---
title: period_type
description: The value for this setting must be either relative or absolute. The default value is relative. 
url: https://www.elastic.co/docs/reference/elasticsearch/curator/fe_period_type
products:
  - Elasticsearch
  - Elasticsearch Curator
---

# period_type
<note>
  This setting is only used with the [period](https://www.elastic.co/docs/reference/elasticsearch/curator/filtertype_period) filtertype
</note>

```yaml
 - filtertype: period
   period_type: absolute
   source: name
   timestring: '%Y.%m.%d'
   unit: months
   date_from: 2017.01
   date_from_format: '%Y.%m'
   date_to: 2017.01
   date_to_format: '%Y.%m'
```

The value for this setting must be either `relative` or `absolute`. The default value is `relative`.