Kafka Architecture: A Simple Guide with Real-World Examples

source: projectpro.io

Apache Kafka is like a super-fast mail system for computers. It helps different parts of a computer system talk to each other by sending messages. Think of it as a highway where data flows from one place to another without getting stuck in traffic.

In this article, we will learn about Kafka’s main parts and how they work together. We will also see real examples of how companies use Kafka every day.

What is Apache Kafka?

Kafka is a tool that handles streaming data. Streaming data is information that flows continuously, like water in a river. For example, when you use Facebook, every like, comment, and share creates streaming data.

Kafka was first built by LinkedIn in 2010. They needed a way to handle millions of messages every second. Today, companies like Netflix, Uber, and Twitter use Kafka to process huge amounts of data in real-time.

The main job of Kafka is to:

• Collect data from many sources
• Store it safely
• Send it to different places that need it
• Do all this very fast

Main Parts of Kafka Architecture