Basic Azure Databricks Interview Questions for Beginners

Here are some basic Azure Databricks interview questions and answers.

1. What is Azure Databricks?

Azure Databricks is a cloud-based analytics platform. It is built on Apache Spark and designed
for big data and AI workloads. It helps data engineers and scientists process and analyse large
datasets easily.

2. What are the key components of Azure Databricks?

Azure Databricks has three main components:

 Workspace: For managing projects and organising notebooks.

 Clusters: For running and processing data.
 Jobs: For automating and scheduling tasks.

3. How is Azure Databricks integrated with Azure services?

Azure Databricks seamlessly integrates with Azure services. These include Azure Data Lake,
Azure SQL Database, and Azure Synapse Analytics. It also connects with Azure Active Directory
for security and access control.

4. What programming languages does Azure Databricks support?

Azure Databricks supports multiple languages. These include Python, R, Scala, Java, and SQL.
This flexibility makes it suitable for various data tasks.

5. What are the benefits of using Azure Databricks?

Azure Databricks offers scalability, fast processing, and real-time data insights. It integrates with
Azure services, supports collaborative workspaces, and reduces development time.

Azure Databricks Interview Questions for Freshers

Now, let’s take a look at some commonly asked Azure Data Bricks interview questions and
answers for freshers.

6. How does Azure Databricks simplify big data processing?

Azure Databricks automates cluster management and optimises Apache Spark. It enables fast
processing of big data. Its user-friendly interface makes it easier to work with data at scale.

7. What is the purpose of a notebook in Azure Databricks?

A notebook is a web-based interface in Azure Databricks. It allows users to write and execute
code, visualise data, and share results. Notebooks support multiple languages like Python, SQL,
and Scala.
 8. What is a Databricks cluster?
A Databricks cluster is a set of virtual machines. It is used to run big data and AI tasks. Clusters
can be scaled up or down based on workload requirements.

9. What are Databricks Workspaces used for?

Workspaces in Azure Databricks help users organise their work. They store notebooks, libraries,
and dashboards in a structured manner. This allows easy collaboration and management.

10. What is the role of Apache Spark in Azure Databricks?

Apache Spark is the core engine behind Azure Databricks. It powers data processing, machine
learning, and streaming tasks. Databricks enhances Spark by providing a simplified interface
and better performance.

Azure Databricks Interview Questions for Experienced

Here are some important Azure Databricks interview questions and answers for experienced
candidates.

11. How does Azure Databricks handle large-scale data?

Azure Databricks uses distributed computing with Apache Spark. It processes large-scale data
by dividing tasks into smaller parts. These tasks run parallelly across clusters for faster
processing.

12. What is the role of Delta Lake in Azure Databricks?

Delta Lake is a storage layer in Azure Databricks. It ensures data reliability with features like
ACID transactions and version control. It also improves performance by enabling efficient
querying and updates.

13. How can you optimise performance in Azure Databricks?

Performance can be optimised by:

 Using Auto-Scaling Clusters to match workload demands.

 Caching frequently used data.
 Writing optimised queries and partitioning large datasets.

14. What is the difference between Azure Databricks and Azure Synapse Analytics?
Azure Databricks is designed for big data analytics and AI workloads. Azure Synapse Analytics
focuses on data integration and warehousing. Databricks uses Apache Spark, while Synapse
supports SQL-based queries and ETL pipelines.
15. What is the significance of Databricks Runtime?
Databricks Runtime is a pre-configured environment. It includes optimised libraries for machine
learning, data analytics, and processing. Different runtime versions offer specific enhancements
for various tasks.

Azure Databricks Scenario Based Interview Questions

These are some important Databricks scenario based interview questions and answers.

16. How would you troubleshoot a failed job in Azure Databricks?

“If a job fails, I start by checking the job logs to understand the root cause. I look for error
messages or stack traces to pinpoint the issue. Next, I review the cluster’s configuration to
ensure it has the necessary resources. If the failure is due to missing libraries, I install them and
rerun the job. I also verify the script parameters to ensure there are no mistakes.”

17. A cluster is running slowly. How do you resolve this?

“When a cluster runs slowly, I begin by reviewing the performance metrics, such as CPU and
memory usage. If the cluster is under-resourced, I scale it up or enable auto-scaling to match the
workload. I also check for bottlenecks in the code, such as inefficient queries or non-optimised
Spark operations. Adjusting Spark configurations, like increasing executor memory or
parallelism, is another step I take to improve performance.”

