Apache Kafka is an open-source streaming platform that can be used to build real-time data pipelines and streaming applications. It addresses challenges with diverse data sets arriving at increasing rates. The document discusses how Apache Kafka can help with challenges around data integration, stream processing, and managing streaming platforms at scale. It also outlines key features of Apache Kafka like the Kafka Connect API for data integration, the Kafka Streams API for stream processing, and Confluent Control Center for monitoring and management.