graphical user interface for filtering a population of items . the graphical user interface may be implemented as a method on a system comprising a computer server or other computing device . the system defines a library of available criteria to be used in filtering a population of items to identify items of interest . each criterion has a graphical representation . the system receives an indication of at least one of the criterion to be applied to the population as a filter and also accepts an indication of a tier of the filter to which the selected criterion is to be associated . the system identifies a list of items of interest satisfying a current set of criteria defining the filter . a graphical representation of the filter is displayed by the system while it is being constructed by the user . in one embodiment , the items are securities such as stocks .