MySQL Introduction

Main Features of MySQL

Let's take a closer look at some of this database's key characteristics, like data security, high availability, and cloud service, to see why it's so popular.

Security

When a database is constructed, the next step is to define and develop a security policy before granting database users access. It is regarded as highly ranked in terms of data security. That is why it is trusted by the world's most popular online applications like Facebook, Instagram, Joomla, Twitter, and others. It provides a variety of measures to protect the database and prevent breaches.

Few of the security features offered by MySQL include:

• MySQL Enterprise Firewall
• MySQL Enterprise Encryption
• MySQL Transparent Data Encryption (TDE)
• User Authentication
• MySQL Enterprise Audit
• InnoDB Transactional Support
• MySQL Online Backup

Storage Engine

A storage engine is a database component that performs various SQL operations such as data generation, modification, and administration. They are made for certain functions and operate best when used as intended.

Different types of storage systems supported by MySQL are:

InnoDB-default storage engine for MySQL 5.5 and higher versions

• MyISAM- default storage engine prior to MySQL version 5.5.
• Memory- fastest storage system as it doesn’t store data on the physical disk.
• CSV - allows data to be saved in CSV files.
• Merge - Groups comparable tables together and refers to them as a single object to manage MyISAM tables.
• Archive - used for storing and retrieving historical data.
• Federated- suggested for a dispersed data environment since it allows users to create a single logical MySQL database by connecting many physical MySQL servers.
• Blackhole - may accept data as an input but not as a storage medium.

High Availability

Data is at the central focus of any application, whether on the web or on a mobile device, whether it's social, business, or cloud-based. As a result, data availability is a top concern for all of these apps, and any outage, even for a few minutes, is unacceptable.

The term "high availability" refers to an application's capacity to cope in the event of a failure. Failure might be caused by technical issues with the host, database, or operating system or by a hardware issue.

Several solutions provided by MySQL to maintain high availability are: 

• Replication
• Fail-Over Management with Replication GTIDs
• Group Replication
• MySQL Cluster CGE (Carrier Grade Edition)

Cloud Deployment

Oracle Cloud, Amazon EC2, and Microsoft Azure are just a few cloud platforms to implement this database.

MySQL "as a Service" is available on cloud platforms such as Oracle Cloud, allowing users to deploy MySQL Server on the cloud. As a result, customers no longer need to install databases on their local servers; instead, databases are managed through the cloud platform. Cloud service owners will handle database installation, administration, and maintenance.

Access Tools

It's time for users to access the database when it has been built and the user rights have been defined.

Some tools using which a user can access the database are:

• Command Line Utility
• GUI Tools
• MySQL WorkBench
• phpMyAdmin
•  HeidiSQL

Advantages of MySQL

1. Easy to use
   Users need not be technical experts in order to access the database because it supports SQL language. Users with minimal SQL knowledge and expertise with other relational databases may easily access it.
2. Cost Free
   The user does not have to pay a licensing fee because it is free and accessible for download on the official website.
3. Customizable Code
   Software developers can alter the source code to suit their applications and utilize it because it is an open-source tool. The GPL, or GNU General Public License, defines the software's dos and don'ts.
4. Widely compatible
   Despite its popularity as a database for online applications and services, MySQL was created to work with a wide range of technologies and architectures. The RDBMS is compatible with all major computing platforms, including Unix-based operating systems like Linux, Mac OS, and Windows.
5. MySQL databases are relational.
   For a variety of reasons, relational models have remained popular. They provide users with straightforward, declarative programming languages, allowing them to tell the database what result they want in a language that is similar to, or at least understandable to, written English, rather than methodically coding each step of the procedure that leads to that result. This shifts a lot of the work to the RDBMS and SQL engines, which improves logical rule enforcement and saves time and money.
6. Secured
   It provides one of the most secure databases globally and is thus utilized by well-known online apps such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc. Its many security features, such as Firewall, Encryption, and User Authentication, aid in protecting sensitive user information from intruders.
7. Better Performance
   It features the multi-engine storage function, which allows database administrators to arrange the database to balance the burden. As a result, the database is perfect in terms of performance.
8. Scalability
   The MySQL Thread Pool supplied by MySQL Enterprise Edition provides extreme scalability to web applications. A thread pool is a paradigm for managing threads (or processes), such as multi-user connections overhead and execution demands, in an easy-to-use manner.
9. High Availability
   It is available 24*7 and provides solutions such as Master/Slave Replication and specialized Cluster Servers.
10. Friendly Interface
    It includes a user-friendly interface with many self-management tools and numerous automated procedures such as configuration and administration-related operations, allowing users to accomplish the work from day one.

FAQs

1. Is MySQL a DBMS?
   MySQL is a relational database management system (RDBMS). A database management system, such as MySQL Server, must add, access, and process data contained in a computer database.
    
2. What is the difference between SQL and MySQL?
   SQL is a querying language for databases, and MySQL is an open-source database. MySQL is an RDBMS that allows users to organize data in a database. SQL is used for accessing, updating, and maintaining data in a database, while MySQL is an RDBMS that allows users to access, correct, and maintain data in a database.
    
3. What are the limitations of MySQL?
   MySQL Has 5 Limitations When It Comes to Big Data. Dealing with Highly Volatile Data, Delivering Hot Data, Avoiding MySQL Scalability Issues, Providing Analytics, and Scaling Full-Text Searches.
    
4. Why is MySQL used with PHP?
   MySQL is the first database of choice for PHP programmers. MySQL database is an open-source Relational Database Management System (RDBMS) that employs SQL to facilitate data retrieval and provide excellent support for PHP MySQL web application development.
    
5. Is MySQL easy to learn?
   Even if you have no programming experience or have mediocre technical skills, the MySQL language is simple to learn. It's pretty straightforward.

Key Takeaways

• Cheers if you reached here! In this blog, we learned the basics of MySQL.
• Is it all about MySQL? No, there's a lot more to it than that. 
• We attempted to cover all of the fundamentals of MySQL and crucial aspects that can provide a high-level overview of the database.
• Hopefully, after reading the above information, you will be able to connect to the same in the future and begin relying on MySQL DB in a real-time scenario.

On the other hand, learning never ceases, and there is always more to learn. So, keep learning and keep growing, ninjas!
Check out the Top 100 SQL Problems to get hands-on experience with frequently asked interview questions and land your dream job.

Recommended Readings:

• MySQL Case Statement
• Update Query in MySQL

Good luck with your preparation!