# What is the difference between a MariaDB and MySQL Database?

In simple words, a Database is a collection of well-organized data. You can easily access and manage whenever you want. In the database, you can easily organize data in various forms including tables, rows, columns, and indexes. It makes it easier to find relevant information if you have an expert ofr [MySQL consulting](https://shatteredsilicon.net/postgresql-mariadb-mysql-consulting/).

A database is very important in website development for storing and managing data easily. If you need to know about the most popular databases then let me tell you there is no database that comes close to MySQL and MariaDB.

Both databases share a similar structure as they both are relational database management systems however they have different features and elements. In this article, I will explain and compare MySQL and MariaDB. I will also explain each database’s pros and cons. By the end, you’ll know which database is the best fit for you.

For people with less knowledge about databases, you get a relational database management system when upgrading a database management system (DBMS). It can store, manage, and modify data.

A DBMS manages data as a file, whereas an RDBMS stores data in a tabular format. The main benefit of using a database that uses tables is that it reduces the chances of data redundancy. In DBMS you might experience data redundancy due to its use of keys and indexes.

MySQL and MariaDB come under the RDBMS category.

# What Is MySQL?

MySQL is one of the few data management systems that uses open-source relational in the world. It is created by MySQL AB for web application development. It offers web developers support to manage data with ease using tables. MySQL is capable of working with PHP, Apache web servers, and Linux distributions. You can modify it with the help of Structured Query Language (SQL). People came to know about it when WordPress adopted it into its system.

# What Is MariaDB?

MariaDB is a fork of MySQL. The main purpose developers created RDBMS because they want to preserve MySQL’s structure and features. The developers of MariaDB make sure that each future release will work perfectly with every corresponding version of MySQL.

MariaDB adopts MySQL’s data and table definition files. It also uses identical client protocols, client APIs, ports, and sockets as present in MySQL. It is done to let the user of MySQL switch to MariaDB without any hassle. Much like MySQL, MariaDB is modifiable using SQL statements.

# MariaDB and MySQL Database:

| MySQL | MariaDB |
| -------------------------------------------------------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------- |
| MySQL is created in C and C++ languages. | C, C++, Perl, and Bash languages are used for MariaDB. |
| Release year 1995. | Release year 2009. |
| The performance of MySQL is less effective when compared to MariaDB. | The performance of MariaDB is far better than MySQL. |
| It does not provide a replacement for MariaDB. | It provides a drop-in replacement for MySQL. |
| Data masking is done in MySQL. | There is no data masking. |
| Proprietary code is accessible in MySQL enterprise edition. | Proprietary code is not accessible in MariaDB. |
| It does not support binary logs or temporary table Space. | It supports temporary table Space and binary encryption. |
| It can not handle large-sized data easily. | It can handle large-sized data easily. | |
|Privilege checks are not that fast in MySQL. |Privilege checks are done faster in MariaDB. |
| MySQL has 1600 forks. |MariaDB has 868 forks. |
|Famous companies like Airbnb, Pinterest, Slack, Udemy, and Twitter use MySQL. | Famous companies like CUNY, Accenture, Docplanner, Grooveshark, and Northrop Grumman, use MariaDB. |
|OS X is supported in MySQL as a server. | OS X is not supported in MariaDB as a server.

# Advantages:

Now that I have explained the difference between MariaDB and MySQL, it is time to know about the advantages of both of these database systems.

# Pros of MariaDB:

● MariaDB is very useful. It can work perfectly with all old and new versions, it is possible because it is backward compatible. It’s open-source software that gets constant updates from the community, so it becomes an important feature.

● MariaDB has a dynamic thread pool that enables the server to read and change its resources by retiring inactive threads. It improves speed, enhances replication, and helps in faster updates.

● It has built-in advanced Galera cluster technology. This technology helps eliminate slave lag and lost transactions, reduce client latencies, and improve node read scalability.

● MariaDB has the capability of supporting more storage engines than MySQL. Some of these storage engines are compatible with other RDBMSs. However, you should know all the things about [MariaDB performance tuning](https://shatteredsilicon.net/mysql-performance-tuning-optimization/) to easily handle it

# Pros of MySQL:

● It has a very simple design that is compatible with multiple storage engines. MySQL ensures optimal performance and continuous uptime as it comes with data masking and dynamic columns.

● MySQL can adapt to different use cases while performing well in data management for web applications. It also features advanced data security features that protect transactions.

● MySQL is easy to use, and you can easily customize it. You will use its features like multiple user interfaces to cater to different preferences.

Both MariaDB and MySQL offer compelling features and capabilities. The only question is which one best suits your needs. Hostinger uses the MariaDB database server for the shared, cloud, and WordPress hosting plans. Access your hPanel to check the installed version of MariaDB.