# Comparing FIR and IIR Filters

Because designing digital filters involves making compromises to emphasize characteristics you want over characteristics you do not want, comparing FIR and IIR filters can help guide you in selecting the appropriate filter design for a particular application.

IIR filters can achieve the same level of attenuation as FIR filters but with far fewer coefficients. Therefore, an IIR filter can provide a significantly faster and more efficient filtering operation than an FIR filter.

You can design FIR filters to provide a linear-phase response. IIR filters provide a nonlinear-phase response. Use FIR filters for applications that require linear-phase responses. Use IIR filters for applications that do not require phase information, such as signal monitoring applications.