Filtering Records: Basic Example

Hey there! In this step-by-step guide, we'll explore how to filter data by tags using Xano's powerful no-code platform. Whether you're a non-technical user or an experienced developer, this feature can save you a ton of time and effort when working with data models and APIs.

Setting Up the Data Model

First things first, let's set up a simple data model to work with. For this example, we'll create two tables: `Products` and `Tags`. The `Products` table will have fields like `name`, `description`, and `price`. The `Tags` table will store the different tags associated with each product.

To establish the relationship between these two tables, we'll add a `tags` field to the `Products` table. This field will be of the "Related To" type, allowing us to connect each product with one or more tags from the `Tags` table.

Creating the API Endpoint

Now that our data model is ready, it's time to create an API endpoint that will fetch products based on their associated tags. Here's how you can do it:

1. In the Xano dashboard, navigate to the "API" section and create a new endpoint (e.g., `example`).
2. Add an input parameter called `tagsID` of the "Number" type. This parameter will be used to filter products by the tag ID.
3. In the "Query All Records" function, click on the "Filter" tab, and then select the "By Custom Query" option.
4. In the custom query editor, you can start building your filter condition. On the left side, you'll see the available fields from the `Products` table. Select the `tags` field, which represents the relationship with the `Tags` table.
5. Next, add a `WHERE` clause that checks if the `tags.id` (the ID of the associated tag) is equal to the `tagsID` input parameter.
6. Above the statement builder, you'll find an option to "Ignore Empty Values." Enable this option to ensure that if no `tagsID` is provided, the query will return all products regardless of their associated tags.

After setting up the custom query, your filter condition should look something like this:

Don't forget to save your changes!

Testing the API Endpoint

Now, let's test our newly created API endpoint to see the tag filtering in action. Using the API testing interface in Xano, you can provide different values for the `tagsID` input parameter and observe the results.

1. If you enter a specific tag ID (e.g., `1`), the endpoint should return all products associated with that tag.
2. If you provide a different tag ID (e.g., `2`), the results will be filtered accordingly.
3. If you leave the `tagsID` input empty (or remove it), thanks to the "Ignore Empty Values" option, the endpoint will return all products without any tag filtering applied.

By following these steps, you've successfully implemented tag-based filtering for your product data using Xano's no-code platform. This feature can be incredibly useful for building e-commerce websites, content management systems, or any application that requires organizing and filtering data based on tags or categories.

Remember, Xano's visual interface and no-code approach make it easy for anyone, regardless of their technical background, to build and deploy powerful backend services. Happy filtering!