Empty Filter Options
This feature guide assumes Divi 5 (Filter Posts in the Visual Builder). On Divi 4, related options exist in the classic module UI—see Divi 4 modules and the FAQ.
Overview
The Empty Filter Options feature controls how the Filter Posts module handles filter options that have zero results. Instead of showing every possible filter option (which might display "Category (0)" or similar), you can configure filters to intelligently hide or show options based on:
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Whether options have any associated posts or products
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The current filtering context (what other filters are active)
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The initial page load state
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The current archive or category page
This creates smart, context-aware filtering experiences where users only see relevant options that will actually return results.
Empty filter options improve user experience by preventing "dead ends" where users select a filter combination that returns zero results. It keeps filtering interfaces clean and helps users discover what's actually available.
Prerequisites
Before configuring empty filter options, ensure:
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Filter Update Type is set to "On Change" in the Filter Posts module Main Settings
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Display Filter Count is enabled (the plugin needs counts to determine what's empty)
- You can hide counts visually with CSS if needed while keeping functionality
Empty filter options require the "On Change" update method to work properly. If set to "On Button Click," dynamic hiding/showing of options will not function.
How It Works
Empty filter options work at two levels:
Module Level
Controls how the FIRST filter clicked behaves and affects other filters.
Filter Item Level
Controls each individual filter's empty option behavior.
The combination of these settings creates different user experiences, from showing all options always, to aggressive hiding of anything unavailable, to context-aware filtering that adapts to the current page.
Configuration
Module-Level Setting
Located in: Filter Posts Module > Content Tab > Main Settings
Update filter count and empty options for clicked item: Control first-filter behavior
This setting determines whether the FIRST filter item clicked remains unchanged while other filters update based on it.
Options:
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NO (Default) - All filters hide empty options independently
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The first clicked filter does NOT stay intact
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Empty options in ALL fields are removed based on active filters
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Creates balanced filtering where no single filter dominates
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YES - First clicked filter stays intact, others update
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Tracks the first filter item clicked as the "primary" filter
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That first filter's options remain visible even if they become empty
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Other filters dynamically hide empty options based on the first filter
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Creates a "primary + refinement" filtering pattern
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Example with YES:
If user clicks "Red" color first, ALL colors stay visible (Red, Blue, Green, etc.), but the Size filter automatically hides sizes that don't exist in red products.
Example with NO:
If user clicks "Red" color, then "Large" size, both the Color AND Size filters will update to hide options with zero results.
Filter Item Settings
Located in: Filter Posts Module > Content Tab > Filter Item Settings > [Individual Filter]
These settings control each filter's individual behavior regarding empty options.
Display Empty Filter Option: Show or hide options with zero count
Controls whether options with zero results are displayed at all.
Options:
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YES - Show all options regardless of count (may display "Category (0)")
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NO - Hide options that would return zero results
When to use YES:
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You want users to see the complete taxonomy structure
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Showing empty options provides context about what exists
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Users need to understand all available categories/terms
When to use NO:
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Keep the interface clean and focused
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Only show what's actually available
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Prevent user confusion from empty options
Hide empty options on page load: Initial state control
Hide empty options ONLY on initial page load, but show them once filtering begins.
Requirements:
- "Display Empty Filter Option" must be set to YES
Behavior:
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Initial page load: Only options with existing content are shown
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After first filter interaction: All options appear (even empty ones)
Use case:
Present a clean initial view with only populated options, but provide comprehensive filtering once the user engages with filters.
Hide filter when it has no options: Conditional filter visibility
Hide the ENTIRE filter field (not just individual options) if it has zero applicable options.
Use case:
Product attributes or categories that don't apply to certain contexts.
Example:
On a "Shoes" category page, a "Screen Size" attribute filter (relevant for electronics) would be completely hidden since no shoes have screen sizes.
This setting hides the whole filter field, while "Display Empty Filter Option" hides individual options within a visible filter.
Display Terms only Available to the Current Category or Archive Page: Context-aware filtering
Show only terms relevant to the current archive or category being viewed.
Availability:
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Only works on archive pages and category/term pages
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Does not apply on standard pages
Behavior:
Filters automatically adapt to show only options that apply to the current page context.
Example:
On a "Clothing > Accessories" category page, only show sizes and colors that exist for accessories within that specific category, hiding options from other clothing categories.
Only Show Available Options: Dynamic smart filtering (Checkbox/Radio only)
For checkbox and radio button filters, automatically hide options that would return zero results based on OTHER active filters.
Availability:
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Checkbox filter type
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Radio button filter type
Behavior:
Options dynamically update based on what's actually available given the current filter selections.
Example:
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User selects "Color: Red" from a checkbox filter
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The "Size" checkbox filter automatically hides all sizes that don't exist in red products
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Only sizes available in red are shown
This creates an intelligent, guided filtering experience.
Common Scenarios
Choose the configuration that matches your needs:
Scenario 1: Remove Other Empty Options (Default Behavior)
Best for: Preventing users from narrow dead-ends while keeping initial filter visible
Settings:
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Module: "Update filter count..." = NO
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Filter Items: "Display Empty Filter Option" = NO
Behavior:
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First clicked filter stays mostly intact
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Other filters hide empty options
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Balanced approach between visibility and usability
Use case: Homepage or main shop page where you want to show main categories always, but refine sub-options.
