handle populate: false

packages/core/database/lib/query/helpers/populate.js

@@ -83,6 +83,10 @@ const processPopulate = (populate, ctx) => {
       continue;
     }
 
+    if (populateMap[key] === false) {
+      continue;
+    }
+
     // make sure id is present for future populate queries
     if (_.has('id', meta.attributes)) {
       qb.addSelect('id');

packages/core/strapi/tests/api/populate/filtering/index.test.e2e.js

@@ -300,5 +300,19 @@ describe('Populate filters', () => {
 
       expect(body.data[0].attributes.third.data[0].attributes.fooRef).toBeUndefined();
     });
+
+    test("Don't populate with object and 'f'", async () => {
+      const qs = {
+        populate: {
+          third: 'f',
+        },
+      };
+      const { status, body } = await rq.get(`/${schemas.contentTypes.c.pluralName}`, { qs });
+
+      expect(status).toBe(200);
+      expect(body.data).toHaveLength(2);
+
+      expect(body.data[0].attributes.third).toBeUndefined();
+    });
   });
 });