Description: A Flink checkpoint is a mechanism to save the state of a Flink job at a specific moment. This process is fundamental to ensure data consistency and recovery in stream processing applications. Checkpoints allow a Flink job to restart from a previously saved state in case of failures, which is crucial in production environments where data availability and integrity are essential. Flink uses an ‘exactly-once’ processing semantics approach, meaning that data is processed only once, avoiding duplications or losses. Checkpoints are performed periodically and can be configured based on the job’s needs, allowing developers to adjust the frequency and size of them. Additionally, Flink offers the option to perform checkpoints asynchronously, minimizing the impact on the performance of the running job. This mechanism is not only useful for failure recovery but also facilitates state management in complex applications that require continuous data tracking over time. In summary, checkpoints are a key feature of stream processing frameworks that ensure resilience and reliability in data processing.
