Smart Content Filter

Introduction

Version: 1.6.0

Introduction

Smart Content Filter (v1.6.0) is a Joomla site module that displays standard com_content articles as responsive, AJAX-powered content cards with category filtering, search, tags, sorting, load more, infinite scroll, custom fields, share buttons, image lightbox, and extensive styling controls.

The module works with native Joomla articles and categories. It does not require a custom content table, page reloads, or jQuery.

Live demo: demo.joomlax.com/demo/content-display/smart-content-filter

Key Highlights
  • AJAX filtering without full page reloads
  • Filters Display: always show, hide completely, or a Filters toggle beside the grid/list controls
  • Filters tab grouped into Filter Panel, Category, Search, Tags, Author/Date/Custom Fields, Default Filters, and Sort/View/Reset
  • Category filters as Tabs, Pills, or Dropdown, with Single or Multiple selection and a switch to hide the category filter while keeping the rest
  • Tag filters as Dropdown or clickable Pills, with single or multi-select and OR/AND match
  • Optional default category, tag, and custom field filters on first load and Reset, with Lock Default Filters for prefiltered pages
  • Shareable Filter URLs for category (including multi-select), search, tags, custom fields, author, date, sort, view mode, and page
  • Polished filter toolbar (search with icon, sort, Reset) with CSS protected against template overrides while module CSS is enabled
  • Optional subcategory tabs (Single category mode), author filter, date range filter, and dual custom field filters
  • Grid / List view toggle with URL and cookie persistence
  • Layout presets: Standard Grid, News Portal, Magazine, List, Masonry, and Carousel
  • Lead story support with automatic or manual title-on-image overlays
  • Intro Text Format: Plain text or Safe HTML for styled catalogue intros
  • Card images from intro/full article images or a custom media/URL field, with Image Fit Cover or Contain for photos vs logos
  • Load More or Infinite Scroll with shareable URL state restored on reload
  • Sticky filter toolbar and sticky Load more bar while scrolling
  • Card presets, borders, padding, shadows, hover effects, UI corners, and theme options
  • Share on X, Facebook, and LinkedIn; optional image lightbox
  • JSON-LD schema, skeleton loading, and accessible live regions
  • Filter by Current Language limits articles and the tag filter to the active page language (and All), so one module can serve Spanish and English
  • Allowed Sort Options lets you show only selected Sort choices (for example Newest and Oldest)
  • RSS Feed Link on Content Source adds RSS and Atom discovery links to the page head without a Category Blog menu item
  • Frontend labels use Joomla language strings; translate them with core Language Overrides
  • Multiple module instances on the same page
  • Joomla 5 and Joomla 6 ready
Admin Tabs

Module settings are grouped as: Content Source, Filters, Ordering, Article Arrangement, Card Appearance, Card Content, and Advanced.