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Apache Impala
What it is
Apache Impala is an open-source analytic database for SQL queries on open data and table formats. It is designed for low-latency, high-concurrency business intelligence and analytics in the Hadoop ecosystem, and it scales linearly, including in multitenant environments. It works with data in HDFS, HBase, and Amazon S3, and supports formats such as Parquet, Avro, delimited text, SequenceFile, and RCFile, with Snappy, GZIP, Deflate, and BZIP compression. Clients can connect through impala-shell, Hue, JDBC, or ODBC. Impala uses Hadoop's file formats, metadata, security, and resource-management frameworks, and shares metadata and an ODBC driver with Apache Hive. It can query Kudu tables and perform updates or deletes, as well as interact with Iceberg tables in the Hive Metastore. Security options include Kerberos, Apache Ranger authorization, auditing, and encrypted JDBC or ODBC connections. It is free under the Apache License 2.0, with Linux, macOS, API, and self-hosted platforms listed.
For and against
For
- Supports HDFS, HBase, and Amazon S3 data.
- Connects through shell, Hue, JDBC, or ODBC.
- Integrates with Kudu and Iceberg tables.
- Free under Apache License 2.0.
Against
- Does not replace MapReduce batch frameworks for long-running ETL.
- Requires self-hosted deployment.
The verdict
Apache Impala focuses on fast, concurrent SQL analytics and integrates with Hadoop frameworks and several storage and table systems. It is not a replacement for MapReduce-based batch processing.
Who it suits
Impala suits teams running SQL-based analytics on Hadoop ecosystem data, including multitenant deployments. Its Kudu and Iceberg support may suit data environments using those table systems.
Plans and prices
Apache Impala open-source software
Apache License 2.0 · source and binary releases
Read 1 Oct 2026 · apache.org
On the record
- Batch-processing limitation
- Impala does not replace MapReduce-based batch frameworks such as Hive, which are suited to long-running ETL and batch jobs.impala.apache.org · read 1 Oct 2026
- Client interfaces
- Clients can connect through impala-shell, Hue, JDBC, or ODBC.impala.apache.org · read 1 Oct 2026
- Data formats
- Supported formats include delimited text, Parquet, Avro, SequenceFile, and RCFile, with Snappy, GZIP, Deflate, and BZIP compression codecs.impala.apache.org · read 1 Oct 2026
- Downloads
- The downloads page lists releases with SHA512 checksums and GPG signatures, and says DEB/RPM packages are available from GitHub Releases.impala.apache.org · read 1 Oct 2026
- Encrypted connections
- JDBC and ODBC applications can use Kerberos authentication, TLS/SSL encryption, or both.impala.apache.org · read 1 Oct 2026
- Iceberg integration
- Impala can add existing Iceberg tables to the Hive Metastore with CREATE EXTERNAL TABLE and interact with them.impala.apache.org · read 1 Oct 2026
- Infrastructure reuse
- Impala uses the same file and data formats, metadata, security, and resource-management frameworks as Hadoop deployments.impala.apache.org · read 1 Oct 2026
- Kudu integration
- Impala can query Kudu tables and perform efficient update or delete operations when data changes continuously or in small batches.impala.apache.org · read 1 Oct 2026
- Product type
- Apache Impala is an open-source native analytic database for open data and table formats.impala.apache.org · read 1 Oct 2026
- Query performance
- Impala provides low-latency and high-concurrency BI and analytic queries on the Hadoop ecosystem.impala.apache.org · read 1 Oct 2026
- Scaling
- Impala scales linearly, including in multitenant environments.impala.apache.org · read 1 Oct 2026
- Security
- Impala integrates Kerberos authentication with Apache Ranger fine-grained authorization and provides auditing capabilities.impala.apache.org · read 1 Oct 2026
- SQL compatibility
- Impala supports SQL and uses the same metadata and ODBC driver as Apache Hive.impala.apache.org · read 1 Oct 2026
- Storage systems
- Impala supports data in HDFS, HBase, and Amazon S3.impala.apache.org · read 1 Oct 2026
- Support channels
- The project provides user and developer mailing lists, Jira issues, Slack, Stack Overflow, and Quora community channels.impala.apache.org · read 1 Oct 2026
