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**What is MySQL?**

MySQL is an open-source and object-relational database management system (RDBMS) that provides organizations with reliable, scalable, and powerful data storage capabilities. According to a [study](https://www.statista.com/statistics/794187/united-states-developer-survey-most-wanted-used-database-technologies/), MySQL plays an integral role in the operational processes of companies for many years boasting a usage rate of 46% among developers.

It comes with powerful data security functions and features that extensively support an array of data types like –

- Character
- Enumerated
- Numeric
- JSON
- Data/time

MySQL is rich with different types of indexes like – R tree, B tree, and inverted indexes. Moreover, it is capable enough in managing a bulk volume of reads and writes that ensures you top-notch performance. Users have easy access to technical support, as well as community and paid support from various vendors.

However, MySQL lacks some of the extensive features of PostgreSQL that are known specifically for web applications.

**What is PostgreSQL?**

PostgreSQL is an open-source and object-relational database system. It offers thirty years of incessant and advanced development. It offers an array of data types like-

- Integer
- Strings
- Dates
- Timestamps
- Binary objects

PostgreSQL provides unmatched support for user-defined functions and stored systems. As discussed earlier, it has been popularly used for developing web applications. The scalable functions and processes often make it well-suited for enterprise applications.

[PostgreSQL](https://www.postgresql.org/) is also known as a go-to solution for conducting and delivering complex and voluminous data operations. Importantly, it has more extensive features than other database management systems (DBMS). Also, PostgreSQL is [extensible](https://www.postgresql.org/docs/9.0/extend-how.html) by nature as its operations are catalog-driven. This means that it not only stores information related to columns and tables but also defines index types, data types, and functional languages.

Apart from being objective relational database management, PostgreSQL is ACID-compliant, highly concurrent, and delivers NoSQL support since Version 8.0.

**Why Do Developers Choose MySQL?**

Here are some of the benefits of MySQL are-:

**1. Highly flexible and scalable**:

MySQL is highly flexible and scalable and lets you choose from a different range of storage engines. It gives you the flexibility for integrating the data from a variety of table types. Here is the list of storage engines that [MySQL 8.0 supports](https://dev.mysql.com/doc/refman/8.0/en/storage-engines.html?utm_source=xp&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=content) -:

- InnoDB
- MyISAM
- Memory
- CSV
- Archive
- Blackhole
- NDB/NDBCLUSTER
- Merge
- Federated
- Example

**2. Focus on speed and reliability**

SQL has included only some of the imperative features and that helps MySQL in prioritizing speed and reliability. The speed of MySQL is apparent when you consider reading only highly concurrent functions. As a result, businesses are looking forward to MySQL for their unique business intelligence purposes.

Do you want to run a lot of complicated queries under heavy loads?

Choose PostgreSQL database.

**3. Options for server optimization**

MySQL offers a unique set of options for optimizing and tweaking MySQL servers and adjusting the variables like –:

- sort_buffer_size,
- read_buffer_size,
- max_allowed_packet and more

**4. Easy to use and popular**

As discussed MySQL is popular and easy to use which means that can easily find database admins with a resonant MySQL experience. You just have to set it up once and then you don’t have to look further as just fine-tuning other database management solutions.

Check this [tutorial](https://www.wikihow.com/Create-a-Database-in-MySQL) and learn the step-by-step method for setting up your MySQL database. Moreover, various front ends like - dbForge Studio, MySQL Workbench, Adminer, and HeidiSQL often add a graphical interface to MySQL, offering a user-friendly experience.

**5. Cloud Ready**

MySQL is a cloud-ready database management system that offers MySQL solutions. All you have to do is install cloud-ready DBMS and maintain your MySQL database for a fee.

**Why Do Developers Choose PostgreSQL?**

Here are some of the benefits of PostgreSQL are-:

**1. ORDBMS not just RDBMS**

PostgreSQL is an object-relational programming language (ORDBMS) that acts as a connective link between object-oriented programming and relational/procedural programming as C++ does.

It lets you determine the objects and table inheritance, and then translate them into more complex data structures.

**2. Excellent for complex queries**

PostgreSQL is an excellent choice when you plan to perform complex read-write operations through data that demands. While, on the other hand, ORDBMS may experience slowdowns when dealing with read-only operations.

**3. Supports NoSQL and massive data types**

PostgreSQL is an excellent choice for NoSQL features. It extensively supports [massive data types](https://www.postgresql.org/docs/8.2/datatype.html), including [JSON](https://www.postgresql.org/docs/10/datatype-json.html), [XML](https://www.postgresql.org/docs/9.1/datatype-xml.html), and [store](https://www.postgresql.org/docs/9.0/hstore.html). Moreover, you can easily define the original data types and set up the custom functions accordingly.

