diff --git a/doc/source/data/consuming-datasets.rst b/doc/source/data/consuming-datasets.rst
index 401fda1a5ff1..d10b690e58f2 100644
--- a/doc/source/data/consuming-datasets.rst
+++ b/doc/source/data/consuming-datasets.rst
@@ -41,9 +41,8 @@ Datasets can be consumed a row at a time using the
 or a batch at a time using the
 :meth:`ds.iter_batches() <ray.data.Dataset.iter_batches>` API, where you can specify
 batch size as well as the desired batch format. By default, the batch format is
-``"native"``, which means that the batch format that's native to the data type will be
-returned. For tabular data, the native format is a Pandas DataFrame; for Python objects,
-it's a list.
+``"default"``. For tabular data, the default format is a Pandas DataFrame; for Python
+objects, it's a list.
 
 .. literalinclude:: ./doc_code/accessing_datasets.py
   :language: python
@@ -109,7 +108,7 @@ to repartition the Dataset before writing out.
     :start-after: __write_json_begin__
     :end-before: __write_json_end__
 
-.. tabbed:: NumPy 
+.. tabbed:: NumPy
 
   .. literalinclude:: ./doc_code/saving_datasets.py
     :language: python
diff --git a/doc/source/data/dataset-tensor-support.rst b/doc/source/data/dataset-tensor-support.rst
index 2a6e8db80eee..3f08bc6aef28 100644
--- a/doc/source/data/dataset-tensor-support.rst
+++ b/doc/source/data/dataset-tensor-support.rst
@@ -113,7 +113,7 @@ Transforming / Consuming Tensor Data
 
 Like any other Dataset, Datasets with tensor columns can be consumed / transformed in batches via the :meth:`ds.iter_batches(batch_format=\<format\>) <ray.data.Dataset.iter_batches>` and :meth:`ds.map_batches(fn, batch_format=\<format\>) <ray.data.Dataset.map_batches>` APIs. This section shows the available batch formats and their behavior:
 
-.. tabbed:: "native" (default)
+.. tabbed:: "default"
 
   **Single-column**:
 
diff --git a/doc/source/data/transforming-datasets.rst b/doc/source/data/transforming-datasets.rst
index 03ed1eefa168..a90d3c79252a 100644
--- a/doc/source/data/transforming-datasets.rst
+++ b/doc/source/data/transforming-datasets.rst
@@ -121,9 +121,9 @@ Choose the *batch format* of the data given to UDFs
 by setting the ``batch_format`` option of :meth:`.map_batches() <ray.data.Dataset.map_batches>`.
 Here is an overview of the available batch formats:
 
-.. tabbed:: "native" (default)
+.. tabbed:: "default"
 
-  The "native" batch format presents data as follows for each Dataset type:
+  The "default" batch format presents data as follows for each Dataset type:
 
   * **Tabular Datasets**: Each batch will be a
     `pandas.DataFrame <https://pandas.pydata.org/docs/reference/api/pandas.DataFrame.html>`__.
diff --git a/python/ray/data/_internal/block_batching.py b/python/ray/data/_internal/block_batching.py
index 806fe0621355..87a1cae730dd 100644
--- a/python/ray/data/_internal/block_batching.py
+++ b/python/ray/data/_internal/block_batching.py
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ def batch_blocks(
     prefetch_blocks: int = 0,
     clear_block_after_read: bool = False,
     batch_size: Optional[int] = None,
-    batch_format: str = "native",
+    batch_format: str = "default",
     drop_last: bool = False,
     shuffle_buffer_min_size: Optional[int] = None,
     shuffle_seed: Optional[int] = None,
@@ -58,10 +58,10 @@ def batch_blocks(
             the block will never be accessed again.
         batch_size: Record batch size, or None to let the system pick.
         batch_format: The format in which to return each batch.
-            Specify "native" to use the current block format (promoting
+            Specify "default" to use the current block format (promoting
             Arrow to pandas automatically), "pandas" to
             select ``pandas.DataFrame`` or "pyarrow" to select
-            ``pyarrow.Table``. Default is "native".
+            ``pyarrow.Table``. Default is "default".
         drop_last: Whether to drop the last batch if it's incomplete.
         shuffle_buffer_min_size: If non-None, the data will be randomly shuffled using a
             local in-memory shuffle buffer, and this value will serve as the minimum
@@ -137,8 +137,8 @@ def get_batches(block: Optional[ObjectRef[Block]] = None) -> Iterator[BatchType]
 
 
 def _format_batch(batch: Block, batch_format: str) -> BatchType:
-    if batch_format == "native":
-        batch = BlockAccessor.for_block(batch).to_native()
+    if batch_format == "default" or batch_format == "native":
+        batch = BlockAccessor.for_block(batch).to_default()
     elif batch_format == "pandas":
         batch = BlockAccessor.for_block(batch).to_pandas()
     elif batch_format == "pyarrow":
diff --git a/python/ray/data/_internal/table_block.py b/python/ray/data/_internal/table_block.py
index 9a372d697ab0..8e5e701b3e00 100644
--- a/python/ray/data/_internal/table_block.py
+++ b/python/ray/data/_internal/table_block.py
@@ -123,14 +123,14 @@ def _get_row(self, index: int, copy: bool = False) -> Union[TableRow, np.ndarray
     def _build_tensor_row(row: TableRow) -> np.ndarray:
         raise NotImplementedError
 
