> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.couchdrop.io/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.couchdrop.io/security-and-governance/transfer-shield-dlp/content-rules.md).

# Content Rules

Learn how Content Rules work in Transfer Shield DLP

## Introduction

Content Rules define the content or file types that Transfer Shield should allow or block.

Every Content Rule belongs to a [Content Rule Group](/security-and-governance/transfer-shield-dlp/content-rule-groups.md). A group can contain one or more rules.

## Rule types

A Content Rule can use one of two rule types:

| Rule type                     | Description                           |
| ----------------------------- | ------------------------------------- |
| **Block matching files**      | Blocks files that match the rule      |
| **Allow only matching files** | Allows only files that match the rule |

Files can be matched using detected content, MIME type, or both.

## Content classification

Content Rules can match detected content classifications including:

* Emails
* Phone numbers
* Banking information
* Payment card information
* ID cards
* Government documents
* Driver licenses
* Social Security numbers
* Passports
* UUIDs
* Personal information
* Malware

## MIME type classification

Content Rules can also match files based on MIME type.

This can be used to allow or block file types such as:

* Images
* PDFs
* Documents
* Spreadsheets
* Executables
* Binary files

## How Content Rules are evaluated

Within a Content Rule, selected content classifications are evaluated as **OR**.

For example:

`Passport OR Driver License`

Selected MIME types are also evaluated as **OR**.

For example:

`JPEG OR PNG OR PDF`

When content classifications and MIME types are configured in the same rule, the two sets are evaluated together as **AND**.

For example, a rule configured with:

* Passport
* Driver License

and:

* JPEG
* PNG
* PDF

matches:

`(Passport OR Driver License) AND (JPEG OR PNG OR PDF)`

The file therefore needs to match at least one selected content classification and at least one selected MIME type.

## How multiple rules are evaluated

A [Content Rule Group](/security-and-governance/transfer-shield-dlp/content-rule-groups.md) can contain multiple Content Rules.

Rules within the same Content Rule Group are evaluated as **OR**.

If any Content Rule matches, the Content Rule Group matches.


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