MariaDB Vs MySQL - The Ultimate Comparison

What is MariaDB?

MariaDB is an open-source relational database management system, originally forked from MySQL. Developed by the creators of MySQL, MariaDB retains many features and structures of its predecessor. All versions of MariaDB are made to be compatible with corresponding MySQL versions, using similar protocols, client APIs, ports, sockets, and table definition files. Created to be a potential replacement for MySQL, MariaDB organizes data in tables with indexed rows and columns, utilizing primary and foreign keys for relationships between columns.

Now, let us discuss some features of the MariaDB database management system.

• This database is fast and robust.
• There are various storage engines, plugins, etc that make this database management system much more versatile and it is suitable for different variety of use cases.
• This database is capable to support the PHP server and Galera technology.
• The query language of MariaDB is standard and it can be supported with many programming languages and is supported by various operating systems.

What is MySQL?

MySQL is a very popular relational database management system that was developed in the year 1995. This database management system was developed by MySQL AB and it was initially created for developing web applications. Using the MySQL database management system, the developers can easily and efficiently manage the data of their projects because this database uses tables for storing the data. MySQL database works on combining both the sever viz PHP and Apache web server. As we know that MySQL database is a relational database management system, it stores the data in an organized tabular form rather than storing them in a large documented format.

It stores the data in a tabular form in separate tables and there are various rows and columns inside the tables which makes it possible to store the data in a more organized manner. There are various features in MySQL database such as logical data models, views, tables, triggers, rows, and columns which make this database programming friendly environment. There are many types of relations in MySQL databases such as one-to-one, one-to-many, and many-to-many. MySQL database follows the ACID Property (Atomicity, inconsistency. Isolation, and Durability). This helps the user to ensure that the data is atomic, consistent, isolated, and durable. MySQL is a very fast secure and reliable database management system. Some of the key features of MySQL database management system are as follows:

• Ease of use: MySQL is user-friendly and can be quickly installed.

• Reliability: Trusted by major companies for over 25 years, MySQL is a reliable database system.

• Scalability:: Used by tech giants like Facebook, MySQL effectively scales to support large user bases. The organization is able to scale the application which supports billions of users over the application.

• Performance: MySQL is fast and often more affordable than its counterparts.

• High availability: MySQL ensures data safety, even in technical disruptions or disasters. It ensures that the data will remain safe and there will be no data loss at all.

• Security: MySQL database management system is highly safe as it obeys the ACID property. The enterprise version of MySQL provides various advanced safety features that ensure data security.

• Flexibility: MySQL allows users to effortlessly perform diverse operations on its server.

Key Difference Between MariaDB and MySQL

The main difference between MariaDB and MySQL is their origin and the direction of their development. While both started from the same codebase, MariaDB was forked from MySQL to ensure it remained fully open source following Oracle’s acquisition of MySQL. Over time, MariaDB introduced unique features, storage engines, and optimizations not present in MySQL. Conversely, MySQL, under Oracle’s stewardship, has implemented some enterprise-focused features not available in the free version of MariaDB. Both databases continue to coexist, catering to slightly different audiences but retaining core functionalities.

MariaDB Vs MySQL: Key Differences

Pros and Cons of MariaDB and MySQL

MariaDB

• Pros: MariaDB is known for its backward compatibility, high performance due to diverse storage engines, and fully open-source nature.
• Cons: It has constraints with data types like JSON, misses some MySQL enterprise features, and charges for community support.

MySQL

• Pros: MySQL is celebrated for its robust security, adaptability across diverse use cases, and widespread compatibility.
• Cons: It struggles with very large datasets, lacks PL/SQL compatibility, and, despite being open-source, is largely Oracle-controlled.