selectFilter

selectFilter is a user interface pattern used to filter a collection by selecting a value from a dropdown or select control. The pattern typically presents a list of distinct values for a data attribute (such as category, status, or tag). When a user chooses an option, the visible items are constrained to those whose attribute matches the selected value. An option to clear the filter or select “All” is commonly provided to restore the full dataset.

Implementation and behavior can vary. In client-side filtering, the filter is applied on the in-memory data, and the UI updates immediately as the selection changes. In server-side filtering, the selection is used to construct a query that is sent to a backend service, which returns the filtered results. The choice depends on dataset size, performance considerations, and architecture.

Design considerations include accessibility, such as ensuring the control has a clear label and is navigable via keyboard, and handling of empty or null attribute values. For large datasets, the options list may be dynamically generated or paginated, and some interfaces provide searchable select controls to improve usability.

Variants of the pattern may include cascaded filters (where one select’s options depend on another), multi-select variants, or custom renderings that display counts or summaries alongside each option. selectFilter is commonly used in data tables, product catalogs, dashboards, and other interfaces where users need to refine results efficiently while preserving a straightforward, discoverable interaction.