18. How would you implement a real-time streaming pipeline in Azure Databricks?
“I would use Spark Structured Streaming in Databricks. First, I connect to a data source, like
Azure Event Hub or Kafka, using appropriate connectors. I write a streaming query to process
the incoming data in real-time. For output, I direct the processed data to a destination, such as
Azure Data Lake or a database. I ensure the pipeline is fault-tolerant by enabling checkpointing
and handling failures gracefully.”

19. How do you guarantee data security in Azure Databricks?

You might also come across Databricks interview questions scenario based like this one.

“To ensure data security, I always integrate Azure Databricks with Azure Active Directory for
access control. I encrypt data at rest using Azure-managed keys and ensure data in transit is
encrypted with HTTPS or secure protocols. I also use VNet integration to isolate Databricks in a
secure network. Private endpoints and firewall rules are implemented to restrict access to
authorised users only.
 Advanced Interview Questions on Azure Databricks

Here are some advanced Azure Data Bricks interview questions and answers.

20. What are the different cluster modes available in Azure Databricks, and when would you use
them?
Azure Databricks offers three cluster modes:

 Standard Mode: Used for most analytics and data processing tasks.
 High Concurrency Mode: Designed for workloads with multiple users, such as interactive notebooks or
dashboards.
 Single Node Mode: Suitable for small-scale development or testing that doesn’t need distributed
computing.

21. How do you handle skewed data in Azure Databricks?

“To handle skewed data, I use techniques like salting. This involves adding random keys to the
skewed data to distribute it evenly. Partitioning the data properly and using Spark’s repartition
or coalesce can also help balance the load.”

22. What is Databricks File System (DBFS), and how is it used?

DBFS is a distributed file system built into Azure Databricks. It allows seamless integration with
Azure storage. I use DBFS to store data files, scripts, and machine learning models. It is
accessible from notebooks, jobs, and libraries.

Azure Databricks Technical Interview Questions

Now, let’s take a look at some technical Azure Databricks interview questions and answers.

23. How does Azure Databricks handle data versioning in Delta Lake?
Delta Lake supports data versioning with its transaction log. Each change creates a new version,
allowing users to query or revert to previous states. I can use DESCRIBE HISTORY to view the
versions and TIME TRAVEL to access historical data.

24. What are the key differences between managed and unmanaged tables in Azure Databricks?
Managed tables are fully controlled by Databricks, including their storage. If a managed table is
dropped, its data is deleted. Unmanaged tables, however, store data externally, and only
metadata is managed by Databricks. Dropping an unmanaged table does not delete its data.

25. How do you monitor and debug Spark jobs in Azure Databricks?
“I use the Spark UI to monitor job stages, tasks, and execution details. It provides insights into
task durations, resource usage, and bottlenecks. For debugging, I review logs available in the UI
and check the cluster event timeline for errors.”
Azure Databricks PySpark Interview Questions

Here are some commonly asked PySpark Databricks interview questions and answers.

26. What is PySpark, and how is it used in Azure Databricks?

PySpark is the Python API for Apache Spark. It allows users to write Spark applications using
Python. In Azure Databricks, PySpark is used for distributed data processing, machine learning,
and ETL tasks.

27. How can PySpark handle missing data in a DataFrame?

PySpark provides methods like fillna() to replace missing values and dropna() to remove rows
with null values. It also supports conditional handling using the withColumn() method for
custom logic.

28. How does PySpark support machine learning in Azure Databricks?

PySpark integrates with MLlib, Spark’s machine learning library. MLlib provides tools for
classification, regression, clustering, and collaborative filtering. It is fully compatible with Azure
Databricks for scalable machine learning workflows.

Azure Delta Lake Interview Questions

29. What is Delta Lake, and how does it enhance data processing in Azure Databricks?
Delta Lake is a storage layer that adds ACID transaction support to data lakes. It enables reliable
and scalable data pipelines with features like data versioning, schema enforcement, and
efficient queries.

30. What are the key differences between Parquet and Delta Lake?
Parquet is a file format for data storage, while Delta Lake is a storage layer. Delta Lake extends
Parquet by adding features like ACID transactions, version control, and schema evolution.

