Chore: Do not return empty record batches from streams (#13794)

* do not emit empty record batches in plans

* change function signatures to Option<RecordBatch> if empty batches are possible

* format code

* shorten code

* change list_unnest_at_level for returning Option value

* add documentation
take concat_batches into compute_aggregates function again

* create unit test for row_hash.rs

* add test for unnest

* add test for unnest

* add test for partial sort

* add test for bounded window agg

* add test for window agg

* apply simplifications and fix typo

* apply simplifications and fix typo

datafusion/core/src/dataframe/mod.rs

@@ -2380,6 +2380,30 @@ mod tests {
         Ok(())
     }
 
+    #[tokio::test]
+    async fn aggregate_assert_no_empty_batches() -> Result<()> {
+        // build plan using DataFrame API
+        let df = test_table().await?;
+        let group_expr = vec![col("c1")];
+        let aggr_expr = vec![
+            min(col("c12")),
+            max(col("c12")),
+            avg(col("c12")),
+            sum(col("c12")),
+            count(col("c12")),
+            count_distinct(col("c12")),
+            median(col("c12")),
+        ];
+
+        let df: Vec<RecordBatch> = df.aggregate(group_expr, aggr_expr)?.collect().await?;
+        // Empty batches should not be produced
+        for batch in df {
+            assert!(batch.num_rows() > 0);
+        }
+
+        Ok(())
+    }
+
     #[tokio::test]
     async fn test_aggregate_with_pk() -> Result<()> {
         // create the dataframe

datafusion/core/tests/dataframe/mod.rs

@@ -1246,6 +1246,43 @@ async fn unnest_aggregate_columns() -> Result<()> {
     Ok(())
 }
 
+#[tokio::test]
+async fn unnest_no_empty_batches() -> Result<()> {
+    let mut shape_id_builder = UInt32Builder::new();
+    let mut tag_id_builder = UInt32Builder::new();
+
+    for shape_id in 1..=10 {
+        for tag_id in 1..=10 {
+            shape_id_builder.append_value(shape_id as u32);
+            tag_id_builder.append_value((shape_id * 10 + tag_id) as u32);
+        }
+    }
+
+    let batch = RecordBatch::try_from_iter(vec![
+        ("shape_id", Arc::new(shape_id_builder.finish()) as ArrayRef),
+        ("tag_id", Arc::new(tag_id_builder.finish()) as ArrayRef),
+    ])?;
+
+    let ctx = SessionContext::new();
+    ctx.register_batch("shapes", batch)?;
+    let df = ctx.table("shapes").await?;
+
+    let results = df
+        .clone()
+        .aggregate(
+            vec![col("shape_id")],
+            vec![array_agg(col("tag_id")).alias("tag_id")],
+        )?
+        .collect()
+        .await?;
+
+    // Assert that there are no empty batches in result
+    for rb in results {
+        assert!(rb.num_rows() > 0);
+    }
+    Ok(())
+}
+
 #[tokio::test]
 async fn unnest_array_agg() -> Result<()> {
     let mut shape_id_builder = UInt32Builder::new();
@@ -1268,6 +1305,12 @@ async fn unnest_array_agg() -> Result<()> {
     let df = ctx.table("shapes").await?;
 
     let results = df.clone().collect().await?;
+
+    // Assert that there are no empty batches in result
+    for rb in results.clone() {
+        assert!(rb.num_rows() > 0);
+    }
+
     let expected = vec![
         "+----------+--------+",
         "| shape_id | tag_id |",

