The first statement that describes or defines MySQL is that it is a relational database system. Such a system is one in which data storage takes the structural format of rows and columns. Reason? When you start querying for specific database values, the rows and columns parameters you specified make it easy to pinpoint and lock these DB values.
The term relational implies that the values on the targeted database have a unique connection or relationship. These database relationships or connections may also extend to other tables within the same database.
Since MySQL has its basis on SQL, it makes sense to break it down to Structured Query Language. At first, you have a database structure defined by tables that have columns and rows. Afterward, you use a query language to access and manipulate the data values existing on these defined database tables.
MySQL is limitless in its contribution to industrial and enterprise applications. Whether you need logging, warehousing, or e-commerce application, you will always want the association of a MySQL footprint. Whether your app works offline or online, a MySQL database can store anything from single product records to entire inventories without exhibiting system glitches.
Reasons to stick with MySQL
So why should you stick to this free-to-use and open-source database application? Its effectiveness as a database management software is demonstrated by the following MySQL functionalities and features.
1. Open-source flexibility
There are several user-related problems associated with open-source systems. The most common ones are compatibility issues and system integrity. Under compatibility, many open-source programs require specialized drivers for normal functionality. It is mostly up to the software manufacturers to relay a requirements file with the needed complimentary drier applications that will make such software function fully.
Under system integrity, an open-source code is editable by anyone who knows what he or she is doing. The danger comes when illegal edits are made on an application’s source code before packaged and delivered to the public. Such a user cannot take responsibility for any damages done to the source code as it will be impossible to track them, and there is no law against editing an open-source application.
MySQL handles these integrity issues through enterprise indemnification. Its users are liable for compensation for any unexpected harm or damage that might arise from the use of its database software. You, however, need to be operational on a large scale with this app. On the issue of compatibility, MySQL is always straightforward with its system requirements and will inform you of the missing component needed to complete its functional performance.
The open-source nature of MySQL is not a weakness but a strength. It makes upgrading, debugging, and maintenance fast and easy. The security measures in place while meeting the stated objectives make MySQL software trustworthy. They also enhance its end-users experiences.
2. Lowered total cost of ownership
Migrating your databases from other enterprise database systems to MySQL is a money-saving move. You will save a lot of money with the MySQL community version or edition. It fulfills most of the users’ needs at a $0.00 price tag. You will meet all your database management objectives but with a minimum workforce. Doing costly tasks like generating graphics, data modeling, or administration can be effectively done without involving too many users or employees.
You reap faster MySQL performances related to read and write operations on a low budget. Also, things like troubleshooting system performance problems and fixing DB system downtime issues might require the involvement of an external DB expert when dealing with other database management systems. MySQL is intelligent enough to pinpoint and relay the exact issues affecting a DB system. You won’t have to waste time or funds troubleshooting system problems and their needed solutions.
3. Complete workflow control
On average, downloading and installing MySQL on your computer system takes an average of 30 minutes. Once the installation is successful, MySQL is completely usable. There are no system checks and hardware merit checks. It is, however, evident in other applications related to database functionalities.
Its self-management features offer comprehensive DB solutions regardless of whether you are on a UNIX, Windows, Macintosh, or Linux platform. MySQL fully automates nearly all its functionalities and features. It includes data administration and data configuration designs to needed space expansions. With such system control given to the system user or administrator, database management becomes a walk in the park.
4. Comprehensive transactional support
The DB market is populated with several robust and reputable transactional database engines. MySQL is among the top candidates on this list. It is because of the unique feature that makes it the go-to solution for users in dire need of full data integrity. These renowned features include unrestricted row-level locking, durable transaction support, consistency in data maintenance and support, atomicity, functional isolation, and multi-version transaction support.
MySQL’s referential integrity is server-enforced. It plays a major role in deadlock identification.
5. Round-the-clock uptime
This feature ensures that you won’t have to experience any system downtime while on a MySQL platform. Its uptime is 24×7. It‘s guaranteed by some highly available solutions. They include the effectiveness of master/slave configurations and specialized cluster servers.
When running a database system for an enterprise environment, having to deal with system downtime is unacceptable. MySQL equips its system engineers with command-line options for determining its uptime. It gives you an idea of how well your system was performing away from the close eye of a system administrator.
Its round-the-clock uptime is also advantageous such that you can achieve MySQL performance tuning by editing its configuration variables. You can choose to go with shell scripts or available and supported SQL methods.
For example, the following three approaches are effective in checking the uptime of your MySQL server.
Approach one:
Here, we are combining the “mysqladmin” command with the “status” option.
mysqladmin status -p
Approach two:
Here, we are combining the “mysqladmin” command with the “version” option.
mysqladmin version -p
Approach three:
Here, we are combining the “mysqladmin” command with the “ver” option.
mysqladmin ver -p
The above command is a replica or has similar functional output to using the “mysqladmin version -p” command string.
6. High performance
The flawless performance of the MySQL database server makes life easy for system administrators’ configuration inputs. The distinctiveness of its storage engine framework is responsible for this admin configuration milestone. You could be running an e-commerce store associated with countless daily queries. Also, you could be involved in monitoring the efficiency of a high-speed transaction processing system.
