Instead of displaying every item in a collection, filters help you show only the content that matches specific conditions.
In Framer, filtering is commonly used to organize blogs, portfolios, directories, resources, and other CMS-driven content.
Effective filtering helps:
Improve content discovery
Reduce clutter
Create focused layouts
Improve navigation
Highlight important content
Build more scalable websites
This guide explains how CMS filtering works and how to use it effectively.
What Is CMS Filtering?
Filtering is the process of displaying only certain CMS items based on predefined rules.
For example, a collection may contain:
articles.
A filter can be used to show only:
articles on a specific page.
The content still exists inside the collection, but only matching items are displayed.
Why Filtering Matters
As collections grow, displaying every item becomes less practical.
Imagine a blog containing:
Showing all 200 articles on every page would create a poor user experience.
Filtering allows you to create targeted content experiences instead.
For example:
Recent articles
Featured articles
SEO articles
Tutorials
Case studies
Each section can display only the most relevant content.
Real-World Filtering Examples
Most CMS websites rely heavily on filtering.
Blog Categories
A blog collection may contain content about multiple topics.
Example:
A category page can display only articles from one topic.
Example:
Result:
Only SEO articles appear.
Featured Content
Many websites highlight important content.
Example:
Only featured entries are displayed.
This is commonly used on:
Homepages
Resource hubs
Landing pages
Portfolio Categories
A portfolio collection may contain different project types.
Example:
Filtering allows visitors to view only projects from a specific category.
Team Directories
Companies often organize employees by department.
Example:
Filters can display only one department at a time.
How Filtering Works
Filtering is based on CMS field values.
A filter evaluates content and determines whether an item should be displayed.
Example:
Result:
Only matching items appear in the layout.
Understanding Filter Conditions
Every filter consists of:
Example:
This tells Framer to display only entries where the category equals SEO.
Types of CMS Filters
Different field types support different filtering methods.
Text-Based Filters
Text filters use text fields such as:
Categories
Tags
Labels
Author names
Example:
Only entries assigned to the Framer category appear.
Common Text Filter Examples
Examples include:
These are among the most commonly used filters.
Boolean Filters
Boolean fields contain only two values:
or
This makes them ideal for highlighting content.
Featured Posts
A common example:
Only featured entries appear.
This is often used for:
Homepage highlights
Featured resources
Recommended articles
Published Content
Boolean fields can also control visibility.
Example:
Only published content is displayed.
Date Filters
Date filters help organize content chronologically.
Examples include:
Recent posts
Upcoming events
Archived content
Date-based filtering is common on content-heavy websites.
Recent Articles
Example:
Only the latest content appears at the top.
Upcoming Events
Example:
Only future events are displayed.
Archived Content
Example:
Older content can be separated from current content.
Creating CMS Filters
The exact interface may change over time, but the workflow remains similar.
Step 1: Select a CMS List
Choose the dynamic list connected to your collection.
Examples:
Blog grid
Portfolio gallery
Team directory
Resource list
Filters are usually applied at the list level.
Step 2: Open Filter Settings
Locate the filtering controls for the CMS list.
This is where conditions are created.
Step 3: Define Filter Rules
Choose:
Field
Condition
Value
Example:
The list immediately updates to show matching content.
Step 4: Review Results
Always preview the filtered output.
Verify that:
Expected content appears
Unwanted content is hidden
Layouts remain intact
Testing is especially important for larger collections.
Combining Multiple Filters
Advanced content layouts often use multiple conditions.
Example:
Result:
Only featured SEO articles appear.
Another Example
This creates highly targeted content sections.
Filtering and CMS Lists
Filtering becomes especially powerful when combined with CMS lists.
Example:
Homepage:
Blog Page:
Resource Page:
All three sections can pull content from the same collection while displaying different results.
Related Content Sections
One of the most useful applications of filtering is related content.
Example:
Current article:
Related content section:
This improves content discovery and engagement.
User Experience Benefits
Filtering significantly improves usability.
Without filtering, visitors often face information overload.
With filtering, users can quickly find relevant content.
Benefits include:
Better navigation
Faster discovery
Cleaner layouts
More focused experiences
Filtering Large Content Libraries
As collections grow, filtering becomes increasingly important.
Examples:
Hundreds of blog posts
Large resource centers
Extensive documentation libraries
Filters help visitors navigate content efficiently.
SEO Benefits of Filtering
While filters primarily improve user experience, they can also support SEO efforts.
Improved Content Discovery
Filtered content sections help users find related content more easily.
This can increase:
Page views
Session duration
Engagement
Better Internal Linking
Filtered CMS lists naturally create connections between related pages.
Example:
These relationships help both users and search engines.
Stronger Topic Clusters
Filtering allows content to be grouped by topic.
Examples:
SEO
Design
CMS
Performance
This creates clearer content organization.
Common Beginner Mistakes
Creating Too Many Filters
Complex filtering systems can become difficult to manage.
Start simple.
Inconsistent Categories
Poor example:
These may be treated as different values.
Use consistent naming.
Empty Results
Filters can accidentally hide all content.
Always test every condition thoroughly.
Using Too Many Categories
Overly granular categories often confuse both editors and visitors.
Keep category structures manageable.
Forgetting Mobile Testing
Filtered layouts should work correctly on all screen sizes.
Always review:
Desktop
Tablet
Mobile
before publishing.
Best Practices
Keep filtering logic simple
Standardize category naming
Use Boolean fields for featured content
Test all filter combinations
Create meaningful categories
Avoid duplicate tags
Review filtered layouts regularly
Build filters around user needs