DataEngPrep.tech
QuestionsBlogStore
Get PDF Bundle
Home/Questions/Spark/Big Data/Cache vs. Persistent storage in Spark?

Cache vs. Persistent storage in Spark?

Spark/Big Datahard0.5 min readPremium
Frequency
Low
Asked at 1 company
Category
452
questions in Spark/Big Data
Difficulty Split
88E|81M|283H
in this category
Total Bank
1,863
across 7 categories
Asked at these companies
Snowflake
Key Concepts Tested
optimizationspark
Expert AnswerPremium
99 wordsInterview-ready
**Why the distinction matters**: Cache = ephemeral compute-layer optimization; persistent storage = durable output. **cache()/persist()**: Stores RDD/DataFrame in memory (or disk) for reuse *within* job/DAG. Levels: MEMORY_ONLY, MEMORY_AND_DISK, etc. Evicted on LRU when full. **Persistent storage (Parquet, Delta)**: Durable, optimized format on disk/S3; survives cluster tear-down. **Scalability trade-offs**: Cache competes with execution memory; over-caching causes spill....
The complete answer continues with detailed implementation patterns, architectural trade-offs, and production-grade considerations. It covers performance optimization strategies, common pitfalls to avoid, and real-world examples from companies like Snowflake. The answer also includes follow-up discussion points that interviewers commonly explore.

Continue Reading the Full Answer

Unlock the complete expert answer with code examples, trade-offs, and pro tips - plus 1,863+ more.

Create Free Account - Unlock 30 Answers
Get PDF Bundle - from $21

Or upgrade to Platform Pro - $39

Engineers who used these answers got offers at

AmazonDatabricksSnowflakeGoogleMeta

Free: Top 20 SQL Interview Questions (PDF)

Get the most asked SQL questions with expert answers. Instant download.

No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.

Related Spark/Big Data Questions

mediumWhat is the difference between repartition and coalesce in Apache Spark?FreehardWhat is the difference between SparkSession and SparkContext in Spark?FreemediumWhat is the difference between cache() and persist() in Spark? When would you use each?FreemediumWhat is the difference between groupByKey and reduceByKey in Spark?FreemediumWhat is the difference between narrow and wide transformations in Apache Spark? Explain with examples.Free

According to DataEngPrep.tech, this is one of the most frequently asked Spark/Big Data interview questions, reported at 1 company. DataEngPrep.tech maintains a curated database of 1,863+ real data engineering interview questions across 7 categories, verified by industry professionals.

← Back to all questionsMore Spark/Big Data questions →