EDUCBA

EDUCBA

MENUMENU
  • Free Tutorials
  • Free Courses
  • Certification Courses
  • 360+ Courses All in One Bundle
  • Login

Apache Solr

By Priya PedamkarPriya Pedamkar

Home » Data Science » Data Science Tutorials » Data Analytics Basics » Apache Solr

Apache Solr

What is Apache Solr?

Apache Lucene is an open-source, Java-based Full-Text search library which makes it easier to incorporate search functionality in any application. Lucene was originally developed by Doug Cutting who is also a co-founder of Apache Hadoop, which is used widely for Storing and Processing large volumes of data. Apache Solr is an open-source, enterprise search platform based on Apache Lucene which is used to create search-based functionality on the application and various search applications. It’s basically a layer on top of Java-based Lucene with added functionality and in 2010 Solr and Lucene were merged.

Apache Solr is widely used alongside Hadoop as it deals with large sets of data and Solr enables the search aspect of it. As Solr can also store data it is a NoSQL, Non-Relational Storage, and processing technology.

Start Your Free Data Science Course

Hadoop, Data Science, Statistics & others

Need for Apache Solr

Here are some of the need for apache solr which are explained below:

  • The ability is to search the most basic requirement of a modern-day Application. For long, enterprises had an inherent problem relating to search their databases and applications.
  • They created highly structured SQL based data that followed the natural path for search results through sequencing. This was complex, time-consuming and mostly came up with irrelevant results. The end-user had only one thing in mind and that is relevant results. With Solr based search applications, results are relevant and lazing fast.
  • Solr processes structured, semi-structured and unstructured data from various sources and provide search results in Real-time. It is also used for its analytical capabilities as explained earlier as it’s not just a search platform but can-do tasks like Social Media analytics.
  • Apache Solr is also a customizable search system that allows us to have full control over what needs to be crawled on the website and what database can be accessed and if any pre or post-processing needs to be done with the results.
  • Also, like MySQL, Solr is a server-based application that can be hosted on Linux based servers. Solr works with HTTP Extensible Markup Language (XML). It offers JSON APIs and libraries for Programming languages like C#, PHP, Python, and Ruby.
  • To put simply Solr is a stale, reliable, Fault-tolerant search platform with a rich set of features unlike any other platform and therefore used and trusted by major MNCs and especially Technology companies like Yahoo, Facebook, Google, and others.

How Apache Solr Works?

Solr follows a three-step process of Indexing, Querying, and Ranking.

1. Indexing

There are various methods through which Solr indexes documents and other rich text-based data. One of the advantages of Solr is that it allows users to directly upload your documents in PDF, CSV, XML formats and the system can read and index data from these sources automatically. Further, it can also upload texts and documents from Email and Attachments.

Solr uses an inverted index to store data where it uses Keyword centric rather than Page centric data structure; a simpler way to understand the concept is how words are indexed at the end of any book where the word on the page is mentioned along with its meaning. Hence, it can achieve a faster response time and gives relevant search results in no time.

Popular Course in this category
All in One Data Science Bundle (360+ Courses, 50+ projects)360+ Online Courses | 1500+ Hours | Verifiable Certificates | Lifetime Access
4.7 (3,220 ratings)
Course Price

View Course

Related Courses
Data Scientist Training (76 Courses, 60+ Projects)Machine Learning Training (17 Courses, 27+ Projects)Cloud Computing Training (18 Courses, 5+ Projects)

2. Querying

A Query can be anything like searching for text, Images or geolocation. When a query is sent, Solr processes it with a query handler which returns the document from the Solr Index.

3. Ranking the Results

As the system is matching the Query with the data from the indexed files based on keywords; it ranks the results based on relevance. This process creates a hierarchy of results based on relevance.

Applications of Apache Solr

As discussed, Solr is a very scalable, quick and relevant solution that has become critical to enterprise success. Besides strong search features, it also provides a roust gamut of Analytical features. Apart from Technology and Social Media companies, it’s used in almost all other sectors like Finance, Retail, Manufacturing, Legal and Governmental. It’s used by almost all Fortune 500 Companies.

