Scala: A Hybrid Language for Big Data

Scala is a highly scalable general purpose programming language that combines aspects of both object-oriented and functional programming. It's become increasingly important in the world of data science, rivaling more established languages like Java and Python. One of the main drivers of Scala's rise to prominence has been the explosive growth of Apache Spark (which is written in Scala), giving Scala a well-earned reputation as a powerful language for data processing, machine learning, and streaming analytics. What is Scala, and what makes it so well suited to handling big data? In this article we're going to look at what sets Scala apart as a programming language, why it's becoming increasingly important to data scientists, and what skills you should look for in a Scala developer.