31. How does Delta Lake handle schema evolution?

Delta Lake allows schema evolution by adding new columns or modifying existing ones. This is
done using the mergeSchema option during write operations. It ensures compatibility while
maintaining data integrity.
Azure Databricks Interview Questions for Data Engineer

These are some important Azure Databricks interview questions and answers for data
engineer.

32. What is the role of a Data Engineer in Azure Databricks?

A Data Engineer in Azure Databricks is responsible for building and maintaining scalable data
pipelines. They guarantee data integration, transformation, and storage in data lakes or
warehouses. They also optimise performance and ensure data quality.

33. How do you design ETL pipelines in Azure Databricks?

ETL pipelines are designed using Apache Spark and Databricks workflows. Data is extracted
from sources like Azure Data Lake or SQL databases. It is then transformed using Spark
transformations and loaded into the target destination.

34. How do Data Engineers implement incremental data processing in Azure Databricks?
Incremental data processing is achieved using Delta Lake’s change data capture (CDC) features.
Data Engineers use the MERGE operation to process only new or changed data, improving
efficiency.

Azure Databricks Interview Questions Cognizant

These are some Azure Databricks interview questions and answers asked at Cognizant.

35. How would you approach integrating Azure Databricks with other Azure services in a client
project?
“To integrate Azure Databricks with other services, I would start by identifying the client’s data
flow requirements. For example, Azure Data Lake can be used for storage, while Azure Synapse
is ideal for advanced analytics. I would configure secure connections and ensure data pipelines
use Azure Data Factory for orchestration.”

36. What do you know about Cognizant’s use of Azure Databricks for client solutions?
“While I do not have direct experience at Cognizant, I understand that the company uses Azure
Databricks for scalable data analytics and machine learning solutions. Cognizant likely
integrates Databricks with Azure tools like Synapse and Power BI to provide comprehensive
analytics platforms for clients.”

Wrapping Up
Azure Databricks is a powerful tool for data engineering, analytics, and machine learning. By
reviewing these Azure Databricks interview questions, you can confidently prepare for your
next big opportunity. Stay updated on the latest tools and trends to stay ahead in your career.
What is Databricks?

Answer: Databricks is a unified analytics platform that accelerates innovation by unifying data

science, engineering, and business. It provides an optimized Apache Spark environment,

integrated data storage, and collaborative workspace for interactive data analytics.

How does Databricks handle data storage?

Answer: Databricks integrates with data storage solutions such as Azure Data Lake, AWS S3, and

Google Cloud Storage. It uses these storage services to read and write data, making it easy to

access and manage large datasets.

What are the main components of Databricks?

Answer: The main components of Databricks include the workspace, clusters, notebooks, and

jobs. The workspace is for organizing projects, clusters are for executing code, notebooks are for

interactive development, and jobs are for scheduling automated workflows.

Apache Spark and Databricks

What is Apache Spark, and how does it integrate with Databricks?

Answer: Apache Spark is an open-source, distributed computing system that provides an

interface for programming entire clusters with implicit data parallelism and fault tolerance.

Databricks provides a managed Spark environment that simplifies cluster management and

enhances Spark with additional features.

Explain the concept of RDDs in Spark.

Answer: RDDs (Resilient Distributed Datasets) are the fundamental data structure in Spark. They

are immutable, distributed collections of objects that can be processed in parallel. RDDs provide
fault tolerance and allow for in-memory computing.
What are DataFrames and Datasets in Spark?

Answer: DataFrames are distributed collections of data organized into named columns, similar to

a table in a relational database. Datasets are typed, distributed collections of data that provide

the benefits of RDDs (type safety) with the convenience of DataFrames (high-level operations).

How do you perform data transformation in Spark?

Answer: Data transformation in Spark can be performed using operations like map, filter,

reduce, groupBy, and join. These transformations can be applied to RDDs, DataFrames, and

Datasets to manipulate data.

What is the Catalyst Optimizer in Spark?

Answer: The Catalyst Optimizer is a query optimization framework in Spark SQL that

automatically optimizes the logical and physical execution plans to improve query performance.

Explain the concept of lazy evaluation in Spark.

