In this review, we provide an overview of search filters, which are pre-formulated search strategies developed to help identify articles within a given topic or with a particular study design. We present the rationale behind search filters and how they are used. Using a search filter may however, result in missing relevant publications and they should be used with care. Therefore, we describe how these search filters are developed and evaluated. Finally, we provide guidance on how the use of a search filter is reported in a systematic search.