A Q-Filter is a reconfigurable technique that performs a continuum of linear and nonlinear filtering operations. It is modeled by unique mathematical structure, utilizing a function called the Q-Measure, defined using a set of adjustable kernel parameters to enable efficient hardware and software implementations of a variety of useful, new and conventional, filtering operations. The Q-Measure is based on an extension of the well-known Sugeno .lamda.-Measure. In order to optimize the Q-Filter kernel parameters, the value of an error function is minimized. The error function is based on difference between the filtered signal and target signal, with the target signal being a desired result of filtering.