Answer: Lazy evaluation means that Spark does not immediately execute transformations on

RDDs, DataFrames, or Datasets. Instead, it builds a logical plan of the transformations and only

executes them when an action (like collect or save) is called. This optimization reduces the

number of passes over the data.

How do you manage Spark applications on Databricks clusters?

Answer: Spark applications on Databricks clusters can be managed by configuring clusters

(choosing instance types, auto-scaling options), monitoring cluster performance, and using

Databricks job scheduling to automate workflows.

Databricks Notebooks and Collaboration

How do you create and manage notebooks in Databricks?

Answer: Notebooks in Databricks can be created directly in the workspace. They support

multiple languages like SQL, Python, Scala, and R. Notebooks can be organized into directories,

shared with team members, and versioned using Git integration.

What are some key features of Databricks notebooks?

Answer: Key features include cell execution, rich visualizations, collaborative editing,

commenting, version control, and support for multiple languages within a single notebook.

How do you collaborate with other data engineers in Databricks?

Answer: Collaboration is facilitated through real-time co-authoring of notebooks, commenting,

sharing notebooks and dashboards, using Git for version control, and managing permissions for

workspace access.

Data Engineering with Databricks

What are Delta Lakes, and why are they important?

Answer: Delta Lake is an open-source storage layer that brings ACID transactions to Apache
Spark and big data workloads. It ensures data reliability, supports schema enforcement, and

provides efficient data versioning and time travel capabilities.

How do you perform ETL (Extract, Transform, Load) operations in Databricks?

Answer: ETL operations in Databricks can be performed using Spark DataFrames and Delta Lake.

The process typically involves reading data from sources, transforming it using Spark operations,
and writing it to destinations like Delta Lake or data warehouses.
How do you handle data partitioning in Spark?

Answer: Data partitioning in Spark can be handled using the repartition or coalesce methods to

adjust the number of partitions. Effective partitioning helps in optimizing data processing and

ensuring balanced workloads across the cluster.

What is the difference between wide and narrow transformations in Spark?

Answer: Narrow transformations (like map and filter) involve data shuffling within a single

partition, while wide transformations (like groupByKey and join) involve data shuffling across

multiple partitions, which can be more resource-intensive.

How do you use Databricks to build and manage data pipelines?

Answer: Databricks allows you to build data pipelines using notebooks and jobs. You can

schedule jobs to automate ETL processes, use Delta Lake for reliable data storage, and integrate

with other tools like Apache Airflow for workflow orchestration.

What are some best practices for writing Spark jobs in Databricks?

Answer: Best practices include optimizing data partitioning, using broadcast variables for small

lookup tables, avoiding wide transformations where possible, caching intermediate results, and

monitoring and tuning Spark configurations.

Advanced Topics

How do you implement machine learning models in Databricks?

Answer: Machine learning models can be implemented using MLlib (Spark’s machine learning

library) or integrating with libraries like TensorFlow and Scikit-Learn. Databricks provides

managed MLflow for tracking experiments and managing the ML lifecycle.

What is the role of Databricks Runtime?

Answer: Databricks Runtime is a set of core components that run on Databricks clusters,

including optimized versions of Apache Spark, libraries, and integrations. It improves

performance and compatibility with Databricks features.

How do you secure data and manage permissions in Databricks?

Answer: Data security and permissions can be managed using features like encryption at rest

and in transit, role-based access control (RBAC), secure cluster configurations, and integration

with AWS IAM or Azure Active Directory.

How do you use Databricks to process real-time data?

Answer: Real-time data processing in Databricks can be achieved using Spark Streaming or

Structured Streaming. These tools allow you to ingest, process, and analyze streaming data from

sources like Kafka, Kinesis, or Event Hubs.

What is the role of Apache Kafka in a Databricks architecture?

Answer: Apache Kafka serves as a distributed streaming platform for building real-time data

pipelines. In Databricks, Kafka can be used to ingest data streams, which can then be processed

using Spark Streaming or Structured Streaming.

Can you give an example of a complex data engineering problem you solved using Databricks?

Answer: Example: “I worked on a project where we needed to process and analyze large

volumes of clickstream data in real-time. We used Databricks to build a data pipeline that

ingested data from Kafka, performed transformations using Spark Streaming, and stored the

results in Delta Lake. This allowed us to provide real-time analytics and insights to the business,
significantly improving decision-making processes.”