# FILTER
URL: https://docs.valsight.ai/filter/
Description: The FILTER function returns only the rows of a node that match a specified condition. Rows that do not satisfy the filter condition are removed from the result.
**Category:** [Filtering & data shaping](/filtering-data-shaping/)

## Overview

The **FILTER** function **returns only the rows** of a node **that match a specified condition**.
Rows that do not satisfy the filter condition are removed from the result.

Use this function to restrict calculations to a subset of your data, for example by selecting specific years, regions, or products.

## Syntax

`FILTER('Node', "Level", FilterValue [, "FilterOperation"])`

**Example usage:** `FILTER('Sales', "Year", "2025")`

## Parameters

| Parameter           | Description                                                                                                     | Type                            | Required | Default        |
| ------------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------- | -------- | -------------- |
| **Node**            | Input node, specified in single quotes (e.g. `'Revenue'`)                                                       | Node reference                  | Yes      | --             |
| **Level**           | The level by which the input node shall be filtered, specified in double quotes (e.g. `"Year"`, `"Region"`)     | Level name                      | Yes      | --             |
| **FilterValue**     | The value(s) to filter by. A single level value or a list of level values (e.g. `"2026"` or `["EMEA", "APAC"]`) | Level value /  Level value list | Yes      | --             |
| **FilterOperation** | Defines how values are compared to the filter. Valid values: `"EQ"`, `"NEQ"`, `"LT"`, `"LTE"`, `"GT"`, `"GTE"`  | String                          | No       | `"EQ"` (equal) |

**See also:** [Comparisons & boolean operators](/comparisons-boolean-operators/)

## Output shape

| Aspect         | Behavior                                               |
| -------------- | ------------------------------------------------------ |
| Dimensionality | Same dimensions as the input node                      |
| Values         | Only rows fulfilling the filter condition are returned |
| Row count      | Reduced, non-matching rows are removed                 |

## Watch out

* FILTER **removes rows** that do not match the filter condition.
* When using a **list of values**, rows matching any value in the list are kept.
* Filters can be **nested** to restrict multiple dimensions.
* The level specified in the filter must exist in the input node.

## Examples

**Input node:** `'Sales'`

| Year | Product | Value |
| ---- | ------- | ----- |
| 2025 | Alpha   | 100   |
| 2025 | Beta    | 200   |
| 2026 | Alpha   | 150   |
| 2026 | Beta    | 300   |
| 2027 | Alpha   | 10    |

### Filter to a single value

Keep only rows for 2025.

**Formula:** `FILTER('Sales', "Year", "2025")`

| Year | Product | FILTER Result |
| ---- | ------- | ------------- |
| 2025 | Alpha   | 100           |
| 2025 | Beta    | 200           |

### Exclude specific values with NEQ (not equal)

Return all rows **except** 2025 and 2026.

**Formula:** `FILTER('Sales', "Year", ["2025", "2026"], "NEQ")`

| Year | Product | FILTER Result |
| ---- | ------- | ------------- |
| 2027 | Alpha   | 10            |

### Chaining filters

You can nest FILTER calls to narrow down on multiple dimensions at once.

**Formula:** `FILTER(FILTER('Sales', "Year", "2026"), "Product", "Alpha")`

| Year | Product | FILTER Result |
| ---- | ------- | ------------- |
| 2026 | Alpha   | 150           |

### Using a project variable as the filter value

Instead of hardcoding a level value for a specific year, you can use a project variable so the filter updates automatically when the variable changes.

**Formula:** `FILTER('Sales', "Year", "$FC_End")`

This returns only rows where Year equals the current value of `$FC_End`, no formula change needed when the planning horizon shifts.

**See also:** [Project Variables](/project-variables/)

## Related

| Function                       | When to use instead                                                                        |
| ------------------------------ | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ |
| [IF](/if/)                     | Apply conditional logic without removing rows.                                             |
| [LEVELFILTER](/levelfilter/)   | When the condition depends on comparing level values rather than matching explicit values. |
| [EXPANDSINGLE](/expandsingle/) | Expand to specific level values instead of removing rows.                                  |
| [DATA](/data/)                 | Load source data before filtering.                                                         |