Apache Spark is an open-source, distributed computing framework designed for large-scale data processing. It excels in handling vast datasets by distributing tasks across multiple computers, making it ideal for big data applications and machine learning. Spark supports various processing types, including batch, real-time stream, and interactive processing, allowing developers to efficiently analyze and transform data. With its user-friendly API, Spark simplifies the complexities of distributed computing, enabling faster data processing compared to traditional methods like MapReduce. Originally developed at UC Berkeley, Spark has become a cornerstone in the big data ecosystem, widely adopted by leading tech companies.