Getting your hands on a roblox custom command filter script is basically a rite of passage for any developer looking to level up their game's management. If you've spent any time playing popular games like Adopt Me or Brookhaven, you've probably seen admins flying around or kicking players using simple chat commands. But here's the thing: while building a command system is fun, making sure it respects Roblox's safety guidelines is where things get a bit tricky. You can't just have text flying around without checking if it's appropriate, especially if your commands involve displaying messages to other players.
The reality is that Roblox is pretty strict about its filtering systems. If you're building a custom admin panel or a chat-based command system, you have to use the TextService or Chat service to filter any player-generated input. This isn't just about being a "good dev"; it's about making sure your game doesn't get flagged or deleted. So, let's break down how you can actually piece together a system that works, feels smooth, and stays on the right side of the rules.
Why You Actually Need a Filter for Custom Commands
You might be thinking, "It's just a command like :kick player1, why do I need a filter for that?" Well, for a simple :kick command, you might not. But what happens when you create a :broadcast command that puts a giant message on everyone's screen? Or a :setmotto command that changes a player's overhead tag? That's where a roblox custom command filter script becomes mandatory.
Roblox requires that any text seen by other players must be filtered through their internal systems. This prevents people from bypassing the standard chat filter by using your custom commands to say things they shouldn't. If you ignore this, you're basically opening a backdoor for bad actors to turn your game into a mess. Plus, Roblox's automated systems are quite good at spotting unfiltered text strings. Save yourself the headache and do it right from the start.
Setting Up the Foundation
Before we get into the nitty-gritty of the code, you need to understand the basic flow. A typical command system works like this: a player types something in the chat, the server listens for that specific string, it checks if the player has permission (like being an admin), and then it executes the logic.
To integrate a roblox custom command filter script, you'll want to place your main logic in a Script inside ServerScriptService. Don't do this in a LocalScript because clients can be easily manipulated by exploiters. You want the server to be the ultimate source of truth.
The Basic Chat Listener
Everything starts with the Player.Chatted event. This is how you "hear" what the player is saying. Here's a rough idea of how that looks in practice:
lua game.Players.PlayerAdded:Connect(function(player) player.Chatted:Connect(function(message) -- This is where the magic happens print(player.Name .. " said: " .. message) end) end)
This is the barebones version. It just prints whatever anyone says. To make it a command system, you'd look for a prefix, usually a colon (:) or a semicolon (;).
Implementing the TextService Filter
Now, let's talk about the actual filtering. Roblox provides a service called TextService which has a method called FilterStringAsync. This is the gold standard for your roblox custom command filter script. It takes the string you want to filter, the UserID of the person who sent it, and a context (like whether it's for a private message or public chat).
The tricky part is that FilterStringAsync returns a TextFilterResult object, not just a string. You then have to call another method on that object, like GetChatForUserAsync or GetNonChatStringForBroadcastAsync, depending on who is supposed to see the text.
If you're making a command that shows text to everyone—like a global announcement—you'd use GetNonChatStringForBroadcastAsync. This ensures the text is filtered to the strictest level so players of all ages can see it without seeing anything inappropriate.
Making the Script "Smart"
A good roblox custom command filter script isn't just a giant list of if-then statements. That gets messy fast. Instead, you should try using a table to store your commands. This makes your code way cleaner and easier to update later.
Imagine having a table called Commands. Each entry in the table is a function. When a player chats, you split their message into "arguments." The first argument is the command name, and the rest are the parameters (like the player name or the message they want to broadcast).
Here's a conceptual way to handle that:
- Split the message by spaces.
- Check if the first word starts with your prefix.
- Remove the prefix and look up the word in your
Commandstable. - If it exists, run the function and pass the other words as arguments.
Handling Permissions
You don't want every random person who joins your game to be able to use your admin commands. That would be a disaster. Inside your roblox custom command filter script, you need a check to see if the player's UserId or RoleInGroup matches your admin list.
Some people like to use a simple list of IDs: local admins = {123456, 789012, 345678}
While that works, if you're making a game for a group, it's much better to check player:GetRankInGroup(groupId). It saves you from having to manually update the script every time someone gets promoted.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
One of the biggest mistakes I see new devs make is forgetting that FilterStringAsync is an "asynchronous" call. This means it can fail if Roblox's servers are having a bad day. If you don't wrap that call in a pcall (protected call), your whole script might crash just because the filter didn't respond fast enough.
Always, always use pcall when dealing with external services. It's like an insurance policy for your code. If the filter fails, you can just tell the player "Hey, the filter is down, try again later" instead of the whole command system breaking for everyone in the server.
Another thing is "over-filtering." You don't need to filter the command name itself (like :kill). You only need to filter the input that other people will see. If you filter every single word, you're just wasting processing power and potentially making the system feel laggy.
Advanced Features: Logging and Feedback
If you want to go the extra mile with your roblox custom command filter script, consider adding a logging system. It's really helpful to know who is using which commands and when. You can have the script print a log to the server console or even send it to a Discord webhook (though be careful with Discord's rate limits).
Also, give the user feedback! If they type a command wrong, don't just stay silent. Send a message to their local chat (using StarterGui:SetCore("ChatMakeSystemMessage", )) telling them "Command not found" or "Invalid arguments." It makes the whole experience feel much more professional.
Putting It All Together
Writing a roblox custom command filter script is a bit of a balancing act. You want it to be powerful enough to manage your game, but safe enough to keep your account out of trouble. By using TextService properly, organizing your commands in tables, and handling permissions securely, you're setting yourself up for success.
It takes a bit of practice to get the string manipulation right—especially when you start dealing with quoted strings or multiple arguments—but once you get the hang of it, you can reuse that same logic in every game you build. Don't be afraid to experiment, just remember to keep that filter active and your pcalls ready! Happy developing!