# Filters: stop a run when conditions aren't met

**Category:** [Orchestration](https://help.totalctrl.app/hc/totalctrl/totalctrl-help-center/en-US/categories/orchestration)
**Updated:** 2026-08-19

## Only continue when it matters

A **filter** checks one or more conditions. If they pass, the workflow continues; if they fail, the run stops cleanly at that point — no later steps execute.

Use a filter to avoid acting on records you don't care about, for example "only continue if the deal value is over $1,000" or "only continue if the contact's country is the US".
### How conditions work

Each condition compares a value (usually a variable) against another value using an operator. TotalCtrl supports a full set of operators, including:

- **equals** / **not equals**
- **contains** / **does not contain**
- **greater than** / **less than** (and their "or equal" variants)
- **is empty** / **is not empty**
- **starts with** / **ends with**

### Combining conditions

You can require **all** conditions to pass (AND) or **any** of them (OR). Example: continue only if `{{trigger.value}}` is greater than 1000 *and* `{{trigger.stage}}` equals `Negotiation`.

A filter is the simplest way to keep a workflow focused. When you need to take *different* actions for different cases rather than just stopping, use a **router** instead.

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## Related Articles

- [Delays: pause a workflow for minutes, hours, or days](https://help.totalctrl.app/en-US/articles/flow-control-delays)
- [Orchestration Overview](https://help.totalctrl.app/en-US/articles/orchestration-overview)
- [Connect an app](https://help.totalctrl.app/en-US/articles/connect-an-app-1)
- [Build your first workflow](https://help.totalctrl.app/en-US/articles/build-your-first-workflow)
- [Connect an app](https://help.totalctrl.app/en-US/articles/connect-an-app)

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