-    def to_native(self) -> Block:
+    def to_default(self) -> Block:
         if self.is_tensor_wrapper():
-            native = self.to_numpy()
+            default = self.to_numpy()
         else:
             # Always promote Arrow blocks to pandas for consistency, since
             # we lazily convert pandas->Arrow internally for efficiency.
-            native = self.to_pandas()
-        return native
+            default = self.to_pandas()
+        return default
 
     def column_names(self) -> List[str]:
         raise NotImplementedError
diff --git a/python/ray/data/block.py b/python/ray/data/block.py
index 4b6bc582ea41..c1b061e9cc14 100644
--- a/python/ray/data/block.py
+++ b/python/ray/data/block.py
@@ -142,7 +142,7 @@ def __call__(self, __arg: T) -> U:
 # by default. When block splitting is off, the type is a plain block.
 MaybeBlockPartition = Union[Block, BlockPartition]
 
-VALID_BATCH_FORMATS = ["native", "pandas", "pyarrow", "numpy"]
+VALID_BATCH_FORMATS = ["default", "native", "pandas", "pyarrow", "numpy"]
 
 
 @DeveloperAPI
@@ -302,8 +302,8 @@ def to_block(self) -> Block:
         """Return the base block that this accessor wraps."""
         raise NotImplementedError
 
-    def to_native(self) -> Block:
-        """Return the native data format for this accessor."""
+    def to_default(self) -> Block:
+        """Return the default data format for this accessor."""
         return self.to_block()
 
     def to_batch_format(self, batch_format: str) -> DataBatch:
@@ -315,8 +315,8 @@ def to_batch_format(self, batch_format: str) -> DataBatch:
         Returns:
             This block formatted as the provided batch format.
         """
-        if batch_format == "native":
-            return self.to_native()
+        if batch_format == "default" or batch_format == "native":
+            return self.to_default()
         elif batch_format == "pandas":
             return self.to_pandas()
         elif batch_format == "pyarrow":
diff --git a/python/ray/data/dataset.py b/python/ray/data/dataset.py
index 69a058ba3633..2e4185c4f6b2 100644
--- a/python/ray/data/dataset.py
+++ b/python/ray/data/dataset.py
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@
     Union,
 )
 from uuid import uuid4
+import warnings
 
 import numpy as np
 
@@ -310,7 +311,7 @@ def map_batches(
         *,
         batch_size: Optional[int] = 4096,
         compute: Union[str, ComputeStrategy] = None,
-        batch_format: str = "native",
+        batch_format: str = "default",
         fn_args: Optional[Iterable[Any]] = None,
         fn_kwargs: Optional[Dict[str, Any]] = None,
         fn_constructor_args: Optional[Iterable[Any]] = None,
@@ -376,11 +377,11 @@ def map_batches(
                 :class:`ActorPoolStrategy(min, max) <ray.data.ActorPoolStrategy>`
                 instance. If using callable classes for fn, the actor compute strategy
                 must be used.
-            batch_format: Specify "native" to use the native block format (promotes
+            batch_format: Specify "default" to use the default block format (promotes
                 tables to Pandas and tensors to NumPy), "pandas" to select
                 ``pandas.DataFrame``, "pyarrow" to select ``pyarrow.Table``, or "numpy"
                 to select ``numpy.ndarray`` for tensor datasets and
-                ``Dict[str, numpy.ndarray]`` for tabular datasets. Default is "native".
+                ``Dict[str, numpy.ndarray]`` for tabular datasets. Default is "default".
             fn_args: Positional arguments to pass to ``fn``, after the data batch. These
                 arguments will be top-level arguments in the underlying Ray task that's
                 submitted.
@@ -402,6 +403,12 @@ def map_batches(
         import pandas as pd
         import pyarrow as pa
 
+        if batch_format == "native":
+            warnings.warn(
+                "The 'native' batch format has been renamed 'default'.",
+                DeprecationWarning,
+            )
+
         if batch_size is not None and batch_size < 1:
             raise ValueError("Batch size cannot be negative or 0")
 
