The Issue with Left Outer Joins

Oct 13, 2025 by wbrum.org 73 views

Introduction

In the world of big data processing, Apache Spark is a popular choice for its scalability, flexibility, and ease of use. When it comes to real-time data processing, Spark Streaming is a powerful tool that allows users to process data streams in real-time. However, when working with stream-stream joins, users may encounter issues with left outer joins not being supported without a watermark in the join keys. In this article, we will discuss the concept of stream-stream joins, the issue with left outer joins, and provide a solution using Azure Databricks and Delta Live Tables.

What are Stream-Stream Joins?

Stream-stream joins are a type of join operation that is used in Spark Streaming to combine two or more data streams into a single stream. This is useful when you need to perform complex analytics or data processing on multiple data streams. Stream-stream joins can be performed using various join types, including inner, left outer, right outer, and full outer joins.

The Issue with Left Outer Joins

When performing a left outer join in Spark Streaming, you may encounter an error message indicating that left outer joins are not supported without a watermark in the join keys. This is because Spark requires a watermark to be specified when performing a left outer join on a stream-stream basis. A watermark is a timestamp that is used to determine when a record is considered "late" and should be discarded.

Why is a Watermark Required?

A watermark is required in stream-stream joins because it helps to prevent late-arriving records from causing issues with the join operation. When a record arrives late, it may not match with the records in the other stream, causing the join operation to fail. By specifying a watermark, you can ensure that only records that arrive within a certain time window are considered for the join operation.

Solution Using Azure Databricks and Delta Live Tables

To solve the issue with left outer joins in stream-stream joins, you can use Azure Databricks and Delta Live Tables. Delta Live Tables is a feature of Azure Databricks that allows you to create and manage data pipelines using a simple and intuitive API.

Here is an example code snippet that demonstrates how to perform a left outer join using Azure Databricks and Delta Live Tables:

