# Branches in workflows and OR filter **URL:** \ **Category:** Lists, Lead Scoring & Workflows\ **Tags:** professional\ **Created:** [February 20, 2024, 9:47am UTC](https://community.hubspot.com/t/branches-in-workflows-and-or-filter/100533 "2024-02-20T09:47:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![IuliaArtean](https://d10pqhm3lwygmk.cloudfront.net/user_avatar/community.hubspot.com/iuliaartean/32/51483_2.png) [@IuliaArtean](https://community.hubspot.com/u/IuliaArtean)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2024, 9:47am UTC](https://community.hubspot.com/t/branches-in-workflows-and-or-filter/100533/1 "2024-02-20T09:47:07Z")
Hello, I want to know the difference between having an IF/THEN branch with different branches on email activities like email opens, email clicks and adding an OR filter (inside the IF/THEN brand) Also how are the branches counted? I understood that it’s from the left to right. But this is confusing: " **If above criteria aren’t met, then check if:".** I just want to be sure that all the email activities and my branches will be considered and they won’t land in None met category. Thankss! Iulia A. ---
**Author:** ![karstenkoehler](https://d10pqhm3lwygmk.cloudfront.net/user_avatar/community.hubspot.com/karstenkoehler/32/68554_2.png) [@karstenkoehler](https://community.hubspot.com/u/karstenkoehler)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2024, 9:50am UTC](https://community.hubspot.com/t/branches-in-workflows-and-or-filter/100533/2 "2024-02-20T09:50:00Z")
Hi @IuliaArtean, You’re correct, branches are read from left to right. Whichever branch criteria a record meets first, that’s going to be the branch they’ll continue on. “If above criteria aren’t met, then check if:” - this means that HubSpot will check branch 1, then branch 2, then branch 3. If a record does not meet the criteria of any branch, they’ll end up under “None met”. You can combine criteria within one branch, using the OR operator. That would mean that there are multiple ways a contact can enter a branch. If you want to have different next actions for each criterion, you would create separate branches. If multiple criteria share a next action, you can use the OR operator. Let me know if you have any follow-up questions! ---
**Author:** ![IuliaArtean](https://d10pqhm3lwygmk.cloudfront.net/user_avatar/community.hubspot.com/iuliaartean/32/51483_2.png) [@IuliaArtean](https://community.hubspot.com/u/IuliaArtean)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2024, 10:04am UTC](https://community.hubspot.com/t/branches-in-workflows-and-or-filter/100533/3 "2024-02-20T10:04:50Z")
Thanks, this is useful. I am just sharing 2 snapshots below so I am sure that I understood corectly. 😄 If I am removing the branches that are in snapshot 1 (opened, didn’t open etc.) and instead add the branch with OR operator and add these the email activities, will the contacts be filtered in the same way? As after filter these contacts based on these interactions, I want them to receive a Follow-up email. ![Capture.PNG](https://d2qpr2jzcazej7.cloudfront.net/original/3X/e/a/eaf16a3690e64af8f78104d3553a099e463757c5.png) ![Capture2.PNG](https://d2qpr2jzcazej7.cloudfront.net/original/3X/1/0/10eda1a5161298687caa4cabc9410408ff392157.png) Thanks, Iulia A. ---
**Author:** ![karstenkoehler](https://d10pqhm3lwygmk.cloudfront.net/user_avatar/community.hubspot.com/karstenkoehler/32/68554_2.png) [@karstenkoehler](https://community.hubspot.com/u/karstenkoehler)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2024, 10:09am UTC](https://community.hubspot.com/t/branches-in-workflows-and-or-filter/100533/4 "2024-02-20T10:09:27Z")
@IuliaArtean if the branches are all followed by the same action (Follow-up 1 oferta…), your second screenshot is the more optimal solution. ---
**Author:** ![IuliaArtean](https://d10pqhm3lwygmk.cloudfront.net/user_avatar/community.hubspot.com/iuliaartean/32/51483_2.png) [@IuliaArtean](https://community.hubspot.com/u/IuliaArtean)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2024, 10:31am UTC](https://community.hubspot.com/t/branches-in-workflows-and-or-filter/100533/5 "2024-02-20T10:31:28Z")
@karstenkoehler One more question: If my first marketing activity is: Opened Offer X and then the next activity is Opened Offer X but didn’t click on a link, those who are clasified in the first activity won’t be counted again on the next activity, right? As both activities include the same action: “open the email”? ---
