SUMMARYIn this paper, the problem of exponential H ∞ filter problem for a class of discrete-time polytopic uncertain switched linear systems with average dwell time switching is investigated. The exponential stability result of the general discrete-time switched systems using a discontinuous piecewise Lyapunov function approach is first explored. Then, a new -dependent approach is proposed, which means the analysis or synthesis of the underlying systems is dependent on the increase degree of the piecewise Lyapunov function at the switching instants. A mode-dependent full-order filter is designed such that the developed filter error system is robustly exponentially stable and achieves an exponential H ∞ performance. Sufficient existence conditions for the desired filter are derived and formulated in terms of a set of linear matrix inequalities, and consequently the minimal average dwell time and the corresponding filter are obtained from such conditions for a given system decay degree. A numerical example is presented to demonstrate the potential and effectiveness of the developed theoretical results.