How to Use Filter in Django Template: Syntax and Examples

In Django templates, you use the filter tag inside a {% for %} loop combined with an if condition to display only items that meet certain criteria. Django templates do not have a built-in filter function like Python, so filtering is done with conditional statements inside loops.

Syntax

The Django template language does not have a direct filter function like Python. Instead, you filter items by looping over a list with {% for %} and using {% if %} inside the loop to check conditions.

Basic pattern:

{% for item in list %}
  {% if item.property == value %}
    {{ item }}
  {% endif %}
{% endfor %}

This means: for each item in list, show it only if it meets the condition.

django

{% for item in list %}
  {% if item.property == value %}
    {{ item }}
  {% endif %}
{% endfor %}

Example

This example shows how to display only users who are active from a list passed to the template as users. Each user has an is_active property.

django

{% for user in users %}
  {% if user.is_active %}
    <p>{{ user.username }} is active.</p>
  {% endif %}
{% endfor %}

Output

<p>alice is active.</p>
<p>charlie is active.</p>

Common Pitfalls

Many beginners expect Django templates to support Python-like filter() functions directly, but templates only support simple logic. Trying to filter a list outside a loop or using Python syntax will not work.

Also, complex filtering logic should be done in the view, not the template, to keep templates simple and fast.

django

{# Wrong: Trying Python filter syntax in template #}
{# {% filter user.is_active for user in users %}  #}  {# This will cause an error #}

{# Right: Use if inside for loop #}
{% for user in users %}
  {% if user.is_active %}
    {{ user.username }}
  {% endif %}
{% endfor %}

Quick Reference

Usage	Description
{% for item in list %} {% if condition %} ... {% endif %} {% endfor %}	Loop over list and show items meeting condition
{{ variable|lower }}	Use built-in filters to transform output (not for filtering lists)
Filter data in views	Do complex filtering in Python views, not templates

Key Takeaways

Django templates filter lists by combining {% for %} loops with {% if %} conditions.

There is no direct filter function in Django templates like in Python.

Do complex filtering in views to keep templates simple and efficient.

Use built-in template filters for formatting, not for filtering lists.

Always test your conditions inside loops to avoid errors.