---
title: Filter rules for search
slug: o5se0206
canonical_url: https://docs.coveo.com/en/o5se0206/
collection: coveo-merchandising-hub
source_format: adoc
---
# Filter rules for search

In the [Coveo Merchandising Hub (CMH)](https://docs.coveo.com/en/o5290573/), merchandisers can define _filter_ rules to control which products appear on a search results page.

Search filter rules let merchandisers define conditions that products must meet to be excluded from a query's result set.
For example, a merchandiser could create a filter rule to hide all products that are out of stock from the search results.

Filter rules can apply to all [queries](https://docs.coveo.com/en/231/) or to one or more specific queries.
They can also be scheduled for a specific time, letting merchandisers plan and execute their strategies more effectively.

![Filter rules for search | Coveo](https://docs.coveo.com/en/assets/images/coveo-for-commerce/images/cmh/cmh-search-filter-rule.png)

## Use case examples

Filter rules can be used to address a variety of use cases.
Here are a few examples:

* **Hide out-of-stock products**: Hide products that are out of stock from the search results.

* **Hide specific products**: Hide specific products from the search results when a certain query is performed.
For example, you could create a rule that will hide all products from a specific category when an unrelated category is searched.

## Prerequisites

Before you create rules in the [Coveo Merchandising Hub (CMH)](https://docs.coveo.com/en/o5290573/):

* [Create query pipelines](https://docs.coveo.com/en/o48e0216#storefront-associations-and-query-pipelines).

* [Choose the correct property](https://docs.coveo.com/en/o6lb0453#property-and-locale-selectors) to ensure that your changes affect the intended queries.


## Create a filter rule

To create a filter rule, see [Exclude rules for search](https://docs.coveo.com/en/o5se0329/).

> **Note**
>
> **Include** rules for search can no longer be created in the [Coveo Merchandising Hub (CMH)](https://docs.coveo.com/en/o5290573/).
> Existing rules will remain active and can be edited.