When you do a scan with out specifying any start/end keys, it is full table scan. The scan from client side will go through all the regions one after the other. But when you know the rowkey range that you want to scan you can specify that using start/end keys. This time client will evaluate which all regions it need to contact for scaning the data (Based on the start/end keys of regions as stored in META table) and only those regions will get contacted and scanned.
Also remember that the start key need not be a full rowkey which exactly map to a rowkey within a table. This can be a prefix part of the actual rowkey also. -Anoop- ________________________________________ From: [email protected] [[email protected]] Sent: Monday, February 04, 2013 10:11 AM To: [email protected] Subject: Start key and End key in HBase Hi all, Can anyone let me know what is the use of Start key and End key in HBase. Regards Raviprasad. T Mobile :- 91- 9894769541 This e-Mail may contain proprietary and confidential information and is sent for the intended recipient(s) only. If by an addressing or transmission error this mail has been misdirected to you, you are requested to delete this mail immediately. You are also hereby notified that any use, any form of reproduction, dissemination, copying, disclosure, modification, distribution and/or publication of this e-mail message, contents or its attachment other than by its intended recipient/s is strictly prohibited. Visit us at http://www.polarisFT.com