**4. Designed for extra-large database management**

PostgreSQL has no restriction on the size of the database. As per the database administrator, [Adjust.com](http://adjust.com/), it leverages PostgreSQL for managing and streamlining “[around 4PB [petabytes] of data](https://www.quora.com/What-is-the-largest-production-deployment-of-PostgreSQL-for-online-use/answer/Chris-Travers-4)”. 4PB (petabytes) = 4,000 terabytes.

**5. ACID compliance**: It minimizes the chances of data corruption and maintains the integrity and authenticity of data at the transactional level.

## **PostgreSQL vs MySQL: Head-to-Head Comparison**

Are you still confused as which is the right database for your business? Read this head-to-head comparison between PostgreSQL and MySQL for a better and more practical understanding -:

**1. Syntax**

Both PostgreSQL and MySQL stand equal in syntax.

SELECT * FROM STUDENTS;

However, MySQL doesn’t support some of the subqueries, like “LIMIT” or “ALL.” It also doesn’t support standard SQL clauses like “INTERSECT” or “OUTER JOIN.”

Also, MySQL is not as fully SQL-compliant as PostgreSQL. It supports all of the sub-queries mentioned above. If you want to use these subqueries frequently for your business, then you should go for PostgreSQL.

**2. Languages Supported**

PostgreSQL supports an extensive range of programming languages. It includes -:

- C/ C++
- Delphi
- Erlang
- Go
- Java
- Javascript
- JSON (native since version 9.2)
- Lisp
- .NET
- Python
- R
- Tcl
- Other programming languages

Some of the programming languages that MySQL supports are -:

- C/C++
- Delphi
- Erlang
- Go
- Java
- Lisp
- Node.js
- Perl
- PHP
- R

Thus, choose the right database based on your business requirements related to any of the above-mentioned programming languages.

**3. Speed**

When it comes to selecting the database, you can’t miss the speed and performance. Because a speedy database will not only make your website run faster but also improves its performance by alleviating the strain from your servers. It will point out the unused or untapped data which you can remove and space up from memory.

Now, since both are equally fast in the market. There’s no clear winner here. So, ultimately, it boils down to how you use them. MySQL is generally known to be speedier with read-only commands at the cost of concurrency. 

However, PostgreSQL is known to be speedier and more active with read-write operations, enormous datasets, and complex queries.

**4. Architecture**

As discussed above, MySQL is a relational database that offers extensive support for 15 different storage engines excluding the default storage engine – InnoDB. Since it has a vast amount of storage engines, it lets you quickly leverage for various other use cases.

While PostgreSQL is an object-relational database. It includes sophisticated data types that allow objects to inherit properties. However, it is quite challenging to work with PostgreSQL because it houses a single, ACID-compliant storage engine.

PostgreSQL creates a unique system process through memory allocation for every established client connection. This demands an enormous amount of memory on systems with massive client connections. While MySQL utilizes a single process and upholds a single thread for every connection. This makes MySQL the more suitable choice for apps of less-than-enterprise scope.

**5. Performance**

PostgreSQL was built to be standards-compliant, feature-rich, and extendable. It can write large amounts of data more efficiently and handle concurrency better than MySQL.

MySQL is still quite fast at reading data if you’re leveraging the existing MyISAM engine. So, while selecting the best database, do not solely rely on the performance factor because here, both rank equally performant in this category.

**6. Replication & Clustering**

Replication is the process of copying the data from a database to its duplicate databases. It brings various benefits like -automated backups, scalability, and performing long queries without affecting the primary cluster.

Although both PostgreSQL and MySQL support replication.

While, PostgreSQL offers synchronous replication, which means that it has two databases running simultaneously, where the primary database is synced with a duplicate database.

In MySQL, the replication process happens in just one-way. Here, one database server acts as the primary one, and the others are replicas.

### **The Final Words - Which one is better?**

As per the above discussion, PostgreSQL is quite complicated as it demands professional and technical know-how for setup and usage. While, on the other hand, MySQL is far better when it comes to user support and ease of management.

Both PostgreSQL and MySQL are equally beneficial and super faster. It all depends on the objectives that your business wants to accomplish.

[Hire RadicalLoop](https://www.radicalloop.com/contact
) now and build your website within the best database! Call us today!

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Do you still need clarification about the correct database for your business? Read this top 6-pointer comparison of PostgreSQL vs MySQL for a better & more practical understanding.

MySQL vs PostgreSQL Comparison: Which One is Better?

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