Multi-Reference Filter

Filter by linked reference collections like Tags, Categories, or Industries. Automatically loads options from your reference collection for powerful relational filtering.

Perfect for: Multi-Reference fields linking to Tags, Categories, Industries, or any reference collection in your CMS

How It Works

Multi-Reference filters connect to Multi-Reference fields in your CMS and automatically load all items from your linked reference collection.

Perfect for template marketplaces, directories, and portfolios where items have multiple tags or categories.

Unlike Option filters that work with single-value enum fields, Multi-Reference filters handle many-to-many relationships — items that belong to multiple categories, have multiple tags, or span multiple industries.

Watch Tutorial VideoSee Multi-Reference filtering in action

Setup Steps

  1. Add CMS Filters component — Insert via plugin or copy from dashboard
  2. Select Multi-Reference type — Choose from the filter type dropdown
  3. Connect Reference Collection — Drag your Multi-reference collection (Tags/Categories) into canvas and connect it to the Reference Collections in CMS Filters Builder component
  4. Enter CMS Field Name — Type the exact field name (e.g., "Tags") — case-sensitive!
  5. Enter Reference Collection Name — Type the collection name (e.g., "Tags")
  6. Set Title Field — Usually "Title" — the field to display as filter labels
  7. Choose display style — Tag buttons, Checkboxes, or Dropdown

Property Panel Settings

Configure these settings in the property panel:

  • Filter Label — Display name (e.g., "Tags", "Industries")
  • CMS Field Name — Exact name of your Multi-Reference field (case-sensitive)
  • Reference Collection Name — Name of the collection with filter options
  • Title Field — Field to display from reference collection (usually "Title")
  • Selection Style — Tag buttons, Checkboxes, or Dropdown
  • Logic — "Any" (OR) for broad results, "All" (AND) for specific matches
  • Allow Multiple — Let users select multiple filters

Matching Options

Any (OR)

Shows results matching any of the selected options - best for broad browsing

Example: Selecting "Minimal" + "Dark Mode" shows templates that have either tag

All (AND)

Shows only results that contain all selected options - best for specific searches

Example: Selecting "Minimal" + "Dark Mode" shows only templates that have both tags

Style Options

Tag Buttons

Modern pill-style buttons for visual selection

Best for: Template marketplaces, portfolios, modern interfaces

Checkboxes

Traditional multi-select with checkmark icons

Best for: When you want all options visible with clear selection state

Dropdown

Compact dropdown menu for space-saving

Best for: Many options or limited sidebar space

Use Cases & Examples

Template Marketplace

Filter by tags: Templates with "Minimal", "Dark Mode", "E-commerce" tags from a linked Tags collection

Agency Portfolio

Filter by industries: Projects linked to "Healthcare", "Finance", "Tech" from an Industries collection

Resource Library

Filter by topics: Articles tagged with multiple topics from a Topics collection

Product Directory

Filter by features: Products with multiple features from a Features collection

Tips & Best Practices

  • CMS Field Name must match your Multi-Reference field exactly (case-sensitive)
  • Adding new items to your Reference Collection automatically updates the filter UI
  • Use "Any" (OR) logic for broad browsing, "All" (AND) for specific searches
  • Enable multiple selection to let users stack filters like "Minimal" + "Dark Mode"
  • Tag button style provides the best user experience for visual filtering
  • Use the Debug Level in property panel to verify field connections while designing