Filter Widget
Filter Settings
Post Widget Target
Choose the post widget this filter controls.
Details: Pick a Post, Loop Grid, Loop Carousel, Posts or Elementor V4 Loop widget from the dropdown. It lists the widgets present on the page. The filter then applies only to that widget.
Auto-connect: If you leave the dropdown empty and the page contains only one post widget, the filter connects to it automatically. If it can’t find a target, it shows a warning in the browser console.
Tips:
- Set the target explicitly when the page has more than one post widget.
- The dropdown is hidden while a Custom Target Selector is filled in.
Custom Target Selector
Target a widget by CSS ID or class instead of using the dropdown.
Details: Use this for advanced setups, or to drive several widgets with one filter. Separate multiple selectors with commas. The Post Widget Target dropdown is hidden while this field has a value.
Examples:
#my-posts(targets an element by ID).post-grid(targets an element by class)#news-grid, #events-grid(targets two widgets)
Post Type to Filter
Select the type of content to filter.
Details: Choose a post type such as post, page, or a custom post type like product for WooCommerce. Choose Targeted Widget to use the post type of the target widget.
Note: Using the post type from the targeted widget can give inconsistent results. If it isn’t available, “Any” is used instead.
Columns
Set the number of columns for the filter layout.
Details: Arrange the filter groups in 1 to 8 columns. The setting is responsive, so you can use a different number per device.
Options:
| Option | Description |
|---|---|
| 1–8 Columns | Select a number from 1 to 8 to define the grid layout for filter groups. |
Group Title
Add a label to a filter group.
Details: The title appears above the group’s options. It helps visitors tell groups apart when a filter has several.
Enable Toggle Mode
Make a filter group collapsible.
Details: Turns the group into a collapsible section. Each group can use toggle mode independently. Requires a Group Title.
Start Expanded
Show a collapsible group open on page load.
Details: Available when Enable Toggle Mode is on. By default, toggle groups start collapsed.
Data Source
Define the source of filter data.
Details: Choose what the group filters by. Taxonomies added by other plugins, such as Custom Post Type UI or ACF, are available.
Options:
| Data Source | Description |
|---|---|
| Taxonomy | Filter by taxonomy terms (e.g., categories, tags, product categories). |
| Custom Field | Filter by text values stored in a custom field. |
| Custom Field (Numeric) | Filter by numeric custom field values (e.g., price, stock quantity). |
| Relational Field | Filter by a custom field that stores related posts or users (e.g., an ACF Relationship or Post Object field). |
Tips:
- Choose Taxonomy for category- or tag-based filtering.
- Use Custom Field for text-based meta.
- Use Custom Field (Numeric) for ranges like price or stock quantity.
- Use Relational Field to filter by a related item, such as the author or venue linked to each post.
Select a Taxonomy
Choose the taxonomy to filter by.
Details: Available when the Data Source is Taxonomy. Pick from the taxonomies registered on your site, such as category, post_tag, or WooCommerce’s product_cat and product_tag.
Field Type
Choose how visitors interact with the group.
Details: The options depend on the Data Source. Numeric fields have their own list, described under Filter Type (Numeric).
Options:
| Field Type | Description |
|---|---|
| Checkboxes | Allow multiple selections. |
| Radio Buttons | Restrict to a single selection. |
| Label List | Display selectable labels. |
| Dropdown | Show options in a dropdown. |
| Select2 | Enhanced dropdown with search. Multiple selection is available. |
| Input Field | Let visitors type a value. Available for Custom Field only. |
Tips:
- Use Select2 for long option lists, like product attributes.
- Choose Input Field for free-text filtering, such as SKU searches.
Placeholder
Set the empty-state text of a dropdown.
Details: Available for Dropdown and Select2 fields. Default: “Choose an option”. For an Input Field on a custom field, the same setting is the text shown inside the input (default: “Search by keywords…”). For a numeric Input Field, use Min. Placeholder and Max. Placeholder (defaults: “Min.” and “Max.”).
Enable Multiple Select
Let visitors pick more than one option in a Select2 field.
Details: Available for Select2 on Custom Field and Relational Field groups.
Label Direction
Set whether options stack or sit side by side.
Details: Choose Vertical (one per line) or Horizontal (inline). Available for checkboxes, radio buttons and label lists.
Display Swatch
Show a color, image or button next to each term.
