What is MySQL? Everything You Need to Know

MySQL is one of the most popular open source databases used for web applications. This comprehensive guide covers how MySQL works, why it’s so widely used, and how to leverage it for your projects.

MySQL is software that allows you to store, manage, and retrieve vast amounts of information. More specifically, MySQL is a relational database management system (RDBMS).

This means MySQL is database software that organizes data into tables that are linked together based on commonalities between datasets. By structuring information this way, RDBMS systems like MySQL can quickly access data while taking up less storage space.

In addition, MySQL utilizes Structured Query Language (SQL) for managing data in a relational database. SQL allows you to perform operations like creating tables or retrieving information from within MySQL.

How Does MySQL Work?

MySQL works using a client-server model, separating the database functions between:

• A MySQL database server that manages databases and data
• Client programs that access the server to manage data further

The MySQL database server stores data and handles requests for information. This server software receives SQL statements that tell it how to locate or manipulate information in the database.

Client programs interact with the MySQL database server to send these SQL statements. For example, client apps can connect to MySQL to query data or update records in tables.

Some types of MySQL client programs include:

• The command line interface for executing SQL statements directly
• APIs that embed SQL into code written in various programming languages
• Administration tools with graphical interfaces for managing databases visually

By separating the server backend from the client apps, MySQL can handle requests from many simultaneous client programs. This makes MySQL scalable for supporting multiple users in web applications.

Why is MySQL So Popular?

There are a few key reasons why MySQL became the most popular open source relational database:

MySQL is free and open source – Anyone can download and use MySQL without paying a license fee under the terms of the GNU GPL. This makes MySQL highly accessible for developers.

Works across platforms – MySQL runs on all major operating systems like Linux, Windows, and macOS. This flexibility helps facilitate MySQL’s widespread adoption.

High performance – MySQL uses a concurrent architecture so database operations can leverage multiple CPUs for fast performance.

Developer-friendly – MySQL offers many languages for accessing database data including PHP, Python, Java, Perl and C/C++. APIs make Querying data easy.

Reliable and scalable – The MySQL Server handles robust workloads while supporting clusters of distributed servers for scaling capacity.

Thanks to features like these, MySQL became the “M” in the common LAMP (Linux, Apache, MySQL, PHP/Python) stack used to deploy millions of web applications.

Next, I’ll dig deeper into how MySQL organizes data and handles queries that enable all these benefits…

MySQL is a Relational Database

As a relational database management system, MySQL stores data in tables that relate to one another.

For example, an online store’s database may have separate but connected tables for customer info, order details, payment transactions, product catalogs and so on.

Storing data across logically grouped tables in this manner provides flexibility combined with efficient data access. You don’t repeat vast amounts of duplicated data across tables unnecessarily.

At the same time, linking related data via common IDs enables powerful SQL queries for retrieving meaningful information. Fetching a customer’s order history or total spend requires easily joining the customer and orders tables behind the scenes.

Beyond predefining this database schema, MySQL also handles routine chores automatically:

• Adding, updating and deleting data
• Preventing conflicting edits
• Backing up data regularly
• Basic performance optimization

With the database guardrails in place, developers can focus on the application logic while MySQL manages the data persistence reliably.

MySQL and SQL

SQL stands for Structured Query Language – a standardized programming language for interacting with relational database management systems.

Nearly all relational databases like MySQL, Oracle, SQL Server and PostgreSQL use SQL for querying, manipulating and managing data in tables.

While each database platform implements SQL with its own unique extensions, the majority of SQL syntax follows an international standard. This common dialect makes transferring SQL knowledge between database systems easier.

With MySQL, you mainly use SQL statements for tasks like:

• Querying – Selecting specific data from database tables
• Filtering – Choosing which data rows to show
• Sorting – Ordering results based on column values
• Aggregations – Summarizing information with counts, averages, totals etc.
• Joins – Combining data from multiple tables into meaningful results
• Inserting – Adding new rows of data
• Updating – Editing existing data
• Deleting – Permanently removing rows from a table

These core “CRUD” operations form the lifecycle of database interaction via SQL programming. MySQL’s implementation strives for ANSI SQL standards compliance across these statements.

What’s the Difference Between MySQL and SQL?

MySQL refers to the open source database software that stores data in a structured way. SQL refers to the programming language used to communicate with the MySQL database.

So MySQL is actually software. SQL is a language interface for that software.

You use SQL commands and statements to tell the MySQL database what you want to do with the data. These SQL expressions get interpreted by the MySQL server to perform the requested actions.

Some common SQL operations for MySQL databases include:

• CREATE TABLE – Make new database tables
• INSERT – Put data into tables
• SELECT – Retrieve data from tables
• UPDATE – Edit existing data in tables
• DELETE – Erase data from database tables

MySQL implements SQL in a powerful way, supporting complex reporting while optimizing speed. So while SQL is a standard, MySQL boosts SQL’s capabilities through proprietary functionality.

Is MySQL Open Source?

Yes, MySQL is open source software. This means the source code for MySQL is free for anyone to view, share, modify and enhance.

Specifically, MySQL uses a dual license model that provides users a choice:

1. GNU GPL (General Public License)
2. Commercial license

Under the open source GNU GPL, anybody can download and use MySQL without paying a license fee. You can freely integrate or distribute MySQL with other open source projects too. This “free as in freedom” approach fueled MySQL early growth.

For companies that embed MySQL code in commercial applications, Oracle offers paid commercial licenses. These licenses allow combining open source MySQL server with proprietary software. There are also enterprise license options for advanced functionality.

Over 80% of downloads use MySQL under the open source GPL rather than buying a commercial license. The flexibility to use MySQL in either mode contributes to its status as the most popular open source database.

MySQL vs Other Databases

The main alternative to MySQL is proprietary software from Oracle like:

• Oracle Database
• Microsoft SQL Server

These closed source databases cost money to license per server/CPU core. Moreover, all code remains private rather than open to custom enhancements.

However in some cases, commercial databases do offer advanced security, administration and performance features beyond open source. Integrations with enterprise middleware also exists in products like SQL Server.

MySQL competes effectively using flexibility, speed and constant innovation from the open source community. Leading platforms running MySQL database include Twitter, YouTube, Facebook and Google.

For small startups, MySQL provides unbeatable value to bootstrap growth. The savings from free database licensing allows investing more into developers and features instead.

Even many Fortune 500 companies now recognize this ROI, with MySQL enterprise usage doubling yearly. The numbers signal that open source databases like MySQL are ready for primetime.

Conclusion

MySQL is a relational database management system that organizes data into connected tables for efficiency. By leveraging SQL syntax for data queries and commands combined with rock solid server technology, MySQL delivers an affordable yet powerful data persistence solution.

With support for demanding workloads and flexible access via code APIs, MySQL cemented itself as today’s #1 open source database. Whether you need backend data storage for a small app or a massive web service, MySQL has the features and credibility to fuel your vision.

So download MySQL and leverage it within LAMP or MEAN technology stacks powering innovative applications worldwide. Tap into specialized MySQL developer expertise everywhere while retaining control over customizing your database infrastructure without limits.

Neil Beckett

Neil is an accomplished web, designer and developer with over 15 years of experience in creating and optimizing websites for small businesses and online entrepreneurs. Read full bio

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