datafusion/core/tests/fuzz_cases/window_fuzz.rs

@@ -299,9 +299,7 @@ async fn bounded_window_causal_non_causal() -> Result<()> {
                     Linear,
                 )?);
                 let task_ctx = ctx.task_ctx();
-                let mut collected_results =
-                    collect(running_window_exec, task_ctx).await?;
-                collected_results.retain(|batch| batch.num_rows() > 0);
+                let collected_results = collect(running_window_exec, task_ctx).await?;
                 let input_batch_sizes = batches
                     .iter()
                     .map(|batch| batch.num_rows())
@@ -310,6 +308,8 @@ async fn bounded_window_causal_non_causal() -> Result<()> {
                     .iter()
                     .map(|batch| batch.num_rows())
                     .collect::<Vec<_>>();
+                // There should be no empty batches at results
+                assert!(result_batch_sizes.iter().all(|e| *e > 0));
                 if causal {
                     // For causal window frames, we can generate results immediately
                     // for each input batch. Hence, batch sizes should match.
@@ -688,8 +688,8 @@ async fn run_window_test(
     let collected_running = collect(running_window_exec, task_ctx)
         .await?
         .into_iter()
-        .filter(|b| b.num_rows() > 0)
         .collect::<Vec<_>>();
+    assert!(collected_running.iter().all(|rb| rb.num_rows() > 0));
 
     // BoundedWindowAggExec should produce more chunk than the usual WindowAggExec.
     // Otherwise it means that we cannot generate result in running mode.

datafusion/physical-plan/src/aggregates/row_hash.rs

@@ -654,9 +654,13 @@ impl Stream for GroupedHashAggregateStream {
                             }
 
                             if let Some(to_emit) = self.group_ordering.emit_to() {
-                                let batch = extract_ok!(self.emit(to_emit, false));
-                                self.exec_state = ExecutionState::ProducingOutput(batch);
                                 timer.done();
+                                if let Some(batch) =
+                                    extract_ok!(self.emit(to_emit, false))
+                                {
+                                    self.exec_state =
+                                        ExecutionState::ProducingOutput(batch);
+                                };
                                 // make sure the exec_state just set is not overwritten below
                                 break 'reading_input;
                             }
@@ -693,9 +697,13 @@ impl Stream for GroupedHashAggregateStream {
                             }
 
                             if let Some(to_emit) = self.group_ordering.emit_to() {
-                                let batch = extract_ok!(self.emit(to_emit, false));
-                                self.exec_state = ExecutionState::ProducingOutput(batch);
                                 timer.done();
+                                if let Some(batch) =
+                                    extract_ok!(self.emit(to_emit, false))
+                                {
+                                    self.exec_state =
+                                        ExecutionState::ProducingOutput(batch);
+                                };
                                 // make sure the exec_state just set is not overwritten below
                                 break 'reading_input;
                             }
@@ -768,6 +776,9 @@ impl Stream for GroupedHashAggregateStream {
                         let output = batch.slice(0, size);
                         (ExecutionState::ProducingOutput(remaining), output)
                     };
+                    // Empty record batches should not be emitted.
+                    // They need to be treated as  [`Option<RecordBatch>`]es and handled separately
+                    debug_assert!(output_batch.num_rows() > 0);
                     return Poll::Ready(Some(Ok(
                         output_batch.record_output(&self.baseline_metrics)
                     )));
@@ -902,14 +913,14 @@ impl GroupedHashAggregateStream {
 
     /// Create an output RecordBatch with the group keys and
     /// accumulator states/values specified in emit_to
-    fn emit(&mut self, emit_to: EmitTo, spilling: bool) -> Result<RecordBatch> {
+    fn emit(&mut self, emit_to: EmitTo, spilling: bool) -> Result<Option<RecordBatch>> {
         let schema = if spilling {
             Arc::clone(&self.spill_state.spill_schema)
         } else {
             self.schema()
         };
         if self.group_values.is_empty() {
-            return Ok(RecordBatch::new_empty(schema));
+            return Ok(None);
         }
 
         let mut output = self.group_values.emit(emit_to)?;
@@ -937,7 +948,8 @@ impl GroupedHashAggregateStream {
         // over the target memory size after emission, we can emit again rather than returning Err.
         let _ = self.update_memory_reservation();
         let batch = RecordBatch::try_new(schema, output)?;
-        Ok(batch)
+        debug_assert!(batch.num_rows() > 0);
+        Ok(Some(batch))
     }
 
