MariaDB vs MySQL: Key Differences, Pros and Cons, and More

In website development, a database plays a vital role in data storage and management. Two of the most popular databases are MySQL and MariaDB.

Despite having a similar structure, both relational database management systems have different features and elements.

Knowing which one best suits your needs will optimize the performance of your web application. This article will compare MySQL and MariaDB and explore the pros and cons of each database. In the end, you will know which database is the most suitable for you.

Introduction to relational databases (RDBMS)

A relational database management system (RDBMS) is the enhanced version of a database management system (DBMS). It uses a software module known as a storage engine to store, manage, and modify data.

Unlike a DBMS that stores data in file form, an RDBMS manages data in tabular format. The use of database tables eliminates the data redundancy experienced by the DBMS due to its use of keys and indexes.

MySQL and MariaDB belong to the RDBMS category. The following sections will further explore both popular relational database management systems and how they differ from each other.

What is MySQL?

is an open source relational database management system created by MySQL AB for web application development. Provides support for web developers to easily manage data using tables.

In most cases, MySQL works in conjunction with PHP, Apache web servers, and Linux distributions. It is writable using Structured Query Language (SQL).

The popularity of the relational database increased when WordPress adopted it in its system. Since the MySQL database is compatible with Linux, it is included in its distributions, including Ubuntu.

What is MariaDB?

it is a fork of MySQL. The developers built the RDBMS to retain the structure and features of MySQL. They feared that the acquisition of the system by Oracle, the corporation behind the , which was MySQL’s biggest competitor at the time, put the database at risk.

MariaDB developers make sure that each version is compatible with the corresponding version of MySQL. MariaDB not only adopts MySQL tables and data definition files, but also uses identical client protocols, client APIs, ports, and sockets. The goal is for MySQL users to be able to switch to MariaDB seamlessly.

Like MySQL, MariaDB is writable using SQL statements.

The differences between MariaDB vs MySQL

Despite having similar structure and functionality, there are several key differences between MySQL and MariaDB.

MariaDB is still completely open-source, while MySQL now has closed-source modules. In general, MariaDB offers better performance, is faster and lighter than MySQL thanks to its 12 new storage engines and its more than 200,000 connections.

Since its acquisition by Oracle, MySQL is distributed under a dual license. The company sells licenses to people who want to use it, but don’t want their product to be open source. For its part, MariaDB is published under the (GPL).

MySQL offers the thread pool capability in the Enterprise Edition to support up to 200,000 connections, with better system stability and performance. Unfortunately, the same support is not available in the Community Edition of MySQL, as it only supports a limited static number of threads.

On the other hand, MariaDB has improved this function in all versions: it is capable of supporting more than 200,000 connections. This is vital for e-commerce platforms, where intensive online transaction processing (OLTP) is common. A high thread pool capacity helps to optimize the use of server resources, which translates into higher uptime.

In terms of functionalities, MySQL has introduced sys schema objects for better database maintenance and performance tuning, as well as the SuperRead feature, used to prevent changes made to the server by Super Users.

It also supports the data masking and the dynamic columns. Data masking protects sensitive information from inadvertent exposure, minimizing the risk of a data breach. For its part, dynamic columns allow you to define multiple values in a column and modify them with functions, a feature that static columns lack.

Instead, MariaDB supports new features like invisible columns and database views. Invisible columns do not appear when the database executes a statement SELECT or requires a value in an instruction INSERT. Database views simplify the storage and sharing of queries between applications.

When it comes to database engines, MariaDB offers more options than MySQL. Some of the storage engines that MariaDB uses and MySQL does not include: XtraDB, Memory Storage Engine, MariaDB ColumnsStore, Aria, Cassandra Storage Engine, and Connect.

Meanwhile, MySQL supports a JSON data type native and provides SHA-2 authentication plugin and validate_password plugin by default, while MariaDB does not.

