Updated May 24, 2023
Difference Between MariaDB vs MySQL
MariaDB and MySQL are database management system that is free and open source. MySQL was developed by the company MySQL AB which is in Sweden. Widenius and Axmark developed it in 1994. It helps provide reliable database management for all users worldwide. After Oracle acquired MySQL, the usage of the database faced some issues, leading to the development of MariaDB. Widenius developed it in 2009. It has compatibility and replacement capability with MySQL. In this article, MariaDB vs MySQL is the DBMS that got its 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:
Key Differences Between MariaDB vs MySQL
Let us discuss some of the major key differences between MariaDB and 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 fully open source after the Oracle acquisition.
- Test cases are provided for all fixed bugs in MariaDB, but MySQL does not provide test cases.
- The developers of MariaDB release the client libraries under the LGPL license, whereas the developers of MySQL release them under the GPL license.
- MariaDB excludes closed-source modules, while MySQL includes closed-source modules.
- MariaDB stores JSON files as true text, while MySQL stores them in binary format.
- When performing JSON_SEARCH, MariaDB issues a warning, while MySQL throws an error for the same operation.
- While doing statements abort, MariaDB kills any queries coming its way, while MySQL stops only SELECTs.
- MariaDB defines the max_statement_time in seconds and offers its support system to assist with technical issues.
- 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.
- The developers of MariaDB have written it in C, C++, Bash, and Perl, whereas the developers of MySQL have written it primarily 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 cannot access MySQL decisions, while MariaDB allows the public to develop and bug decisions.
- MariaDB does not include closed-source modules, whereas MySQL includes closed-source modules.
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 the 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 the 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 MySQL binary log has a default format of row-based. |
| A binary log can be compressed in MariaDB. | MySQL does not support the compression of binary logs. |
| 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. | MySQL performs data masking. |
| Large-sized data can be used easily in MariaDB. | Using large-sized data in MySQL is not easy. |
| MariaDB has backward compatibility. | MySQL does not support backward compatibility. |
| Linking with closed-source software is done in MariaDB. | MySQL does not perform linking with closed-source software. |
| Test cases for all fixed bugs are provided. | There is no provision for test cases. |
| Collations are supported more in MariaDB. | MySQL has limited support for collations. |
| Different configurations are available for feature testing in MariaDB. | Configurations for feature testing are 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. | MySQL does not solve complex queries 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. | MySQL supports OS X as a server platform. |
| Delphi language is not supported in MariaDB. | MySQL does not support the Go language. |
| 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 now. MariaDB developers update new features very often, so the software has to be always updated for its features.
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