     /// Optimistically, [`Self::group_aggregate_batch`] allows to exceed the memory target slightly
@@ -963,7 +975,9 @@ impl GroupedHashAggregateStream {
 
     /// Emit all rows, sort them, and store them on disk.
     fn spill(&mut self) -> Result<()> {
-        let emit = self.emit(EmitTo::All, true)?;
+        let Some(emit) = self.emit(EmitTo::All, true)? else {
+            return Ok(());
+        };
         let sorted = sort_batch(&emit, self.spill_state.spill_expr.as_ref(), None)?;
         let spillfile = self.runtime.disk_manager.create_tmp_file("HashAggSpill")?;
         // TODO: slice large `sorted` and write to multiple files in parallel
@@ -1008,8 +1022,9 @@ impl GroupedHashAggregateStream {
         {
             assert_eq!(self.mode, AggregateMode::Partial);
             let n = self.group_values.len() / self.batch_size * self.batch_size;
-            let batch = self.emit(EmitTo::First(n), false)?;
-            self.exec_state = ExecutionState::ProducingOutput(batch);
+            if let Some(batch) = self.emit(EmitTo::First(n), false)? {
+                self.exec_state = ExecutionState::ProducingOutput(batch);
+            };
         }
         Ok(())
     }
@@ -1019,7 +1034,9 @@ impl GroupedHashAggregateStream {
     /// Conduct a streaming merge sort between the batch and spilled data. Since the stream is fully
     /// sorted, set `self.group_ordering` to Full, then later we can read with [`EmitTo::First`].
     fn update_merged_stream(&mut self) -> Result<()> {
-        let batch = self.emit(EmitTo::All, true)?;
+        let Some(batch) = self.emit(EmitTo::All, true)? else {
+            return Ok(());
+        };
         // clear up memory for streaming_merge
         self.clear_all();
         self.update_memory_reservation()?;
@@ -1067,7 +1084,7 @@ impl GroupedHashAggregateStream {
         let timer = elapsed_compute.timer();
         self.exec_state = if self.spill_state.spills.is_empty() {
             let batch = self.emit(EmitTo::All, false)?;
-            ExecutionState::ProducingOutput(batch)
+            batch.map_or(ExecutionState::Done, ExecutionState::ProducingOutput)
         } else {
             // If spill files exist, stream-merge them.
             self.update_merged_stream()?;
@@ -1096,8 +1113,9 @@ impl GroupedHashAggregateStream {
     fn switch_to_skip_aggregation(&mut self) -> Result<()> {
         if let Some(probe) = self.skip_aggregation_probe.as_mut() {
             if probe.should_skip() {
-                let batch = self.emit(EmitTo::All, false)?;
-                self.exec_state = ExecutionState::ProducingOutput(batch);
+                if let Some(batch) = self.emit(EmitTo::All, false)? {
+                    self.exec_state = ExecutionState::ProducingOutput(batch);
+                };
             }
         }
 

