MariaDB vs MySQL – What are the differences?

MariaDB and MySQL are both databases that can power your new website. The question is, what sets them apart? The answer is that MariaDB is an alternative to MySQL, which can almost be seen as a further development of MySQL and is in large part replacing it.  

In this article, we will tell you more about the differences between MariaDB vs MySQL. 

What is MariaDB? 

MariaDB is a database that can be used to store data of many different types. Data is stored using a language called SQL, short for “Structured Query Language”, and can include information about the content on your website. This could be the texts of your blog posts and pages in WordPress. 

A fork of MySQL 

MySQL is a database management system created by the Swedish company MySQL AB. It was launched in 1995 and has been owned by Oracle since 2009. MySQL has an open-source license and is, therefore, free for anyone to use. That being said, MySQL is also sold with support and additional functionality for large companies and organisations. This means that many advanced features are limited in the free version of MySQL. 

MariaDB was created in 2009 as a fork of MySQL, where MariaDB continued its development based on MySQL’s source code. Since then, MariaDB has gained new features and continued its development in a different direction from MySQL. MariaDB is developed with a completely open license, while MySQL is available in two versions with different functionality and availability. 

MariaDB vs MySQL

MariaDB and MySQL can be used for similar purposes, so in some ways they are very similar to each other. They also have a lot of common compatibility and therefore work well with similar applications, such as WordPress. The programs that MariaDB consists of also have similar functionality and the same names as MySQL. Mysqld and mysqldump are components that can be found in both systems. 

Major differences

A major difference between MariaDB and MySQL is how the two projects are developed and sold. Since Oracle took over MySQL, the project has mainly been developed by developers within Oracle. MariaDB has been developed as an open platform with many contributing developers outside the parent organisation. This means that MariaDB has more than twice as many developers as MySQL. 

According to a list compiled by MariaDB, there are over 150 significant differences between MariaDB and MySQL. These allow for storing data in different ways, managing data in different ways, and changing how the system works. The differences are many, and here are some of the most important: 

• MariaDB supports more database engines, giving system administrators more choices for managing data. 
• MariaDB has a completely open license, while MySQL has both an open and a closed license. 
• MySQL has better support for databases than Oracle. 
• MariaDB can be faster than MySQL for certain applications. 

The differences between MariaDB and MySQL are most relevant for system administrators. If you are running a website and not managing your own hosting, you don’t need to worry about which system you are using. However, it can be valuable to know the differences between MariaDB and MySQL if, for example, you want to start a VPS. 

Who is MariaDB best suited for? 

MariaDB has become a popular choice and is used as a standard by operating systems such as Red Hat, Arch Linux, Debian, and Fedora. MariaDB is used and supported by companies such as IBM, Microsoft, Wikimedia, Google, and one.com. It is used for everything from large systems to simple websites.

Thanks to its open development model, MariaDB can be a good option for users who want to minimise costs. It can also be the best choice for users who prioritise performance. 

Who is MySQL best suited for? 

MySQL is more popular than MariaDB and is used by companies such as Netflix, Facebook, Spotify, and GitHub. MySQL is a good option for large organisations that want to pay for advanced features and for better customer service. With MySQL Enterprise Edition, large companies can increase their security and reliability in very large systems. 

What is phpMyAdmin? 

PhpMyAdmin is a tool that makes it easier for end users to manage databases. The tool, created in 1998, is designed to manage database systems such as MySQL and MariaDB. With phpMyAdmin, it’s easy to manage a database by creating, deleting, and editing tables or by performing advanced searches in a visual user interface. 

Users can log in to phpMyAdmin to, for example, make advanced changes to a WordPress website. Since phpMyAdmin can provide unlimited access to a database, it’s important that the user knows what they are doing. Incorrect changes to a database can cause major problems for a website. 

Use MariaDB or MySQL with WordPress 

A database like MariaDB is required to use WordPress, and this is one of the reasons Automattic, the company behind WordPress.com, was involved in the founding of MariaDB. That being said, MySQL works just as well with WordPress. With a 1-click installation of WordPress, you don’t have to think about your website’s database, as it is configured automatically along with your WordPress installation. 

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