Nexthink NQL Reference Guide
A comprehensive reference guide for Nexthink Query Language (NQL) built for IT professionals.
Welcome to the Nexthink NQL Reference Guide - a practical resource designed for IT professionals working with Nexthink's Digital Employee Experience platform. This guide provides clear, actionable documentation for writing NQL queries to analyze endpoint data, investigate issues, and build powerful investigations and dashboards.
Content Sync Complete - January 12, 2026
First Batch Successfully Synced:
- ✅ Project structure created
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- ✅ 18 pages synced from Obsidian vault
- ✅ All core Getting Started & Query Syntax topics live!
Progress: 18 of 100+ planned topics (18%) complete
What You'll Learn
This guide covers everything from NQL basics to advanced query techniques, organized into clear sections:
Getting Started
Perfect for beginners - learn the fundamentals of NQL:
- NQL Basics - Introduction to Nexthink Query Language
- Query Structure - Understanding NQL query anatomy
- First Query - Step-by-step guide to your first NQL query
Core Concepts
Master the foundational concepts of NQL:
- Data Sources - Understanding devices, users, applications, and events
- Fields & Operators - Working with fields and comparison operators
- Aggregations - Grouping and summarizing data
Query Syntax
Learn the building blocks of NQL queries:
- SELECT Statements - Selecting fields and data
- WHERE Clauses - Filtering and conditional logic
- JOIN Operations - Combining data from multiple sources
Functions
Work with NQL's built-in functions:
- String Functions - Text manipulation and pattern matching
- Date Functions - Working with timestamps and date ranges
- Aggregate Functions - COUNT, SUM, AVG, MIN, MAX
Practical Guides
Real-world patterns and solutions for common tasks:
- Common Patterns - Reusable query templates
- Troubleshooting - Debugging and fixing query issues
- Best Practices - Writing efficient, maintainable queries
Reference
Essential reference materials:
- Glossary - NQL terminology and definitions
Guiding Principles
This guide is built on the following principles:
- Practical first - Focus on real-world queries you'll actually use
- Clear examples - Every concept illustrated with working code
- IT professional focus - Geared toward endpoint management and troubleshooting
- Beginner-friendly - Clear explanations without assuming prior knowledge
- Consistent formatting - Easy to scan and find what you need
Current Status
Overall Progress
18 of 100+ planned topics complete
Section Breakdown
| Section | Topics | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Getting Started | 4/4 | ✅ Complete |
| Query Syntax | 7/10 | 🚧 In Progress |
| Functions | 1/5 | 🚧 In Progress |
| Practical Guides | 1/5 | 🚧 In Progress |
| Reference | 5/10 | 🚧 In Progress |
| Advanced Topics | 0/15 | 📋 Planned |
What's Next?
Recently Completed:
- ✅ Getting Started section (4/4 pages)
- ✅ Core Query Syntax (7 essential clauses)
- ✅ Aggregation Functions reference
- ✅ Help Desk Troubleshooting guide
- ✅ Comprehensive reference materials
Coming Soon:
- Additional Functions (String, Date, Math)
- More Practical Guides (Common Patterns, Best Practices)
- Advanced Query Techniques
- Investigation & Dashboard Design patterns
Getting Started
New to NQL? Start with the Getting Started section and work your way through sequentially.
Already familiar with the basics? Jump to any topic using the navigation menu.
Note: This guide is actively being developed. Check back regularly for new content! The Getting Started section is complete, and core query syntax topics are now available.