@@ -2314,15 +2321,15 @@ def iter_rows(self, *, prefetch_blocks: int = 0) -> Iterator[Union[T, TableRow]]
         try:
             dataset_format = self._dataset_format()
         except ValueError:
-            # Dataset is empty or cleared, so fall back to "native".
-            batch_format = "native"
+            # Dataset is empty or cleared, so fall back to "default".
+            batch_format = "default"
         else:
             batch_format = (
                 "pyarrow"
                 if dataset_format == "arrow"
                 else "pandas"
                 if dataset_format == "pandas"
-                else "native"
+                else "default"
             )
         for batch in self.iter_batches(
             batch_size=None, prefetch_blocks=prefetch_blocks, batch_format=batch_format
@@ -2336,7 +2343,7 @@ def iter_batches(
         *,
         prefetch_blocks: int = 0,
         batch_size: Optional[int] = 256,
-        batch_format: str = "native",
+        batch_format: str = "default",
         drop_last: bool = False,
         local_shuffle_buffer_size: Optional[int] = None,
         local_shuffle_seed: Optional[int] = None,
@@ -2358,11 +2365,11 @@ def iter_batches(
                 The final batch may include fewer than ``batch_size`` rows if
                 ``drop_last`` is ``False``. Defaults to 256.
             batch_format: The format in which to return each batch.
-                Specify "native" to use the native block format (promoting
+                Specify "default" to use the default block format (promoting
                 tables to Pandas and tensors to NumPy), "pandas" to select
                 ``pandas.DataFrame``, "pyarrow" to select ``pyarrow.Table``, or "numpy"
                 to select ``numpy.ndarray`` for tensor datasets and
-                ``Dict[str, numpy.ndarray]`` for tabular datasets. Default is "native".
+                ``Dict[str, numpy.ndarray]`` for tabular datasets. Default is "default".
             drop_last: Whether to drop the last batch if it's incomplete.
             local_shuffle_buffer_size: If non-None, the data will be randomly shuffled
                 using a local in-memory shuffle buffer, and this value will serve as the
@@ -2374,6 +2381,12 @@ def iter_batches(
         Returns:
             An iterator over record batches.
         """
+        if batch_format == "native":
+            warnings.warn(
+                "The 'native' batch format has been renamed 'default'.",
+                DeprecationWarning,
+            )
+
         blocks = self._plan.execute()
         stats = self._plan.stats()
 
diff --git a/python/ray/data/dataset_pipeline.py b/python/ray/data/dataset_pipeline.py
index a4d444b6212f..3f980bb606d7 100644
--- a/python/ray/data/dataset_pipeline.py
+++ b/python/ray/data/dataset_pipeline.py
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@
     Tuple,
     Union,
 )
+import warnings
 
