Apache Hadoop is an open-source framework that enables the distributed storage and processing of large data sets across clusters of computers using simple programming models. It is designed to scale up from single servers to thousands of machines, each providing local computation and storage. The core of Apache Hadoop consists of a storage part, known as the Hadoop Distributed File System (HDFS), and a processing part called MapReduce. HDFS splits files into large blocks and distributes them across nodes in a cluster, while MapReduce processes data in parallel, enhancing speed and efficiency. This framework is pivotal in managing big data, allowing organizations to store, analyze, and process vast amounts of information cost-effectively. Apache Hadoop’s ecosystem includes various tools and libraries, such as Apache Hive, Apache HBase, and Apache Pig, which extend its capabilities and simplify complex data operations.