Overview
Azure Data Factory (ADF) is Microsoft's cloud ETL service for building data pipelines at scale. It offers visual authoring, 90+ connectors, and tight integration with Azure services. Part of the Azure Synapse Analytics ecosystem.
Key Features
- ✓ Visual Pipeline Builder: Drag-and-drop authoring
- ✓ 90+ Connectors: Cloud and on-premises sources
- ✓ Mapping Data Flows: Visual transformations
- ✓ Hybrid Support: On-premises integration runtime
- ✓ CI/CD Integration: Git and Azure DevOps support
- ✓ Triggers: Schedule, event, and tumbling window
Pros
- 👍 Deep Azure integration
- 👍 Good hybrid connectivity
- 👍 Visual authoring is intuitive
- 👍 Synapse integration
- 👍 Enterprise security features
Cons
- 👎 Azure lock-in
- 👎 Pricing complexity
- 👎 Limited transformation power vs Spark
- 👎 Debugging can be frustrating
- 👎 Learning curve for advanced features
Best For
Azure-centric organizations needing enterprise data integration with hybrid connectivity. Good for Microsoft shops.
Founded: 2015 HQ: Microsoft Azure