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MariaDB vs MySQL

By Priya PedamkarPriya Pedamkar

MariaDB vs MySQL

Difference Between MariaDB vs MySQL

MariaDB and MySQL are a database management system that is free and open source. MySQL was developed in the company MySQL AB that is in Sweden. Widenius and Axmark developed it in 1994. It helps in providing reliable database management for all the users in the world. After the acquisition of MySQL by Oracle, some issues happened with the usage of the database, and hence MariaDB was developed. Widenius developed it in 2009. It has compatibility and replacement capability with MySQL. In this article, MariaDB vs MySQL both are the DBMS that got their name from Widenius’ daughters. The source code used in both is almost the same.

Head to Head Comparison Between MariaDB vs MySQL (Infographics)

Below are the top 36 comparisons between MariaDB vs MySQL:

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MariaDB vs MySQL info

Key Differences Between MariaDB vs MySQL

Let us discuss some of the major key differences between MariaDB vs MySQL:

  • MariaDB has a GPL license, while MySQL has a dual license.
  • MariaDB has many storage engines, while MySQL does not have many storage engines.
  • MariaDB codes are truly open source, but we cannot call MySQL codes as fully open source after the Oracle acquisition.
  • Test cases are provided for all fixed bugs in MariaDB, but MySQL does not provide test cases.
  • Client libraries are released under LGPL in MariaDB, while in MySQL, it is released under GPL.
  • Closed source modules are not present in MariaDB, while in MySQL, closed source modules are present.
  • JSON files are stored as true text in MariaDB, while in MySQL, they are stored in binary format.
  • When JSON_SEARCH is done, MariaDB provides a warning while MySQL shows an error for the same.
  • While doing statements abort, MariaDB kills any queries that come in its way while MySQL stops only SELECTs.
  • Max_statement_time is defined in seconds in MariaDB, whi hile MariaDB has its support system to help in technicality.
  • MariaDB accepts contributions from the community, but MySQL has much documentation for the users to contribute bug fixes.
  • MariaDB supports virtual columns that we cannot find in MySQL. Virtual columns help in doing calculations at the database level.
  • MariaDB is written in C, C++, Bash, and Perl, while MySQL is written in C and C++.
  • MariaDB has master-master and master-slave replication, while MySQL has only master-master replication.
  • The MariaDB Foundation maintains MariaDB documentation, and the public can participate in the documentation. Oracle does MySQL documentation.
  • The public has no access to MySQL decisions, while MariaDB allows the public for development and bug decisions.
  • Closed source modules are not found in MariaDB, while in MySQL, closed source modules are found.

Comparison Table of MariaDB vs MySQL

The table below summarizes the comparisons between MariaDB vs MySQL:

MariaDB

MySQL

The performance of MariaDB is better. MySQL’s performance is not that great when compared with MariaDB.
MariaDB allows linking with closed source software. MySQL does not allow linking with closed source software.
MariaDB is more transparent. MySQL is not transparent at all.
MariaDB provides a drop-in replacement for MySQL. MySQL does not provide a replacement for MariaDB.
MariaDB does not have a validation password plugin by default. MySQL has a validation password plugin by default.
MariaDB does not support native JSON type but supports text column type. MySQL supports native JSON type.
MySQL protocol is not followed in MariaDB. MySQL follows the MySQL protocol.
MariaDB supports temporary table Space and binary encryption. MySQL does not support binary logs or temporary table Space.
The key management plugin of MariaDB is AWS. The key management plugin of MySQL is available only in Enterprise edition.
MariaDB does not have any schema for the optimization and interpretation of data. MySQL has an SYS schema for the optimization and interpretation of data.
MariaDB has the option of creating invisible columns. MySQL does not have an option to create invisible columns.
Connection thread pools are present in MariaDB. Thread pools are not available in MySQL.
The default format of the binary log in MariaDB is mixed. The default format of the MySQL binary log is row-based.
A binary log can be compressed in MariaDB. A binary log cannot be compressed in MySQL.
Bug fixes are done more frequently in MariaDB. In MySQL, bug fixes are done less frequently.
Only those tables which are queried will be visible in MariaDB. All the tables will be shown irrespective of the query.
Scaling is done in MariaDB with the help of the Columnstore. Columnstore is not available in MySQL.
Due to data compression, MariaDB shows good performance in storage. Storage performance is not that great when compared with MariaDB.
Multiple threads work in parallel, giving better database performance. Threads do not work in parallel in MySQL.
New features are released often. The release of new features takes time.
MariaDB is faster. MySQL is not as fast as MariaDB.
Data masking is not done in MariaDB. Data masking is done in MySQL.
Large-sized data can be used easily in MariaDB. Large-sized data cannot be used easily in MySQL.
MariaDB has backward compatibility. MySQL does not support backward compatibility.
Linking with closed source software is done in MariaDB. Linking with closed source software is not done in MySQL.
Test cases for all fixed bugs are provided. Test cases are not provided.
Collations are supported more in MariaDB. Collations are supported less in MySQL.
Different configurations are available for feature testing in MariaDB. Configurations for feature testing is not available in MySQL.
Testing with the test suite is better in MariaDB. Testing is not as good as MariaDB in MySQL.
Complex queries can be solved faster. Complex queries are not solved faster.
The memory storage engine is better in MariaDB. In MySQL, memory storage engines are not as faster as MariaDB.
Proprietary code is not accessible in MariaDB. Proprietary code is accessible in the MySQL enterprise edition.
Secondary database models are Document store and Graph DBMS. The secondary database model is the Document Store.
OS X is not supported as a server in MariaDB. OS X is supported as a server in MySQL.
Delphi language is not supported in MariaDB. Go language is not supported in MySQL.
Privilege checks are done faster in MariaDB. Privilege checks are not that fast in MySQL.

Conclusion

MariaDB supports MySQL and is compatible with it in all forms. Since MariaDB is relatively new, we may have to pay for its continuous support though it is free right now. MariaDB developers make sure to update new features very often, and hence the software has to be always updated for its features.

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