When to use 'Ranking' vs. 'Filtering' question types
This guide will help you understand the two different question types available in bluebarry and when to use each one.
Topics covered in this article
Filter Questions
Filter questions strictly narrow down your product selection based on specific criteria:
- Products that don’t match the selected criteria are completely removed from potential results
- Creates a more precise, requirement-based filtering experience
- Use when certain product features are absolute requirements
💡 Think of filter questions as “must-have” criteria that eliminate non-matching products entirely.
Ranking Questions
Ranking questions provide more flexible filtering:
- All products remain in the potential results pool
- Products are ranked based on relevance to the answers
- Best matches appear at the top, but other options remain available
- Ideal for preference-based questions rather than strict requirements.
💡 Think of ranking questions as “nice-to-have” criteria that prioritize but don’t eliminate products.
When to use each type
Use Filter Questions when:
- The criteria is an absolute requirement (e.g., budget constraints, size limitations)
- You want to ensure users only see products that match specific technical specifications
- You need to eliminate irrelevant products completely
Use Ranking Questions when:
- The criteria is preference-based rather than requirement-based
- You want to show the most relevant products first but keep other options available
- You’re concerned about filtering too aggressively and ending up with no results
Some examples
Filter Question Example: “What is your maximum budget?”
If a user selects “€200,” products priced above €200 will be completely removed from results.
Ranking Question Example: “Which features are most important to you?”
If a user selects “Battery life,” products with excellent battery life will be ranked higher, but products with average battery life will still appear (just lower in the results).