What is batch processing?
Batch processing refers to the execution of a sequence of programs or jobs over a large set of data in batches, as opposed to processing continuously or interactively. Jobs are scheduled and managed as groups.
Batch processing workloads are tuned to optimize throughput, utilization and efficiency when processing very high volumes of data systematically and repetitively.
Batch processing excels at throughput but has higher latency than real-time systems. Big data architectures like lambda architecture combine batch and real-time processing while kappa architecture and unified processing replace batch with fast scalable streams.
What does it do? How does it work?
In batch processing, data is collected over a period and then processed in bulk at scheduled intervals as batches. Jobs run without manual intervention based on pre-defined specifications.
Batch systems orchestrate workflows, load balancing, failure handling, and output delivery while optimizing overall throughput. Batch jobs tend to have high compute needs but predictable patterns.
Why is it important? Where is it used?
Batch processing is critical for data and compute-intensive workloads involving periodic, systematic processing of very large datasets. Use cases include ETL pipelines, report generation, machine learning model training, scientific simulations, image/video processing, transaction processing, and data warehouse loading.
Batch processing provides efficiency, reliability, and economies of scale for massive, repeatable workloads with expected patterns. It underpins many big data architectures.
FAQ
How does batch processing differ from stream processing?
Batch operates on finite stored datasets vs continuous never-ending streams. Latency is higher, throughput and efficiency optimized.
What are some key batch processing tools?
Popular batch processing tools include Hadoop, Apache Spark, Apache Beam, Kubernetes CronJobs, Amazon EMR and AWS Batch.
What are the main challenges with batch processing?
Challenges include dealing with failures, coordinating dependencies, handling peak processing loads, optimizing throughput and lowering latency to near real-time.
When should you choose batch over stream processing?
Batch excels for workloads involving:
References
Related Topics
Kappa Architecture
Kappa architecture is a big data processing pattern that uses stream processing for both real-time and historical analytics, avoiding the complexity of hybrid stream and batch processing.
Unified Processing
Unified processing refers to data pipeline architectures that handle batch and real-time processing using a single processing engine, avoiding the complexities of hybrid systems.
Batch Processing
Batch processing is the execution of a series of programs or jobs on a set of data in batches without user interaction for efficiently processing high volumes of data.
Lambda Architecture
Lambda architecture is a big data processing pattern which combines both batch and real-time stream processing to get the benefits of high throughput and low latency querying.
Apache Arrow
Apache Arrow is a cross-language development platform for in-memory data, specifying a standardized language-independent columnar memory format for flat and hierarchical data, organized for efficient analytic operations.
Apache Arrow DataFusion
Apache DataFusion is an extensible, high-performance data processing framework in Rust, designed to efficiently execute analytical queries on large datasets. It utilizes the Apache Arrow in-memory data format.