Despite such applications’ high demands, MySQL never fails to meet their performance needs like unique memory caches, full-text indexes, and optimum speed. MySQL performance adjusts to both software and hardware options. It considers four main hardware resources, namely storage, processor, memory, and network.
Under storage, MySQL performance will improve based on the type of storage drive you are using. For instance, a Solid State Drive (SSD) has better performance metrics than a Hard Disk Drive (HDD). You can evaluate the health status of your drives through tools like “sar” and “iotop”. They are effective in monitoring the input/output rates of a computer’s disk.
Since processors measure your system’s speed, they are also important in breaking down the usage of system resources. Each MySQL process is associated with a processor percentage. If your machine processor is ideal or meets an upgrade criterion, you won’t have to deal with the CPU bottleneck responsible for MySQL under-performance.
Your MySQL server performance is also dependent on the total RAM installed. Better MySQL performance is equivalent to the adjusted memory cache. Low memory forces the MySQL server to cache data storage. It forces your drive storage to simulate memory functionalities. This caching approach will hurt MySQL performance.
In terms of network, Unmonitored network traffic makes it difficult to manage network loads. Consequences of network overloading include server outages, dropped packets, and latency. The health of your MySQL database traffic is dependent on the available network bandwidth configuration.
7. On-demand scalability
Suppose you are working with deeply embedded apps; no need to worry about facilitating their management to meet unmatched scales. MySQL takes care of this configuration hurdle. It does not exaggerate its usable footprint regardless of the targeted applications. It could be dealing with stack terabytes of data in massive warehouses and still scale flexibly.
MySQL star feature is on-demand flexibility. Whether your endgame demands unique database server requirements or the complete customization of an e-commerce business, MySQL open-source solution will meet you halfway.
Under this topic, MySQL introduces MySQL Cluster. It is a scalable, highly available, real-time, and in-memory MySQL version. Its scaling approach is horizontal with a preference for commodity hardware. It implements auto-sharding functionality, which accommodates read and write-intensive workloads.
MySQL cluster’s original design limited it to an embedded in-network applications telecoms database. Such apps demanded real-time performance and carrier-grade availability. It now caters to enhanced features using cases tied to in-cloud or on-premise enterprise, mobile, or web applications.
Such apps include user/subscriber entitlements and profile management, content management and delivery, session management and caching, fraud detection through financial trading, fulfillment tracking, shopping carts, e-commerce, high volume OLTP, inventory management, real-time analytics, payment processing, online gaming, mobile and micropayments.
8. Data security
MySQL global profile tags it as a database management system with unmatched security and reliability features. The latter statement is evident in its use cases and industrial applicability. Popular web applications like Twitter, Joomla, WordPress, Facebook, and Drupal are under its database umbrella.
Transactional processing is a key feature functionality that sells the prowess of MySQL as a data securing DB. Business applications that handle continuous money transactions need to secure the integrity of their platforms by ensuring no breaches or data leaks occur. MySQL guarantees the fruition of this objective through its continuous version upgrades.
MySQL adheres to specific security practices that ensure its continuous provision of robust user data protection. Its security practices cover data encryption, fine-grained authorization, secure connections, and authentication services.
On an in-depth security approach, MySQL handles database hardening best practices, security of sensitive data through encryption, privilege management, password policies, use of enterprise firewalls to deal with attacks like SQL injection, and enterprise audit through audit compliance.
9. Free MySQL webinars
A webinar is a fusion of two words, web and seminar. It enables users to have online presentations or conferences regardless of their geographical locations. Webinar sessions are interactive as the participants gain new insights, as questions, and have real-time discussions.
MySQL webinars have the objective of giving its users some hands-on exposure to navigate around the complexities of MySQL user milestones. A MySQL user needs to reserve a remote seat by registering for an incoming webinar session.
Some of the topics and coverage you should expect to find in MySQL webinars include tips and tricks for running your own database analytics performances. The webinars also cover the usefulness of analytical engines like HeatWave in MySQL database service creation and configuration and also running OLAP workloads.
The scheduled webinar presentations are often high and on-demand by the MySQL user communities. They give an in-depth approach to implementing and mastering various database concepts. For instance, you might be interested in integrating external data sources with a MySQL database service. Such an objective requires you to be familiar with consolidating data coming from various sources, how to perform a data pipeline and some data science concepts.
With webinars, you get a one-on-one walkthrough on your MySQL hurdles.
10. MySQL White papers
In the simplest term, a white paper is a guide or report that concisely informs a user about the complexity of a given issue and the philosophy behind the onset of the stated complexity. A user can understand an underlying issue with a white paper and either make a decision from it or solve it.
MySQL white papers lessen your decision-making criterion when it comes to an understanding of its architecture, backup, cloud, document store, embedded, high availability, migration, MySQL cluster, MySQL enterprise edition, NoSQL, performance & scalability, SaaS, etc. security, support, and workbench.
Final note
MySQL continues to impress and integrate more users into its community. It is a database management software that is never growing out of popularity. It has a lot to offer for everyone. It is an awesome learning resource for users with the urge to know more. MySQL also scales to other database-related services making life easier for users with an adventurous mindset. There is more to learn and more to give through MySQL. Based on this fact, there is more reason to stick with MySQL than to quit and seek other database-related software and services.
