Advanced Filtering

When basic dictionary filters aren’t enough, filter expressions give you powerful logical control over knowledge searches. Use them to combine multiple conditions with AND/OR logic, exclude content with NOT, or perform comparisons like “greater than” and “less than”. For basic filtering with dictionary format, see Search & Retrieval.

Filter Expression Operators

Agno provides a rich set of filter expressions that can be combined to create sophisticated search criteria:

Comparison Operators

These operators let you match against specific values:

EQ (Equals)

Match content where a metadata field equals a specific value.

from agno.filters import EQ

# Find only HR policy documents
EQ("department", "hr")

# Find content from a specific year
EQ("year", 2024)

IN (Contains Any)

Match content where a metadata field contains any of the specified values.

from agno.filters import IN

# Find content from multiple regions
IN("region", ["north_america", "europe", "asia"])

# Find multiple document types
IN("document_type", ["policy", "guideline", "procedure"])

GT (Greater Than) & LT (Less Than)

Match content based on numeric comparisons.

from agno.filters import GT, LT

# Find recent documents
GT("year", 2020)

# Find documents with high priority scores
GT("priority_score", 8.0)

# Find documents within a date range
LT("year", 2025)

Logical Operators

Combine multiple conditions using logical operators:

AND

All conditions must be true.

from agno.filters import AND, EQ

# Find sales documents from North America in 2024
AND(
    EQ("data_type", "sales"),
    EQ("region", "north_america"),
    EQ("year", 2024)
)

OR

At least one condition must be true.

from agno.filters import OR, EQ

# Find either engineering or product documents
OR(
    EQ("department", "engineering"),
    EQ("department", "product")
)

NOT

Exclude content that matches the condition.

from agno.filters import NOT, EQ

# Find everything except draft documents
NOT(EQ("status", "draft"))

Using Filters with Agents

Here’s how to apply filters when running agents with knowledge:

Basic Agent Filtering

from agno.agent import Agent
from agno.filters import EQ, IN, AND
from agno.knowledge.knowledge import Knowledge
from agno.vectordb.pgvector import PgVector

# Setup knowledge with metadata
knowledge = Knowledge(
    vector_db=PgVector(
        table_name="filtered_knowledge",
        db_url="postgresql+psycopg://ai:ai@localhost:5532/ai"
    )
)

# Add content with rich metadata
knowledge.add_content(
    path="sales_report_q1.csv",
    metadata={
        "data_type": "sales",
        "quarter": "Q1", 
        "year": 2024,
        "region": "north_america",
        "currency": "USD"
    }
)

# Create agent with knowledge
sales_agent = Agent(
    knowledge=knowledge,
    search_knowledge=True,
    instructions="Always search knowledge before answering questions"
)

# Use filters in agent responses - NOTE: filters must be in a list!
sales_agent.print_response(
    "What were our Q1 sales results?",
    knowledge_filters=[  # ← Must be a list!
        AND(EQ("data_type", "sales"), EQ("quarter", "Q1"))
    ]
)

Complex Filter Examples

from agno.filters import AND, OR, NOT, EQ, IN, GT

# Find recent sales data from specific regions, but exclude drafts
complex_filter = AND(
    EQ("data_type", "sales"),
    IN("region", ["north_america", "europe"]),  
    GT("year", 2022),
    NOT(EQ("status", "draft"))
)

# Search for either customer feedback or survey data from the last two years
feedback_filter = AND(
    OR(
        EQ("data_type", "feedback"),
        EQ("data_type", "survey")
    ),
    GT("year", 2022)
)

agent.print_response(
    "What do our customers think about our new features?",
    knowledge_filters=[feedback_filter]  # ← List wrapper required
)

Using Filters with Teams

Teams can also leverage filtered knowledge searches:

from agno.team.team import Team
from agno.agent import Agent
from agno.filters import IN, AND, NOT, EQ

# Setup team members
research_agent = Agent(
    name="Research Agent",
    role="Analyze candidate information",
    knowledge=knowledge_base
)

# Create team with knowledge
hiring_team = Team(
    name="Hiring Team",
    members=[research_agent],
    knowledge=knowledge_base,
    instructions="Analyze candidate profiles thoroughly"
)

# Filter to specific candidates
hiring_team.print_response(
    "Compare the experience of our top candidates",
    knowledge_filters=[  # ← List wrapper required
        AND(
            EQ("document_type", "cv"),
            IN("user_id", ["jordan_mitchell", "taylor_brooks"]),
            NOT(EQ("status", "rejected"))
        )
    ]
)

