Scala is a programming language that combines object-oriented and functional programming paradigms, allowing it to be used in both traditional Java-like styles with mutable state and highly functional manners. This hybrid approach makes Scala appealing for big data pipelines, where concurrency and scalability are crucial, as it reduces the need for mutable data and naturally handles changes in state. With its widespread adoption by Twitter and other large enterprises, Scala has become a popular choice for building scalable applications, particularly with Apache Spark, Kafka, and other frameworks that leverage its functional capabilities. The success of Scala is expected to contribute to a shift towards more functional approaches in the programming landscape, with tools like SingleStore enabling a hybrid object-oriented/functional approach to data management.