Following are the key concepts used in TQL.
| Name | Description |
|---|---|
| Project | A deployment unit, consisting of one or more Models, Model Facets and Queries. |
| Model | A unit of definition with structures to represent the Attributes and Actions of an entity. |
| ThingModel | One kind of Model. Used to represent things that interact with the application from outside the software system, such as sensors, devices and machines. |
| AppModel | One kind of Model. Used to represent an application logic construct. |
| DataModel | One kind of Model. Used to define a data structure. |
| ModelFacet | A reusable definition component that can be used (via "Combines") by Models. Usually contains its Attribute and Action definitions. |
| ThingFacet | One kind of ModelFacets. Used to define a reusable construct concerning interaction with things. |
| AppFacet | One kind of ModelFacets. Used to define a reusable construct concerning application logic. |
| Combines | A keyword used in Model definitions. Models "Combines" ModelFacets to acquire all the Attributes and Action definitions of the ModelFacets. |
| Attribute | A container that holds values for the Model. |
| Action | A definition of a process(es) associated with a Model. |
| Actionable Attribute | An attribute whose value changes will automatically trigger the processes defined by Action(s). |
| Workflow | A sequence of tasks that are orchestrated and repeatable. |
| Task | A unit of work. |
| Model Instance | An incarnation of a Model definition. |
| Deploy | The process of compiling Model definitions and make the post-compilation artifacts (such as model runtime) available to the running TQL Engine |
| Instantiation | The process of creating Model Instances from a Model definition. The process of creating workflow instances from a Workflow definition. |
| Query | Any operation(s) on the model instance data (or model data), which includes filtering, joining, and manipulations. |
| Subscription | Subscribing to a topic |
| Topic | |
| Types | |
| Macros | |
| Protocol Handler | |
| Facet Instances | |
| Facet Types | |
| FacetID | |
| Template Processing | |
| Atomic Domain Langauges (ADL) | |
| Thing Query Language (TQL) | |