Details: Available for Taxonomy groups shown as checkboxes or radio buttons. Swatches are set on each term, not in the widget. Edit a term (for example under Posts → Categories) and choose a Swatches Type.
Options:
| Swatches Type | Description |
|---|---|
| None | No swatch. The term shows as normal. |
| Color | Shows a color chip. Pick the color on the term. |
| Image | Shows an image chip. Upload the image on the term. |
| Button | Shows a button with text you set on the term. |
| WC Category Image | Uses the WooCommerce category thumbnail. Available for product categories when WooCommerce is active. |
Group Separator Text: Each term also has an optional Group Separator Text field. When it is filled in, the text appears as a heading above that term in the filter, so you can split a long list into labelled sections.
Tips:
- Terms without a swatch set are shown normally, so you can mix swatches and plain terms.
- Use Hide Input and Hide Label to turn the list into a clean row of swatches.
Hide Input
Hide the checkbox or radio button.
Details: Available for checkboxes and radio buttons. Selected options are shown through the swatch or label styling instead. Pair it with Display Swatch.
Hide Label
Hide the term name and show only the swatch.
Details: Available when Display Swatch is on. The term name is still used as the swatch’s tooltip.
Custom Field Filter Settings
Field Key
Specify the meta key to filter by.
Details: Enter the meta key when the Data Source is Custom Field, Custom Field (Numeric) or Relational Field. Meta keys identify the custom data stored with each post, such as WooCommerce product meta.
How to Find the Meta Key:
- Open the Edit Product or Edit Post page in the WordPress admin.
- Find the Custom Fields section (enable it in Screen Options if hidden).
- Read the meta key listed next to the custom field value.
Note: Custom fields only appear when the right post type is selected in the filter widget.
Relation Type
Tell the filter what a relational field points to.
Details: Available for Relational Field groups.
Options:
| Option | Description |
|---|---|
| Auto Detect | The plugin works out whether the field stores posts or users. This is the default. |
| Post | The field stores related posts. |
| User | The field stores related users. |
Value Formatting
Change how stored values are displayed as options.
Details: Available for Custom Field and Custom Field (Numeric) groups. Formatting changes only the label visitors see, not the stored value.
Options:
| Format | Description |
|---|---|
| None | Show the value as stored. |
| Date | Show a stored date in a preset format (e.g., Year-Month-Day, Month Year). |
| Time | Show a stored time as 24H, 12H, or a duration (e.g., 2h 30m). |
| Number | Set the decimals and decimal separator, and add text after the number (e.g., seats, km). |
| Text | Show the text as stored, uppercase, lowercase, or capitalized. |
| Boolean | Show true/false values as Yes / No, True / False, or your own labels. |
| Custom Pattern | Wrap the value in your own text using the #VALUE# placeholder (e.g., From #VALUE# per night). |
| Custom Format | Enter a PHP date format string, such as Y-m-d or H:i. |
Before / After
Add text around a numeric field.
Details: Available for numeric fields shown as Range or Input Field, except Visual Range. Before is placed in front of the value and After behind it. Use them for units, such as “$” before a price or “km” after a distance.
Filter Type (Numeric)
Define how numeric custom fields are filtered.
Details: Select the interaction style for numeric custom fields, such as prices or stock quantities.
Options:
| Filter Type | Description |
|---|---|
| Range | Visitors select a minimum and maximum (e.g., $50–$100). Ideal for fields like _price. |
| Checkboxes | Allow multiple value selections (e.g., stock quantities like 10, 20, 30). |
| Radio Buttons | Restrict to a single value (e.g., specific price points). |
| Label List | Display values as selectable labels. |
| Input Field | Let visitors type their own value. Min. and Max. placeholders are available. |
Range Options
Fine-tune numeric Range filters.
Details: Available when the Filter Type is Range.
Options:
| Option | Description |
|---|---|
| Decimal Step Size | Set the number of decimals for the range (0–6). |
| Use Range Slider | Show a draggable slider instead of number inputs. Cannot be combined with Visual Range. |
| Visual Range | Show the range as a row of clickable icons, such as star ratings. Visitors pick one icon to filter by that slice of the range. Cannot be combined with Range Slider. |
| Icon (Normal) / Icon (Selected) | Choose the icon shown for unselected and selected states. |
| Max. Range | Set how many icons to show (1–10). Default: 5. The field’s values are divided into this many equal slices. |
| Inclusive Mode | Each icon includes all lower values, so selecting 4 matches 1–4 instead of only the 4 slice. |
| Hide Input | For Range Slider only. Hides the number inputs and the Before/After text, so only the slider is visible. |
Common Post Meta Fields
WooCommerce meta keys frequently used for filtering products.
