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Apache Hive and Apache HBase are incredible tools for Big Data. While there is some overlap in their functions, both Apache Hive and Apache HBase have unique qualities that make them better suited to specific tasks. Some key differences include:

  • Apache Hive is a data warehouse system built on top of Hadoop, and Apache HBase is a NoSQL key/value on top of HDFS or Alluxio. 
  • Hive provides SQL features to Spark/Hadoop data, and HBase stores and processes Hadoop data in real-time. 
  • HBase is used for real-time querying or Big Data, whereas Hive is not suited for real-time querying. 
  • Hive is best used for analytical querying of data, and HBase is primarily used to store or process unstructured Hadoop data as a lake. 

Ultimately, comparing Apache Hive to Apache HBase is like comparing apples to oranges or Google to Facebook. While the two entities are similar, they don't provide users with the same functionality. However, despite their differences, both Apache Hive and Apache HBase are fantastic tools to use when working with Big Data. Read on to discover more about Apache Hive, Apache HBase and how their various functionalities can improve your business when it comes to working with big data. 

What Is Apache Hive?

Let's start off the "Hive vs. Hbase" examination by taking a look at Apache Hive. Apache Hive is a data warehouse system that's built on top of Hadoop. It provides data summarization, analysis, and query to large pools of Hadoop unstructured data. You can query data stored in Apache HDFS — or even data stored in Apache HBase. MapReduce, Spark, or Tez executes that data.

Apache Hive uses an SQL-like language called HiveQL (or HQL) to query batch MapReduce jobs. Hive also supports ACID transactions, like INSERT/DELETE/UPDATE/MERGE statements. As of update 3.0, Hive added some additional functionalities to this by reducing table schema constraints and giving access to vectorized queries.

In a nutshell, Apache Hive provides SQL features to Spark/Hadoop data (MapReduce's Java API isn't exactly easy to work with), and it acts as both a data warehouse system and an ETL tool with rich integrations and tons of user-friendly features. Like many similar offerings (e.g., Apache Pig), Hive can technically handle many different functions. For example, instead of writing lengthy Java for a MapReduce job, Hive lets you use SQL. Your reason for utilizing Hive in your stack will be unique to your needs.

Core Features of Hive

Hive can help the SQL savvy query data in various data stores that integrate with Hadoop. Since it's JDBC compliant, it also integrates with existing SQL-based tools. Running Hive queries could take a while since they go over all of the data in the table by default. Nonetheless, Hive's partitioning feature limits the amount of data. Partitioning allows running a filter query over data stored in separate folders and only reads the data which matches the query. It could be used, for example, to only process files created between certain dates if the files include the date format as part of their name.

Here are a few of Hive's features:

  • It uses SQL.
  • Fantastic Apache Spark and Tez Integration.
  • You can play with User Defined Functions (UDF).
  • It has great ACID tables with Hive 3+.
  • You can query huge Hadoop datasets.
  • Plenty of integrations (e.g., BI tools, Pig, Spark, HBase, etc.).
  • Other Hive-based features like HiveMall can provide some additional unique functions.

What is Apache HBase?

Apache HBase is a NoSQL key/value store that runs on top of HDFS or Alluxio. Unlike Hive, HBase operations run in real-time on its database rather than MapReduce jobs. So, you have random access capabilities — something that's missing from HDFS. Since HDFS isn't built to handle real-time analytics with random read/write operations, HBase brings a ton of functionality to HDFS. You can set it as a data store for real-time data processed via Hadoop. And you can integrate it with MapReduce. Even better, you can integrate it with Hive and MapReduce to gain SQL functions.

HBase contains tables, and tables are split into column families. Column families (declared in the schema) group together a certain set of columns (columns don't require schema definition). For example, the "message" column family may include the columns: "to", "from", "date", "subject", and "body". Each key/value pair in HBase is defined as a cell, and each key consists of row-key, column family, column, and time-stamp. A row in HBase is a grouping of key/value mappings identified by the row key. HBase enjoys Hadoop's infrastructure and scales horizontally.

In a nutshell, HBase can store or process Hadoop data with near real-time read/write needs. This includes both structured and unstructured data, though HBase shines at the latter. HBase is low-latency and accessible via shell commands, Java APIs, Thrift, or REST. HBase is often a storage layer in Hadoop clusters and massive brands like Adobe leverage HBase for all of their Hadoop storage needs.

Core Features of HBase

HBase works by storing data as key/value modeled after Google's Bigtable. It supports four primary operations: add or update rows, scan to retrieve a range of cells, return cells for a specified row, and delete to remove rows, columns, or column versions from the table. Versioning is available so that it fetches previous values of the data (the history deletes every now and then to clear space via HBase compactions). Although HBase includes tables, a schema is only required for tables and column families, but not for columns, and it includes increment/counter functionality.

Here are a few of HBase's features:

What are the Limitations of Hive and HBase?

