A Primer on Frame-QL

Frame-QL is a storage-independent query language for declaring analytical results. This primer explains how the Theory of Data makes that boundary possible: analytical quantities, their locations, and the laws that preserve their meaning are defined independently of tables, joins, and physical execution plans. The paper uses familiar averaging examples to explain why final output dimensions do not always identify a quantity, and why Frame-QL distinguishes an expression-local input anchor (@) from the final output anchor (AT). It describes a Manifold as a versioned, governed analytical data model—an analytical data ontology for a particular domain and a storage-independent data model under ToD. Physical mappings realize that model rather than constitute its analytical meaning. Version 2.3 aligns the primer with published ToD v7.1, explains FIRST/LAST through governed analytical-point order and sufficient state, and distinguishes a supported answer from information retained for later reuse. It preserves the separation among analytical law, language design, and implementation coverage. The paper is a conceptual introduction, not a complete grammar or a release-conformance report; its query examples have not been re-executed for this edition.