Advanced Filtering Patterns

User-Specific Content

Filter content based on user access or preferences:

from agno.filters import OR, EQ

def get_user_filter(user_id: str, user_department: str):
    """Create filters based on user context."""
    return OR(
        EQ("visibility", "public"),
        EQ("owner", user_id),
        EQ("department", user_department)
    )

# Apply user-specific filtering
user_filter = get_user_filter("john_doe", "engineering")
agent.print_response(
    "Show me the latest project updates",
    knowledge_filters=[user_filter]  # ← List wrapper required
)

Time-Based Filtering

Filter by recency or date ranges:

from datetime import datetime
from agno.filters import AND, NOT, EQ, GT

current_year = datetime.now().year

# Only search recent content
recent_filter = GT("year", current_year - 2)

# Exclude archived content
active_filter = NOT(EQ("status", "archived"))

# Combine for active, recent content
current_content = AND(recent_filter, active_filter)

# Use in agent - wrap in list
agent.print_response(
    "What's new?",
    knowledge_filters=[current_content]
)

Progressive Filtering

Start broad, then narrow down based on results:

from agno.filters import AND, EQ, GT

async def progressive_search(agent, query, base_filters=None):
    """Try broad search first, then narrow if too many results."""
    
    # First attempt: broad search
    broad_results = await agent.aget_relevant_docs_from_knowledge(
        query=query,
        filters=base_filters,  # Already a list
        num_documents=10
    )
    
    if len(broad_results) > 8:
        # Too many results, add more specific filters
        specific_filter = AND(
            base_filters[0] if base_filters else EQ("status", "active"),
            GT("relevance_score", 0.8)
        )
        
        return await agent.aget_relevant_docs_from_knowledge(
            query=query,
            filters=[specific_filter],  # ← Wrapped in list
            num_documents=5
        )
    
    return broad_results

Best Practices for Filter Expressions

Filter Design

Start Simple: Begin with basic filters and add complexity as needed
Test Combinations: Verify that your logical combinations work as expected
Document Your Schema: Keep track of available metadata fields and their possible values
Performance Considerations: Some filter combinations may be slower than others

Troubleshooting

Filter Not Working

Verify metadata keys exist

Check that the keys you’re filtering on actually exist in your knowledge base:

# Add content with explicit metadata
knowledge.add_content(
    path="doc.pdf",
    metadata={"status": "published", "category": "tech"}
)

# Now filter will work
filter_expr = EQ("status", "published")

Check filter structure

Print the filter to verify it’s constructed correctly:

from agno.filters import EQ, GT, AND

filter_expr = AND(EQ("status", "published"), GT("views", 100))
print(filter_expr.to_dict())

Complex Filters Failing

Break down into smaller filters

Test each condition individually:

# Test each part separately
filter1 = EQ("status", "published")  # Test
filter2 = GT("date", "2024-01-01")   # Test
filter3 = IN("region", ["US", "EU"]) # Test

# Then combine
combined = AND(filter1, filter2, filter3)

Verify filter structure

Check that nested logic is correctly structured:

import json

try:
    filter_dict = filter_expr.to_dict()
    json_str = json.dumps(filter_dict)
    json.loads(json_str)  # Verify it parses
    print("Valid filter structure")
except (TypeError, ValueError) as e:
    print(f"Invalid filter: {e}")

Check operator precedence

Make sure nested logic is clear and well-structured:

# Clear nested structure
filter_expr = OR(
    AND(EQ("a", 1), EQ("b", 2)),
    EQ("c", 3)
)

# Break down complex filters for readability
condition1 = AND(EQ("a", 1), EQ("b", 2))
condition2 = EQ("c", 3)
filter_expr = OR(condition1, condition2)

Vector Database Support

Advanced filter expressions (using FilterExpr like EQ(), AND(), etc.) is currently only supported in PGVector.

