batch processing
BACH PROS-es-ing
bætʃ ˈprɒsɛsɪŋListen
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Syllable breakdown
Dictionary meaning
a data processing method in which data is collected over a period of time and processed together as a group (batch) at a scheduled interval, rather than individually in real time; efficient for large volumes of data that do not require immediate results; typical use cases include nightly ETL jobs, payroll processing, and monthly billing runs; early computing was almost entirely batch-based; technologies include Hadoop MapReduce, Apache Spark (in batch mode), and traditional schedulers like Cron and Apache Airflow
Examples
- The bank's batch processing job ran at 2 a.m. every night, reconciling all transactions from the previous day.
- Batch processing is cost-effective but introduces latency — data may be hours or days old.
Synonyms: bulk processing, offline processing, scheduled processing
Pronunciation tips
Contrast with stream processing (real-time). 'Batch' comes from Old English bacan (to bake) — the idea of putting a group of things in the oven together. Stress 'BAT-ch', one syllable.
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