Scenario 2: Filter Out ALL Empty Options
Best for: Maximum refinement, only show what's currently available
Settings:
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Module: "Update filter count..." = YES
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Filter Items: "Display Empty Filter Option" = NO
Behavior:
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After first filter click, ALL filters hide empty options (including the first one)
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Most aggressive hiding of unavailable options
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Users see only combinations that return results
Use case: Complex product catalogs where users need to see exactly what's available based on all active filters.
Scenario 3: Display All Options Always (No Dynamic Updates)
Best for: Showing complete taxonomy structure regardless of availability
Settings:
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Module: "Update filter count..." = NO
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Filter Items: "Display Empty Filter Option" = YES
Behavior:
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All options always visible, even with (0) counts
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No dynamic hiding based on filter interactions
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Counts update but options never disappear
Use case: Educational sites, directories, or catalogs where seeing the full structure is important.
Scenario 4: Display All Options (With Dynamic Count Updates)
Best for: Always showing complete option list with live counts
Settings:
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Module: "Update filter count..." = YES
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Filter Items: "Display Empty Filter Option" = YES
Behavior:
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All categories/tags stay visible after filtering
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Counts dynamically update to show current availability
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Users see what becomes available/unavailable without options disappearing
Use case: When users need to see all possible options but with updated counts showing what's available.
Scenario 5: Hide Empty on Page Load Only
Best for: Clean initial view, comprehensive filtering after engagement
Settings:
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Module: Either setting works
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Filter Items: "Display Empty Filter Option" = YES
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Filter Items: "Hide empty options on page load" = YES
Behavior:
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Initial page load shows only options with content
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Once user interacts with any filter, all options appear (including empty ones)
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Provides clean first impression with full filtering power after engagement
Use case: Product pages where you want a streamlined initial view but don't want to limit user exploration.
Scenario 6: Context-Aware Archive Filtering
Best for: Category/archive pages needing automatic adaptation
Settings:
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Module: Either setting works
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Filter Items: "Display Terms only Available to Current Category or Archive Page" = YES
Behavior:
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Filters automatically show only options relevant to the current archive/category
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Options change as user navigates between different category pages
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No manual configuration needed per page
Use case: Multi-category WooCommerce shop or blog where filters should adapt to the current category context.
Example:
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On "Clothing > Shirts" page: Shows only sizes/colors for shirts
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On "Clothing > Pants" page: Shows only sizes/colors for pants
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Each category gets contextually relevant filters automatically
This option only works on WordPress archive pages (category, tag, taxonomy archives). It will not function on standard pages.
Scenario 7: Hide Entire Filters When Not Applicable
Best for: Product attributes that don't apply everywhere
Settings:
- Filter Items: "Hide filter when it has no options" = YES
Behavior:
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If a filter has ZERO applicable options, the entire filter field disappears
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Only filters with at least one option are shown
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Different pages may show different sets of filters
Use case: Cross-category product catalogs where attributes vary greatly between categories.
Example:
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Electronics category: Shows "Screen Size", "RAM", "Storage" filters
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Clothing category: Shows "Size", "Color", "Material" filters
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Electronics-specific filters disappear entirely on clothing pages
Best Practices
Display Filter Count Requirement
The empty filter options feature requires "Display Filter Count" to be enabled because the plugin needs to calculate result counts to determine which options are empty.
If you don't want counts visible to users:
You can hide them with CSS while maintaining functionality:
.et_pb_module .radio-count {
display: none !important;
}
This keeps the count calculation active (required for empty options logic) but hides the numbers from user view.
Combining Settings
Be thoughtful about setting combinations:
Good combinations:
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Show all + Dynamic counts = Informative filtering
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Hide empty + Context-aware = Smart, clean filtering
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Hide on load + Show all = Progressive disclosure
L Avoid:
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"Display Empty" = NO + "Hide on load" = YES (contradictory)
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"Hide filter when no options" without testing across all category types
Testing
Always test empty filter behavior:
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On different archive pages - Category, tag, custom taxonomy archives
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With various filter combinations - See how options appear/disappear
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On initial page load vs after filtering - Verify hide-on-load behavior
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Across different categories - Ensure context-aware settings work correctly
Troubleshooting
Filters not hiding as expected
Check:
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Filter Update Type is set to "On Change" (not "On Button Click")
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"Display Filter Count" is enabled
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Module-level and filter-level settings align with your intended scenario
Counts not updating
Possible causes:
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Caching plugin interfering with AJAX
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Filter Update Type set incorrectly
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JavaScript errors in browser console
Solutions:
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Clear all caches (site cache, browser cache, CDN)
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Disable caching temporarily to test
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Check browser console for JavaScript errors
Entire filter disappearing
If unexpected:
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Check "Hide filter when it has no options" setting
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Verify the filter has at least one option with posts
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Ensure you're testing on appropriate archive/category pages
If desired:
- This is working as intended when filters don't apply to certain contexts
Context-aware not working
Verify:
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You're testing on an actual archive/category/tag page (not a standard page)
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"Display Terms only Available to Current Category or Archive Page" is enabled
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The taxonomy actually has terms associated with posts in that category
What's next?
Related Features:
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Show selected filters - Surface active filter state to visitors
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Conditional Filters - Show/hide entire filters based on other filter selections
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Pagination preserves filters - Keep filters when changing pages
Module Documentation:
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Filter Posts Module - Main filtering module reference
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Filter Item Settings - Comprehensive filter configuration guide
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Archive Loop Module - Configure what gets filtered