Why data format matters ? Parquet vs Protobuf vs JSON #softwaredevelopment #bigdata #shorts

#softwareengineering #backenddevelopment #softwaredevelopment
#systemdesign #microservicesarchitecture #parquet

A data format is a specific representation or arrangement of data.
Data formats define how information is structured, transmitted and encoded.

Few Different type of data formats
- Text-based Formats: CSV, JSON, XML
- Binary Formats: Avro, Protocol Buffers (protobuf)
- Columnar Storage Formats: Parquet, Apache Arrow, Google Bigtable
- Document Formats: PDF (Portable Document Format), DOCX
- Audio/ Video Formats: MP3, WAV, MP4, AVI.

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Why data format matters ?

The data format can have a significant impact on various aspects of data-related workflows. Different formats are optimized for different use cases.

- Storage Efficiency and Cost: Choosing a format with efficient compression can significantly reduce storage requirements and saving costs
- Query Performance: Columnar storage formats, like Parquet, are optimized for analytical queries
- Serialization and Deserialization Performance: The process of converting data for storage or transmission (serialization) and converting it back has overhead. This matters in high-performance scenarios, especially in distributed systems and communication between microservices.

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JSON vs Parquet vs Protobuf

JSON: A lightweight data interchange format that is easy for humans to read and write
- Suitable for configuration files, APIs, and scenarios where human readability is important.
- Slower and bulkier: It has slower serialization and deserialization. It is less compact, leading to larger data sizes.

Parquet: An open-source columnar storage format developed within the Apache Hadoop project.
- Designed for efficient storage and processing of large datasets (analytics, data warehousing)
- Used with big data frameworks like Apache Spark and Apache Hive.
- Uses advanced compression techniques
- Optimized for read-heavy workloads

Protobuf: Protobuf, short for Protocol Buffers, is a binary format developed by Google.
- Optimized for serialization and efficient data interchange
- Used for High-performance scenarios: It is commonly used in high-performance scenarios, especially in distributed systems and communication between microservices.

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Questions : Any other key differences that i missed ?

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