diff --git a/packages/core/src/lib/Types.ts b/packages/core/src/lib/Types.ts
index b40c16a6..cc03aa6d 100644
--- a/packages/core/src/lib/Types.ts
+++ b/packages/core/src/lib/Types.ts
@@ -509,11 +509,17 @@ export interface ILeakFilter {
    * therefore, the reference and heap object will not be included in the
    * retainer trace detection and retainer size calculation.
    *
+   * Please also be aware that some edges like self-referencing edges,
+   * JS engine's internal edges, and hidden edges should not be considered
+   * as part of the retainer trace. These edges could make the retainer trace
+   * unncessarily complex and cause confusion. `isReferenceUsedByDefault` will
+   * be `false` for these types of edges.
+   *
    * * **Examples**:
    * ```javascript
    * // save as leak-filter.js
    * module.exports = {
-   *   retainerReferenceFilter(edge, _snapshot, _leakedNodeIds) {
+   *   retainerReferenceFilter(edge, _snapshot, _isReferenceUsedByDefault) {
    *     // exclude react fiber references
    *     if (edge.name_or_index.toString().startsWith('__reactFiber$')) {
    *       return false;
@@ -596,10 +602,16 @@ export type LeakFilterCallback = (
  * @returns the value indicating whether the given reference should be
  * filtered (i.e., included)
  *
+ * Please also be aware that some edges like self-referencing edges,
+ * JS engine's internal edges, and hidden edges should not be considered
+ * as part of the retainer trace. These edges could make the retainer trace
+ * unncessarily complex and cause confusion. `isReferenceUsedByDefault` will
+ * be `false` for these types of edges.
+ *
  * * **Examples**:
  * ```javascript
  * // exclude react fiber references
- * function retainerReferenceFilter(edge, _snapshot, _leakedNodeIds) {
+ * function retainerReferenceFilter(edge, _snapshot, _isReferenceUsedByDefault) {
  *   if (edge.name_or_index.toString().startsWith('__reactFiber$')) {
  *     return false;
  *   }
diff --git a/packages/core/src/lib/Utils.ts b/packages/core/src/lib/Utils.ts
index 67abaf45..a2d3fa33 100644
--- a/packages/core/src/lib/Utils.ts
+++ b/packages/core/src/lib/Utils.ts
@@ -686,7 +686,10 @@ function loadLeakFilter(filename: string): ILeakFilter {
     if (typeof filter === 'function') {
       return {leakFilter: filter};
     }
-    if (typeof filter?.leakFilter === 'function') {
+    if (
+      typeof filter?.leakFilter === 'function' ||
+      typeof filter?.retainerReferenceFilter === 'function'
+    ) {
       return filter;
     }
     throw haltOrThrow(`Invalid leak filter in ${filepath}`);
diff --git a/packages/core/src/paths/TraceFinder.ts b/packages/core/src/paths/TraceFinder.ts
index 6f186266..f9c371f0 100644
--- a/packages/core/src/paths/TraceFinder.ts
+++ b/packages/core/src/paths/TraceFinder.ts
@@ -727,10 +727,16 @@ class TraceFinder {
     if (!node || !node.hasPathEdge) {
       return null;
     }
+    const visited = new Set<number>([node.id]);
     let path: LeakTracePathItem = {node};
     while (node && node.hasPathEdge) {
       const edge: IHeapEdge = node.pathEdge as IHeapEdge;
-      path = {node: edge.fromNode, edge, next: path};
+      const fromNode = edge.fromNode;
+      if (visited.has(fromNode.id)) {
+        return null;
+      }
+      visited.add(fromNode.id);
+      path = {node: fromNode, edge, next: path};
       node = edge.fromNode;
     }
     return path;
diff --git a/website/docs/api/interfaces/core_src.IBrowserInfo.md b/website/docs/api/interfaces/core_src.IBrowserInfo.md
index ab6d435e..6e9dd9d2 100644
--- a/website/docs/api/interfaces/core_src.IBrowserInfo.md
+++ b/website/docs/api/interfaces/core_src.IBrowserInfo.md
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ through [RunMetaInfo](../modules/core_src.md#runmetainfo).
 browser version
 
  * **Source**:
-    * core/src/lib/Types.ts:1220
+    * core/src/lib/Types.ts:1232
 
 ___
 
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ ___
 all web console output
 
  * **Source**:
-    * core/src/lib/Types.ts:1228
+    * core/src/lib/Types.ts:1240
 
 ___
 
@@ -34,4 +34,4 @@ ___
 configuration for puppeteer
 
  * **Source**:
-    * core/src/lib/Types.ts:1224
+    * core/src/lib/Types.ts:1236
diff --git a/website/docs/api/interfaces/core_src.IHeapEdge.md b/website/docs/api/interfaces/core_src.IHeapEdge.md
index d0cfa626..c4f7ab84 100644
--- a/website/docs/api/interfaces/core_src.IHeapEdge.md
