How can I create a dynamic drop-down filter for a CMS list in Webflow, similar to the one on this website? Thanks!

TL;DR

Create and structure CMS Collections for content and filter categories (e.g., tags or categories).
Add a Dropdown and populate it with filter options via a Collection List.
Assign custom attributes (e.g., data-category) to CMS items for filtering.
Use JavaScript or Finsweet’s CMS Filter to dynamically show/hide content based on selected filter values.

To create a dynamic drop-down filter for a CMS list in Webflow (like category or tag filters), you need to combine CMS Collections, custom elements, and optional JavaScript for interactivity.

1. Structure Your CMS Properly

Create a Collection (e.g., "Projects") with a multi-reference or option field for categories, tags, or whatever you're filtering by.
If using a multi-reference, ensure you’ve created a separate Collection for those categories or tags.

2. Add the Drop-Down Menu

In your page layout, add a Dropdown component from the Add panel.
Inside the Dropdown List, place a Collection List connected to your filter values (like categories or tags Collection).
Style the list items as clickable links or buttons.
Set each item to display the name of the filter (e.g., tag or category).

3. Build the Filterable CMS List

Add a Collection List on the page bound to your primary content (e.g., Projects).
Design your CMS items (cards, text, images, etc.) within that Collection List.

4. Set Filter Attributes (for JavaScript detection)

On each CMS item, add a custom attribute that matches its filter value. Example:
Select the parent div of a CMS item.
In the Element Settings panel, add a custom attribute like:
- Name: data-category
- Value: Current Category Name (use a text element with that dynamic value using CMS fields).

5. Add Custom JavaScript to Filter The Content

Since Webflow’s native filtering isn’t dynamic with CMS out-of-the-box, use JavaScript to show/hide items:
- Add click listeners to your dropdown items.
- When clicked, the script compares the selected value against each CMS item's data-category.
- Show only matching items or all if the filter is set to “All”.

Note: Use Webflow’s custom code embed to place this script in the Before </body> tag section of your page’s settings.

6. Optional: Use Finsweet’s CMS Filter

For a fully functional and no-code-friendly solution, implement Finsweet’s CMS Filter (https://www.finsweet.com/cms-filter).
They provide:
Step-by-step setup with an Attribute System (using fs-cmsfilter)
Support for multi-filters, dropdowns, checkboxes, and URL filtering
No custom code is required beyond attributes

Summary

To create a dynamic drop-down filter for a CMS list in Webflow, link the dropdown to your filter categories using CMS Lists, assign filter attributes to your content, and use JavaScript or Finsweet’s CMS Filter to show/hide items dynamically based on selection.

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