Definition
Apache Kafka is a distributed, open-source event streaming platform. Kafka functions as a highly scalable message bus where producers publish events to topics and consumers read them asynchronously - independently of timing. Kafka handles millions of messages per second and is the industry standard for real-time integration between microservicesArchitecture where an application is split into small, independent services that communicate via APIs., data streaming, and event-drivenArchitecture principle where system components communicate via events rather than direct calls - increases loose coupling and scalability. architecture. It is used by Netflix, Uber, and many Norwegian technology companies.