what is mysql? and mysql pros and cons

What is MySQL Database? and its Pros & Cons

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In this post, I will explain to you what is MySQL Database? and How it works? and MySQL pros and cons. MySQL is a free open-source relational database management system. It is widely used nowadays all over the world alternate to SQL. MySQL is the modernized way to add, delete, and modify information in the database. The MySQL software uses  GNU General Public License(GPL) to define, what you can or cannot do with this software in certain situations. 

Then if you feel comfortable with MySQL or wish to embed MySQL code in your application, you can purchase a commercially licensed version.  It is able to run on multiple platforms like Windows, UNIX, Linux. Since it is a relational database, the data and information are stored in several tables that contain rows and columns.

MySQL is generally used with PHP where PHP is a scripting language. MySQL server works in a client/server model or embedded systems. It consists of a multi-threaded SQL server that supports different backends, several different client programs and libraries, administrative tools, and a wide range of Application Programming Interfaces(APIs). 

It can also provide an embedded multi-threaded library that you can link in your application to get faster, smaller, and easy to manage standalone products. MySQL is the most flexible, reliable, secure, and stable SQL-based database management system.

This database is suitable for a wide range of cases such as for dynamic websites, mission-critical apps, embedded databases for software, hardware, and appliances. MySQL supports most leading programming languages such as PHP, Perl, Python, Java, Node.js, .Net, Ruby, Erlang, Tcl, C/C++, ODBC, and Objective-C.

It uses SQL to query the database. It is used in combination with the PHP and Apache webserver. MySQL has an integrated tool called MySQL workbench to design and develop the databases. 

Features of MySQL

  • Robust transactional support
  • Ease of management
  • High performance
  • The low total cost of ownership
  • Comprehensive application development
  • Open-source
  • Supports 24/7
  • Scalability & flexibility
  • High availability
  • Secure data protection
  • Web and data warehouse strength

How MySQL works?

MySQL and SQL are not the same. MySQL is one of the most popular RDBMS which implements the client-server model. MySQL will create a database for storing and manipulating data, defining the relationship of each table.

Then the clients can make a request by typing specific SQL statements on MySQL. At last, the server application will respond to the requested information and it will appear on the client’s side.  

Some of the most famous websites that use MySQL are Google, Facebook, Wikipedia, Flickr, YouTube, etc. Many Content Management Systems(CMS) like WordPress, Joomla, PhpBB, Drupal, etc use MySQL. Many web developers are using MySQL worldwide to develop their web applications. In windows, you can set up MySQL by downloading it from the official MySQL page or installing anyone of this software WAMP, LAMP, or XAMPP your system will get MySQL.

Connection Establishment

Anyone before using MySQL it is very important to know how to establish the connections to MySQL with PHP. once you have installed MySQL and PHP in your system, you can use the hostname as localhost and nothing to specify in the password.

There is a function called MySQLi_connect() to connect to MySQL. This function usually takes four arguments such as hostname, username, password, and database name.

The syntax is

MySQLi_connect(hostname, username, password, dbname);

If MySQL and PHP  are on the same system, you can use the address as localhost, and the password as none. But if MySQL is running on a different location, then you need to insert the IP address or URL in the place of localhost.

Example for connection establishment and checking the connection

<?php

$con=MySQLi_connect(“wpblogx.com”, “prabhu”, “abcd”, “blog_database_name”); //connection establishment

If (MySQLi_connect_errno($con)) {

Echo “MySQL database is failed to connect:” .MySQLi_connect_error();

} ?> // check connection

Pros of MySQL

  • Data security
  • On-demand scalability
  • Round the clock uptime
  • Comprehensive transactional support
  • Complete workflow control
  • The flexibility of open source
  • Wide adopted and easy to use
  • Fast, portable, and secure

Cons of MySQL

  • Restricted for complex business logic
  • Few stability  issues
  • Transactions are not handled very efficiently
  • The functionality tends to be heavily dependent on the addons
  • Prior knowledge is a must

Conclusion

MySQL is widely used all over the world for storing and retrieving content. Hope you got an idea about what is MySQL. If you have any queries or suggestions please feel free to comment on us.  You can subscribe to us on Facebook and Twitter.

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