Apache Hadoop is a software library operated by the Apache Software Foundation, an open-source software publisher. Hadoop is a framework used for distributed processing of big data, especially across a clustered network of computers. It uses simple programming models and can be used with a single server as well as with installations that involve hundreds or even thousands of machines with their own computation and storage capabilities. The Hadoop software is used to deliver services across a network of computers, any one of which could crash. This is important in data management, machine learning, data warehousing, and other machine-intensive programming applications.

What are typical careers that use Hadoop?

Careers that use Hadoop include computer engineering, computer programming, computer science, and data analysis. Hadoop is typically used in programming and data analysis positions that work with big data. Hence, more and more careers call for an understanding of it. Data management, machine learning, and cloud storage systems run on Hadoop. As more work involves big data, the ability to use Hadoop to collect and analyze it becomes more important. Learning Hadoop will prepare you to use data or to communicate with colleagues who are managing it. Structuring data warehouses and designing management dashboards can improve operations in many types of organizations. Hadoop is specialized, but its use is becoming more widespread.

How can online courses help me learn Hadoop?

Online courses can help you learn Hadoop by introducing you to the basics of it, having you work through exercises and create programs that use it, and seeing how it connects to other parts of the data warehouse. Some courses require no programming experience. Others assume that you understand programming but need specific experience with Hadoop. Some courses are practical, offering hands-on experience and leading to the creations of programs that can be used right away. Others are theoretical and explain the nature of Hadoop and the underlying principles of big data. The courses build on each other, with some leading to Specializations and online degrees.

What are the benefits of taking an online Hadoop course?

Online Hadoop courses offer a convenient and flexible way to enhance your knowledge or learn new Hadoop skills. Choose from a wide range of Hadoop courses offered by top universities and industry leaders tailored to various skill levels.

What Hadoop courses are best for training and upskilling employees or the workforce?

When looking to enhance your workforce's skills in Hadoop, it's crucial to select a course that aligns with their current abilities and learning objectives. Our Skills Dashboard is an invaluable tool for identifying skill gaps and choosing the most appropriate course for effective upskilling. For a comprehensive understanding of how our courses can benefit your employees, explore the enterprise solutions we offer. Discover more about our tailored programs at Coursera for Business here .

Best Hadoop Courses & Certificates [2025]

Explore the Hadoop Course Catalog

University of California San Diego
Hadoop Platform and Application Framework
Skills you'll gain: Apache Hadoop, Big Data, Data Analysis, Apache Spark, Data Science, PySpark, Data Processing, Distributed Computing, Performance Tuning, Scalability
4
Rating, 4 out of 5 stars
3.3K reviews
Mixed · Course · 1 - 3 Months
IBM
Introduction to Big Data with Spark and Hadoop
Skills you'll gain: Apache Hadoop, Apache Spark, PySpark, Apache Hive, Big Data, IBM Cloud, Kubernetes, Docker (Software), Scalability, Data Processing, Distributed Computing, SQL
4.4
Rating, 4.4 out of 5 stars
434 reviews
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 3 Months
University of California San Diego
Big Data
Skills you'll gain: Exploratory Data Analysis, Big Data, Apache Spark, Graph Theory, Apache Hadoop, Data Modeling, Regression Analysis, Data Mining, Applied Machine Learning, Data Infrastructure, Scalability, Data Processing, Statistical Analysis, Databases, Data Management, Database Management Systems, Network Analysis, Data Science, Machine Learning, Analytics
4.5
Rating, 4.5 out of 5 stars
14K reviews
Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
Status: New
Johns Hopkins University
Big Data Processing Using Hadoop
Skills you'll gain: Big Data, Apache Hadoop, Data Infrastructure, File Systems, Data Processing, Analytics, Data Science, Data Architecture, Data Structures, Java Programming, Distributed Computing, Infrastructure Architecture, File Management, Performance Tuning, Linux, Data Storage, Development Environment, Scalability, Software Architecture, Systems Architecture
Intermediate · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
IBM
NoSQL, Big Data, and Spark Foundations
Skills you'll gain: NoSQL, Apache Hadoop, Apache Spark, MongoDB, PySpark, Machine Learning Methods, Apache Hive, Databases, Machine Learning Algorithms, Apache Cassandra, Big Data, Machine Learning, Generative AI, IBM Cloud, Applied Machine Learning, Kubernetes, Supervised Learning, Distributed Computing, Docker (Software), Database Management
4.5
Rating, 4.5 out of 5 stars
749 reviews
Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
Duke University
Spark, Hadoop, and Snowflake for Data Engineering
Skills you'll gain: PySpark, Databricks, Data Pipelines, Apache Spark, MLOps (Machine Learning Operations), Apache Hadoop, Data Architecture, Big Data, Data Warehousing, Data Quality, Data Integration, Data Processing, Data Management, DevOps, Data Manipulation, SQL
3.8
Rating, 3.8 out of 5 stars
50 reviews
Advanced · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Status: AI skills
IBM
IBM Data Engineering
Skills you'll gain: NoSQL, Data Warehousing, SQL, Apache Hadoop, Extract, Transform, Load, Apache Airflow, Web Scraping, Linux Commands, Database Design, IBM Cognos Analytics, MySQL, Apache Spark, Data Pipelines, Apache Kafka, Database Management, Bash (Scripting Language), Shell Script, Jupyter, Generative AI, Professional Networking
Build toward a degree
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
58K reviews
Beginner · Professional Certificate · 3 - 6 Months
University of California San Diego
Introduction to Big Data
Skills you'll gain: Big Data, Apache Hadoop, Scalability, Data Processing, Data Science, Distributed Computing, Unstructured Data, Data Analysis, Data Storage
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
11K reviews
Mixed · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Packt
The Ultimate Hands-On Hadoop
Skills you'll gain: Apache Hadoop, Real Time Data, Apache Kafka, Apache Hive, Apache Spark, AWS Kinesis, Apache Cassandra, Big Data, PySpark, Database Systems, Data Pipelines, MongoDB, SQL, Query Languages, Data Processing, NoSQL, System Design and Implementation, Distributed Computing, Scalability
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Duke University
Applied Python Data Engineering
Skills you'll gain: PySpark, Site Reliability Engineering, Docker (Software), Databricks, Containerization, Data Pipelines, Kubernetes, Data Engineering, Apache Spark, Virtualization, MLOps (Machine Learning Operations), Cloud Engineering, Devops Tools, Apache Hadoop, Data Architecture, CI/CD, Microservices, Big Data, Data Warehousing, Data Quality
3.8
Rating, 3.8 out of 5 stars
93 reviews
Intermediate · Specialization · 1 - 3 Months
Google Cloud
Introduction to Cloud Dataproc: Hadoop and Spark on Google Cloud
Skills you'll gain: Apache Spark, Managed Services, Google Cloud Platform, Big Data, Apache Hadoop, Data Management, Servers
4
Rating, 4 out of 5 stars
11 reviews
Beginner · Project · Less Than 2 Hours
IBM
Scalable Machine Learning on Big Data using Apache Spark
Skills you'll gain: Apache Spark, PySpark, Applied Machine Learning, Big Data, Data Storage Technologies, Statistical Machine Learning, Data Pipelines, Machine Learning Algorithms, Machine Learning, Distributed Computing, Data Processing, Data Transformation, Statistical Analysis
3.8
Rating, 3.8 out of 5 stars
1.3K reviews
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks