Simple Queries in Spark Catalyst Optimisation (2) Join and Aggregation

Simple Queries in Spark Catalyst Optimisation (2) Join and Aggregation

Simple Queries in Spark Catalyst Optimisation (2) Join and Aggregation

Original URL: https://medium.com/@wx.london.cun/simple-queries-in-spark-catalyst-optimisation-2-join-and-aggregation-c03f07a1dda8

Article Written: December 5, 2016

Added: November 23, 2025

Type: tech2

Summary

This article explores the join and aggregation operations in Spark's Catalyst optimization engine. It discusses how Spark generates execution plans for these operations, including SortMergeJoin and HashAggregate, and the underlying mechanisms that ensure efficient data processing. The author highlights the complexities of data shuffling and the importance of distribution and ordering in Spark plans. Overall, the article provides insights into the optimization strategies employed by Spark Catalyst for handling join and aggregation queries.

Technologies Referenced