+++ b/website/docs/api/interfaces/core_src.IHeapEdge.md
@@ -45,7 +45,7 @@ import {getFullHeapFromFile} from '@memlab/heap-analysis';
 index of this JS reference inside the `edge.snapshot.edges` pseudo array
 
  * **Source**:
-    * core/src/lib/Types.ts:1648
+    * core/src/lib/Types.ts:1660
 
 ___
 
@@ -55,7 +55,7 @@ returns an [IHeapNode](core_src.IHeapNode.md) instance representing the hosting
 JS heap object where this reference starts
 
  * **Source**:
-    * core/src/lib/Types.ts:1669
+    * core/src/lib/Types.ts:1681
 
 ___
 
@@ -67,7 +67,7 @@ otherwise this is a reference with a string name (`edge.name_or_index`
 will return a string)
 
  * **Source**:
-    * core/src/lib/Types.ts:1655
+    * core/src/lib/Types.ts:1667
 
 ___
 
@@ -77,7 +77,7 @@ name of the JS reference. If this is a reference to an array element
 or internal table element, it is an numeric index
 
  * **Source**:
-    * core/src/lib/Types.ts:1604
+    * core/src/lib/Types.ts:1616
 
 ___
 
@@ -86,7 +86,7 @@ ___
 get the [IHeapSnapshot](core_src.IHeapSnapshot.md) containing this JS reference
 
  * **Source**:
-    * core/src/lib/Types.ts:1644
+    * core/src/lib/Types.ts:1656
 
 ___
 
@@ -96,7 +96,7 @@ returns an [IHeapNode](core_src.IHeapNode.md) instance representing the JS heap
 pointed to by this reference
 
  * **Source**:
-    * core/src/lib/Types.ts:1664
+    * core/src/lib/Types.ts:1676
 
 ___
 
@@ -105,7 +105,7 @@ ___
 the index of the JS heap object pointed to by this reference
 
  * **Source**:
-    * core/src/lib/Types.ts:1659
+    * core/src/lib/Types.ts:1671
 
 ___
 
@@ -115,7 +115,7 @@ type of the JS reference, all types:
 `context`, `element`, `property`, `internal`, `hidden`, `shortcut`, `weak`
 
  * **Source**:
-    * core/src/lib/Types.ts:1609
+    * core/src/lib/Types.ts:1621
 
 ## Methods
 
@@ -136,4 +136,4 @@ captured by the hosting object.
     * `...args`: `any`[]
  * **Returns**: `string`
  * **Source**:
-    * core/src/lib/Types.ts:1682
+    * core/src/lib/Types.ts:1694
diff --git a/website/docs/api/interfaces/core_src.IHeapEdges.md b/website/docs/api/interfaces/core_src.IHeapEdges.md
index 6a1164c5..0562d05f 100644
--- a/website/docs/api/interfaces/core_src.IHeapEdges.md
+++ b/website/docs/api/interfaces/core_src.IHeapEdges.md
@@ -41,7 +41,7 @@ The total number of edges in heap graph (or JS references in heap
 snapshot).
 
  * **Source**:
-    * core/src/lib/Types.ts:1719
+    * core/src/lib/Types.ts:1731
 
 ## Methods
 
@@ -54,7 +54,7 @@ to each element in ascending order of element index.
     * `callback`: (`edge`: [`IHeapEdge`](core_src.IHeapEdge.md), `index`: `number`) => `boolean` \| `void` | the callback does not need to return any value, if the callback returns `false` when iterating on element at index `i`, then all elements after `i` won't be iterated.
  * **Returns**: `void`
  * **Source**:
-    * core/src/lib/Types.ts:1735
+    * core/src/lib/Types.ts:1747
 
 ___
 
@@ -68,4 +68,4 @@ get an [IHeapEdge](core_src.IHeapEdge.md) element at the specified index
 at the specified index, otherwise it returns `null`.
 
  * **Source**:
-    * core/src/lib/Types.ts:1727
+    * core/src/lib/Types.ts:1739
diff --git a/website/docs/api/interfaces/core_src.IHeapLocation.md b/website/docs/api/interfaces/core_src.IHeapLocation.md
index a137cc60..709fd2c5 100644
--- a/website/docs/api/interfaces/core_src.IHeapLocation.md
+++ b/website/docs/api/interfaces/core_src.IHeapLocation.md
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ import {getFullHeapFromFile} from '@memlab/heap-analysis';
 get the column number
 
  * **Source**:
-    * core/src/lib/Types.ts:1582
+    * core/src/lib/Types.ts:1594
 
 ___
 
@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@ ___
 get the line number
 
  * **Source**:
-    * core/src/lib/Types.ts:1578
+    * core/src/lib/Types.ts:1590
 
 ___
 
@@ -61,7 +61,7 @@ ___
 get the heap object this location this location represents
 
  * **Source**:
-    * core/src/lib/Types.ts:1570
+    * core/src/lib/Types.ts:1582
 
 ___
 
@@ -70,7 +70,7 @@ ___
 get the script ID of the source file
 
  * **Source**:
-    * core/src/lib/Types.ts:1574
+    * core/src/lib/Types.ts:1586
 
 ___
 
@@ -79,7 +79,7 @@ ___
 get the [IHeapSnapshot](core_src.IHeapSnapshot.md) containing this location instance
 
  * **Source**:
-    * core/src/lib/Types.ts:1566
+    * core/src/lib/Types.ts:1578
 
