# Elasticsearch v8 Java API client search with filter (not postFilter)
**URL:** https://discuss.elastic.co/t/elasticsearch-v8-java-api-client-search-with-filter-not-postfilter/315823
**Category:** Elasticsearch
**Tags:** language-clients
**Created:** [October 4, 2022, 10:06pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/elasticsearch-v8-java-api-client-search-with-filter-not-postfilter/315823 "2022-10-04T22:06:24Z")
**Posts on this page:** 4
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@ijaxahmed](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/ijaxahmed)
#### Post date: [October 4, 2022, 10:06pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/elasticsearch-v8-java-api-client-search-with-filter-not-postfilter/315823/1 "2022-10-04T22:06:24Z")
I wanted to replace postFilter with filter in the search, but not sure how to because Query has "query.postFilter(postFilters) " method but nothing as ".filter(filters) " .
Current implementations is like , Creating Query , creating postFilters and add them to SearchRequest e.g
```auto
Query query = MatchPhraseQuery.of(matchPhraseQuery->matchPhraseQuery.field(fieldName).query(value.trim()))._toQuery()
var postFilters = new BoolQuery.Builder();
postFilters.must(MatchQuery.of(matchQuery->matchQuery.field("name").query(value.toString()))._toQuery());
postFilters.mustNot(BoolQuery.of(boolQuery->boolQuery.should(MatchQuery.of(matchQuery->matchQuery.field("status").query( Status.ACTIVE.name()))._toQuery()))._toQuery());
SearchRequest srb1 = SearchRequest.of(r -> r.query(query)
.index(indexName)
.postFilter(postFilters);
```
Now i want to replace postFilters with Filter in the query. But not sure how to do it ?
As I tried this but not sure is it right approach?
-\> created BoolQuery with "must" and "filter", "must" contains actual query and "filter" contains filer e.g.
```auto
var filteredQuery = new BoolQuery.Builder().must(query).filter(postFilters).build()._toQuery();
SearchRequest srb2 = SearchRequest.of(r -> r.query(filteredQuery)
.index(indexName);
```
Note postFilter is removed form srb2.
Will srb1 and srb2 returns the same result? is it correct away to add filter to the query?
Please guide how to add filter
---
### Author:  [@RabBit\_BR](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/RabBit_BR)
#### Post date: [October 4, 2022, 11:09pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/elasticsearch-v8-java-api-client-search-with-filter-not-postfilter/315823/2 "2022-10-04T23:09:30Z")
Hi @ijaxahmed
About post filter:
> The Post\_Filter is applied to the search hits at the very end of a search request, after aggregations have already been calculated.
If you use post\_filter it was probably for some reason, and this is not clear in the post. If you want to use filters you will get one of the benefits, like caching.
I suggest you test the two approaches, which are different, to understand the results.
Try to detail, in the post, the reason for using the post\_filter and if you intend to change to filter, which criteria you intend to have with it.
---
### Author:  [@ijaxahmed](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/ijaxahmed)
#### Post date: [October 5, 2022, 10:02am UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/elasticsearch-v8-java-api-client-search-with-filter-not-postfilter/315823/3 "2022-10-05T10:02:25Z")
@RabBit_BR thanks for the reply
I want to use Filter over the post\_filter due to performance becase i dont have any aggregation, its mentioned here about the performance.
> **[Post Filter | Elasticsearch: The Definitive Guide \[2.x\] | Elastic](https://www.elastic.co/guide/en/elasticsearch/guide/current/_post_filter.html)**
> Performance consideration
> Use a post\_filter only if you need to differentially filter search results and aggregations. Sometimes people will use post\_filter for regular searches.
> Don’t do this! The nature of the post\_filter means it runs after the query, so any performance benefit of filtering (such as caches) is lost completely.
> The post\_filter should be used only in combination with aggregations, and only when you need differential filtering.
I am more concerned about the right way to add filter using Java API Client. is it correct way as i mention in the first comment above ? in otherway how to add filter (considering the above code, as there is query, there is filter and want to make query using that )
---
### Author:  [@system](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/system)
#### Post date: [November 2, 2022, 10:03am UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/elasticsearch-v8-java-api-client-search-with-filter-not-postfilter/315823/4 "2022-11-02T10:03:03Z")
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