Updated May 15, 2023
Introduction to MySQL Programming Language
MySQL, an open-source database management system, allows users to manage database systems, retrieve data from database tables, and perform other related tasks. Many people might have a question about whether MySQL is a programming language? In my view, it is server-side software to manage database systems. Most database systems implement SQL, a structured query language that follows an ANSI standard. SQL is a programming language used for manipulating data in a database. Whereas MySQL implements the SQL language with additional features, not in standard and standard version features with variations and modifications.
Let us see exactly is MySQL a programming language or not; main features of MySQL and the history of MySQL as below:
What is MySQL?
Given below shows what MySQL is:
1. MySQL is a database management system
Data is arranged in a structured manner to form a collection known as a database. We can add, delete, modify, and process the data stored in the computer database with the help of a database management system such as MySQL server, etc. Using database management systems; we can control and process a large amount of data with the help of a computer.
2. MySQL databases are relational
A relational database stores data in separate tables instead of storing it in a single storage location. A logical model relates these tables logically, such as databases, tables, rows, columns, views, etc. By using these relations, we can access the data from the database. We use SQL (structured query language) to query the database, the most commonly used language to access the database.
3. MySQL is open source
MySQL database management system is open-source software. We can modify the software and redistribute and use it for free. We can also have a licensed version of MySQL which can get premium support and some premium features support. So based on our business needs, we can decide to use either the free version or the paid version of the software.
4. MySQL is reliable, fast, and scalable
The MySQL database management system is known for its high speed and can run on various platforms, including desktops, laptops, servers, and other applications. If we installed it on a dedicated machine, we could achieve more from MySQL by taking advantage of CPU and I/O capabilities. It is scalable to a cluster of machines, devices connected through a network, etc. MySQL was developed with the purpose of efficiently handling large amounts of data in databases, providing different features that were faster than existing solutions. This led to its immense popularity and high demand in the market.
5. MySQL can be used in client/server or embedded environment
MySQL database management system software can be used in any client/server/embedded system which supports multiple applications, programs, libraries, and multithreaded SQL servers, which support different software and a wide range of APIs for application programming. MySQL can serve as a multithreaded library that developers can link to any application for fast and easy use as a product.
Main Features of MySQL
Given below are the main features of MySQL:
1. Data types
MySQL supports several data types used in computer programming, including assigned and unsigned integers, FLOAT, DOUBLE, CHAR, VARCHAR, BINARY, TEXT, BLOB, DATE, TIME, DATETIME, YEAR, SET, ENUM, Geospatial types, fixed and variable strings.
2. Portability and internal functionality
MySQL is developed in C and C++ programming languages with testing on various compilers. MySQL works and supports different types of programming language platforms. Its design helps multithreaded kernels with a multi-layered server architecture to utilize multiple CPUs. It can perform joins quickly using optimization and has separate storage for transactional and non-transactional. It employs hash tables internally, which serve as temporary tables.
3. Functionality support
MySQL supports the Function and Full operator in SELECT and where clause of the query. It supports the left and right outer join with basic and ODBC syntax. It supports aliases for tables and columns as per standard SQL. It supports curd operations like Insert, Delete, Replace, and Update statements which return the number of rows updated, inserted, and deleted the rows which match the condition.
4. Connectivity
Anyone can connect to MySQL database management system using protocols such as TCP/IP sockets, name pipes with enable-named-pipe, and shared memory connection with enable-shared-memory and using UNIX domain sockets on Linux systems. MySQL clients can write programs in many languages as it has library support for different programming languages. Using the connector / J interface, Java client programs can connect to MySQL and perform operations.
5. Security
MySQL handles security by password mechanism and privileges which is simple, fast, and secure for host-based verification. It takes security by password encryption for all passwords when we connect to the server.
6. Scalability
MySQL supports very large databases; for example, we can have a server on which MySQL hosts and handles 50 million records, servers having 2lakh tables with 5 million records. It supports up to 64 indexes per table, where the column can vary from 1 to 16 columns per table.
History of MySQL
Initially, MySQL was designed to connect to tables using its fast low-level routines, but it turned out to be a flop as it didn’t yield the desired results. This led to the creation of a new SQL interface called MySQL, which had similar interfaces to MySQL and could port third-party code. The interface was named after the co-founder’s daughter, “My.” The dolphin mascot of MySQL is named “Sakila,” which was decided through a contest called “Name the Dolphin.”
Conclusion – Is MySQL Programming Language?
The conclusion of this article outlined an overview of MySQL as a software utilized for database management, emphasizing that it is not a programming language. We have covered its support for various programming languages, provision of libraries for other clients, security, scalability, support for different functionalities, internal development, and implementation of standard SQL programming language as well as additional features not supported in standard SQL. We hope that you have gained a good understanding of MySQL after reading this article.
Recommended Articles
We hope that this EDUCBA information on “Is MySQL Programming Language?” was beneficial to you. You can view EDUCBA’s recommended articles for more information.