Examples:
- Price (
_price): the product price (e.g.,19.99). - Sale Price (
_sale_price): the discounted price (e.g.,15.99). - Stock Quantity (
_stock): the available stock (e.g.,50). - Stock Status (
_stock_status): stock availability (e.g.,instock,outofstock). - Weight (
_weight): the product weight (e.g.,2.5kg). - Dimensions (
_length,_width,_height): the product dimensions (e.g.,10,5,8cm).
Tips:
- See the WooCommerce documentation for more meta keys, such as
_sku. - Use consistent meta key names across your posts so the filter finds every value.
Filter List Advanced Options
Sort By
Define how filter terms are sorted.
Details: Available for Taxonomy groups.
Options:
| Sort By | Description |
|---|---|
| None | Keep the default order. |
| Name | Sort alphabetically by term name. |
| Slug | Sort by term slug. |
| Count | Sort by the number of associated posts. |
| Term Group | Sort by term group. |
| Term Order | Sort by the order defined in the WordPress admin. |
| Term ID | Sort by term ID. |
Order
Control the direction of the sort.
Details: Choose Ascending (ASC) or Descending (DESC). Default: Descending.
Group Logic
Set how selected options within one group combine.
Details: Available for Taxonomy and Relational Field groups.
Options:
| Logic | Description |
|---|---|
| OR | A post can match any selected option. This is the default. |
| AND | A post must match all selected options. |
Tips:
- Use OR for flexible filtering, like combining product categories.
- Use AND for strict matching, such as posts that must carry every selected tag.
Display Empty Terms
Show terms that have no posts.
Details: Available for Taxonomy groups. By default, terms with no posts are hidden.
Show Post Count
Display the number of posts next to each option.
Details: Available for Taxonomy, Custom Field and Relational Field groups.
Show Hierarchy
Display parent and child terms as a nested list.
Details: Useful for hierarchical taxonomies, such as parent and child product categories. On by default. Not available for Label List, Custom Field or Numeric groups.
Toggle Child Terms
Let visitors expand and collapse child terms.
Details: Available for Taxonomy groups shown as checkboxes or radio buttons.
More/Less
Shorten long lists.
Details: Shows the first 5 options and hides the rest behind a “More…” link. The link switches to “Less…” once expanded. It only appears when the list has more than 5 options. Available for checkboxes, radio buttons and, for numeric fields, any type except Label List and Range.
Select All
Let visitors select every option in a group at once.
Note: Available for checkboxes and label lists. Not available for radio buttons, dropdowns, Select2 or numeric fields.
Details: Adds a “Select All” option at the top of the list. Can be enabled per group.
Select All Label
Customize the text of the Select All option.
Details: Available when Select All is on. Default: “Select All”.
Parent Options
Parent Logic
Set how filter groups combine with each other.
Details: Applies across all groups in the widget, whether they filter by taxonomy or by custom field.
Options:
| Logic | Description |
|---|---|
| AND | A post must match every group that has a selection. This is the default. |
| OR | A post can match any group that has a selection. |
Tips:
- Use AND to narrow results, like category and price together.
- Use OR to widen results across groups.
Dynamic Archive Filtering
Make the filter aware of the archive it is placed on.
Details: When on, the filter detects the current archive (category, tag, author, etc.) and includes it in the query.
Filter Terms by Current Archive
List only the terms that exist in the current archive.
Details: Available when Dynamic Archive Filtering is on. On a category or tag archive, an author archive or a post type archive, the option lists and their counts are built only from that archive’s posts. For example, on the “News” category archive, a tag group lists only the tags used by posts in “News”.
Enable Faceted Filter
Update the available options as visitors make selections.
Details: When on, options that would return no results are handled according to the Facet Mode.
Options:
| Facet Mode | Description |
|---|---|
| Grey out | Unavailable options stay visible but are disabled. This is the default. |
| Hide | Unavailable options are hidden. |
Group Facet Mode
Override the Facet Mode for a single group.
Details: Choose Inherit to use the widget’s Facet Mode, or set Grey out or Hide for this group only.
Default Filters
Default Filter Rules
Apply fixed rules that visitors can’t change.
