Optimize data file layout

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The OPTIMIZE command rewrites data files to improve data layout for Delta tables. For tables with liquid clustering enabled, OPTIMIZE rewrites data files to group data by liquid clustering keys. For tables with partitions defined, file compaction and data layout are performed within partitions.

Tables without liquid clustering can optionally include a ZORDER BY clause to improve data clustering on rewrite. Databricks recommends using liquid clustering instead of partitions, ZORDER, or other data layout approaches.

See OPTIMIZE.

Syntax examples

You trigger compaction by running the OPTIMIZE command:

SQL

OPTIMIZE table_name

Python

from delta.tables import *
deltaTable = DeltaTable.forName(spark, "table_name")
deltaTable.optimize().executeCompaction()

Scala

import io.delta.tables._
val deltaTable = DeltaTable.forName(spark, "table_name")
deltaTable.optimize().executeCompaction()

If you have a large amount of data and only want to optimize a subset of it, you can specify an optional partition predicate using WHERE:

SQL

OPTIMIZE table_name WHERE date >= '2022-11-18'

Python

from delta.tables import *
deltaTable = DeltaTable.forName(spark, "table_name")
deltaTable.optimize().where("date='2021-11-18'").executeCompaction()

Scala

import io.delta.tables._
val deltaTable = DeltaTable.forName(spark, "table_name")
deltaTable.optimize().where("date='2021-11-18'").executeCompaction()

Note

  • Bin-packing optimization is idempotent, meaning that if it is run twice on the same dataset, the second run has no effect.
  • Bin-packing aims to produce evenly-balanced data files with respect to their size on disk, but not necessarily number of tuples per file. However, the two measures are most often correlated.
  • Python and Scala APIs for executing OPTIMIZE operation are available from Databricks Runtime 11.3 LTS and above.

Readers of Delta tables use snapshot isolation, which means that they are not interrupted when OPTIMIZE removes unnecessary files from the transaction log. OPTIMIZE makes no data related changes to the table, so a read before and after an OPTIMIZE has the same results. Performing OPTIMIZE on a table that is a streaming source does not affect any current or future streams that treat this table as a source. OPTIMIZE returns the file statistics (min, max, total, and so on) for the files removed and the files added by the operation. Optimize stats also contains the Z-Ordering statistics, the number of batches, and partitions optimized.

You can also compact small files automatically using auto compaction. See Auto compaction for Delta Lake on Azure Databricks.

How often should I run OPTIMIZE?

Enable predictive optimization for Unity Catalog managed tables to ensure that OPTIMIZE runs automatically when it is cost effective.

When you choose how often to run OPTIMIZE, there is a trade-off between performance and cost. For better end-user query performance, run OPTIMIZE more often. This will incur a higher cost because of the increased resource usage. To optimize cost, run it less often.

Databricks recommends that you start by running OPTIMIZE on a daily basis, and then adjust the frequency to balance cost and performance trade-offs.

What's the best instance type to run OPTIMIZE (bin-packing and Z-Ordering) on?

Both operations are CPU intensive operations doing large amounts of Parquet decoding and encoding.

Databricks recommends Compute optimized instance types. OPTIMIZE also benefits from attached SSDs.