 ## Methods
 
@@ -100,4 +100,4 @@ captured by the hosting object.
     * `...args`: `any`[]
  * **Returns**: `string`
  * **Source**:
-    * core/src/lib/Types.ts:1595
+    * core/src/lib/Types.ts:1607
diff --git a/website/docs/api/interfaces/core_src.IHeapNode.md b/website/docs/api/interfaces/core_src.IHeapNode.md
index 9211c81b..78cda5c9 100644
--- a/website/docs/api/interfaces/core_src.IHeapNode.md
+++ b/website/docs/api/interfaces/core_src.IHeapNode.md
@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@ For more information on what a dominator node is, please check out
 [this doc](https://developer.chrome.com/docs/devtools/memory-problems/memory-101/#dominators).
 
  * **Source**:
-    * core/src/lib/Types.ts:1876
+    * core/src/lib/Types.ts:1888
 
 ___
 
@@ -62,7 +62,7 @@ The total number of outgoing JS references (including engine-internal,
 native, and JS references).
 
  * **Source**:
-    * core/src/lib/Types.ts:1830
+    * core/src/lib/Types.ts:1842
 
 ___
 
@@ -72,7 +72,7 @@ returns true if the heap node has been set an incoming edge
 which leads to the parent node on the shortest path to GC root.
 
  * **Source**:
-    * core/src/lib/Types.ts:1852
+    * core/src/lib/Types.ts:1864
 
 ___
 
@@ -81,7 +81,7 @@ ___
 unique id of the heap object
 
  * **Source**:
-    * core/src/lib/Types.ts:1757
+    * core/src/lib/Types.ts:1769
 
 ___
 
@@ -91,7 +91,7 @@ check if this a string node (normal string node, concatenated string node
 or sliced string node)
 
  * **Source**:
-    * core/src/lib/Types.ts:1888
+    * core/src/lib/Types.ts:1900
 
 ___
 
@@ -104,7 +104,7 @@ from the React Fiber tree, `is_detached` will be `true`;
 otherwise it will be `false`
 
  * **Source**:
-    * core/src/lib/Types.ts:1812
+    * core/src/lib/Types.ts:1824
 
 ___
 
@@ -114,7 +114,7 @@ source location information of this heap object (if it is recorded by
 the heap snapshot).
 
  * **Source**:
-    * core/src/lib/Types.ts:1881
+    * core/src/lib/Types.ts:1893
 
 ___
 
@@ -125,7 +125,7 @@ for JS object instances (type `object`), `name` is the constructor's name
 of the object instance. for `string`, `name` is the string value.
 
  * **Source**:
-    * core/src/lib/Types.ts:1753
+    * core/src/lib/Types.ts:1765
 
 ___
 
@@ -134,7 +134,7 @@ ___
 index of this heap object inside the `node.snapshot.nodes` pseudo array
 
  * **Source**:
-    * core/src/lib/Types.ts:1861
+    * core/src/lib/Types.ts:1873
 
 ___
 
@@ -144,7 +144,7 @@ Get the number of all incoming references pointing to this heap object
 (including engine-internal, native, and JS references).
 
  * **Source**:
-    * core/src/lib/Types.ts:1847
+    * core/src/lib/Types.ts:1859
 
 ___
 
@@ -154,7 +154,7 @@ The incoming edge which leads to the parent node
 on the shortest path to GC root.
 
  * **Source**:
-    * core/src/lib/Types.ts:1857
+    * core/src/lib/Types.ts:1869
 
 ___
 
@@ -164,7 +164,7 @@ Get a JS array containing all outgoing JS references from this heap object
 (including engine-internal, native, and JS references).
 
  * **Source**:
-    * core/src/lib/Types.ts:1837
+    * core/src/lib/Types.ts:1849
 
 ___
 
@@ -174,7 +174,7 @@ Get a JS array containing all incoming JS references pointing to this heap
 object (including engine-internal, native, and JS references).
 
  * **Source**:
-    * core/src/lib/Types.ts:1842
+    * core/src/lib/Types.ts:1854
 
 ___
 
@@ -186,7 +186,7 @@ could be released if this object is released). For difference between
 [this doc](https://developer.chrome.com/docs/devtools/memory-problems/memory-101/#object_sizes).
 
  * **Source**:
-    * core/src/lib/Types.ts:1868
+    * core/src/lib/Types.ts:1880
 
 ___
 
@@ -198,7 +198,7 @@ by the object itself.). For difference between **shallow size** and
 [this doc](https://developer.chrome.com/docs/devtools/memory-problems/memory-101/#object_sizes).
 
  * **Source**:
-    * core/src/lib/Types.ts:1825
+    * core/src/lib/Types.ts:1837
 
 ___
 
@@ -207,7 +207,7 @@ ___
 get the [IHeapSnapshot](core_src.IHeapSnapshot.md) containing this heap object
 
  * **Source**:
-    * core/src/lib/Types.ts:1804
+    * core/src/lib/Types.ts:1816
 
 ___
 
@@ -220,7 +220,7 @@ This is engine-specific, for example all types in V8:
 `symbol`, `bigint`
 
  * **Source**:
-    * core/src/lib/Types.ts:1747
+    * core/src/lib/Types.ts:1759
 
 ## Methods
 
@@ -244,7 +244,7 @@ const reference = node.findAnyReference((edge: IHeapEdge) => {
 ```
 