What happens with unsupported FilterExpr:When using FilterExpr with unsupported vector databases:

You’ll see: WARNING: Filter Expressions are not yet supported in [DatabaseName]. No filters will be applied.
Search proceeds without filters (unfiltered results)
No errors thrown, but filtering is ignored

Workaround: Use dictionary format instead:

# Works with all vector databases
knowledge_filters=[{"department": "hr", "year": 2024}]

# Only works with PgVector currently
knowledge_filters=[AND(EQ("department", "hr"), EQ("year", 2024))]

Agentic Filtering Compatibility

Advanced filter expressions (FilterExpr) are not compatible with agentic filtering, where agents dynamically construct filters based on conversation context. For agentic filtering, use dictionary format:

# Works with agentic filtering (agent decides filters dynamically)
knowledge_filters = [{"department": "hr", "document_type": "policy"}]

# Does not work with agentic filtering (static, predefined logic)
knowledge_filters = [AND(EQ("department", "hr"), EQ("document_type", "policy"))]

When to use each approach:

Approach	Use Case	Example
Dictionary format	Agent dynamically chooses filters based on conversation	User mentions “HR policies” → agent adds `{"department": "hr"}`
Filter expressions	You need complex, predetermined logic with full control	Always exclude drafts AND filter by multiple regions with OR logic

Using Filters Through the API

All the filter expressions shown in this guide can also be used through the Agent OS API. FilterExpressions serialize to JSON and are automatically reconstructed server-side, enabling the same powerful filtering capabilities over REST endpoints.

import requests
import json
from agno.filters import EQ, GT, AND

# Create filter expression
filter_expr = AND(EQ("status", "published"), GT("views", 1000))

# Serialize to JSON
filter_json = json.dumps(filter_expr.to_dict())

# Send through API
response = requests.post(
    "http://localhost:7777/agents/my-agent/runs",
    data={
        "message": "Find popular published articles",
        "stream": "false",
        "knowledge_filters": filter_json,
    }
)

FilterExpressions use a dictionary format with an "op" key (e.g., {"op": "EQ", "key": "status", "value": "published"}) which tells the API to deserialize them as FilterExpr objects. Regular dict filters without the "op" key continue to work for backward compatibility.

For detailed examples, API-specific patterns, and troubleshooting, see the API Filtering Guide.

Next Steps

API Filtering Guide

Use filter expressions through the Agent OS API

Search & Retrieval

Learn about different search strategies and optimization

Content Database

Understand how content and metadata are stored and managed

Knowledge Bases

Deep dive into knowledge base architecture and design

Performance Tips

Optimize your filtered searches for speed and accuracy

Introduction

Learn

Help

Advanced Filtering

Filter Expression Operators

Comparison Operators

EQ (Equals)

IN (Contains Any)

GT (Greater Than) & LT (Less Than)

Logical Operators

AND

OR

NOT

Using Filters with Agents

Basic Agent Filtering

Complex Filter Examples

Using Filters with Teams

Advanced Filtering Patterns

User-Specific Content

Time-Based Filtering

Progressive Filtering

Best Practices for Filter Expressions

Filter Design

Troubleshooting

Filter Not Working

Complex Filters Failing

Vector Database Support

Agentic Filtering Compatibility

Using Filters Through the API

Next Steps

API Filtering Guide

Search & Retrieval

Content Database

Knowledge Bases

Performance Tips

Introduction

Learn

Help

​Filter Expression Operators

​Comparison Operators

​EQ (Equals)

​IN (Contains Any)

​GT (Greater Than) & LT (Less Than)

​Logical Operators

​AND

​OR

​NOT

​Using Filters with Agents

​Basic Agent Filtering

​Complex Filter Examples

​Using Filters with Teams

​Advanced Filtering Patterns

​User-Specific Content

​Time-Based Filtering

​Progressive Filtering

​Best Practices for Filter Expressions

​Filter Design

​Troubleshooting

​Filter Not Working

​Complex Filters Failing

​Vector Database Support

​Agentic Filtering Compatibility

​Using Filters Through the API

​Next Steps

API Filtering Guide

Search & Retrieval

Content Database

Knowledge Bases

Performance Tips

Filter Expression Operators

Comparison Operators

EQ (Equals)

IN (Contains Any)

GT (Greater Than) & LT (Less Than)

Logical Operators

AND

OR

NOT

Using Filters with Agents

Basic Agent Filtering

Complex Filter Examples

Using Filters with Teams

Advanced Filtering Patterns

User-Specific Content

Time-Based Filtering

Progressive Filtering

Best Practices for Filter Expressions

Filter Design

Troubleshooting

Filter Not Working

Complex Filters Failing

Vector Database Support

Agentic Filtering Compatibility

Using Filters Through the API

Next Steps