# 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.

<div align="left"><figure><img src="/files/OLH8V67gnIZJgC5ItZDx" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure></div>

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.

<figure><img src="/files/O1bFO18ETQ2NLJtD0Sih" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

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:

<figure><img src="/files/DPhsTZcq2KH73wewRPsV" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

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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