Add filter to ArrayCollection
<mx:Application xmlns:mx="http://www.adobe.com/2006/mxml" xmlns:s="library://ns.adobe.com/flex/spark"> <mx:ArrayCollection id="collection"> <mx:Object name="A" age="25" /> <mx:Object name="B" age="15" /> <mx:Object name="C" age="23" /> </mx:ArrayCollection> <mx:Script> private function applyFilter():void { collection.filterFunction = filterFunc; collection.refresh(); } private function filterFunc(value:Object):Object { return (Number(value.age) > 21); } </mx:Script> <s:DropDownList labelField="name" dataProvider="{collection}" /> <mx:Button label="set filter" click="applyFilter();" /> </mx:Application>