Azure Data Explorer (ADX), formerly known as Kusto, is a fully managed, cloud-native data analytics service provided by Microsoft Azure. It is designed for real-time, interactive analysis of large volumes of data and is particularly well-suited for handling log and telemetry data, time-series data, and other types of structured and semi-structured data. Here are key aspects and features of Azure Data Explorer:

1. High-Performance Querying: ADX is optimized for high-speed querying and can handle complex queries on large datasets with low-latency responses, making it ideal for real-time analytics.

2. Massive Scalability: ADX is horizontally scalable and can scale up or down to meet changing data and query demands. It can handle petabytes of data and serve both small and large organizations.

3. Built-In Time Series Support: It has built-in support for time-series data, making it suitable for IoT, monitoring, and telemetry data scenarios.

4. Query Language: ADX uses the Kusto Query Language (KQL), a powerful and expressive query language that is easy to learn and use. KQL is optimized for time-series and log data analysis.

5. Integration with Azure Services: ADX seamlessly integrates with other Azure services like Azure Databricks, Azure Logic Apps, Azure Functions, and Power BI for advanced analytics and visualization.

6. Data Ingestion: It supports various data ingestion methods, including data connectors, Azure Data Factory, Event Hubs, and more.

7. Advanced Analytics: ADX supports advanced analytics scenarios, including machine learning model integration, anomaly detection, and predictive analytics.

8. Data Retention and Purging: You can configure data retention policies and automatic data purging based on your organization’s requirements.

9. Security and Compliance: ADX offers robust security features, including data encryption, role-based access control (RBAC), and Azure Active Directory integration. It is also compliant with various industry standards and regulations.

10. Cost Management: You pay for the resources you consume, and ADX provides tools to monitor and optimize costs.

11. Global Availability: Azure Data Explorer is available in multiple Azure regions worldwide, allowing you to store data and perform analytics close to your users.

12. Developer Tools: It provides a rich set of developer tools, including SDKs, APIs, and extensions for Visual Studio Code.

13. Data Visualization: You can visualize the results of your queries using data visualization tools like Power BI, Grafana, and other third-party applications.

14. Use Cases: ADX is used for a wide range of use cases, including monitoring and diagnostics, application performance management, security analytics, and more.