Databases play an essential role in the Latin American business world because they store and manage all the data generated by each activity, and when we say all, we mean all! For companies, choosing the right database is essential to optimize the performance and efficiency of their web applications, but there is a problem: today there are two giants, MariaDB and MySQL , how do you know which one to choose?
Knowing the differences between MariaDB vs MySQL can be decisive in selecting the best solution in each case, so stay tuned, because we are going to do a very complete analysis of both options!
History and origin of MariaDB and MySQL
MySQL appeared on the scene in 1995 , created by Michael Monty Widenius and David Axmark at a time when the market was dominated by proprietary solutions, and their early adoption of dual licensing and use of the GNU GPL for their free version paved the way for many other software vendors. MySQL thus quickly became the dominant open source relational database, powering roughly half of the internet thanks to its inclusion in the LAMP (Linux, Apache, MySQL, PHP) stack.
However, the acquisition of MySQL AB by Sun Microsystems in 2008, and subsequently by Oracle in 2010, raised concerns in the open source community. Fearing that Oracle might limit MySQL's development or close its source code, Monty Widenius started MariaDB in 2009 .
MariaDB, named after Widenius' youngest daughter, set out to replace MySQL, ensuring that the MySQL codebase remained free and open, and has continually introduced improvements and additional features since its inception, while maintaining compatibility with MySQL to ease the transition for users.
The history of MariaDB and MySQL is a testament to the evolution and dynamics of open source software. MySQL remains under the aegis of Oracle, offering both open source and enterprise versions, while MariaDB has established itself as a reliable and fully open alternative.
One thing is clear, though, and it's that both databases remain essential for web development and data management, each with their own unique advantages and features that make them suitable for different needs and projects.
Technical comparison: MariaDB vs. MySQL
When making a technical comparison of the MariaDB vs MySQL battle, it must be said that both database management systems present significant differences in issues such as performance, features, security and compatibility.
MariaDB , which was born as a fork of MySQL, has introduced improvements and additional features , maintaining compatibility with MySQL at all times with the aim of making it easier for users to make the jump to its software. lithuania business email list For its part, MySQL , under the Oracle umbrella, continues to evolve and offer reliable solutions in both its open source and enterprise versions.
MariaDB MySQL
Performance and speed It offers significant performance improvements by adding new features such as invisible columns and optimizations to database views. Its performance is reliable and consistent, and it also offers continuous improvements with each new version.
Features and Functionalities It features unique storage engines like Aria and ColumnStore, and features like microseconds for temporal data types. It supports native data formats such as JSON and MySQL Shell in version 8.0 for scripting in JavaScript and Python. It also allows you to store different types of data in a single column thanks to its dynamic columns .
Security Commitment to security through the GPL license , which ensures that all features are open source. It also improves authentication security with plugins such as ed25519 and includes binary and temporal log encryption. It provides advanced security features in its Enterprise edition, such as the SHA-256 authentication plugin . It also allows you to hide sensitive data with its data masking feature and includes a plugin to strengthen password security.
Compatibility and support High compatibility with MySQL , ensuring a smooth transition process. Active community support and constant updates. Supports a wide range of operating systems and platforms. Advanced technical support available in the Enterprise edition.
A quick look at this table will help you understand the main differences between MariaDB and MySQL, allowing you to choose one or the other management software depending on the needs of your project or the aspects you value most.
Advantages and disadvantages
Although they are two of the most widely used and recognized database management systems in the technological world, MariaDB and MySQL not only offer benefits, but also some disadvantages that may justify discarding one of the two.
Pros and cons of MariaDB
Certainly, among the advantages of MariaDB you should take into account the fact that it offers full compatibility with MySQL. MariaDB is a direct binary replacement for its competitor , which means that it supports the same naming conventions, data definition files and APIs.
This software is fully committed to open source, offering all of its features under the GPL license . In addition, this management program keeps introducing new features and improvements, such as exclusive storage engines and invisible columns , which are not available in MySQL. If we add to this the fact that MariaDB offers better performance compared to MySQL in many cases, there is no doubt that it will not be for lack of positive points.
However, it should also be noted that as MariaDB continues to evolve, there may be growing differences with MySQL, which could complicate migration or compatibility in the future . Or that, despite its growing popularity, MariaDB has not yet reached the level of industry recognition and adoption that MySQL has, which could tip the balance for some companies.
mariadb
Pros and cons of MySQL
In this case, the first thing to note is that Oracle's MySQL is a widely recognized and used software in the industry, which guarantees a large community. It must also be said that it is a stable and mature option that also offers great stability. In addition, if what matters most to you is having quality technical support, MySQL offers an Enterprise edition with additional functionalities provided by Oracle staff, which is a real life insurance.
As for the aspects that may cause you doubts, you should know that MySQL is a dual license , which means that some advanced features are locked behind a paid version . It is also important to emphasize that the acquisition of MySQL by Oracle has generated concerns about the future of the project and the possible limitation in the development of new features for the open source version.
So, choosing between MariaDB and MySQL will depend on the specific priorities of your digital projects, no more, no less!
