Exploring columnar data formats

This section goes into the world of data formats, highlighting the significance of understanding each’s benefits. We will explore four widely used columnar data formats, namely Apache Parquet, Apache ORC, Apache Iceberg, and Delta Lake.

Grasping the nuances of these formats is crucial, as their performance and specific use cases vary. For instance, Apache Parquet shines in big data processing frameworks, while Apache ORC excels in high-performance analytics. Similarly, Apache Iceberg is tailored for large-scale data lakes with frequent schema modifications and high concurrency, whereas Delta Lake is optimized for Apache Spark-based applications.

Important note

Columnar data formats are not a new concept. They have been around since the 1970s when they were first proposed by Michael Stonebraker and his colleagues at UC Berkeley. However, they have gained popularity in recent years due to the emergence of big data and analytical workloads...