  * **Source**:
-    * core/src/lib/Types.ts:1960
+    * core/src/lib/Types.ts:1972
 
 ___
 
@@ -268,7 +268,7 @@ const referrer = node.findAnyReferrer((edge: IHeapEdge) => {
 ```
 
  * **Source**:
-    * core/src/lib/Types.ts:1977
+    * core/src/lib/Types.ts:1989
 
 ___
 
@@ -293,7 +293,7 @@ const referrer = node.findAnyReferrerNode((node: IHeapNode) => {
 ```
 
  * **Source**:
-    * core/src/lib/Types.ts:1995
+    * core/src/lib/Types.ts:2007
 
 ___
 
@@ -318,7 +318,7 @@ const referrerNodes = node.findReferrerNodes((node: IHeapNode) => {
 ```
 
  * **Source**:
-    * core/src/lib/Types.ts:2030
+    * core/src/lib/Types.ts:2042
 
 ___
 
@@ -342,7 +342,7 @@ const referrers = node.findReferrers((edge: IHeapEdge) => {
 ```
 
  * **Source**:
-    * core/src/lib/Types.ts:2012
+    * core/src/lib/Types.ts:2024
 
 ___
 
@@ -367,7 +367,7 @@ node.forEachReference((edge: IHeapEdge) => {
 ```
 
  * **Source**:
-    * core/src/lib/Types.ts:1925
+    * core/src/lib/Types.ts:1937
 
 ___
 
@@ -392,7 +392,7 @@ node.forEachReferrer((edge: IHeapEdge) => {
 ```
 
  * **Source**:
-    * core/src/lib/Types.ts:1943
+    * core/src/lib/Types.ts:1955
 
 ___
 
@@ -413,7 +413,7 @@ const reference = node.getAnyReferrer('ref', 'property');
 ```
 
  * **Source**:
-    * core/src/lib/Types.ts:2085
+    * core/src/lib/Types.ts:2097
 
 ___
 
@@ -439,7 +439,7 @@ const n2 = node.getAnyReferrer('ref', 'property')?.fromNode;
 ```
 
  * **Source**:
-    * core/src/lib/Types.ts:2108
+    * core/src/lib/Types.ts:2120
 
 ___
 
@@ -460,7 +460,7 @@ const reference = node.getReference('map', 'hidden');
 ```
 
  * **Source**:
-    * core/src/lib/Types.ts:2045
+    * core/src/lib/Types.ts:2057
 
 ___
 
@@ -485,7 +485,7 @@ const hiddenClassNode2 = node.getReference('map', 'hidden')?.toNode;
 ```
 
  * **Source**:
-    * core/src/lib/Types.ts:2067
+    * core/src/lib/Types.ts:2079
 
 ___
 
@@ -512,7 +512,7 @@ const nodes2 = node.getReferrers('ref', 'property')
 ```
 
  * **Source**:
-    * core/src/lib/Types.ts:2148
+    * core/src/lib/Types.ts:2160
 
 ___
 
@@ -534,7 +534,7 @@ const referrers = node.getReferrers('ref', 'property');
 ```
 
  * **Source**:
-    * core/src/lib/Types.ts:2127
+    * core/src/lib/Types.ts:2139
 
 ___
 
@@ -555,7 +555,7 @@ captured by the hosting object.
     * `...args`: `any`[]
  * **Returns**: `string`
  * **Source**:
-    * core/src/lib/Types.ts:1907
+    * core/src/lib/Types.ts:1919
 
 ___
 
@@ -567,4 +567,4 @@ inside the string node.
 
  * **Returns**: [`Nullable`](../modules/core_src.md#nullable)<[`IHeapStringNode`](core_src.IHeapStringNode.md)\>
  * **Source**:
-    * core/src/lib/Types.ts:1894
+    * core/src/lib/Types.ts:1906
diff --git a/website/docs/api/interfaces/core_src.IHeapNodes.md b/website/docs/api/interfaces/core_src.IHeapNodes.md
index 94b71359..8722bef9 100644
--- a/website/docs/api/interfaces/core_src.IHeapNodes.md
+++ b/website/docs/api/interfaces/core_src.IHeapNodes.md
@@ -41,7 +41,7 @@ The total number of nodes in heap graph (or JS objects in heap
 snapshot).
 
