create-filter

Creating Backpex Filters

When the user wants to add a filter:

1. Pick the right filter type from the quick reference
2. Generate the filter module
3. Wire it into the LiveResource's filters/0 callback

Quick Reference

Type	Use for	use module	Key callbacks
Boolean	Checkbox predicates (published yes/no)	Backpex.Filters.Boolean	options/1 returning %{label, key, predicate} maps
Select	Single-value dropdown	Backpex.Filters.Select	prompt/0, options/1 returning {label, value} tuples
MultiSelect	Multi-value dropdown with checkboxes	Backpex.Filters.MultiSelect	prompt/0, options/1 returning {label, value} tuples
Range	Date, datetime, or number ranges	Backpex.Filters.Range	type/0 returning :date, :datetime, or :number
Custom	Anything else	Backpex.Filter	query/4, render/1, render_form/1

All built-in filters auto-implement query/4, render/1, and render_form/1. Do NOT re-implement those unless you need custom behavior.

All filters have these overridable callbacks with defaults:

• label/0: filter label (optional callback, can also be set in filters/0 map)
• can?/1: visibility control, receives assigns, default true
• type/1: Ecto type for validation (default :string), receives assigns
• changeset/3: custom changeset validation (default: no-op)
• validate/2: public validation API, builds changeset from type/1 and changeset/3

Boolean Filter

Multiple options selectable via checkboxes, combined with OR. Predicates use Ecto.Query.dynamic/2.

defmodule MyAppWeb.Filters.PostPublished do
  use Backpex.Filters.Boolean

  import Ecto.Query

  @impl Backpex.Filter
  def label, do: "Published?"

  @impl Backpex.Filters.Boolean
  def options(_assigns) do
    [
      %{label: "Published", key: "published", predicate: dynamic([x], x.published)},
      %{label: "Not published", key: "not_published", predicate: dynamic([x], not x.published)}
    ]
  end
end

Select Filter

Single-value dropdown. Default query/4 does WHERE field = value.

defmodule MyAppWeb.Filters.PostCategorySelect do
  use Backpex.Filters.Select

  import Ecto.Query

  alias MyApp.Repo

  @impl Backpex.Filter
  def label, do: "Category"

  @impl Backpex.Filters.Select
  def prompt, do: "Select category ..."

  @impl Backpex.Filters.Select
  def options(_assigns) do
    from(c in MyApp.Category, select: {c.name, c.id}, order_by: c.name) |> Repo.all()
  end
end

MultiSelect Filter

Same as Select but allows multiple values. Default query/4 does WHERE field IN values. Uses prompt/0 (implement with @impl Backpex.Filters.Select) and options/1 (implement with @impl Backpex.Filters.MultiSelect). Note: MultiSelect internally sets @behaviour Backpex.Filters.Select for the prompt callback.

Range Filter

Renders "From" and "To" inputs. Note: type/0 is arity 0, not arity 1.

defmodule MyAppWeb.Filters.PostLikeRange do
  use Backpex.Filters.Range

  @impl Backpex.Filters.Range
  def type, do: :number

  @impl Backpex.Filter
  def label, do: "Likes"
end

For dates use def type, do: :date. For datetimes use def type, do: :datetime.

Custom Filter

Use Backpex.Filter directly when no built-in type fits. You must implement query/4, render/1, and render_form/1. Note: use Backpex.Filter does not import HEEx sigils. You need use Phoenix.Component for ~H support.

defmodule MyAppWeb.Filters.PostCustom do
  use Phoenix.Component
  use Backpex.Filter

  import Ecto.Query

  @impl Backpex.Filter
  def label, do: "Custom"

  @impl Backpex.Filter
  def query(query, attribute, value, _assigns) do
    where(query, [x], field(x, ^attribute) == ^value)
  end

  @impl Backpex.Filter
  def render(assigns) do
    ~H"{@value}"
  end

  @impl Backpex.Filter
  def render_form(assigns) do
    ~H"""
    <input type="text" name={@form[@field].name} value={@value} class="input input-sm" />
    """
  end
end

Wiring Into a LiveResource

filters/0 returns a keyword list. Each key is the schema field atom being filtered.

@impl Backpex.LiveResource
def filters do
  [
    published: %{
      module: MyAppWeb.Filters.PostPublished
    },
    category_id: %{
      module: MyAppWeb.Filters.PostCategorySelect,
      label: "Category"
    },
    likes: %{
      module: MyAppWeb.Filters.PostLikeRange,
      label: "Likes",
      presets: [
        %{label: "Over 100", values: fn -> %{"start" => 100, "end" => nil} end},
        %{label: "1-99", values: fn -> %{"start" => 1, "end" => 99} end}
      ]
    }
  ]
end

Filter map keys

Key	Required	Description
:module	yes	The filter module
:label	no	Overrides the module's label/0
:default	no	Pre-selected value on initial page load
:presets	no	Quick-select shortcuts: [%{label: String.t(), values: (-> value)}]

Conventions

• Module naming: MyAppWeb.Filters.<Resource><FilterName> (e.g. MyAppWeb.Filters.PostPublished)
• File location: lib/my_app_web/filters/<snake_case_name>.ex
• The keyword list key in filters/0 must match the database column or foreign key
• Always import Ecto.Query when using dynamic/2 or writing custom queries
• Database queries in options/1 are fine since it runs at render time