Universal AJAX Filter

Description

Smart Ajax Filter lets you build front-end filter bars that refresh results instantly via AJAX — without writing a single AJAX handler. Create as many filter sets as you need from a simple admin screen, then drop each one into a page using a shortcode or the plugin’s own Elementor widget.

Each filter set can combine multiple fields — Search, Dropdown/Select, Checkbox, and Radio — bound to any taxonomy and its terms, and can drive one of four result actions:

• Query Posts – filter standard WordPress posts
• Query Products – filter WooCommerce-style product post types
• Filter CPT – filter any custom post type on your site
• Load Elementor Template – render matching items through an Elementor Pro Loop Item template

Key Features

• Visual filter builder — add, reorder, and remove filter fields from the admin screen; no code editing needed.
• Multiple filter types — Search, Dropdown/Select, Checkbox, and Radio, each bindable to any taxonomy and specific terms.
• Four result actions — Query Posts, Query Products, Filter CPT, or Load an Elementor Template, so one tool covers blogs, shops, and custom content types.
• Shortcode support — every saved filter gets its own shortcode, e.g. [psaf_smart_ajax_filter id="12"], ready to paste into any page, post, or widget area.
• Native Elementor widget — search for “Smart Ajax Filter” in the Elementor panel and configure a filter directly inside the page editor, with no shortcode or saved filter needed.
• Elementor normal grid support — when using the standard Elementor editor, filtered results can be displayed using a regular Elementor grid without requiring Elementor Pro.
• Elementor Pro Loop Grid support — filter results can be rendered using Elementor Pro Loop Grid and Loop Item templates, allowing you to use your custom Loop Item designs. Elementor Pro is required for Loop Grid/Loop Item functionality.
• Custom results target — results load by default into a .psaf-results container, or you can point the filter at your own CSS selector to filter an existing grid on the page.
• Configurable pagination and sorting — set results per page, order-by field, and sort direction per filter.
• Custom loading and empty-state text — set your own “Loading…” and “No results found.” messages per filter.
• Multiple filters per site — build unlimited independent filter sets, each with its own configuration, shortcode, and widget instance.
• Lightweight front end — vanilla AJAX requests with dedicated frontend CSS/JS assets, only loaded where needed.

How It Works

1. Go to Smart Ajax Filter → Add New in the WordPress admin menu.
2. Choose a post type, result action (Query Posts, Query Products, Filter CPT, or Load Elementor Template), results-per-page, and sort order.
3. Add one or more filter fields (Search, Dropdown/Select, Checkbox, Radio) and bind each to a taxonomy and, optionally, specific terms.
4. Save the filter — you’ll get a ready-to-use shortcode, e.g. [psaf_smart_ajax_filter id="12"].
5. Paste the shortcode into any page or post, or open Elementor and drag in the “Smart Ajax Filter” widget to configure the same filter directly in the builder.
6. Visitors filter results instantly on the front end — no page reload.

Requirements

• WordPress 5.8 or higher.
• PHP 7.4 or higher.
• Elementor (free) is only required if you want to use the native Elementor widget — the shortcode works with any theme or page builder.
• Elementor Pro is only required if you choose the “Load Elementor Template” result action to render results through a Loop Item template.