JQL Current Sprint: How to Query Current Sprints in Jira

Tracking the JQL current sprint is the best way to stay on top of your team’s progress. While “active sprints” in Jira encompass all ongoing sprints across projects, current sprints zero in on the sprint specific to your board so that you can focus solely on your team’s deliverables.

Using JQL (Jira Query Language), you can run targeted queries to monitor issues within the current sprint. These queries help you streamline workflows, prioritize tasks, and gain actionable insights into your team’s performance. 

Whether it’s filtering issues by type or tracking unresolved tasks, JQL offers powerful tools for current sprint management. This guide will walk you through step-by-step instructions to streamline sprint tracking, saving you time and effort. 

With the right approach and tools, like the JQL query generator from PaceAI, you can definitely simplify sprint tracking and stay on top of your game. 

Let’s explore how!

What is JQL in Jira?

JQL, or Jira Query Language, is a powerful built-in tool within JIRA that allows you to perform advanced searches in Jira. It’s especially useful for identifying and tracking issues within a sprint. 

With the right query, you can filter data to focus solely on your current sprint, enabling better decision-making and improved sprint tracking for current issues, roadblocks, risks, and updated tasks. 

How Do You Query The Current Sprint Using JQL?

If you’re managing an active project and need an up-to-date overview of issues, impediments, rollovers, or dependencies, focusing on the current sprint is far more efficient than broad queries for all active sprints. 

While “active sprints” may include multiple sprints across different teams or boards, querying the current sprint hones in on the precise details relevant to your team. 

So, to narrow down your search for the current sprint, you can select the project name from the “Projects” option from the header bar. 

Source: Atlassian Jira

Once you select the respective project, the project board will become visible, which includes all the details, like its backlog, the number of sprints, and the tasks that are in progress. You’ll get the status of multiple components in this step, where you can make changes. 

Here, you can manually apply filters and extract the elements of the current sprint as per your requirements. However, if you’re willing to run a query, then here are the steps you should follow:

Step-by-Step Guide to Query the Current Sprint Using JQL

In order to create a targeted query for your current sprint, follow these steps:

Step 1: Define Your Goal

First, define what you want to achieve with your query. 

For example, do you need a list of unresolved issues? Are you focusing on rollovers or dependencies? 

So, having a clear goal makes sure that your query is customized to your requirements.

Step 2: Use the Basic Query Syntax

The key function for identifying the current sprint in JQL is: Sprint in openSprints(). This function retrieves all issues in the sprint that are currently active for your team.

Step 3: Add Relevant Filters

To refine your query further, include filters for specific criteria:

By Issue Type: Filter tasks, bugs, or stories.
Sprint in openSprints() AND issuetype = Bug

By Assignee: Focus on issues assigned to specific team members.
Sprint in openSprints() AND assignee = “John Doe”

By Priority: Prioritize issues that need immediate attention.
Sprint in openSprints() AND priority = “High”

Query Rollovers and Dependencies
To identify unresolved issues carried over from previous sprints, use the status filter:
Sprint in openSprints() AND status != Done

For dependencies, you can use custom fields or labels:
Sprint in openSprints() AND “Dependency” IS NOT EMPTY

Step 4: Visualize Results with Jira Dashboards

Once your query retrieves the desired data, use Jira dashboards to create custom visualizations. Graphs and charts can make it easier to communicate your sprint’s status to stakeholders.

You can also leverage the start and end dates in your JQL queries to get precise control over sprint tracking. This focus on the current sprint ensures timely delivery, improved team accountability, and better project management.

You can integrate your JQL queries with Jira dashboards to create visual reports. Use charts to track metrics such as completed vs. pending issues, overdue tasks, or blockers. For example:

• Burndown Charts: Monitor the remaining work in the sprint.
• Issue Tracking Gadgets: Display unresolved tasks or priorities for immediate visibility.

Effective sprint tracking ensures your team stays on course to achieve its objectives. While Jira’s tools are robust, leveraging JQL (Jira Query Language) for targeted queries can take your sprint management to the next level. 

Best Practices for Tracking Active Sprints

Here’s how you can optimize tracking your active sprints with specific, actionable strategies.

Regularly Review Sprint Progress

Staying on top of your sprint progress ensures issues are addressed promptly, and goals are met within the sprint timeline. Use JQL to pull real-time data on sprint activity:

Track Resolved Issues: Monitor tasks that have been completed.
Sprint in openSprints() AND status = Done

Highlight Blockers: Identify unresolved tasks that could delay progress.
Sprint in openSprints() AND status = Blocked

Monitor Work in Progress: Keep an eye on ongoing tasks to assess workload distribution.
Sprint in openSprints() AND status = “In Progress”

Conduct daily or weekly reviews using these queries to ensure your sprint remains on track. Pair these reviews with visual tools like burndown charts to provide a snapshot of progress to stakeholders.

Use PaceAI for Smarter Queries

Manually managing complex JQL queries can be time-consuming, especially when tracking multiple aspects of an active sprint. 

Here’s where the JQL generator tool from PaceAI can simplify this process by generating JQL queries to run automatically, whether it is for tracking daily updates or seeing critical issues before the release.

For example, PaceAI can help you create a main JQL query, which is customized by combining multiple queries, such as blockers, rollovers, and progress indicators, into one view, saving you hours of manual effort.

Combine Filters for Granular Insights

You can combine multiple filters in a single JQL query, which lets you zoom in on specific aspects of your sprint. Instead of running multiple queries, a well-crafted combined query can give you a holistic view. Here’s how:

Filter by Assignee: Identify what each team member is working on.
Sprint in openSprints() AND assignee = “John Doe”

Filter by Priority: Focus on high-priority tasks to ensure critical work is addressed first.
Sprint in openSprints() AND priority = “High”

Filter by Status and Due Date: Combine multiple criteria to track overdue tasks that are still in progress.
Sprint in openSprints() AND status = “In Progress” AND dueDate < now()

Track Pending Bugs: Narrow your view to unresolved issues marked as bugs.
Sprint in openSprints() AND issuetype = Bug AND resolution IS EMPTY

Monitor Key Dates for Time-Sensitive Tracking

Current sprint timelines are critical for effective project delivery. Use start and end dates in your JQL queries to ensure tasks are on track:

Identify Tasks Added Late: Spot tasks added after the sprint started to assess scope creep.
Sprint in openSprints() AND created >= startOfSprint()

Highlight Upcoming Deadlines: Ensure tasks nearing the sprint’s end are prioritized.
Sprint in openSprints() AND dueDate <= endOfSprint()

By combining date-based filters with other criteria, you can create a powerful tracking mechanism tailored to your team’s needs.

Optimize with Regular Sprint Health Checks

You can conduct the sprint health checkup on the current sprint by focusing on: 

Unresolved Issues: It ensures that no tasks are left behind as the sprint progresses.
Sprint in openSprints() AND resolution IS EMPTY

Overloaded Team Members: Identify if any team member is overwhelmed by tracking their assigned tasks.
Sprint in openSprints() AND assignee = “John Doe” AND status != Done

Rollover Issues: Track tasks carried over from previous sprints.
Sprint in openSprints() AND created < startOfSprint()

FAQs

Conclusion

So, JQL for current sprints can quickly identify issues in your current sprint without manually searching. 

You can also combine JQL with intelligent tools like PaceAI, which takes this capability even further, automating query generation and simplifying sprint management. With PaceAI, you can create dynamic workflows, enhance team productivity, and generate actionable insights in real time.