst_buffer_unref (buf);
      if (!outbuf) {
        /* something went wrong - signal an error */
        gst_element_error (GST_ELEMENT (filter), STREAM, FAILED, (NULL), (NULL));
        return;
      }

      gst_pad_push (filter->srcpad, GST_DATA (outbuf));
    }

In some cases, it might be useful for an element to have control over the input data rate, too. In that case, you probably want to write a so-called loop-based element. Source elements (with only source pads) can also be get-based elements. These concepts will be explained in the advanced section of this guide, and in the section that specifically discusses source pads.