There are several use cases for Solr like:

  • Enterprise can use Solr to search and analyze documents and Email attachments to gain meaningful insights.
  • It can be used in Healthcare by researchers to march countless DNA patterns and also doctors to find anomalies and cure a Patient or prescribe drugs analyzing patterns.
  • Hiring Managers in Human Resources can scan and analyze various CVs to find certain keywords from the countless number of documents.
  • In Finance also the possibilities are endless where Bankers, Analysts can track and predict certain customers by analyzing past behavior towards savings or spending and design financial products or create complex models using macro-economic concepts.
  • By tracking data from various technologies like Geo Tagging and Motion sensors it can track and give meaningful insights as to where to plan the next Theatre or the next Town Hall. The opportunities are endless.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Apache Solr

Some of the Advantages of Solr are explained below:

  • Apart from simple Text-based searches Solr provides advanced, real-time searching capabilities such as GeoSpatial, Fielded Searches, Boolean queries, Fuzzy Queries, etc.
  • It also provides comprehensive Administrative interfaces by a built-in user interface that enables managing adding, deleting, updating or searching documents.
  • Its optimized for high traffic which is extremely for tech companies like Twitter, Facebook, etc. Which generates astronomical amounts of data every microsecond.
  • Solr also has a smart search facility that auto-corrects a misspelled search and still projects relevant results for its user creating a great user experience.
  • Search in Solr can be also highly configurable where the result can be subcategorized as requested by the user.

Although it is the most trusted and widely used Search platform for enterprises across the world, it still possesses certain disadvantages as:

  • Solr being an Open source platform requires dedication and a general learning curve where certain developers can be used to a particular Commercial Search platform and transforming to an Open-source platform could require a lot of learning and workaround.
  • Since Solr requires at least 8 GB of RAM, a number of old systems could not run it optimally and thereby companies could refuse to transition to Solr due to underfunding or System inadequacies.

Conclusion

Apache Solr is the backbone of any Enterprise which needs to incorporate the Search platform into its application. It has uses in almost all major industries and therefore the possibilities are endless and although it’s touted as a search platform it can perform analytical tasks with great complexity and with a user interface that’s second to none. Therefore, learning Solr along with other technologies like Hadoop and Big data Analytics is imperative for anyone looking for an interesting career in Data Science or ‘Search’ in any major Tech Companies.

Recommended Articles

This is a guide to Apache Solr. Here we discuss how apache solr works along with the needs, applications, advantages, and disadvantages. You can also go through our other related articles to learn more –

  1. Apache Flume
  2. Apache Spark Architecture
  3. What is Apache Tomcat?
  4. Apache Hadoop Ecosystem

All in One Data Science Bundle (360+ Courses, 50+ projects)

