Auto Loader is a Databricks feature designed for incremental data ingestion that supports both streaming and batch workloads.
Key points:
- Streaming workloads - Auto Loader is primarily designed as a streaming solution that can continuously ingest new files as they arrive in cloud storage.
- Batch workloads - Auto Loader can also be used in batch mode to process existing files incrementally.
- Compatibility - Auto Loader is specifically built for data ingestion workloads, not for machine learning, serverless, or dashboard workloads.
Why other options are incorrect:
- Machine learning workloads - These are typically handled by MLflow, Databricks Runtime for ML, or other ML frameworks, not Auto Loader.
- Serverless workloads - While Auto Loader can run on serverless compute, it's not a workload type itself.
- Dashboard workloads - These refer to BI/visualization workloads typically handled by tools like Databricks SQL, Tableau, or Power BI.
Auto Loader's primary use case is incremental data ingestion from cloud storage into Delta Lake, making it compatible with both streaming and batch data processing patterns.
