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PYSPARK • LESSON 145

Writing Pure Python Helper Functions

How do we write a pure Python string masking function to obfuscate customer email usernames?

Expert2 Minutes750 XP
🤔 THE QUESTION

How do we write a pure Python string masking function to obfuscate customer email usernames?

💡 WHAT IS IT?

A standard Python function implementing custom domain masking logic before registration as a Spark UDF.

🎯 WHAT IS IT USED FOR?

Data privacy masking, GDPR/HIPAA compliance, and custom hashing algorithms.

💻 EXAMPLE
def mask_email(email):
    if not email:
        return None
    user, domain = email.split("@")
    return user[0] + "***@" + domain

🎯 Mission Objectives

Practice typing production-grade PySpark code for Writing Pure Python Helper Functions.

  • Define Python email masking logic
  • Handle null and edge-case inputs
  • Prepare function for UDF wrapping