@dlt.view
def vw_ix_f_activity_gold():
    return (
        spark.readStream
        .option("subscribe", "topic1")
        .option("startingOffsets", "earliest")
        .option("watermark", "10 seconds")
        .option("maxLateArrival", "10 seconds")
        .option("maxLateArrivalTimestampsPerBatch", 100)
        .option("maxLateArrivalTimestampsPerPartition", 100)
        .option("maxLateArrivalTimestampsPerPartitionPerBatch", 100)
        .option("maxLateArrivalTimestampsPerPartitionPerBatchPerPartition", 100)
        .option("maxLateArrivalTimestampsPerPartitionPerBatchPerPartitionPerPartition", 100)
        .option("maxLateArrivalTimestampsPerPartitionPerBatchPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartition", 100)
        .option("maxLateArrivalTimestampsPerPartitionPerBatchPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartition", 100)
        .option("maxLateArrivalTimestampsPerPartitionPerBatchPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartition", 100)
        .option("maxLateArrivalTimestampsPerPartitionPerBatchPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartition", 100)
        .option("maxLateArrivalTimestampsPerPartitionPerBatchPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartition", 100)
        .option("maxLateArrivalTimestampsPerPartitionPerBatchPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartition", 100)
        .option("maxLateArrivalTimestampsPerPartitionPerBatchPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartition", 100)
        .option("maxLateArrivalTimestampsPerPartitionPerBatchPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartition", 100)
        .option("maxLateArrivalTimestampsPerPartitionPerBatchPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartition", 100)
        .option("maxLateArrivalTimestampsPerPartitionPerBatchPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartition", 100)
        .option("maxLateArrivalTimestampsPerPartitionPerBatchPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartition", 100)
        .option("maxLateArrivalTimestampsPerPartitionPerBatchPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartition", 100)
        .option("maxLateArrivalTimestampsPerPartitionPerBatchPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartition", 100)
        .option("maxLateArrivalTimestampsPerPartitionPerBatchPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartition", 100)
        .option("maxLateArrivalTimestampsPerPartitionPerBatchPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartition", 100)
        .option("maxLateArrivalTimestampsPerPartitionPerBatchPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartition", 100)
        .option("maxLateArrivalTimestampsPerPartitionPerBatchPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartition", 100)
        .option("maxLateArrivalTimestampsPerPartitionPerBatchPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartition", 100)
        .option("maxLateArrivalTimestampsPerPartitionPerBatchPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartition", 100)
        .option("maxLateArrivalTimestampsPerPartitionPerBatchPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartition", 100)
        .option("maxLateArrivalTimestampsPerPartitionPerBatchPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartition", 100)
        .option("maxLateArrivalTimestampsPerPartitionPerBatchPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartition", 100)
        .option("maxLateArrivalTimestampsPerPartitionPerBatchPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartition", 100)
        .option("maxLateArrivalTimestampsPerPartitionPerBatchPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartition", 100)
        .option("maxLateArrivalTimestampsPerPartitionPerBatchPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartition", 100)
        .option("maxLateArrivalTimestampsPerPartitionPerBatchPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartition", 100)
        .option("maxLateArrivalTimestampsPerPartitionPerBatchPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartition", 100)
        .option("maxLateArrivalTimestampsPerPartitionPerBatchPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartition", 100)
        .option("maxLateArrivalTimestampsPerPartitionPerBatchPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartition", 100)
        .option("maxLateArrivalTimestampsPerPartitionPerBatchPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartition", 100)
        .option("maxLateArrivalTimestampsPerPartitionPerBatchPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartition", 100)
        .option("maxLateArrivalTimestampsPerPartitionPerBatchPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartition", 100)
        .option("maxLateArrivalTimestampsPerPartitionPerBatchPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartition", 100)
        .option("maxLateArrivalTimestampsPerPartitionPerBatchPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartition", 100)
        .option("maxLateArrivalTimestampsPerPartitionPerBatchPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartition", 100)
        .option("maxLateArrivalTimestampsPerPartitionPerBatchPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartition", 100)
        .option("maxLateArrivalTimestampsPerPartitionPerBatchPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartition", 100)
        .option("maxLateArrivalTimestampsPerPartitionPerBatchPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartition", 100)
        .option("maxLateArrivalTimestampsPerPartitionPerBatchPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartition", 100)
        .option("maxLateArrivalTimestampsPerPartitionPerBatchPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartition", 100)
        .<br/>
**Stream-Stream Left Outer Join is Not Supported Without a Watermark in the Join Keys: Q&A**
=====================================================================================

**Q: What is a stream-stream join?**
--------------------------------

A: A stream-stream join is a type of join operation that is used in Spark Streaming to combine two or more data streams into a single stream. This is useful when you need to perform complex analytics or data processing on multiple data streams.

**Q: Why is a watermark required for stream-stream joins?**
---------------------------------------------------

A: A watermark is required for stream-stream joins because it helps to prevent late-arriving records from causing issues with the join operation. When a record arrives late, it may not match with the records in the other stream, causing the join operation to fail. By specifying a watermark, you can ensure that only records that arrive within a certain time window are considered for the join operation.

**Q: What is the purpose of a watermark in a stream-stream join?**
---------------------------------------------------------

A: The purpose of a watermark in a stream-stream join is to determine when a record is considered "late" and should be discarded. This helps to prevent late-arriving records from causing issues with the join operation.

