tidblock

tidblock, short for time-id block, is a conceptual data unit used in time-series data processing and distributed streaming systems to encapsulate a batch of events that share a defined time window and a unique identifier. It is designed to provide monotonic ordering across a data flow and to support efficient storage, indexing, and batch-oriented processing. Although not a standardized term, tidblocks appear in several design discussions as a way to balance throughput with query latency.

A tidblock typically consists of a header and a payload. The header includes a block_id (a monotonically increasing value), a start_timestamp and end_timestamp defining the window, and optional metadata such as source_id or shard_id. The payload contains references to records or the records themselves, often compressed or delta-encoded. Implementations may fix the block size or adapt it to data characteristics, and may compute a checksum for integrity.

Uses and benefits include enabling predictable read workloads, improving compression efficiency, and simplifying parallel processing by assigning distinct blocks to separate workers. Tidblocks can help maintain intra-block ordering while allowing concurrency across blocks. They are commonly discussed in the context of log-structured storage, time-windowed joins, and event-sourcing architectures.

Limitations and considerations include choosing appropriate block boundaries, handling late-arriving data, and potential re-blocking when window definitions change. As a relatively new or theoretical construct, tidblocks are often described as a design tool rather than a widely implemented standard.

See also: time window, block, segment, log, streaming data, time-series database.