What Is MySQL Database?

• MySQL Database Definition

  MySQL Database Definition

  MySQL is an open-source, ACID-compliant enterprise relational database solution. It supports most operating system platforms, including Windows, macOS, and Linux. It operates on a client-server model where client computers leverage the Structured Query Language (SQL) to send data requests to the MySQL database server. MySQL is also used in many web-driven database applications and is an integral component of the LAMP software stack, composed of Linux, Apache, MySQL, and Perl/PHP/Python.

  MySQL is configurable, secure, scalable, and simple to use. As a secure RDMS, it enables fine-grained authorization access control, and data encryption to protect user data. Further, it offers robust performance and on-demand scalability options for distributed computing environments. The industry-wide acceptance and usability of the MySQL database server make it a good choice for rapid, cost-effective application development.

  Paid support is available through Oracle via their MySQL Enterprise products, as well as from third-party vendors and support and service organizations.
• What is MySQL database used for?

  What is MySQL database used for?

  MySQL database management system has multiple use cases in companies, from data analytics, warehousing, security, and backup to data migration. However, the most common application of MySQL is to create a database back end for web apps. Most database-driven web apps rely on the open-source LAMP (Linux, Apache, MySQL, and PHP/Perl/Python) stack in which MySQL stores and manages application data. Companies generally use the MySQL database server with one of two storage engines, InnoDB (the default) and MyISAM (legacy). The former is chosen for ACID-compliance transaction-oriented applications like online banking, while the latter is preferred for non-transaction-oriented environments or data warehousing.

  Many enterprises prefer the advanced features available in Oracle MySQL Enterprise Edition, which offer robust security features, such as transparent data encryption (TDE) and user authentication. For mission-critical applications with high availability requirements, companies generally use the Oracle MySQL Cluster CGE edition of MySQL since it includes features server replication and automatic failover. Setting up multiple instances of MySQL database server is also straightforward and economical.

  Open-source distributions of MySQL have some stability and performance issues. It’s not designed to support extremely large databases or extremely intensive workloads. When using MySQL as a back-end database for large-scale web apps, you might experience a longer response time for complex queries. The lack of auto-sharding and auto-failover capabilities also makes the open-source version of MySQL unsuitable for distributed apps. It doesn’t support some standard SQL functions and relies on extensions to execute certain database operations. This often increases complexity for developers while migrating data from MySQL to other databases. After the acquisition of MySQL by Oracle, the open-source developer community is also seeing a delay in the release of security patches and bug fixes. The uncertainty around the future direction of this edition is leading most developers to choose its fully compatible fork version, MariaDB.
• What is MySQL schema?

  What is MySQL schema?

  In relational databases like MySQL, a database schema defines the structure and organization of data within the database. In technical terms, schema refers to the logical composition of database objects within the MySQL database to store and manage information. It also works like a data dictionary that contains information of various data objects, such as tables and indexes, in MySQL.

  Three default schemas available in this open-source database include:

  1. Information schema, which operates like metadata of MySQL
  2. Performance schema, which observes MySQL database server events and performance
  3. Sys schema, which relies on a pool of objects to decode the information captured by performance schema.

  A schema can have multiple owners in MySQL with unique privileges. With MySQL database design tools such as MySQL Workbench, DBAs can create well-optimized schemas. DBAs should focus on different aspects such as key constraints, data types, and database normalization for effective schema design. For instance, for poorly performing SELECT statements (also known as queries), indexes in the schema enable ideal query optimization. Indexing allows the MySQL database server to rapidly navigate to the requested rows of data without handling unnecessary rows within the tables and to respond quickly to requests.

  Proper schema design can also help enhance MySQL database security by separating database objects based on user access rights. Having structured and schema-based security allows DBAs to move database objects across different schemas, transfer schema ownership, and restrict unauthorized access to MySQL database servers. DBAs can explore the database tutorial videos and documentation available on MySQL community forums and website to get started with MySQL schema design and optimize it for high performance.