 import ray
 from ray.data._internal import progress_bar
@@ -137,7 +138,7 @@ def iter_batches(
         *,
         prefetch_blocks: int = 0,
         batch_size: Optional[int] = 256,
-        batch_format: str = "native",
+        batch_format: str = "default",
         drop_last: bool = False,
         local_shuffle_buffer_size: Optional[int] = None,
         local_shuffle_seed: Optional[int] = None,
@@ -160,10 +161,10 @@ def iter_batches(
                 The final batch may include fewer than ``batch_size`` rows if
                 ``drop_last`` is ``False``. Defaults to 256.
             batch_format: The format in which to return each batch.
-                Specify "native" to use the current block format (promoting
+                Specify "default" to use the current block format (promoting
                 Arrow to pandas automatically), "pandas" to
                 select ``pandas.DataFrame`` or "pyarrow" to select
-                ``pyarrow.Table``. Default is "native".
+                ``pyarrow.Table``. Default is "default".
             drop_last: Whether to drop the last batch if it's incomplete.
             local_shuffle_buffer_size: If non-None, the data will be randomly shuffled
                 using a local in-memory shuffle buffer, and this value will serve as the
@@ -178,6 +179,12 @@ def iter_batches(
         Returns:
             An iterator over record batches.
         """
+        if batch_format == "native":
+            warnings.warn(
+                "The 'native' batch format has been renamed 'default'.",
+                DeprecationWarning,
+            )
+
         if self._executed[0]:
             raise RuntimeError("Pipeline cannot be read multiple times.")
         time_start = time.perf_counter()
@@ -721,7 +728,7 @@ def map_batches(
         *,
         batch_size: Optional[int] = 4096,
         compute: Union[str, ComputeStrategy] = None,
-        batch_format: str = "native",
+        batch_format: str = "default",
         fn_args: Optional[Iterable[Any]] = None,
         fn_kwargs: Optional[Dict[str, Any]] = None,
         fn_constructor_args: Optional[Iterable[Any]] = None,
@@ -951,7 +958,7 @@ def iter_tf_batches(
         *,
         prefetch_blocks: int = 0,
         batch_size: Optional[int] = 256,
-        batch_format: str = "native",
+        batch_format: str = "default",
         drop_last: bool = False,
         local_shuffle_buffer_size: Optional[int] = None,
         local_shuffle_seed: Optional[int] = None,
@@ -973,7 +980,7 @@ def iter_torch_batches(
         *,
         prefetch_blocks: int = 0,
         batch_size: Optional[int] = 256,
-        batch_format: str = "native",
+        batch_format: str = "default",
         drop_last: bool = False,
         local_shuffle_buffer_size: Optional[int] = None,
         local_shuffle_seed: Optional[int] = None,
diff --git a/python/ray/data/grouped_dataset.py b/python/ray/data/grouped_dataset.py
index 7a8065f882b2..68e221387657 100644
--- a/python/ray/data/grouped_dataset.py
+++ b/python/ray/data/grouped_dataset.py
@@ -185,7 +185,7 @@ def map_groups(
         fn: Union[CallableClass, Callable[[BatchType], BatchType]],
         *,
         compute: Union[str, ComputeStrategy] = None,
-        batch_format: str = "native",
+        batch_format: str = "default",
         **ray_remote_args,
     ) -> "Dataset[Any]":
         # TODO AttributeError: 'GroupedDataset' object has no attribute 'map_groups'
@@ -230,7 +230,7 @@ def map_groups(
                 batch of zero or more records, similar to map_batches().
             compute: The compute strategy, either "tasks" (default) to use Ray
                 tasks, or ActorPoolStrategy(min, max) to use an autoscaling actor pool.
-            batch_format: Specify "native" to use the native block format
+            batch_format: Specify "default" to use the default block format
                 (promotes Arrow to pandas), "pandas" to select
                 ``pandas.DataFrame`` as the batch format,
                 or "pyarrow" to select ``pyarrow.Table``.
diff --git a/python/ray/data/tests/test_dataset.py b/python/ray/data/tests/test_dataset.py
index 33c3078d1180..8bbbfd407b3c 100644
--- a/python/ray/data/tests/test_dataset.py
+++ b/python/ray/data/tests/test_dataset.py
@@ -1735,10 +1735,14 @@ def test_iter_batches_basic(ray_start_regular_shared):
         assert all(isinstance(col, np.ndarray) for col in batch.values())
         pd.testing.assert_frame_equal(pd.DataFrame(batch), df)
 
-    # Native format.
+    # Native format (deprecated).
     for batch, df in zip(ds.iter_batches(batch_size=None, batch_format="native"), dfs):
         assert BlockAccessor.for_block(batch).to_pandas().equals(df)
 
+    # Default format.
+    for batch, df in zip(ds.iter_batches(batch_size=None, batch_format="default"), dfs):
+        assert BlockAccessor.for_block(batch).to_pandas().equals(df)
+
     # Batch size.
     batch_size = 2
     batches = list(ds.iter_batches(batch_size=batch_size, batch_format="pandas"))
diff --git a/python/ray/data/tests/test_split.py b/python/ray/data/tests/test_split.py
index 31cef96e7439..cc78fb2b3546 100644
--- a/python/ray/data/tests/test_split.py
+++ b/python/ray/data/tests/test_split.py
@@ -662,7 +662,7 @@ def equalize_helper(input_block_lists):
         for block_ref, _ in blocklist.get_blocks_with_metadata():
             block = ray.get(block_ref)
             block_accessor = BlockAccessor.for_block(block)
-            block_list.append(block_accessor.to_native())
+            block_list.append(block_accessor.to_default())
         result_block_lists.append(block_list)
     return result_block_lists
 
diff --git a/python/ray/train/tests/test_trainer.py b/python/ray/train/tests/test_trainer.py
index 8b4b6a52d7a7..53168ea09273 100644
--- a/python/ray/train/tests/test_trainer.py
+++ b/python/ray/train/tests/test_trainer.py
@@ -1119,7 +1119,7 @@ def get_dataset():
         for _ in range(num_epochs):
             dataset_this_epoch = next(pipeline_iterator)
             data_this_epoch = []
-            for batch in dataset_this_epoch.iter_batches(batch_format="native"):
+            for batch in dataset_this_epoch.iter_batches(batch_format="default"):
                 data_this_epoch.extend(batch)
             data_all_epochs.append(data_this_epoch)
         return data_all_epochs
@@ -1144,7 +1144,7 @@ def get_dataset():
         for _ in range(2):
             dataset_this_epoch = next(pipeline_iterator)
             data_this_epoch = []
-            for batch in dataset_this_epoch.iter_batches(batch_format="native"):
+            for batch in dataset_this_epoch.iter_batches(batch_format="default"):
                 data_this_epoch.extend(batch)
 
             if len(data_all_epochs) > 0: