Filters and variables

Filters allow you to create dynamic, interactive dashboards that adapt to user selections and time ranges. They work at the dashboard level and automatically inject values into your chart queries, making it easy to explore different data slices without rewriting prompts.

The Edit filter dialog for the Channel filter, with the channel variable, a List type, the dropdown values Online store, Mobile app, and Retail, and options for a default value, multiple values, and public dashboards

How filters work

Filters are dashboard-level controls that automatically add variables to your chart queries. When you reference entities or time periods in your prompts, Basedash intelligently creates the appropriate filters and injects them into your SQL queries.

The chart editor with a query that uses start_date, end_date, and channel variables, and the Filters tab listing those three as used and Time interval as available

Automatic filter creation

Basedash automatically creates appropriate filter types when you use certain language patterns in your prompts:

Entity references: “Show me details for a user” → Creates a record filter
Time references: “Revenue over time” → Creates date range filters
Text searches: “Customers named John” → Creates text filters
Numeric thresholds: “Orders over $100” → Creates number filters
Boolean conditions: “Only active users” → Creates boolean filters
Category selections: “Sales by region” → Creates list filters

Filter types

Basedash supports several filter types:

Text: Free-form text input for string matching and search
Number: Numeric input for quantities, thresholds, and ranges
Boolean: True/false toggle for binary conditions
List: Dropdown selection from a predefined set of options
Record: Dropdown selection populated from database records
SQL: Custom SQL-based filtering for advanced logic

List filters

List filters let you define a static set of options for users to choose from. This is useful when you have a known set of values that don’t come from a database table, such as status categories, regions, or time periods. You can configure whether users can select a single value or multiple values.

Record filters

Record filters automatically populate options from your database tables. When you create a record filter, Basedash queries the table and displays records in a searchable dropdown. This is ideal for entity-level dashboards where users need to select a specific customer, order, or user to view details about.

SQL filters

SQL filters let you write custom SQL to generate the list of options. This gives you full control over the dropdown values, allowing you to join tables, apply conditions, or format display labels. Use SQL filters when the built-in list and record filters don’t provide enough flexibility.

Built-in variables

Basedash provides built-in variables for time-based filtering. When your SQL references these variables, Basedash automatically shows the corresponding controls in the dashboard filter bar.

Variable	Type	Description
`start_date`	Date	Start of the selected date range, formatted as `YYYY-MM-DD`
`end_date`	Date	End of the selected date range, formatted as `YYYY-MM-DD`
`time_interval`	String	Grouping interval: `HOUR`, `DAY`, `WEEK`, `MONTH`, or `YEAR`

Date range

The date range picker lets users select a time period. When they select a range like “Last 30 days”, Basedash calculates the actual dates and injects them into the start_date and end_date variables.

Available options:

Last N days: LAST_7_DAYS, LAST_30_DAYS, LAST_60_DAYS, LAST_90_DAYS
Last N months: LAST_6_MONTHS, LAST_1_YEAR
This period: TODAY, YESTERDAY, THIS_WEEK, THIS_MONTH, THIS_QUARTER, THIS_YEAR
All time: ALL_TIME
Custom: User-specified start and end dates

For example, if a user selects “Last 30 days” on January 15, 2025:

start_date resolves to 2024-12-16
end_date resolves to 2025-01-15

Time interval

The time interval selector controls how data is grouped in time-series charts. Charts automatically use this value when grouping by date. Available options: HOUR, DAY, WEEK, MONTH, YEAR

Example usage

SELECT
  DATE_TRUNC('{{time_interval}}', created_at) AS period,
  COUNT(*) AS signups
FROM users
WHERE created_at BETWEEN '{{start_date}}' AND '{{end_date}}'
GROUP BY period
ORDER BY period

Filter configuration options

Multiple values

Enable “Allow multiple values” to let users select multiple options from list and record filters.

Public dashboard visibility

Filters are hidden by default on public dashboards. To show a filter, edit the filter and enable the “Show on public dashboard” option. Hidden filters still apply their default values to queries—they’re just not visible or editable by viewers. See embedding for more details on filter visibility and security considerations.

Default values

Set default values for filters to provide starting points for user interactions.

Accessing and managing filters

You can view and manage dashboard variables from the dashboard filter controls. These controls show variables with their current values and allow you to modify configurations.

Applying filters to other charts

When multiple charts use a variable with the same name, they share a single filter control. Changing the filter value updates all charts that reference that variable, creating cohesive analysis experiences across the dashboard.

To apply an existing filter to another chart, tell the AI to update the chart. For example: “Update this chart to use the same date range as the revenue chart” or “Apply the user filter from the activity chart to this chart.”

Best practices

Use open-ended language

Instead of specific time periods, use open-ended language to leverage filters: Good:

Show me user signups over time

Avoid:

Show me user signups for the last 7 days

Reference other charts

Since Basedash AI understands your entire dashboard, you can reference other charts:

Show me the same data as the revenue chart but for a different time period

Leverage entity context

For entity-level dashboards, use entity-specific language:

Show me this user's order history
Show me this organization's performance metrics

FAQ

Can one filter control charts from different data sources?

Yes. Filters belong to the dashboard, not to a data source. Every chart on the dashboard whose SQL uses the same variable name, like {{ region }}, gets the filter’s value, whichever data source it queries.

How do I change a dashboard's default date range?

Dashboards start on the last 30 days, grouped by day. Pick a different range or interval, click the dot that appears next to the filter, and choose Save as default. The new default applies to everyone who opens the dashboard. Choose Reset to default to go back to it.

What happens when a filter is left empty?

The variable becomes an empty string, not “all values”. To skip a condition when a filter is empty, wrap it in a Liquid guard:

WHERE created_at BETWEEN '{{start_date}}' AND '{{end_date}}'
{% if region != blank %}
  AND region = '{{region}}'
{% endif %}

Charts the AI writes already use this pattern.

Can clicking a chart filter the rest of the dashboard?

No, Basedash doesn’t have cross-filtering. Clicking part of a chart opens the records behind it instead. To filter several charts at once, use a shared dashboard filter.

Do “This quarter” and “This year” follow our fiscal year?

Yes, if an admin sets a fiscal year start date in organization settings. The options then show as Fiscal quarter and Fiscal year.

Embedding - Embed dashboards or the full app
Dashboards - Organize charts with shared filters
Custom context - Add business context to improve AI understanding

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How filters work

Automatic filter creation

Filter types

List filters

Record filters

SQL filters

Built-in variables

Date range

Time interval

Example usage

Filter configuration options

Multiple values

Public dashboard visibility

Default values

Accessing and managing filters

Applying filters to other charts

Best practices

Use open-ended language

Reference other charts

Leverage entity context

FAQ

​How filters work

​Automatic filter creation

​Filter types

​List filters

​Record filters

​SQL filters

​Built-in variables

​Date range

​Time interval

​Example usage

​Filter configuration options

​Multiple values

​Public dashboard visibility

​Default values

​Accessing and managing filters

​Applying filters to other charts

​Best practices

​Use open-ended language

​Reference other charts

​Leverage entity context

​FAQ

​Related features

How filters work

Automatic filter creation

Filter types

List filters

Record filters

SQL filters

Built-in variables

Date range

Time interval

Example usage

Filter configuration options

Multiple values

Public dashboard visibility

Default values

Accessing and managing filters

Applying filters to other charts

Best practices

Use open-ended language

Reference other charts

Leverage entity context

FAQ

Related features