MySQL is Oracle’s global system used for managing databases. It is based on relational algebra and is primarily used for storing data for web services. Well-known CMSs that use MySQL include WordPress and TYPO3.

Definition of MySQL

MySQL, as its name suggests, is an SQL-based database management system, or DBMS. The open-source software is currently maintained by Oracle.

MySQL is capable of storing, managing and displaying data in tables. It operates as a client-server system. Whilst the database acts as a server on which all relevant information is stored, the software can be regarded as the client. Using the software, users of the relational database can formulate various queries in the SQL query language and send them to the database system. These are then processed by MySQL, which is why data access is also an important feature of MySQL.

MySQL is characterised by a high degree of platform independence. MySQL can be used on more than 20 different platforms, including the popular Windows, macOS and Linux operating systems. What’s more, installing MySQL is incredibly simple.

A brief history of MySQL

MySQL was developed in 1994 by the Swedish company MySQL AB and was released a year later. The name of the database system is derived from the first name of the founder’s daughter (My) and the central language of the database system (SQL). The database system is programmed in the C and C++ programming languages. Support for the 8.0 major version, released in 2018, ended in April 2026; today, the Long-Term Support (LTS) releases 8.4 (2024) and 9.7 (2026) are current, alongside ‘Innovation’ releases with shorter support periods.

MySQL AB was acquired in 2008 by Sun Microsystems, the developer of the Java programming language. Sun Microsystems was acquired by Oracle two years later. To this day, MySQL is maintained and further developed by Oracle. Shortly before the acquisition, MariaDB, a spin-off of MySQL, was established under the leadership of MySQL’s founder, Michael Widenius. This time, the founder based the name on that of his younger daughter, Maria.

However, since Oracle acquired MySQL, the database system has come under increasing criticism. This is mainly due to the constant changes between the free and paid versions of the database system. As a result, MariaDB and MySQL are in constant competition with one another.

How does MySQL work?

Databases are used to represent real-world data sets in a way that is free from contradictions and is logically coherent and consistent. The MySQL database management system is based on what is known as relational algebra. Here, data records are represented in tabular form and linked to one another. The advantage of this is that redundancy can be avoided by using smaller data sets. Managing duplicates is also simplified.

Relationships between data can be queried using SQL. A wide range of commands are available for selecting and evaluating data, as well as for inserting it into new tables.

Areas of application for MySQL

MySQL is an integral part of the so-called LAMP stack. This term describes the combination of technologies used for web services, such as Linux, Apache, MySQL and PHP. The database system is primarily used to store data for web services in relational tables. Each table contains records of a particular data type (such as users, entries or orders), with one record per row. Queries can then be formulated using relational algebra and the SQL query language, enabling data records from multiple tables to be linked together.

MySQL is used by major services such as YouTube, Facebook and X (formerly Twitter). Numerous content management systems, such as WordPress and TYPO3, are built on MySQL; these also work with the MySQL-compatible MariaDB database. Here’s how to create a database on cPanel hosting.