> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://uxsmart.gitbook.io/velare/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://uxsmart.gitbook.io/velare/buy-and-install/create-required-metafields/metaobjects/filter-material.md).

# Filter Material

**Filter material** describes what a product is made of, for example `Grain Leather`, `Suede`, or `Raffia`. Once each product carries its materials, shoppers can open **Filters & Sort** on a collection page, tick a material, and see only the pieces made from it. A product can carry several materials at once, and each material name is written once as a metaobject entry, so renaming it later updates every product that uses it.

{% embed url="<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=beZI-DEuczE>" %}

### Before you start <a href="#before-you-start" id="before-you-start"></a>

* You can access **Settings > Custom data** in your Shopify admin. (Staff accounts need the matching permission.)
* You have the list of materials your catalog uses, spelled the way shoppers should see them.
* Do the steps in order. The metaobject must exist before the metafield can reference it, and the metafield must exist before you can tag products.

### Step 1: Create the Filter material metaobject <a href="#step-1-create-the-metaobject" id="step-1-create-the-metaobject"></a>

{% hint style="success" %}
**Steps:**

1. Go to **Shopify admin > Settings > Metafields and metaobjects > Metaobjects**.
2. Click **Add definition**.
3. Fill in the name:
   * Name: `Filter material`
4. Add one field:
   * Name: `Filter material label`
   * Type: **Single line text - One value**
5. Click **Save**.
   {% endhint %}

*Result:* your store now has a **Filter material** metaobject that can hold one entry per material.

<figure><img src="/files/XOdUCB0UOLuCB3Htz833" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

### Step 2: Create the Filter material product metafield <a href="#step-2-create-the-metafield" id="step-2-create-the-metafield"></a>

{% hint style="success" %}
**Steps:**

1. Go to **Shopify admin > Settings > Custom data > Products** (**Custom data** is shown as **Metafields and metaobjects** in some admin versions).
2. Click **Add definition**.
3. Fill in:
   * Name: `Filter material`
   * Namespace and key: `custom.filter_material`
   * Type: **Metaobject - List of entries**, with **Filter material** as the referenced metaobject
4. Click **Save**.
   {% endhint %}

*Result:* every product now has a **Filter material** field that accepts entries from the metaobject you created in Step 1.

<figure><img src="/files/3AHtfwvhCRS0ETVVAcI3" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

### Step 3: Tag each product with its materials <a href="#step-3-tag-each-product" id="step-3-tag-each-product"></a>

{% hint style="success" %}
**Steps:**

1. Go to **Shopify admin > Products**.
2. Select the product you want to tag.
3. Scroll down to the product's **Metafields** area and click the **Filter material** field.
4. Tick every material this product is made of. If one is not in the list yet, click **Add new entry** and create it.
5. Click **Save**.
6. Repeat for every other product you want shoppers to be able to filter by material.
   {% endhint %}

*Result:* the product carries its materials, and the entries you created are available for the next products.

<figure><img src="/files/WKofNSGOyMRk69xElk5k" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

{% hint style="info" %}
No app-side setup is needed. You do not have to enable anything in the Shopify Search & Discovery app. Once the **Filter material** metaobject and metafield are attached to your products, the **MATERIAL** group appears in the collection page's **Filters & Sort** automatically.
{% endhint %}

### What you should see <a href="#what-you-should-see" id="what-you-should-see"></a>

On a collection page, the **Filters & Sort** panel shows a **MATERIAL** group listing every material used in that collection, with the number of matching products next to each one. Ticking a material and applying it narrows the grid, and the chosen material appears as a chip above the products so shoppers can clear it again.

<figure><img src="/files/GKv1NFmfRzvG2q6XbOZv" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

### If something goes wrong <a href="#if-something-goes-wrong" id="if-something-goes-wrong"></a>

* **The Filter material field on the product is empty and offers nothing to pick.** No entries exist yet. Create one with **Add new entry** while tagging the first product.
* **The metafield cannot reference the metaobject.** The metaobject from Step 1 was not saved, or you picked a different reference. Redo Step 2 and select **Filter material**.
* **The MATERIAL group does not appear on the collection page.** No product in that collection carries a material yet. Tag a few products, and the group appears on its own with no further setup.
* **A product is missing from a material filter.** It carries only some of its materials. Open the product and tick the missing ones, since the field accepts several entries.

### Related pages <a href="#related-pages" id="related-pages"></a>

* [Metaobjects](/velare/buy-and-install/create-required-metafields/metaobjects.md): how the three filters fit together and which order to follow
* [Filter Family](/velare/buy-and-install/create-required-metafields/metaobjects/filter-family.md): the previous filter in this section
* [Filter Style](/velare/buy-and-install/create-required-metafields/metaobjects/filter-style.md): the next filter to set up
* [Product grid](/velare/customize-your-pages/collection-page/page-template-sections/product-grid.md): filtering and sorting on the collection page


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