Filtration
Filtration functions to restrict the migration of fine soil particles from a soil mass while remaining permeable to water movement at least greater than, or equivalent to permeability of the protected soil.

Drainage
Water is conveyed along the plane of the geotextile due to its construction, and then to an outlet. Water may be vertically or horizontally conveyed. Drainage is related to the role of filtration, and is a function of the permeability of a geotextile and its pore opening size or porometry.

Separation
Separation is that function which prevents two distinct soils or different materials from intermixing. The key factors for a geotextile to satisfy this function are porometry, toughness and strength.

Reinforcement
This function involves stabilization of a soil mass by provision of tensile strength to the soil mass by provision of tensile strength to the soil-fabric system. Geotextile selection can be expressed as a relationship between these four (4) basic functions and the properties required by the design engineer in order to satisfy certain criteria, which would relate to a specific application.