  * **Source**:
-    * core/src/lib/Types.ts:2226
+    * core/src/lib/Types.ts:2238
 
 ## Methods
 
@@ -54,7 +54,7 @@ to each element in ascending order of element index.
     * `callback`: (`node`: [`IHeapNode`](core_src.IHeapNode.md), `index`: `number`) => `boolean` \| `void` | the callback does not need to return any value, if the callback returns `false` when iterating on element at index `i`, then all elements after `i` won't be iterated.
  * **Returns**: `void`
  * **Source**:
-    * core/src/lib/Types.ts:2242
+    * core/src/lib/Types.ts:2254
 
 ___
 
@@ -68,4 +68,4 @@ get an [IHeapNode](core_src.IHeapNode.md) element at the specified index
 at the specified index, otherwise it returns `null`.
 
  * **Source**:
-    * core/src/lib/Types.ts:2234
+    * core/src/lib/Types.ts:2246
diff --git a/website/docs/api/interfaces/core_src.IHeapSnapshot.md b/website/docs/api/interfaces/core_src.IHeapSnapshot.md
index b613634e..ae261fcf 100644
--- a/website/docs/api/interfaces/core_src.IHeapSnapshot.md
+++ b/website/docs/api/interfaces/core_src.IHeapSnapshot.md
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ import {getFullHeapFromFile} from '@memlab/heap-analysis';
 ```
 
  * **Source**:
-    * core/src/lib/Types.ts:1320
+    * core/src/lib/Types.ts:1332
 
 ___
 
@@ -70,7 +70,7 @@ import {getFullHeapFromFile} from '@memlab/heap-analysis';
 ```
 
  * **Source**:
-    * core/src/lib/Types.ts:1294
+    * core/src/lib/Types.ts:1306
 
 ## Methods
 
@@ -105,7 +105,7 @@ class TestObject {
 ```
 
  * **Source**:
-    * core/src/lib/Types.ts:1461
+    * core/src/lib/Types.ts:1473
 
 ___
 
@@ -134,7 +134,7 @@ import {getFullHeapFromFile} from '@memlab/heap-analysis';
 ```
 
  * **Source**:
-    * core/src/lib/Types.ts:1342
+    * core/src/lib/Types.ts:1354
 
 ___
 
@@ -166,7 +166,7 @@ import {getFullHeapFromFile} from '@memlab/heap-analysis';
 ```
 
  * **Source**:
-    * core/src/lib/Types.ts:1394
+    * core/src/lib/Types.ts:1406
 
 ___
 
@@ -198,7 +198,7 @@ import {getFullHeapFromFile} from '@memlab/heap-analysis';
 ```
 
  * **Source**:
-    * core/src/lib/Types.ts:1368
+    * core/src/lib/Types.ts:1380
 
 ___
 
@@ -244,7 +244,7 @@ test('memory test with heap assertion', async () => {
 ```
 
  * **Source**:
-    * core/src/lib/Types.ts:1433
+    * core/src/lib/Types.ts:1445
 
 ___
 
@@ -276,7 +276,7 @@ import {getFullHeapFromFile} from '@memlab/heap-analysis';
 ```
 
  * **Source**:
-    * core/src/lib/Types.ts:1487
+    * core/src/lib/Types.ts:1499
 
