What does an Aggregate in OutSystems primarily do?

An Aggregate in OutSystems primarily retrieves data from the database, serving as a key element in the platform for handling data querying and manipulation. When you create an Aggregate, you define the entities and the attributes you want to work with, as well as the conditions that filter the data. It acts as a powerful visual tool, allowing developers to construct SQL-like queries without needing to write traditional SQL code.

Aggregates also allow for the automatic handling of joins between different entities, making it easier to fetch related data. This capability is crucial for building data-driven applications, as it simplifies the development process and optimizes performance. Additionally, the results from an Aggregate can be easily integrated into user interfaces, reports, or other components within the application.

In contrast, connecting to third-party services, defining user roles, and handling exception flows are important functionalities in OutSystems, but they do not pertain to the core role of an Aggregate specifically, which is why the answer about retrieving data from the database stands out as the correct response.