How to Use Filters in Webflow CMS: A Complete Guide

Webflow is a powerful tool for creating and managing websites with ease. One of the features that make Webflow stand out is its CMS functionality, which allows users to create dynamic content without writing a single line of code. In this tutorial, we will focus on using the F and Sweet CMS library for Webflow to create a live filter component.

Understanding the Filter Component

Before we dive into the practical example, it’s essential to understand how the filter component works in Webflow. The filter component takes text from inside a collection item and filters that item in the grid based on the text. Each piece of text within the collection item serves as a way for the item to be filtered in the grid.

For instance, if we have a collection list item generated by Webflow CMS with attributes such as year, branding, color, and type, updating any of these attributes will change how the item is filtered. These attributes are controlled within the Webflow CMS and can be edited by the user or client using the Webflow Editor.

It’s important to note that the text that needs to be filtered does not need to be visibly present on the published site. It just needs to be on the published site, even if it’s hidden. Now, let’s move on to a live example to see how the filter component is implemented in action.

Filtering a Dynamic List with Real-Time Search

In this example, we will use a text input to filter a dynamic list in real time. The grid will update as we type in the text input without the need to press enter or reload the page. This live filtering functionality provides a seamless user experience.

Setting Up the Page

To enable real-time search within a dynamic list, we need to make sure the following elements are properly configured within Webflow:

1. Apply a Class to the Collection List Element: The collection list element should have a class applied to it. This class is not the collection list wrapper, but the actual collection list element.

2. Assign a Class to the Text Input’s Parent Element: The text input should be wrapped with a parent element that has a specific class applied to it. This class will be utilized in the JavaScript code.

3. Adding a Data Attribute to the Text Field: Within the text field settings, we need to add a data attribute to the text field. This data attribute will be used for filtering the content.

Implementing the JavaScript

We will now use the F and Sweet CMS library to implement the real-time search functionality. Here’s how to incorporate it into the Webflow project:

1. Include the F and Sweet CMS Library Script: Before the closing body tag, add the F and Sweet CMS library script to the project-specific script.

2. Create a New Instance of F and Sweet CMS Library: Define a new instance of the FS library, targeting the collection list class. Store this new instance in a variable for later use.

3. Define the Filter Array: Define the filter array, specifying the search input and its parent wrapper class. Also, specify the filter type. For example, if we're filtering by the color “blue,” the filter will exclusively search for the term “blue.”

4. Run the Filter Component: Finally, apply the filter component to the collection list using the filter array. Additionally, define an animation to make the filtering process visually appealing.

Following these steps will enable real-time search within the dynamic list, providing a lightweight, flexible, and efficient filtering mechanism for users.

Conclusion

The F and Sweet CMS library for Webflow empowers users to create dynamic, interactive, and user-friendly websites. With the filter component, users can easily manage and customize content filtering within a CMS-generated dynamic list without the need for complex coding.

In this tutorial, we explored how to set up and use the filter component to enable real-time search within a dynamic list in Webflow. By understanding the principles of the filter component and following the implementation steps, users can enhance the user experience on their website by providing a seamless, interactive content filtering mechanism.

As you continue to explore the capabilities of Webflow, leverage the F and Sweet CMS library to unlock the full potential of dynamic content management and user interaction on your website. Happy filtering!