 ___
 
@@ -320,4 +320,4 @@ test('memory test', async () => {
 ```
 
  * **Source**:
-    * core/src/lib/Types.ts:1525
+    * core/src/lib/Types.ts:1537
diff --git a/website/docs/api/interfaces/core_src.IHeapStringNode.md b/website/docs/api/interfaces/core_src.IHeapStringNode.md
index aaa35ce0..1252a02f 100644
--- a/website/docs/api/interfaces/core_src.IHeapStringNode.md
+++ b/website/docs/api/interfaces/core_src.IHeapStringNode.md
@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@ For more information on what a dominator node is, please check out
 [this doc](https://developer.chrome.com/docs/devtools/memory-problems/memory-101/#dominators).
 
  * **Source**:
-    * core/src/lib/Types.ts:1876
+    * core/src/lib/Types.ts:1888
 
 ___
 
@@ -61,7 +61,7 @@ The total number of outgoing JS references (including engine-internal,
 native, and JS references).
 
  * **Source**:
-    * core/src/lib/Types.ts:1830
+    * core/src/lib/Types.ts:1842
 
 ___
 
@@ -71,7 +71,7 @@ returns true if the heap node has been set an incoming edge
 which leads to the parent node on the shortest path to GC root.
 
  * **Source**:
-    * core/src/lib/Types.ts:1852
+    * core/src/lib/Types.ts:1864
 
 ___
 
@@ -80,7 +80,7 @@ ___
 unique id of the heap object
 
  * **Source**:
-    * core/src/lib/Types.ts:1757
+    * core/src/lib/Types.ts:1769
 
 ___
 
@@ -90,7 +90,7 @@ check if this a string node (normal string node, concatenated string node
 or sliced string node)
 
  * **Source**:
-    * core/src/lib/Types.ts:1888
+    * core/src/lib/Types.ts:1900
 
 ___
 
@@ -103,7 +103,7 @@ from the React Fiber tree, `is_detached` will be `true`;
 otherwise it will be `false`
 
  * **Source**:
-    * core/src/lib/Types.ts:1812
+    * core/src/lib/Types.ts:1824
 
 ___
 
@@ -113,7 +113,7 @@ source location information of this heap object (if it is recorded by
 the heap snapshot).
 
  * **Source**:
-    * core/src/lib/Types.ts:1881
+    * core/src/lib/Types.ts:1893
 
 ___
 
@@ -124,7 +124,7 @@ for JS object instances (type `object`), `name` is the constructor's name
 of the object instance. for `string`, `name` is the string value.
 
  * **Source**:
-    * core/src/lib/Types.ts:1753
+    * core/src/lib/Types.ts:1765
 
 ___
 
@@ -133,7 +133,7 @@ ___
 index of this heap object inside the `node.snapshot.nodes` pseudo array
 
  * **Source**:
-    * core/src/lib/Types.ts:1861
+    * core/src/lib/Types.ts:1873
 
 ___
 
@@ -143,7 +143,7 @@ Get the number of all incoming references pointing to this heap object
 (including engine-internal, native, and JS references).
 
  * **Source**:
-    * core/src/lib/Types.ts:1847
+    * core/src/lib/Types.ts:1859
 
 ___
 
@@ -153,7 +153,7 @@ The incoming edge which leads to the parent node
 on the shortest path to GC root.
 
  * **Source**:
-    * core/src/lib/Types.ts:1857
+    * core/src/lib/Types.ts:1869
 
 ___
 
@@ -163,7 +163,7 @@ Get a JS array containing all outgoing JS references from this heap object
 (including engine-internal, native, and JS references).
 
  * **Source**:
-    * core/src/lib/Types.ts:1837
+    * core/src/lib/Types.ts:1849
 
 ___
 
@@ -173,7 +173,7 @@ Get a JS array containing all incoming JS references pointing to this heap
 object (including engine-internal, native, and JS references).
 
  * **Source**:
-    * core/src/lib/Types.ts:1842
+    * core/src/lib/Types.ts:1854
 
 ___
 
@@ -185,7 +185,7 @@ could be released if this object is released). For difference between
 [this doc](https://developer.chrome.com/docs/devtools/memory-problems/memory-101/#object_sizes).
 
  * **Source**:
-    * core/src/lib/Types.ts:1868
+    * core/src/lib/Types.ts:1880
 
 ___
 
@@ -197,7 +197,7 @@ by the object itself.). For difference between **shallow size** and
 [this doc](https://developer.chrome.com/docs/devtools/memory-problems/memory-101/#object_sizes).
 
  * **Source**:
-    * core/src/lib/Types.ts:1825
+    * core/src/lib/Types.ts:1837
 
 ___
 
@@ -206,7 +206,7 @@ ___
 get the [IHeapSnapshot](core_src.IHeapSnapshot.md) containing this heap object
 
  * **Source**:
-    * core/src/lib/Types.ts:1804
+    * core/src/lib/Types.ts:1816
 
 ___
 
@@ -216,7 +216,7 @@ get the string value of the JS string heap object associated with
 this `IHeapStringNode` instance in heap
 
  * **Source**:
-    * core/src/lib/Types.ts:2189
+    * core/src/lib/Types.ts:2201
 
 ___
 
@@ -229,7 +229,7 @@ This is engine-specific, for example all types in V8:
 `symbol`, `bigint`
 
  * **Source**:
-    * core/src/lib/Types.ts:1747
+    * core/src/lib/Types.ts:1759
 
 ## Methods
 
@@ -253,7 +253,7 @@ const reference = node.findAnyReference((edge: IHeapEdge) => {
 ```
 
  * **Source**:
-    * core/src/lib/Types.ts:1960
+    * core/src/lib/Types.ts:1972
 
 ___
 
@@ -277,7 +277,7 @@ const referrer = node.findAnyReferrer((edge: IHeapEdge) => {
 ```
 
  * **Source**:
-    * core/src/lib/Types.ts:1977
+    * core/src/lib/Types.ts:1989
 
 ___
 
@@ -302,7 +302,7 @@ const referrer = node.findAnyReferrerNode((node: IHeapNode) => {
 ```
 
  * **Source**:
-    * core/src/lib/Types.ts:1995
+    * core/src/lib/Types.ts:2007
 
 ___
 
@@ -327,7 +327,7 @@ const referrerNodes = node.findReferrerNodes((node: IHeapNode) => {
 ```
 
  * **Source**:
-    * core/src/lib/Types.ts:2030
+    * core/src/lib/Types.ts:2042
 
 ___
 
@@ -351,7 +351,7 @@ const referrers = node.findReferrers((edge: IHeapEdge) => {
 ```
 
  * **Source**:
-    * core/src/lib/Types.ts:2012
+    * core/src/lib/Types.ts:2024
 