Every tool has its own set of pros and cons. As such, there will always be certain limitations that exist with Hive and HBase. Read about these limitations below. 

Hive Limitations

To start, Hive has very basic ACID functions. They arrived in Hive 0.14, but they don't have the maturity of offerings like MYSQL. That said, there is still ACID support, and it gets significantly better each patch.

Hive queries also typically have high latency. Since it runs batch processing on Hadoop, it can take minutes or even hours to get back results for queries. Plus, updating data can be complicated and time-consuming.

Hive isn't the best at small data queries (especially in large volume), and most users tend to lean on traditional RDBMSs for those data sets.

HBase Limitations

HBase queries come in a custom language that requires training to learn. SQL-like functionality can be achieved via Apache Phoenix, though it comes at the price of maintaining a schema. Furthermore, HBase isn't fully ACID compliant, although it does support certain properties. Last but not least — in order to run HBase, you need ZooKeeper — a server for distributed coordination such as configuration, maintenance, and naming.

HBase can process small data via co-processing, but it's still not as useful as an RDBMS.

Hive and HBase in Practice 

Just as Hive and HBase have their limitations in certain scenarios, they also have specific scenarios where they thrive. Read about Hive and HBase in practice below. 

Hive Use Cases

Hive should be used for analytical querying of data collected over a period of time — for instance, to calculate trends or website logs.

We typically see two Hive use cases:

  • A SQL query engine for HDFS - Hive can be a significant source of your SQL queries. You can leverage Hive to tackle Hadoop data lakes and connect them to your BI tools (like Tableau) for visibility.
  • Table storage layer with HBase, Pig, Spark, or Tez. Tons of HDFS tools use Hive as a table storage layer. Technically, this is probably its largest global use case.

Real-Life Examples of Hive Usage

There are over 4,330 companies brands that leverage Hive currently. This is fewer than use HBase, but it's still a lot of brands — especially since most companies are still running SQL stacks.

  • Scribd uses Hive typical data science use cases with Hadoop. This includes machine learning, data mining, and ad-hoc querying for BI tools. Really, Scribd uses Hive as part of their overall Hadoop stack — which is where it most comfortably fits. You can put Hive and HBase on the same cluster for storage, processing, and ad-hoc queries.
  • MedHelp uses Hive for its Find a Doctor function. They are processing millions of queries a day on their Hadoop stack, and Hive handles it like a pro.
  • Last.fm also uses Hive for ad-hoc queries. Again, this is where Hive shines. If you need ad-hoc queries on Hadoop, turn to Hive.
  • HubSpot, hi5, eHarmony, and CNET also use Hive for queries.

HBase Use Cases

HBase is perfect for real-time querying of Big Data (Facebook once used it for messaging, for example). Hive should not be used for real-time querying since results take a while.

HBase is primarily used to store and process unstructured Hadoop data as a lake. You can also use HBase as your warehouse for all Hadoop data, but we primarily see it used for write-heavy operations.

Real-Life Examples of HBase Usage

Almost all of these cases will be using HBase as their storage and processing tool for Hadoop — which is where it naturally fits.

  • Adobe has been running HBase since its launch. Their first node fired up back in 2008, and they currently leverage HBase for their 30 HDFS nodes. They use it for both internal structured data and unstructured external data.
  • Flurry runs 50 HDFS nodes with HBase, and it uses HBase for tens of billions of rows.
  • HubSpot primarily uses HBase for its customer data storage. They also use Hive to run queries on that HBase data as part of their HDFS stack.
  • Twitter uses HBase in their Hadoop stack as well. And it's used for internal data from user searches.
  • Streamy switched from SQL to a Hadoop stack with HBase. They claim to be able to process faster than ever before.
  • Sematext (who created SMP for HBase) uses an HBase and MapReduce stack. Again, these two work well together (often leveraged via Hive) since they perfectly complement each other's pros and cons.
  • Well over 10,000 businesses leverage HBase. And most of them are large. In the current tech ecosystem, big brands tend to leverage Hadoop more often, so HBase tends to be in some big stacks (e.g., TCS, Marin Software, Taboola, KEYW Corp, etc.)

How Integrate.io Can Help

Both Apache Hive and Apache HBase are Hadoop-based technologies. While they are quite similar, both Hive and HBase have specific functionalities. Understanding the differences and similarities between Hive and HBase can be confusing, especially for Big Data beginners. However, with Integrate.io, all of your Hadoop-based technology questions can be answered. 

Regardless of which Hadoop-based technology is better suited to your business, Integrate.io has all the ETL tools you could ever want for your Hadoop Distributed File System (HDFS) integration needs. When working with Integrate.io, you gain access to the most user-friendly ETL and data integration platform available in the industry today. Ultimately, Integrate.io is the perfect, easy-to-use cloud-based ETL tool with the HDFA integrations you want.  

 Are you ready to integrate Hive or HBase tools into your business? Contact our team today to schedule a 14-day demo or pilot and see how we can help you reach your goals.