The last key difference between MariaDB and MySQL lies in the organization management. Because MySQL is managed by Oracle Corporation, the company governs the development and documentation process. The community has no say in development decisions.

Since MariaDB is community-driven software, it is managed by the MariaDB Foundation. The GNU GPL license allows open source communities to participate in the development and documentation process and to review any development decisions through the foundation’s public mailing list.

MariaDB vs MySQL: An Exhaustive Comparison

In the following sections, we will compare the performance of MySQL and MariaDB and discuss their intercompatibility.

Performance and benchmarks

Considering the similarity of behavior between MariaDB and MySQL, several benchmark and performance tests were performed to determine which is superior.

A performance and impact test of UTF8 by revealed that MySQL 8.0 can handle a higher number of queries per second than MariaDB 10.3.

Similarly, according to benchmark and performance testing of InnoDB (running on MySQL version 8.0) and MyRocks (running on MariaDB version 10.3.7), InnoDB can serve more queries per second than MyRocks .

In terms of basic hardware, he found that MariaDB 10.1 outperforms MySQL 5.7.9.

That said, keep in mind that performance and benchmark results depend on a number of factors, including specific SQL queries, number of users and connections, and use cases.

Compatibility

Since MariaDB has been developed as the full binary replacement for MySQL, it is compatible with its predecessor in several respects.

For example, MariaDB has kept the conventions of nomenclaturethe structure and the definition files MySQL data. Additionally, it supports all MySQL connections, sockets, and ports. The client package MySQL works without changes with MariaDB.

Switching from MySQL to MariaDB follows a standard installation procedure. Just run the tool to update the MySQL database privileges and event tables with the MariaDB equivalents.

Pros and Cons of MariaDB

Now that you know how MariaDB differs from MySQL, let’s examine the advantages and disadvantages of the two database systems.

Pros:

First of all, MariaDB is backward compatible. This is an important feature, considering that it is a software of Open Source constantly updated by the community.

MariaDB has a dynamic thread pool, which allows the server to optimize its resources by removing idle threads. Combined with a large pool of connections, this feature results in a greatly improved speeda enhanced replication Y faster updates.

Built-in advanced Galera cluster technology eliminates slave lag and lost transactions, reduces client latencies, and improves node read scalability.

Additionally, MariaDB supports more storage engines than MySQL, some of which are compatible with other RDBMS. Each storage engine has a specific purpose. For example, MariaDB ColumnStore is designed for big data scaling and linear scalability.

Since MariaDB is distributed under the GPL license, you get full access to all its features after installation. In addition, the software is available for free.

Cons:

MariaDB only supports JSON data types as of version 10.2. Even then, it’s just an alias for , introduced for compatibility reasons. To replicate JSON data when moving from MySQL to MariaDB, it is necessary to first change the JSON column type.

Some features that are only available in MySQL Enterprise Edition are missing from MariaDB. However, as part of his enterprise database solutionMariaDB offers alternative open source pluginsas for data masking.

You do, however, have access to expert support and enterprise-grade features if you purchase a . Users of MariaDB Community, the community-developed version, should refer to the knowledge base and forums for technical support.

MySQL pros and cons

These are the advantages and disadvantages of MySQL versus MariaDB.

Pros:

Built-in data masking and dynamic columns make it a database system sure Y Quick. Thanks to your simple design and their multiple storage enginesMySQL can ensure optimal performance and continuous uptime.

Although it excels at managing data for web applications, MySQL can adapt to different use cases. For example, MySQL is suitable for e-commerce platforms, since it has a strong transactional support. It also has advanced data security features that protect transactions.

Backed by Oracle Corporation, MySQL offers a excellent compatibility. It is compatible with most hosting providers and with more than 20 operating systems, so it is platform independent. In addition, MySQL is constantly updated and it is well documented.

Lastly, MySQL is Easy to use Y customizablesince it has multiple user interfaces that adapt to different preferences.