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What is offset management in Kafka?

Spark/Big Datamedium0.3 min read

**Offset**: Position in partition log. Consumer commits offset to track progress. Stored in __consumer_offsets (Kafka) or external (Spark checkpoint). **Modes**: Auto-commit (periodic) vs. manual (commitSync/commitAsync after process). Manual required for exactly-once. **Why...

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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
Delivery Hero
Key Concepts Tested
partitionspark

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This medium-level Spark/Big Data question appears frequently in data engineering interviews at companies like Delivery Hero. While less common, it tests deeper understanding that distinguishes strong candidates. Mastering the underlying concepts (partition, spark) will help you answer variations of this question confidently.

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Expert Answer
69 words

Offset: Position in partition log. Consumer commits offset to track progress. Stored in __consumer_offsets (Kafka) or external (Spark checkpoint).

Modes: Auto-commit (periodic) vs. manual (commitSync/commitAsync after process). Manual required for exactly-once.

Why It Matters: Lost offset = reprocess or skip. Exactly-once needs atomic process+commit.

Scalability Trade-offs: Rebalance invalidation; consumer must handle. Spark checkpoint = exactly-once with idempotent sink.

Cost Implications: Reprocess = double cost. Durability of offsets is critical.

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