datafusion/physical-plan/src/sorts/partial_sort.rs

@@ -363,31 +363,31 @@ impl PartialSortStream {
         if self.is_closed {
             return Poll::Ready(None);
         }
-        let result = match ready!(self.input.poll_next_unpin(cx)) {
-            Some(Ok(batch)) => {
-                if let Some(slice_point) =
-                    self.get_slice_point(self.common_prefix_length, &batch)?
-                {
-                    self.in_mem_batches.push(batch.slice(0, slice_point));
-                    let remaining_batch =
-                        batch.slice(slice_point, batch.num_rows() - slice_point);
-                    let sorted_batch = self.sort_in_mem_batches();
-                    self.in_mem_batches.push(remaining_batch);
-                    sorted_batch
-                } else {
-                    self.in_mem_batches.push(batch);
-                    Ok(RecordBatch::new_empty(self.schema()))
+        loop {
+            return Poll::Ready(Some(match ready!(self.input.poll_next_unpin(cx)) {
+                Some(Ok(batch)) => {
+                    if let Some(slice_point) =
+                        self.get_slice_point(self.common_prefix_length, &batch)?
+                    {
+                        self.in_mem_batches.push(batch.slice(0, slice_point));
+                        let remaining_batch =
+                            batch.slice(slice_point, batch.num_rows() - slice_point);
+                        let sorted_batch = self.sort_in_mem_batches();
+                        self.in_mem_batches.push(remaining_batch);
+                        sorted_batch
+                    } else {
+                        self.in_mem_batches.push(batch);
+                        continue;
+                    }
                 }
-            }
-            Some(Err(e)) => Err(e),
-            None => {
-                self.is_closed = true;
-                // once input is consumed, sort the rest of the inserted batches
-                self.sort_in_mem_batches()
-            }
-        };
-
-        Poll::Ready(Some(result))
+                Some(Err(e)) => Err(e),
+                None => {
+                    self.is_closed = true;
+                    // once input is consumed, sort the rest of the inserted batches
+                    self.sort_in_mem_batches()
+                }
+            }));
+        }
     }
 
     /// Returns a sorted RecordBatch from in_mem_batches and clears in_mem_batches
@@ -407,6 +407,9 @@ impl PartialSortStream {
                 self.is_closed = true;
             }
         }
+        // Empty record batches should not be emitted.
+        // They need to be treated as [`Option<RecordBatch>`]es and handle separately
+        debug_assert!(result.num_rows() > 0);
         Ok(result)
     }
 
@@ -731,7 +734,7 @@ mod tests {
         let result = collect(partial_sort_exec, Arc::clone(&task_ctx)).await?;
         assert_eq!(
             result.iter().map(|r| r.num_rows()).collect_vec(),
-            [0, 125, 125, 0, 150]
+            [125, 125, 150]
         );
 
         assert_eq!(
@@ -760,10 +763,10 @@ mod tests {
             nulls_first: false,
         };
         for (fetch_size, expected_batch_num_rows) in [
-            (Some(50), vec![0, 50]),
-            (Some(120), vec![0, 120]),
-            (Some(150), vec![0, 125, 25]),
-            (Some(250), vec![0, 125, 125]),
+            (Some(50), vec![50]),
+            (Some(120), vec![120]),
+            (Some(150), vec![125, 25]),
+            (Some(250), vec![125, 125]),
         ] {
             let partial_sort_executor = PartialSortExec::new(
                 LexOrdering::new(vec![
@@ -810,6 +813,42 @@ mod tests {
         Ok(())
     }
 
+    #[tokio::test]
+    async fn test_partial_sort_no_empty_batches() -> Result<()> {
+        let task_ctx = Arc::new(TaskContext::default());
+        let mem_exec = prepare_partitioned_input();
+        let schema = mem_exec.schema();
+        let option_asc = SortOptions {
+            descending: false,
+            nulls_first: false,
+        };
+        let fetch_size = Some(250);
+        let partial_sort_executor = PartialSortExec::new(
+            LexOrdering::new(vec![
+                PhysicalSortExpr {
+                    expr: col("a", &schema)?,
+                    options: option_asc,
+                },
+                PhysicalSortExpr {
+                    expr: col("c", &schema)?,
+                    options: option_asc,
+                },
+            ]),
+            Arc::clone(&mem_exec),
+            1,
+        )
+        .with_fetch(fetch_size);
+
+        let partial_sort_exec =
+            Arc::new(partial_sort_executor.clone()) as Arc<dyn ExecutionPlan>;
+        let result = collect(partial_sort_exec, Arc::clone(&task_ctx)).await?;
+        for rb in result {
+            assert!(rb.num_rows() > 0);
+        }
+
+        Ok(())
+    }
+
     #[tokio::test]
     async fn test_sort_metadata() -> Result<()> {
         let task_ctx = Arc::new(TaskContext::default());