MySQL

Definition

MySQL is an open-source relational database management system (RDBMS) and the world's most widely used database for web applications, using structured tables and SQL for defining and querying data.

Overview

MySQL was created by Michael Widenius and David Axmark and first released in 1995. It grew rapidly as a fast, free relational database well suited to the web applications of the late 1990s and 2000s, becoming the "M" in the classic LAMP stack alongside Linux, Apache, and PHP. Sun Microsystems acquired MySQL AB in 2008, and Oracle acquired Sun—and with it MySQL—in 2010. As a relational database, MySQL organizes data into tables with defined columns and types, enforces relationships between tables through foreign keys, and is queried using standard SQL. It supports multiple storage engines, most notably InnoDB, which provides ACID-compliant transactions, row-level locking, and crash recovery for production workloads. MySQL remains one of the most widely deployed databases behind content management systems like WordPress, frameworks such as Laravel, and countless custom applications, and it's available as a managed service through most cloud providers, including Amazon RDS. Concerns about Oracle's stewardship after the acquisition led to the creation of MariaDB as a community-driven, fully open fork.

Key Features

• Standard SQL support for defining schemas, relationships, and queries
• InnoDB storage engine providing ACID transactions and crash recovery
• Replication support for read scaling and high availability
• Mature ecosystem of tools, drivers, and hosting options across every major platform
• Foreign key constraints for enforcing relational data integrity
• Full-text and spatial indexing capabilities
• Available as a managed service on virtually every major cloud provider
• Decades of production track record at massive scale

Use Cases

History

MySQL is one of the world's most popular open-source relational databases and a pillar of the classic "LAMP" web stack (Linux, Apache, MySQL, PHP). Development by Michael "Monty" Widenius and David Axmark began in 1994, and the first version appeared on May 23, 1995, produced by the Swedish company MySQL AB. MySQL became hugely popular for web applications thanks to its speed, simplicity, and free licensing. Sun Microsystems acquired MySQL AB in 2008, and Oracle acquired Sun — and with it MySQL — in 2010; concerns over that ownership led Widenius to fork MySQL and create MariaDB.

Frequently Asked Questions

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