**Local**: `--master local[N]` or `local[*]`. Single JVM; N threads. Dev and unit tests. No distribution.
**Standalone**: `--master spark://host:7077`. Spark's built-in cluster manager. Simple; no YARN/K8s. Rare in prod.
**YARN**: `--master yarn`, `--deploy-mode client|cluster`. Client: driver on submission machine; cluster: driver on worker. Cluster preferred for prod—driver survives client disconnect.
**Kubernetes**: `--master k8s://...`....
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 Dunnhumby. The answer also includes follow-up discussion points that interviewers commonly explore.
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