What is Apache HBase?

Apache HBase is an open-source, distributed NoSQL database that operates within the Apache Hadoop ecosystem. Modeled after Google Bigtable, HBase is optimized for real-time read and write operations on massive structured datasets. It supports horizontal scalability, allowing it to handle petabyte-scale data efficiently. Running on HDFS (Hadoop Distributed File System), it employs a column-oriented storage model to enhance data retrieval efficiency. Key use cases include real-time analytics, log data storage, IoT data management, and social networking applications.