Question

Is it possible to implement the following query using Criteria API?

select order from ORDER as order,ITEM as item 
where item.itemID like  ITM_01  and item in elements(order.items)

Answer 1

To answer the question in the title - no, there s no direct equivalent for elements() in Criteria API.

However, your query s use of elements() is superfluous. It can instead be more simply rewritten as

select order from ORDER as order
  where order.items.itemID like  ITM_01

Equivalent criteria would have to use nested criteria instance to access collection:

session.createCriteria(Order.class)
 .createCriteria("items")
 .add(Restrictions.like("itemID", "ITM_01"));

Another alternative is to use aliases:

session.createCriteria(Order.class)
 .createAlias("items", "item")
 .add(Restrictions.like("item.itemID", "ITM_01"));

Note that you don t need to use LIKE for fixed value, you can use simple equality instead.