360+ Online Courses

1500+ Hours

Verifiable Certificates

Lifetime Access

Learn More

0 Shares
Share
Tweet
Share
Primary Sidebar
Data Analytics Basics
  • Basics
    • What is Natural Language Processing
    • What Is Apache
    • What is Business Intelligence
    • Predictive Modeling
    • What is NoSQL Database
    • Types of NoSQL Databases
    • What is Cluster Computing
    • Uses of Salesforce
    • The Beginners Guide to Startup Analytics
    • Analytics Software is Hiding From You
    • Real Time Analytics
    • Lean Analytics
    • Important Elements of Mudbox Software
    • Business Intelligence Tools (Benefits)
    • Mechatronics Projects
    • Know about A Business Analyst
    • Flexbox Essentials For Beginners
    • Predictive Analytics Tool
    • Data Modeling Tools (Free)
    • Modern Data Integration
    • Crowd Sourcing Data
    • Build a Data Supply Chain
    • What is Minitab
    • Sqoop Commands
    • Pig Commands
    • What is Apache Flink
    • What is Predictive Analytics
    • What is Business Analytics
    • What is Pig
    • What is Fuzzy Logic
    • What is Apache Tomcat
    • Talend Data Integration
    • Talend Open Studio
    • How MapReduce Works
    • Types of Data Model
    • Test Data Generation
    • Apache Flume
    • NoSQL Data Models
    • Advantages of NoSQL
    • What is Juypter Notebook
    • What is CentOS
    • What is MuleSoft
    • MapReduce Algorithms
    • What is Dropbox
    • Pandas.Dropna()
    • Salesforce IoT Cloud
    • Talend Tools
    • Data Integration Tool
    • Career in Business Analytics
    • Marketing Analytics For Dummies
    • Risk Analytics Helps in Risk management
    • Salesforce Certification
    • Tips to Become Certified Salesforce Admin
    • Customer Analytics Techniques
    • What is Data Engineering?
    • Business Analysis Tools
    • Business Analytics Techniques
    • Smart City Application
    • COBOL Data Types
    • Business Intelligence Dashboard
    • What is MDM?
    • What is Logstash?
    • CAP Theorem
    • Pig Architecture
    • Pig Data Types
    • KMP Algorithm
    • What is Metadata?
    • Data Modelling Tools
    • Sqoop Import
    • Apache Solr
    • What is Impala?
    • Impala Database
    • What is Digital Image?
    • What is Kibana?
    • Kibana Visualization
    • Kibana Logstash
    • Kibana_query
    • Kibana Reporting
    • Kibana Alert
    • Longitudinal Data Analysis
    • Metadata Management Tools
    • Time Series Analysis
    • Types of Arduino
    • Arduino Shields
    • What is Arduino UNO?
    • Arduino Sensors
    • Arduino Boards
    • Arduino Application
    • 8085 Architecture
    • Dynatrace Competitors
    • Data Migration Tools
    • Likert Scale Data Analysis
    • Predictive Analytics Techniques
    • Data Governance
    • What is RTK
    • Data Virtualization
    • Knowledge Engineering
    • Data Dictionaries
    • Types of Dimensions
    • What is Google Chrome?
    • Embedded Systems Architecture
    • Data Collection Tools
    • Panel Data Analysis
    • Sqoop Export
    • What is Metabase?

Related Courses

Data Science Certification

Online Machine Learning Training

Cloud Computing Certification

Footer
About Us
  • Blog
  • Who is EDUCBA?
  • Sign Up
  • Corporate Training
  • Certificate from Top Institutions
  • Contact Us
  • Verifiable Certificate
  • Reviews
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
  •  
Apps
  • iPhone & iPad
  • Android
Resources
  • Free Courses
  • Database Management
  • Machine Learning
  • All Tutorials
Certification Courses
  • All Courses
  • Data Science Course - All in One Bundle
  • Machine Learning Course
  • Hadoop Certification Training
  • Cloud Computing Training Course
  • R Programming Course
  • AWS Training Course
  • SAS Training Course

© 2020 - EDUCBA. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. THE CERTIFICATION NAMES ARE THE TRADEMARKS OF THEIR RESPECTIVE OWNERS.

EDUCBA Login

Forgot Password?

EDUCBA
Free Data Science Course

Hadoop, Data Science, Statistics & others

*Please provide your correct email id. Login details for this Free course will be emailed to you
Book Your One Instructor : One Learner Free Class

Let’s Get Started

This website or its third-party tools use cookies, which are necessary to its functioning and required to achieve the purposes illustrated in the cookie policy. By closing this banner, scrolling this page, clicking a link or continuing to browse otherwise, you agree to our Privacy Policy

EDUCBA

*Please provide your correct email id. Login details for this Free course will be emailed to you
EDUCBA
Free Data Science Course

Hadoop, Data Science, Statistics & others

*Please provide your correct email id. Login details for this Free course will be emailed to you

Special Offer - All in One Data Science Bundle (360+ Courses, 50+ projects) Learn More