**Author:** ![karstenkoehler](https://d10pqhm3lwygmk.cloudfront.net/user_avatar/community.hubspot.com/karstenkoehler/32/68554_2.png) [@karstenkoehler](https://community.hubspot.com/u/karstenkoehler)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2024, 10:44am UTC](https://community.hubspot.com/t/branches-in-workflows-and-or-filter/100533/6 "2024-02-20T10:44:24Z")
@IuliaArtean in that example, there wouldn’t be any contacts who go down the second branch as they all meet the criteria of the first branch already. ---
**Author:** ![IuliaArtean](https://d10pqhm3lwygmk.cloudfront.net/user_avatar/community.hubspot.com/iuliaartean/32/51483_2.png) [@IuliaArtean](https://community.hubspot.com/u/IuliaArtean)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2024, 11:06am UTC](https://community.hubspot.com/t/branches-in-workflows-and-or-filter/100533/7 "2024-02-20T11:06:43Z")
OK, but if I have another activity in the second branch as “Contact replied”, they would go down to that second branch right? ---
**Author:** ![karstenkoehler](https://d10pqhm3lwygmk.cloudfront.net/user_avatar/community.hubspot.com/karstenkoehler/32/68554_2.png) [@karstenkoehler](https://community.hubspot.com/u/karstenkoehler)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2024, 11:10am UTC](https://community.hubspot.com/t/branches-in-workflows-and-or-filter/100533/8 "2024-02-20T11:10:09Z")
@IuliaArtean no, if the first branch is checking for an email open and a contact has opened an email, they’ll go down that first branch - regardless of whether they also meet the criteria of subsequent branches. The first branch that checks out true is the one that a contact will continue on. ---
**Author:** ![IuliaArtean](https://d10pqhm3lwygmk.cloudfront.net/user_avatar/community.hubspot.com/iuliaartean/32/51483_2.png) [@IuliaArtean](https://community.hubspot.com/u/IuliaArtean)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2024, 11:31am UTC](https://community.hubspot.com/t/branches-in-workflows-and-or-filter/100533/9 "2024-02-20T11:31:07Z")
Oh, because I want that those who replied to the follow-up email not receive the other follow-up emails. 😞 So it would be efficent to add: First branch: “Reply to email” activity; 2. “Opened/Clicked link” activity? So those who clasify on 1 (they replied to email) will stop receiving the other emails and then HS will check the other branches and send emails only to those who opened ? Does it makes sense? 😄 ---
**Author:** ![karstenkoehler](https://d10pqhm3lwygmk.cloudfront.net/user_avatar/community.hubspot.com/karstenkoehler/32/68554_2.png) [@karstenkoehler](https://community.hubspot.com/u/karstenkoehler)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2024, 12:08pm UTC](https://community.hubspot.com/t/branches-in-workflows-and-or-filter/100533/10 "2024-02-20T12:08:44Z")
@IuliaArtean if criteria overlap, e.g. “opened and clicked” vs “opened”, then you want to go from the strictest to the lesser strict ones. For example, if you first check “opened and clicked”, then “opened” in another branch, a contact who clicked would go down the first, a contact who just opened down the second. If you however, first check for “opened”, both would go down the first branch. ---
**Author:** ![IuliaArtean](https://d10pqhm3lwygmk.cloudfront.net/user_avatar/community.hubspot.com/iuliaartean/32/51483_2.png) [@IuliaArtean](https://community.hubspot.com/u/IuliaArtean)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2024, 12:27pm UTC](https://community.hubspot.com/t/branches-in-workflows-and-or-filter/100533/11 "2024-02-20T12:27:23Z")
Sorry but I still don’t get it 😞 What would be the best way to create these branches so my contacts will be removed from the workflow if they hit reply? I just tested my workflow and even if I have the separated branch “Reply” and then "end the automation’’ after they hit reply, I still got the next emails. Sending you a snapshot with the workflow, maybe it’s easier to understand what I am trying to achive. ![Capture.PNG](https://d2qpr2jzcazej7.cloudfront.net/original/3X/0/c/0c0a891e276679da93aeb12a4ae0402a7f34748c.png) Thank you so much. ---
**Author:** ![karstenkoehler](https://d10pqhm3lwygmk.cloudfront.net/user_avatar/community.hubspot.com/karstenkoehler/32/68554_2.png) [@karstenkoehler](https://community.hubspot.com/u/karstenkoehler)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2024, 12:29pm UTC](https://community.hubspot.com/t/branches-in-workflows-and-or-filter/100533/12 "2024-02-20T12:29:12Z")
@IuliaArtean this is context I didn’t have - this can be done in a much easier way. Simply set up the reply as a workflow goal: [Use goals in contact-based workflows](https://knowledge.hubspot.com/workflows/use-goals-in-contact-based-workflows)