Conditional filters appear or disappear based on the option selected in a preceding filter. They help keep your filter panel looking clean and simple, and show families only the choices that apply to them.
For example, when a family filters to view only Magnet schools, Explore can show an additional Featured Programs filter, which wouldn't make sense for someone looking at neighborhood schools.
When to use conditional filters
Use conditional filters when a filter only matters for some families. For example:
- Age or provider filters that only apply to childcare or pre-K
- Career and technical education options that only apply to high school grades
- Program filters that only apply to one school type
If a filter applies to everyone, leave it visible all the time.
What you can set up
Show a filter after a choice. The filter starts hidden and appears when a family picks certain options in another filter.
Example: Show Career & Technical Education when a family picks grades 9, 10, 11, or 12.
Hide a filter after a choice. The filter starts visible and disappears when a family picks a certain option.
Example: Hide Head Start when a family picks a grade other than pre-K.
Use the distance filter as the trigger. Show or hide a filter based on the distance a family sets.
Example: Hide Head Start when distance is set above half a mile.
Combine conditions. A filter can depend on more than one choice:
- All conditions must be met (grades 9–12 picked and distance under 5 miles)
- Any condition can be met (grades K–2 or grades 9–12 picked)
Chain filters. A filter can depend on a filter that is itself conditional. For example: School type → Childcare → Ages served → Provider type.
How conditional filters behave for families
- A conditional filter appears only after the family makes the triggering choice.
- Filters always appear in the order you set. A filter that shows up slots into its place in that order.
- If a filter disappears because the family changed an earlier choice, anything selected in it is cleared and no longer narrows results.
Plan your conditional filters
For each conditional filter, decide:
| Question | Example |
|---|---|
| Which filter is conditional? | Ages Served |
| Does it start hidden or visible? | Hidden |
| Which filter controls it? | School Type |
| Which options show or hide it? | Childcare, Pre-K |
| Does it depend on more than one choice? | No |
Send your plan to your Avela representative or help@avela.org, and Avela sets it up.
The options you name must match your filter options exactly, including spelling and capitalization. If they don't, the conditional filter won't appear.
Test your conditional filters
After setup:
- Pick each triggering option and check that the right filter appears.
- Change your choice and check that the filter disappears and its selections clear.
- Check that the filters appear in the order you expect.
Related articles
- Designing filters for Explore
- Preparing your Explore data file
- Explore Refresh Checklist
Comments
0 comments
Article is closed for comments.