Archetype Query Language

AQL is designed to retrieve data from openEHR-based Clinical Data Repositories using archetypes and semantic meaning rather than database tables, allowing queries to follow the real clinical structure of the data. 
  • Level: Advanced
    Duration: 2 h
    Educator: Andraž Koželj
    Language: English

What will you learn?

  • Why AQL exists, how it differs from SQL, and why it is essential for querying clinical data stored in openEHR systems.
  • How AQL enables vendor-independent access to clinical data, from full compositions to specific data points, supporting both point-of-care use and large-scale analytics.
  • The role of the openEHR Reference Model, including core classes and data types, and how they influence how data is queried using AQL.
  • How clinical data is structured within compositions as a data tree, and how to navigate this structure to retrieve the information you need.
  • The fundamentals of AQL syntax and how to construct queries based on different data model structures.
  • How to control and shape query results, including selecting output fields, limiting results, and applying pagination.

  • How to apply aggregation, filtering, and search capabilities to analyse and refine query results.

  • How to handle advanced scenarios such as multiple archetype versions, timeline queries, and querying specific or latest composition versions.

Course details

About the educator

Andraž Koželj

Andraž is highly skilled in technology and has a deep understanding of individual operating principles, allowing him to quickly learn and solve problems in unfamiliar contexts. He possess rigorous analytical thinking, attention to detail, and can reliably achieve targets. He has experience in leading groups and presenting products. He can communicate complex concepts at a high difficulty level but can also break them down into simple explanations for different audiences. In his free time Andraž is a sports enthusiast, a lover of good music and an avid reader who enjoys learning new things.

Courses

Hive

Chat. Learn. Share.

Connect and share insights with other healthcare professionals.

Start learning

Become an expert in digital health and drive better care.
© Better 2026. All rights reserved.