Kafka is an open-source programming platform developed by the Apache Foundation. It's programmed in Scala and Java. The platform is mostly used in parallel computing and distributed computing, with several computers working on different parts of big data analysis.

What does learning Kafka enable me to do next?

Learning Kafka enables you to write parallel programs in order to make applications run faster and to analyze large data sets. Then, you can take your computer science skills deeper by learning concurrent and distributed programming. Or, you can use your big data analytics skills with Kafka to analyze data and create reports for users. Another next step would be to learn how to manage data sets for better integration and processing.

What are typical careers that use Kafka?

Typical careers that use Kafka are those in parallel computing, functional programming, big data analytics, and other aspects of computer science. The increasing use of machine learning to process big data calls for greater experience with platforms like Kafka. The analytics are particularly useful in biomedical research and in financial analysis. More and more industries are finding ways to pull out information from large sets of data. Also, the skills learned with Kafka can be applied to other big data platforms, such as Google Cloud. Those who will be moving into leadership positions in organizations with large computing environments will also need to be familiar with the relevant platforms, including Kafka.

How can online courses on Coursera help me learn Kafka?

Kafka requires knowledge of Java, and you can find courses on Coursera to get you started with that. Depending on your interests, you can learn Kafka as part of courses covering big data, distributed computing, machine learning, or data analytics. You can also concentrate on related platforms like Scala or TensorFlow if needed for the computing environment where you work.

What are the benefits of taking an online Kafka course?

Online Kafka courses offer a convenient and flexible way to enhance your knowledge or learn new Kafka skills. Choose from a wide range of Kafka courses offered by top universities and industry leaders tailored to various skill levels.

What Kafka courses are best for training and upskilling employees or the workforce?

When looking to enhance your workforce's skills in Kafka, it's crucial to select a course that aligns with their current abilities and learning objectives. Our Skills Dashboard is an invaluable tool for identifying skill gaps and choosing the most appropriate course for effective upskilling. For a comprehensive understanding of how our courses can benefit your employees, explore the enterprise solutions we offer. Discover more about our tailored programs at Coursera for Business here .

Best Kafka Courses & Certificates [2025]

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Explore the Kafka Course Catalog

LearnKartS
Apache Kafka
Skills you'll gain: Apache Kafka, Real Time Data, System Monitoring, Performance Tuning, Data Pipelines, Apache Spark, Apache Hadoop, Event Monitoring, Big Data, Infrastructure Architecture, Systems Architecture, Data Processing, Data Architecture, Security Controls, Data Security, Distributed Computing, Scala Programming, Software Architecture, Restful API, Data Integration
4
Rating, 4 out of 5 stars
28 reviews
Beginner · Specialization · 1 - 3 Months
LearnKartS
Kafka Fundamentals
Skills you'll gain: Apache Kafka, Real Time Data, Data Pipelines, Big Data, Data Processing, Distributed Computing, Scalability, Software Installation, Performance Tuning, System Configuration
4
Rating, 4 out of 5 stars
23 reviews
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
IBM
ETL and Data Pipelines with Shell, Airflow and Kafka
Skills you'll gain: Extract, Transform, Load, Apache Airflow, Data Pipelines, Apache Kafka, Data Warehousing, Data Transformation, Data Migration, Web Scraping, Data Integration, Shell Script, Real Time Data, Data Mart, Big Data, Performance Tuning, Databases, Scalability
4.5
Rating, 4.5 out of 5 stars
404 reviews
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Google Cloud
Creating a Streaming Data Pipeline With Apache Kafka
Skills you'll gain: Apache Kafka, Data Pipelines, Google Cloud Platform, Java, Public Cloud
3.8
Rating, 3.8 out of 5 stars
27 reviews
Beginner · Project · Less Than 2 Hours
Status: Free
Coursera Instructor Network
Apache Kafka - An Introduction
Skills you'll gain: Apache Kafka, Real Time Data, Data Pipelines, Data Processing, Scalability, Performance Tuning
3.5
Rating, 3.5 out of 5 stars
8 reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Packt
Apache Kafka Series - Learn Apache Kafka for Beginners v3
Skills you'll gain: Apache Kafka, Command-Line Interface, Java Programming, Real Time Data, Data Pipelines, Data Processing, Performance Tuning, System Configuration, Scalability
Intermediate · Course · 3 - 6 Months
IBM
IBM Data Warehouse Engineer
Skills you'll gain: Data Warehousing, SQL, Extract, Transform, Load, Apache Airflow, Linux Commands, Database Design, IBM Cognos Analytics, MySQL, Data Pipelines, Apache Kafka, Database Management, Bash (Scripting Language), Shell Script, Database Architecture and Administration, IBM DB2, Data Visualization, Relational Databases, Dashboard, Stored Procedure, Data Architecture
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
5.9K reviews
Beginner · Professional Certificate · 3 - 6 Months
Status: AI skills
IBM
IBM Data Engineering
Skills you'll gain: NoSQL, Data Warehousing, SQL, Apache Hadoop, Extract, Transform, Load, Apache Airflow, Web Scraping, Linux Commands, Database Design, IBM Cognos Analytics, MySQL, Apache Spark, Data Pipelines, Apache Kafka, Database Management, Bash (Scripting Language), Shell Script, Jupyter, Generative AI, Professional Networking
Build toward a degree
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
57K reviews
Beginner · Professional Certificate · 3 - 6 Months
LearnKartS
Kafka Architecture and Internals
Skills you'll gain: Apache Kafka, Performance Tuning, Infrastructure Architecture, Systems Architecture, Data Architecture, Data Pipelines, Distributed Computing, Configuration Management, Real Time Data, Data Migration
4.3
Rating, 4.3 out of 5 stars
6 reviews
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Status: New
IBM
IBM Relational Database Administrator
Skills you'll gain: Data Warehousing, SQL, Extract, Transform, Load, Apache Airflow, Web Scraping, Linux Commands, Database Design, Database Administration, MySQL, Data Pipelines, Apache Kafka, Database Management, Bash (Scripting Language), Shell Script, Database Architecture and Administration, Data Transformation, IBM DB2, Relational Databases, Jupyter, Generative AI
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
57K reviews
Intermediate · Professional Certificate · 3 - 6 Months
Rice University
Distributed Programming in Java
Skills you'll gain: Apache Kafka, Apache Spark, Apache Hadoop, Distributed Computing, Java, Software Architecture, Systems Architecture, Programming Principles, Scala Programming, Algorithms, Computer Science, Cloud Computing, Network Protocols
4.5
Rating, 4.5 out of 5 stars
495 reviews
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Status: Free
DeepLearning.AI
Knowledge Graphs for RAG
Skills you'll gain: Query Languages, Data Storage, Semantic Web, Unstructured Data, Generative AI, Graph Theory, Text Mining, Information Architecture
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
64 reviews
Intermediate · Project · Less Than 2 Hours