JAXP Question...XMLFilters vs Transformers

[G. Todd Miller - XML Tech Ctr - Development]

JAXP Experts,

Just a quick question, is an XMLFilter basically a Transformer ?
After looking at samples of code that use these things, it seems
like this is the case.  For example, the UseXMLFilter.java sample
in the distro chains together 3 XMLFilters, each of them are created
from a stylesheet (like a Transformer), so flow might be modeled as:

                              foo1.xsl         foo2.xsl
                                 |               |
                                 v               v
foo.xml --> [XMLReader] --> [xmlFilter1] --> [xmlFilter2] --> ... --> [Serialzr]


Part of the confusion
I'm having comes from the javadoc, where you find out that 
an XMLFilter extends XMLReader. So XMLFilters are really XML Reader
that can carry out transformations?  I'm going around in circles here-
any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance,

Todd

=======================================================================
G. Todd Miller                        Sun Microsystems Computer Company
Software Systems Engineer             2 Network Drive, MS UBUR02-201
GE&IS XML Tech Center                 Burlington, MA 01803-0903
                                      781 442-0176
                                      781 442-1437 (fax)
                                      [EMAIL PROTECTED]