Kafka Connect is a framework for integrating Kafka with external systems (databases, storage, services) — moving data in and out of Kafka without writing custom code, using reusable connectors. It simplifies building data pipelines.
What Kafka Connect does
KAFKA CONNECT → a framework for streaming data BETWEEN Kafka and external systems:
→ SOURCE connectors → pull data FROM external systems INTO Kafka (e.g. a database → Kafka)
→ SINK connectors → push data FROM Kafka TO external systems (e.g. Kafka → a data warehouse)
→ uses reusable CONNECTORS (pre-built integrations) instead of custom producer/consumer code
→ "plug in" connectors to integrate systems with Kafka
