Jul 28, 20211 min read

MariaDB vs MySQL : Database Management System

Updated: Mar 27, 2023

What is Maria DB?

MariaDB is a fork of the MySQL database management system. The RDBMS offers data processing capabilities for both small and enterprise tasks.

This DBMS is an improved version of MySQL. It comes with numerous inbuilt powerful features and many usability, security and performance improvements that you cannot find in MySQL.

Advantages of Maria DB

Offers Backward Compatibility
Open-source Software
It is based on the MySQL Community Version
New Storage Engine (PBXT, XtraDB, Maria, FederatedX)
Percona Server (Based on MySQL Server, Other MySQL Fork Version)

Disadvantages of Maria DB

The engine is still fairly new, so there's no guarantee further updates and versions will be forthcoming.
As with many other free database engines, you have to pay for support.

What is MySQL?

MySQL was one of the first open-source databases available in the market. Today there are many alternative variants of MySQL. However, the differences between the variants are not significant as they use the same syntax, and basic functionality also remains the same.

MySQL is an RDBMS that helps you to keep the data that exists in a database organized. It is used with the combination of PHP and Apache Web Server, on top of a Linux distribution. MySQL uses the SQL language to query the database.

Advantages of MySQL

Scalability and Flexibility
High Performance
High Availability
Robust Transactional Support
Web and Data Warehouse Strengths

Disadvantages of MySQL

It is hard to scale
Oracle owns it, so it has lots of restrictions.
MYSQL is not ideally suitable for large-sized data.
It is Invisible from client applications.
Triggers can impose a high load on the database server.

Difference between Maria DB and MySQL

MariaDB has 12 new storage engines that you won't find in MySQL.	It has fewer options for storage compared to MariaDB.
MariaDB shows an improved speed when compared to MySQL. It comes with numerous features for optimizing speed. Such feature include derived views/tables, subquery, execution control, disk access, and optimizer control.	MySQL exhibits a slower speed when compared to MariaDB. It relies on only a few features for optimization, for example, hash indexes.
With the Memory storage engine of MariaDB, an INSERT statement can be completed 24% than in the standard MySQL.	The memory storage engine of MySQL is slower
MariaDB comes with an advanced thread pool capable of running faster and supporting up to 200,000+ connections.	The thread pool provided by MySQL cannot support up to 200,000 connections per time.
MariaDB lacks some of the features provided by the MySQL enterprise edition. To address this, it offers alternative open-source plugins. Hence MariaDB users are able to enjoy the same functionalities as MySQL Enterprise Edition users.	The Enterprise Edition of MySQL uses a proprietary code. Only users of MySQL Enterprise Edition have access to this.
MariaDB comes with new features and extensions including the JSON, WITH and KILL statements.	The new MariaDB features are not provided in MySQL
In MariaDB, replication can be done safer and faster. Updates can also be done 2x faster compared to the traditional MySQL.	MySQL's community edition allows a static number of threads to be connected. MySQL's enterprise plan comes with thread capabilities.