Details: These rules are always applied, whatever the visitor selects. Use them to limit the content the filter works on.
Options:
| Filter Type | Description |
|---|---|
| Taxonomy Term | Include only posts with the chosen terms of a taxonomy. |
| Custom Field | Include only posts where a meta key has a given value. |
| Custom Field (Numeric) | Include only posts where a meta key falls between a minimum and maximum value. |
| Relational Field | Include only posts related to the chosen items. |
| Date | Include only posts newer than a set number of days (Post Age Limit). |
Examples:
- Show only products in the “Red” term.
- Show only blog posts published in the last 30 days.
Performance Settings
Load Only Post ID
Load post IDs instead of full post objects.
Details: Speeds up the query. Best for widgets that only need IDs, but it can break widgets that need full post data.
Default: Off
Impact on Speed: High
Skip Pagination Count
Skip counting the total number of matching posts.
Details: Skips the costly count query. Do not enable this if you use pagination.
Default: Off
Impact on Speed: Medium
Posts Per Page
Set how many posts each query returns.
Details: Set to -1 to use the value from the post widget, when the plugin can read it.
Default: -1
Impact on Speed: High
Cache Filter Terms
Cache the list of filter options.
Details: Stores the option lists in a transient to reduce database load. It doesn’t affect the post query itself. The cache is kept separately for each language, and users who can edit content always see fresh results. Set to 0 to disable it. Not recommended, except when debugging or when you change terms often.
Default: 86400 (1 day)
Impact on Speed: High
Query
Filter Query ID
Give the filter’s query a unique ID.
Details: The ID lets you modify the filter’s results in PHP with the bpfwe/filter_query_args/{query_id} hook. It also scopes the hooks that adjust a group’s options. See the Custom Query Guide and PHP Hooks pages.
Include Loop Grid Query ID
Keep the target widget’s own query customizations on filtered results.
Details: If the target widget has a Query ID and you’ve customized it in PHP (with elementor/query/{id}, or bpfwe/query/{id} for the Post widget), turn this on so that customization is also applied when the filter runs. Works with the Post widget, Elementor Pro Loop Grid, Posts and the V4 Loop.
Note: This can conflict with other Query IDs. Test the filter after enabling it.
Enable Query Debugging
Show the query the filter builds.
Details: Displays the WP_Query arguments below the filter. Visible to logged-in administrators only.
Additional Options
Display Reset Button
Show a button that clears every selection.
Reset Button Text
Customize the reset button’s label.
Details: Default: “Reset”.
Display Submit Button
Apply filters only when the visitor clicks a button.
Details: By default, results update as soon as a selection changes. Enable this to apply the selections all at once.
Submit Button Text
Customize the submit button’s label.
Details: Default: “Submit”.
Selected Terms Shortcodes
Show the visitor’s current selections anywhere on the page.
Details: Copy a shortcode from the widget’s settings and place it in a Shortcode widget. It updates live as visitors change their selections. Each shortcode contains this filter’s ID.
Options:
| Shortcode | Description |
|---|---|
filter_terms id="..." | Lists the selected terms. |
filter_count id="..." | Shows the total number of selected terms. |
filter_tags id="..." | Shows the selected terms as quick-deselect pills. Clicking a pill removes that selection. |
Details: Use Before/After to add text before the selected terms list (e.g., “Selected:”).
Mobile Mode
Move the filter to a different place on smaller screens.
Details: This works in two steps.
- Choose a Trigger Breakpoint. Mobile Mode does nothing until one is set.
- Place the
shortcode where the filter should appear on mobile, for example in a slide-in panel or accordion.
At or below the breakpoint’s screen width, the filter moves into the shortcode’s position. Above it, the filter returns to its original position. The shortcode accepts one ID or a comma-separated list of IDs to move several filters together.
Scroll to Top
Scroll the page after filtering.
Details: When on, the page scrolls back up when a filter is applied.
Default: Off
Nothing Found Message
Customize the message shown when no posts match.
Details: Default: “It seems we can’t find what you’re looking for.”
Elementor Template ID
Help the filter find the target widget inside an Elementor Pro template.
Details: Leave empty for automatic detection. If the filter returns an error 500 inside a template, enter the ID of the template that contains the target widget.
Filter ID
Read-only identifier of the filter widget.
Details: Generated by Elementor and used in the shortcodes above. It changes if you duplicate, copy or re-insert the widget from a template. Update any shortcodes that use it when that happens.
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