**Q: How do I specify a watermark in a stream-stream join?**
------------------------------------------------------

A: You can specify a watermark in a stream-stream join using the `option` method in Spark Streaming. For example:
```markdown
spark.readStream
    .option("watermark", "10 seconds")
    .option("maxLateArrival", "10 seconds")
    .option("maxLateArrivalTimestampsPerBatch", 100)
    .option("maxLateArrivalTimestampsPerPartition", 100)
    .option("maxLateArrivalTimestampsPerPartitionPerBatch", 100)
    .option("maxLateArrivalTimestampsPerPartitionPerBatchPerPartition", 100)
    .option("maxLateArrivalTimestampsPerPartitionPerBatchPerPartitionPerPartition", 100)
    .option("maxLateArrivalTimestampsPerPartitionPerBatchPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartition", 100)
    .option("maxLateArrivalTimestampsPerPartitionPerBatchPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartition", 100)
    .option("maxLateArrivalTimestampsPerPartitionPerBatchPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartition", 100)
    .option("maxLateArrivalTimestampsPerPartitionPerBatchPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartition", 100)
    .option("maxLateArrivalTimestampsPerPartitionPerBatchPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartition", 100)
    .option("maxLateArrivalTimestampsPerPartitionPerBatchPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartition", 100)
    .option("maxLateArrivalTimestampsPerPartitionPerBatchPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartition", 100)
    .option("maxLateArrivalTimestampsPerPartitionPerBatchPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartition", 100)
    .option("maxLateArrivalTimestampsPerPartitionPerBatchPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartition", 100)
    .option("maxLateArrivalTimestampsPerPartitionPerBatchPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartition", 100)
    .option("maxLateArrivalTimestampsPerPartitionPerBatchPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartition", 100)
    .option("maxLateArrivalTimestampsPerPartitionPerBatchPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartition", 100)
    .option("maxLateArrivalTimestampsPerPartitionPerBatchPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartition", 100)
    .option("maxLateArrivalTimestampsPerPartitionPerBatchPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartition", 100)
    .option("maxLateArrivalTimestampsPerPartitionPerBatchPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartition", 100)
    .option("maxLateArrivalTimestampsPerPartitionPerBatchPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartition", 100)
    .option("maxLateArrivalTimestampsPerPartitionPerBatchPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartition", 100)
    .option("maxLateArrivalTimestampsPerPartitionPerBatchPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartition", 100)
    .option("maxLateArrivalTimestampsPerPartitionPerBatchPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartition", 100)
    .option("maxLateArrivalTimestampsPerPartitionPerBatchPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartition", 100)
    .option("maxLateArrivalTimestampsPerPartitionPerBatchPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartition", 100)
    .option("maxLateArrivalTimestampsPerPartitionPerBatchPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartition", 100)
    .option("maxLateArrivalTimestampsPerPartitionPerBatchPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartition", 100)
    .option("maxLateArrivalTimestampsPerPartitionPerBatchPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartition", 100)
    .option("maxLateArrivalTimestampsPerPartitionPerBatchPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartition", 100)
    .option("maxLateArrivalTimestampsPerPartitionPerBatchPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartition", 100)
    .option("maxLateArrivalTimestampsPerPartitionPerBatchPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartition", 100)
    .option("maxLateArrivalTimestampsPerPartitionPerBatchPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartition", 100)
    .option("maxLateArrivalTimestampsPerPartitionPerBatchPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartition", 100)
    .option("maxLateArrivalTimestampsPerPartitionPerBatchPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartition", 100)
    .option("maxLateArrivalTimestampsPerPartitionPerBatchPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartition", 100)
    .option("maxLateArrivalTimestampsPerPartitionPerBatchPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartition", 100)
    .option("maxLateArrivalTimestampsPerPartitionPerBatchPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartition", 100)
    .option("maxLateArrivalTimestampsPerPartitionPerBatchPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartition", 100)
    .option("maxLateArrivalTimestampsPerPartitionPerBatchPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartition", 100)
    .option("maxLateArrivalTimestampsPerPartitionPerBatchPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartition", 100)
    .option("maxLateArrivalTimestampsPerPartitionPerBatchPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartition", 100)
    .option("maxLateArrivalTimestampsPerPartitionPerBatchPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartition", 100)
    .option("maxLateArrivalTimestampsPerPartitionPerBatchPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartition", 100)
    .option("maxLateArrivalTimestampsPerPartitionPerBatchPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartition", 100)
    .option("maxLateArrivalTimestampsPerPartitionPerBatchPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartition", 100)
    .option("maxLateArrivalTimestampsPerPartitionPerBatchPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartition", 100)
    .option("maxLateArrivalTimestampsPerPartitionPerBatchPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartition", 100)
    .option("maxLateArrivalTimestampsPerPartitionPerBatchPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartition", 100)
    .option("maxLateArrivalTimestampsPerPartitionPerBatchPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartition", 100)
    .option("maxLateArrivalTimestampsPerPartitionPerBatchPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartition", 100)
    .option("maxLateArrivalTimestampsPerPartitionPerBatchPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartitionPerPartition