# Filter samples/cells
Filter samples or cells depends on the input data in order to perform downstream analysis on a subset of data.
Click a count matrix or single cell counts data node, in the Filtering section of the pop-up menu, and choose to **Filter samples** (bulk data) or **Filter cells** (single cell data).
The dialog lets you build a series of filters based on sample or cell attributes.
Click **Finish** to apply the filter. If no sample or cell will pass the filter criteria, a warning message will appear and the task will not run.
## Filter by metadata
The first drop-down menu allows you to choose to **include** or **exclude** based on the specified criteria.
The second drop-down menu allows you to choose any categorical or numeric attribute to use for the filter criteria.
If the attribute is **categorical**, the third drop-down menu includes **in** and **not in** as options. A fourth drop-down menu allows you to search and choose from the levels of the selected attribute.
If the attribute is **numeric**, the the third drop-down includes:
* <: less than
* <=: less than or equal to
* \== equal to
* \>: greater than
* \>=: greater than or equal to
The threshold is set using the text box. The input must be a number; it can be an integer or decimal, positive or negative.
Using the **OR** and **AND** options, you can combine multiple filters.
When combining multiple filters all set to **Include**:
With **AND**, if all statements must be true for the sample to meet the filter criteria.
With **OR**, if any statement is true, the sample will meet the filter criteria.
When combining multiple filters all set to **Exclude**:
With **AND**, if any statement is true, the sample will meet the filter criteria.
With **OR**, all statements must be true for the sample to meet the filter criteria.
## Filter by features
You can use a certain feature expression values to generate a subset of the data. For instance, if you want to include all the samples/cells whose GAPDH gene expression value is greater or equal to 5:
You can search for a feature by typing in the search box in the 2nd drop-down list.
The output of the task will contain a data node with the same features as the input data but only the observations meet the filter criteria.
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