perf: Optimize NULL handling in arrays_zip#21475
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mbutrovich merged 2 commits intoapache:mainfrom Apr 10, 2026
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Makes sense to me. Seems more idiomatic with Arrow-rs, and we'll take performance wins! Thanks @neilconway!
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Could you add a 50% null density case to the benchmark? I am not sure we are firing the all-null-row early exit.
LGTM.
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…on_many` (#9692) ## Which issue does this PR close? - Closes #8809. ## Rationale for this change Several DataFusion PRs ([#21464](apache/datafusion#21464), [#21468](apache/datafusion#21468), [#21471](apache/datafusion#21471), [#21475](apache/datafusion#21475), [#21477](apache/datafusion#21477), [#21482](apache/datafusion#21482), [#21532](apache/datafusion#21532)) optimize NULL handling in scalar functions by replacing row-by-row null buffer construction with bulk `NullBuffer::union`. When 3+ null buffers need combining, they chain binary `union` calls, each allocating a new `BooleanBuffer`. `NullBuffer::union_many` reduces this to 1 allocation (clone + in-place ANDs). For example, from [#21482](apache/datafusion#21482): Before: ```rust [array.nulls(), from_array.nulls(), to_array.nulls(), stride.and_then(|s| s.nulls())] .into_iter() .fold(None, |acc, nulls| NullBuffer::union(acc.as_ref(), nulls)) ``` After: ```rust NullBuffer::union_many([ array.nulls(), from_array.nulls(), to_array.nulls(), stride.and_then(|s| s.nulls()), ]) ``` Per @alamb's [suggestion](#9692 (comment)), this PR also implements the general-purpose mutable bitwise operations on `BooleanArray` from #8809, following the `PrimitiveArray::unary` / `unary_mut` pattern. This builds on the `BitAndAssign`/`BitOrAssign`/`BitXorAssign` operators added to `BooleanBuffer` in #9567. ## What changes are included in this PR? **`NullBuffer::union_many(impl IntoIterator<Item = Option<&NullBuffer>>)`**: combines multiple null buffers in a single allocation (clone + in-place `&=`). Used by DataFusion for bulk null handling. **`BooleanArray` bitwise operations** (6 new public methods): Unary (`op: FnMut(u64) -> u64`): - `bitwise_unary(&self, op)` — always allocates a new array - `bitwise_unary_mut(self, op) -> Result<Self, Self>` — in-place if uniquely owned, `Err(self)` if shared - `bitwise_unary_mut_or_clone(self, op)` — in-place if uniquely owned, allocates if shared Binary (`op: FnMut(u64, u64) -> u64`): - `bitwise_bin_op(&self, rhs, op)` — always allocates, unions null buffers - `bitwise_bin_op_mut(self, rhs, op) -> Result<Self, Self>` — in-place if uniquely owned, `Err(self)` if shared, unions null buffers - `bitwise_bin_op_mut_or_clone(self, rhs, op)` — in-place if uniquely owned, allocates if shared, unions null buffers Note: #8809 proposed the binary variants take a raw buffer and `right_offset_in_bits`. This PR takes `&BooleanArray` instead, which encapsulates both and matches existing patterns like `BooleanArray::from_binary`. ## Are these changes tested? Yes. 23 tests for the `BooleanArray` bitwise methods and 6 tests for `union_many`, covering: - Basic correctness (AND, OR, NOT) - Null handling (both nullable, one nullable, no nulls, null union) - Buffer ownership (uniquely owned → in-place, shared → `Err` / fallback) - Edge cases (empty arrays, sliced arrays with non-zero offset, misaligned left/right offsets) ## Are there any user-facing changes? Six new public methods on `BooleanArray` and one new public method on `NullBuffer`. --------- Co-authored-by: Andrew Lamb <andrew@nerdnetworks.org>
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Which issue does this PR close?
arrays_zip#21474.Rationale for this change
arrays_zipwas building aVec<bool>and then converting it to aNullBuffer. It is simpler and (a bit) faster to just useNullBuffer/NullBufferBuilderdirectly.Benchmarks (ARM64):
The improvement is not massive but it's non-zero, and the resulting code is cleaner and more idiomatic.
What changes are included in this PR?
Are these changes tested?
Yes.
Are there any user-facing changes?
No.