 ___
 
@@ -376,7 +376,7 @@ node.forEachReference((edge: IHeapEdge) => {
 ```
 
  * **Source**:
-    * core/src/lib/Types.ts:1925
+    * core/src/lib/Types.ts:1937
 
 ___
 
@@ -401,7 +401,7 @@ node.forEachReferrer((edge: IHeapEdge) => {
 ```
 
  * **Source**:
-    * core/src/lib/Types.ts:1943
+    * core/src/lib/Types.ts:1955
 
 ___
 
@@ -422,7 +422,7 @@ const reference = node.getAnyReferrer('ref', 'property');
 ```
 
  * **Source**:
-    * core/src/lib/Types.ts:2085
+    * core/src/lib/Types.ts:2097
 
 ___
 
@@ -448,7 +448,7 @@ const n2 = node.getAnyReferrer('ref', 'property')?.fromNode;
 ```
 
  * **Source**:
-    * core/src/lib/Types.ts:2108
+    * core/src/lib/Types.ts:2120
 
 ___
 
@@ -469,7 +469,7 @@ const reference = node.getReference('map', 'hidden');
 ```
 
  * **Source**:
-    * core/src/lib/Types.ts:2045
+    * core/src/lib/Types.ts:2057
 
 ___
 
@@ -494,7 +494,7 @@ const hiddenClassNode2 = node.getReference('map', 'hidden')?.toNode;
 ```
 
  * **Source**:
-    * core/src/lib/Types.ts:2067
+    * core/src/lib/Types.ts:2079
 
 ___
 
@@ -521,7 +521,7 @@ const nodes2 = node.getReferrers('ref', 'property')
 ```
 
  * **Source**:
-    * core/src/lib/Types.ts:2148
+    * core/src/lib/Types.ts:2160
 
 ___
 
@@ -543,7 +543,7 @@ const referrers = node.getReferrers('ref', 'property');
 ```
 
  * **Source**:
-    * core/src/lib/Types.ts:2127
+    * core/src/lib/Types.ts:2139
 
 ___
 
@@ -564,7 +564,7 @@ captured by the hosting object.
     * `...args`: `any`[]
  * **Returns**: `string`
  * **Source**:
-    * core/src/lib/Types.ts:1907
+    * core/src/lib/Types.ts:1919
 
 ___
 
@@ -576,4 +576,4 @@ inside the string node.
 
  * **Returns**: [`Nullable`](../modules/core_src.md#nullable)<[`IHeapStringNode`](core_src.IHeapStringNode.md)\>
  * **Source**:
-    * core/src/lib/Types.ts:1894
+    * core/src/lib/Types.ts:1906
diff --git a/website/docs/api/interfaces/core_src.ILeakFilter.md b/website/docs/api/interfaces/core_src.ILeakFilter.md
index ba189324..627c8f97 100644
--- a/website/docs/api/interfaces/core_src.ILeakFilter.md
+++ b/website/docs/api/interfaces/core_src.ILeakFilter.md
@@ -186,11 +186,17 @@ the object will be considered as unreachable in the heap graph; and
 therefore, the reference and heap object will not be included in the
 retainer trace detection and retainer size calculation.
 
+Please also be aware that some edges like self-referencing edges,
+JS engine's internal edges, and hidden edges should not be considered
+as part of the retainer trace. These edges could make the retainer trace
+unncessarily complex and cause confusion. `isReferenceUsedByDefault` will
+be `false` for these types of edges.
+
 * **Examples**:
 ```javascript
 // save as leak-filter.js
 module.exports = {
-  retainerReferenceFilter(edge, _snapshot, _leakedNodeIds) {
+  retainerReferenceFilter(edge, _snapshot, _isReferenceUsedByDefault) {
     // exclude react fiber references
     if (edge.name_or_index.toString().startsWith('__reactFiber$')) {
       return false;
@@ -212,4 +218,4 @@ memlab run --scenario <SCENARIO FILE> --leak-filter <PATH TO leak-filter.js>
 ```
 
  * **Source**:
-    * core/src/lib/Types.ts:537
+    * core/src/lib/Types.ts:543
diff --git a/website/docs/api/interfaces/core_src.IScenario.md b/website/docs/api/interfaces/core_src.IScenario.md
index 6e2a97e8..049d9951 100644
--- a/website/docs/api/interfaces/core_src.IScenario.md
+++ b/website/docs/api/interfaces/core_src.IScenario.md
@@ -90,7 +90,7 @@ module.exports = scenario;
 ```
 
  * **Source**:
-    * core/src/lib/Types.ts:829
+    * core/src/lib/Types.ts:841
 
 ___
 
@@ -121,7 +121,7 @@ Check out [this page](/docs/how-memlab-works) on why
 memlab needs to undo/revert the `action` callback.
 
  * **Source**:
-    * core/src/lib/Types.ts:855
+    * core/src/lib/Types.ts:867
 
 ___
 
@@ -156,7 +156,7 @@ module.exports = scenario;
 ```
 
