See all courses

Fundamentals of Apache Kafka

Master Apache Kafka fundamentals from the ground up and learn how to build robust, real-time data pipelines. This course covers Kafka architecture, producers and consumers, stream processing reliability, delivery semantics, ecosystem tools like Kafka Connect and Schema Registry and more.

2.5 hours 0 projects 32 + lessons

Rated 4.9 out of 5 on Trustpilot

Rated 4.9 out of 5 on Trustpilot

3 Days

Average time students take to complete this course.

instructor
Taught by: Ivan Mushketyk
Last updated: April 2026
Our students are getting hired by top companies. We can help you too.

What you'll learn

  • Understand Kafka’s architecture and design principles
  • Build Kafka producers and consumers from scratch
  • Implement reliable stream processing applications
  • Master delivery semantics including exactly-once processing
  • Enforce schema compatibility with Confluent Registry
  • Integrate Kafka Connect for seamless data integration
  • Work with Schema Registry for data consistency
  • Apply Kafka to real-world streaming use cases

Apache Kafka powers the real-time data systems behind many of today’s most innovative apps. If you’ve ever wondered how companies process massive streams of data in real time, this is your starting point.

This course gives you a practical, hands-on introduction to Kafka’s architecture and why it matters. You'll learn how to build reliable producers and consumers, tackle real-world stream processing challenges, and explore the trade-offs of different delivery semantics.

By the end, you’ll not only know how Kafka works...you’ll know how to use it to build data systems that can scale and handle real-world complexity.

Wait... What's a Byte?

Bytes are shorter courses that allow you to upgrade your skills and knowledge in a single day!

Learning is hard. And sometimes you just need a quick learning fix, right? To learn something awesome, interesting, and relevant to your career goals.

That's why we've created Bytes.

What's The Bottom Line?

This course is not about superficial fluff.

Instead, this course will take you from a complete beginner to understanding how to use Apache Kafka on a deeper level. 🚀

And... you have nothing to lose.

You can start learning right now and if this course isn't everything you expected, we'll refund you 100% within 30 days. No hassles and no questions asked.

Who You Will Learn With

You're getting more than just a course

Our instructors, TAs, Mentors, Alumni, and fellow students go above and beyond to help guide you and ensure you're on the right path to achieve your goals. Our private ZTM Discord server is a key factor in taking your skills, confidence and career to the next level.

Course curriculum

To make sure this course is a good fit for you, you can start learning Apache Kafka for free right now by clicking any of the PREVIEW links below.

4 sections32 lessons2.5 hours total length

Introduction

4 lectures · 15min
4 lectures · 15min

Introduction·8:20

8:20
PREVIEW

What Is Apache Kafka?·6:59

6:59
PREVIEW

Exercise: Meet Your Classmates and Instructor

PREVIEW

Course Resources

PREVIEW

Setup and Useful Resources

5 lectures · 17min
5 lectures · 17min

Apache Kafka Fundamentals

21 lectures · 1hr 58min
21 lectures · 1hr 58min

Where To Go From Here?

2 lectures · 1min
2 lectures · 1min

Who is Zero To Mastery for?

You'll fit right in if:

You're struggling to make progress using free tutorials that aren't giving you the structure or clear path to achieving your goals.
You don't want to learn alone. You want personalized feedback, support, and motivation from instructors and mentors and want to be part of a supportive community of like-minded individuals.
You want to learn by doing. You're excited to embrace the struggle of making mistakes that comes with building fun real-world projects you'll be proud of.
You're sick of outdated & boring tutorials. We pride ourselves on having the most up-to-date (and fun!) courses in the industry so that you're not wasting your time and only learning what matters right now.
You can't afford to spend $8,000+ on over priced bootcamps and colleges. We got you. We'll help you go from zero to hired for less than the cost of a cup of coffee a day.

We're not for you if:

You're just going to watch the lessons and take no action. Our courses are all about getting your hands dirty with exercises and putting what you're learning into action by building fun and impressive real-world projects.
You're not ready to invest in yourself or just looking for the cheapest way to learn. If that's you, no problem, use our free Learn to Code + AI & Get Hired guide.
You don't think fundamentals matter anymore because AI can do everything for you. Understanding the fundamentals and how things really work will always be important.
You think AI is going to replace you and think there's nothing you can do about it. Well... if you keep wasting time not learning AI tools & skills, you're probably right. Or you embrace them, and 2x your productivity (and probably income too!).

Meet your instructor

Your Data Engineering instructor (Ivan) isn't just an expert with years of real-world professional experience. He has been in your shoes. He makes learning fun. He makes complex topics feel simple. He will motivate you. He will push you. And he will go above and beyond to help you succeed.

Ivan Mushketyk

Hi, I'm Ivan Mushketyk!

Ivan is a data & software engineer with 12+ years of experience designing and scaling distributed systems. His career spans early-stage startups and industry leaders, including AWS and Stripe, where he built production-grade cloud and data applications.

SEE MY BIO & COURSES

Ivan Mushketyk

Data Engineer

Frequently Asked Questions

Are there any prerequisites for this course?

  • Basic Python knowledge is required. If you don't have that we recommend taking the first few sections of our Python Bootcamp course, which is included in your ZTM Academy membership.

Do you provide a certificate of completion?

We definitely do and they are quite nice. You will also be able to add Zero To Mastery Academy to the education section of your LinkedIn profile as well.

Are there subtitles?

Yes! We have high quality subtitles in 6 different languages: English, Spanish, French, German, Arabic, and Hindi.

You can even adjust the text size, color, background and more so that the subtitles are perfect just for you!

Still have more questions about the Academy?

Still have more questions specific to the Academy membership? No problem, we answer some more here.

What students are saying

Our courses and community have helped 1,000s of Zero To Mastery students go from zero to getting hired to levelling up their skills and advancing their careers to new heights.

Rated 4.9 out of 5 on Trustpilot

Learn the skills to stand out and get hired. In the age of AI.

Choose your currency:
$ USD US Dollar
Risk Free Pricing

100% Risk Free

We know you'll love ZTM. That's why we provide a no-hassle, 30-day money-back guarantee.

Convince Your Boss

CONVINCE YOUR BOSS TO PAY

If you’re looking to up skill then you should 100% get your employer to cover the cost of training.

Teams

Need a Team License?

With a team license, you can buy a number of spots to allocate to employees.

BEST VALUE

PRO PLAN

Pay yearly
Pay monthly
$25 / month

Paid yearly at $299$588/y49% OFF

Get Annual Plan

Build a high-value, future-proof career. For less than $1/day.

Unlimited access to all courses
Guided career paths (beginner to job-ready)
500,000+ member community (Discord)
Live career coaching sessions with mentors
Completion certificates for every course
Personalized ZTM Passport
Private LinkedIn networking group
Priority support

Lifetime PLAN

$1,299
Only pay once, ever
Get Lifetime Access

Invest in your future — pay once and you’re covered for whatever comes next.

Includes everything in PRO
All new courses and course updates automatically included at no extra cost
No subscriptions. No renewals. Just unlimited learning for life.

Students also take these courses