MariaDB vs MySQL

What is MariaDB?

MariaDB is an open-source fork developed by the community from MySQL for providing all the flexibility of open-source technology while being entirely compatible with MySQL. It is built with performance, stability, and scalability.

Key features in MariaDB:

• Multiple storage engines include Aria, MyRocks, and ColumnStore.
• Improved replication methods include multi-source and parallel replication.
• Security and innovation through open-source.
• JSON data types are strongly supported by both MariaDB and MySQL. However, there’s a lot to be differentiated.

MariaDB:

It does not support a native JSON data type, but instead, JSON data is stored in LONGTEXT.

Includes JSON functions like JSON_EXTRACT and JSON_COMPACT for JSON data processing.

It is best for applications where JSON data is not a primary focus.

MySQL:

Supports a native JSON data type completely.

Provided with advanced JSON-handling features, such as JSON_TABLE, which produces relational data from JSON documents.

Best for applications where JSON data is being used as the main content.

Key differences between MariaDB and MySQL

1. Licensing and Community Support
   • MariaDB:
     Fully open-source that follows the GNU General Public License (GPL).
     Regularly updated with contributions from an active developer community.
   • MySQL:
     Dual-licensed under GPL for community use and a proprietary license for commercial purposes.
     Updates and features are controlled by Oracle, with slower releases for the community edition.
2. Performance and Scalability
   • MariaDB:
     Optimized for better performance in high-concurrency environments.
     Advanced thread pool for faster query execution and column-level support.
     Unique storage engines ColumnStore for analytics workloads.
   • MySQL:
     Stable and secure for general-purpose use cases.
     Betters improved for applications that use JSON native data type.
     High and robust transactional support via InnoDB.
3. Compatibility
   • MariaDB:
     Maintains a level of compatibility with MySQL making its migration easier,
     Includes features beyond its MySQL counterpart, which involves dynamic columns.
   • MySQL:
     Do not support MariaDB Unique features.
     It is compatible with the Oracle ecosystem and, hence best suited for enterprise users.

MariaDB vs MySQL: Features comparison table

Interesting facts about MariaDB and MySQL

Here are some interesting facts that show the individuality, development history, and features of MariaDB and MySQL:

MariaDB: amazing facts

• Open-Source Commitment

MariaDB is completely open source, with no hidden features or enterprise-only editions, reflecting its commitment to community-driven development.

• Unique Storage Engines

MariaDB provides storage engines such as Aria for crash-safe data, MyRocks for write-heavy applications, and ColumnStore for analytical workloads.

• Compatibility with MySQL

MariaDB is designed to be a drop-in replacement for MySQL, so it allows seamless migration with minimal changes to the application code.

• Advanced Replication

MariaDB allows you to copy data from multiple master databases to a single slave database. This feature is called multi-source replication.
It also features parallel replication for faster performance in high-concurrency environments.

• Galera Cluster

MariaDB includes Galera Cluster as a built-in feature, providing synchronous multi-master replication for high availability.

• Dynamic Columns

MariaDB supports dynamic columns, enabling the storage of schema-less data within a relational structure, which is ideal for semi-structured data.

• JSON Without Limits

Although MariaDB does not have a native JSON data type, it keeps JSON in the LONGTEXT and offers an excellent set of JSON functions for processing and validation.

MySQL: interesting facts

• Widespread adoption

MySQL is used in some of the largest platforms in the world- Facebook, YouTube, and Twitter name a few, due to its scalability and reliability.

• Owned by Oracle

Since Oracle owned it in 2010, enterprise features have been made available and integration with itself has improved.

• Native JSON Support

MySQL has taken a step forward by announcing a native JSON data type in version 5.7 that allows developers the manage semi-structured data.

• Group Replication

MySQL supports a multi-master cluster solution: Group Replication, complete with automated failover.

• Enterprise Edition

MySQL offers an enterprise edition with advanced security, monitoring tools, and 24/7 technical support for businesses.

• Pluggable Storage Engines

MySQL supports pluggable storage engines, with InnoDB being the default for transactional workloads and MyISAM for simpler use cases.

• Global Community

MySQL has a massive user base and developer community, contributing to its robust ecosystem of tools, libraries, and extensions.

Shared interesting facts

• Sibling Rivalry

MariaDB and MySQL are originally the same, but they have evolved into two different RDBMS that overlap with unique features.

• Cross-Platform Compatibility

Both databases are easy to run on any of the major operating systems: Linux, Windows, and macOS. They can be very versatile for developers.

• Docker-Ready

Both MariaDB and MySQL are Docker containers that can easily deploy and scale in a cloud-native environment.

• Cloud Hosting Leaders

Both MariaDB and MySQL are widely supported by leading cloud hosting providers, such as AccuWeb.Cloud, for managed, scalable solutions.

• Widely Used for Open-Source Projects

Many open-source platforms, including WordPress, Joomla, and Drupal, support both MariaDB and MySQL as backend databases.

Conclusion

Whether you need MariaDB’s edge performance for high-concurrency workloads or MySQL’s robust JSON capabilities for modern applications, every database has its unique strengths.

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Jilesh Patadiya

Jilesh Patadiya, the visionary Founder and Chief Technology Officer (CTO) behind AccuWeb.Cloud. Founder & CTO at AccuWebHosting.com. He shares his web hosting insights on the AccuWeb.Cloud blog. He mostly writes on the latest web hosting trends, WordPress, storage technologies, and Windows and Linux hosting platforms.