  * **Source**:
-    * core/src/lib/Types.ts:733
+    * core/src/lib/Types.ts:745
 
 ___
 
@@ -189,7 +189,7 @@ module.exports = {
 ```
 
  * **Source**:
-    * core/src/lib/Types.ts:941
+    * core/src/lib/Types.ts:953
 
 ___
 
@@ -233,7 +233,7 @@ module.exports = {
 ```
 
  * **Source**:
-    * core/src/lib/Types.ts:913
+    * core/src/lib/Types.ts:925
 
 ___
 
@@ -283,7 +283,7 @@ module.exports = {
 ```
 
  * **Source**:
-    * core/src/lib/Types.ts:986
+    * core/src/lib/Types.ts:998
 
 ___
 
@@ -334,7 +334,7 @@ module.exports = {
 ```
 
  * **Source**:
-    * core/src/lib/Types.ts:1032
+    * core/src/lib/Types.ts:1044
 
 ___
 
@@ -370,7 +370,7 @@ module.exports = scenario;
 ```
 
  * **Source**:
-    * core/src/lib/Types.ts:782
+    * core/src/lib/Types.ts:794
 
 ## Methods
 
@@ -405,7 +405,7 @@ module.exports = scenario;
 ```
 
  * **Source**:
-    * core/src/lib/Types.ts:703
+    * core/src/lib/Types.ts:715
 
 ___
 
@@ -430,7 +430,7 @@ module.exports = {
 
  * **Returns**: `number`
  * **Source**:
-    * core/src/lib/Types.ts:874
+    * core/src/lib/Types.ts:886
 
 ___
 
@@ -453,4 +453,4 @@ load. All objects allocated by the initial page load will be candidates
 for memory leak filtering.
 
  * **Source**:
-    * core/src/lib/Types.ts:751
+    * core/src/lib/Types.ts:763
diff --git a/website/docs/api/modules/core_src.md b/website/docs/api/modules/core_src.md
index 7d7a258e..75c7d924 100644
--- a/website/docs/api/modules/core_src.md
+++ b/website/docs/api/modules/core_src.md
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ this callback until it returns `true`. This is an async callback, you can
 also `await` and returns `true` until some async logic is resolved.
 
  * **Source**:
-    * core/src/lib/Types.ts:1154
+    * core/src/lib/Types.ts:1166
 
 ___
 
@@ -86,7 +86,7 @@ or [forEachReferrer](../interfaces/core_src.IHeapNode.md#foreachreferrer).
  * **Returns**: [`Optional`](core_src.md#optional)<{ `stop`: `boolean`  }\> \| `void` | this API returns void
 
  * **Source**:
-    * core/src/lib/Types.ts:1767
+    * core/src/lib/Types.ts:1779
 
 ___
 
@@ -102,7 +102,7 @@ For concrete example, check out [beforeLeakFilter](../interfaces/core_src.ILeakF
  * **Returns**: `void`
 
  * **Source**:
-    * core/src/lib/Types.ts:548
+    * core/src/lib/Types.ts:554
 
 ___
 
@@ -118,7 +118,7 @@ For concrete examples, check out [action](../interfaces/core_src.IScenario.md#ac
  * **Returns**: `Promise`<`void`\> | no return value
 
  * **Source**:
-    * core/src/lib/Types.ts:628
+    * core/src/lib/Types.ts:640
 
 ___
 
@@ -146,7 +146,7 @@ function leakFilter(node, _snapshot, _leakedNodeIds) {
 ```
 
  * **Source**:
-    * core/src/lib/Types.ts:575
+    * core/src/lib/Types.ts:581
 
 ___
 
@@ -274,10 +274,16 @@ For concrete examples, check out [leakFilter](../interfaces/core_src.ILeakFilter
  * **Returns**: `boolean` | the value indicating whether the given reference should be
 filtered (i.e., included)
 
+Please also be aware that some edges like self-referencing edges,
+JS engine's internal edges, and hidden edges should not be considered
+as part of the retainer trace. These edges could make the retainer trace
+unncessarily complex and cause confusion. `isReferenceUsedByDefault` will
+be `false` for these types of edges.
+
 * **Examples**:
 ```javascript
 // exclude react fiber references
-function retainerReferenceFilter(edge, _snapshot, _leakedNodeIds) {
+function retainerReferenceFilter(edge, _snapshot, _isReferenceUsedByDefault) {
   if (edge.name_or_index.toString().startsWith('__reactFiber$')) {
     return false;
   }
@@ -288,7 +294,7 @@ function retainerReferenceFilter(edge, _snapshot, _leakedNodeIds) {
 ```
 
  * **Source**:
-    * core/src/lib/Types.ts:612
+    * core/src/lib/Types.ts:624
 
 ___
 
@@ -303,7 +309,7 @@ You can retrieve the instance of this type through [getRunMetaInfo](../classes/a
 | `type` | `string` | type of the memlab run |
 
  * **Source**:
-    * core/src/lib/Types.ts:1235
+    * core/src/lib/Types.ts:1247
 
 ___