MySQL Vs PostgreSQL: Top Differences

Why do people prefer PostgreSQL over MySQL? MySQL and PostgreSQL (PgSQL) are popular relational database management systems (RDBMS) but differ in features, performance, and usage.

General Overview

MySQL:

• Developed by Oracle Corporation.
• Known for its simplicity, speed, and ease of use.
• Widely used for web applications (e.g., Facebook, YouTube, Twitter).
• Strong support for read-heavy operations.

PostgreSQL:

• Developed by the PostgreSQL Global Development Group.
• Known for its advanced features, standards compliance, and extensibility.
• Often used in complex, high-concurrency environments (e.g., Skype, Reddit).
• Strong support for write-heavy operations and complex queries.

Licensing

MySQL:

• Uses dual licensing (GPL and proprietary). The community version is open-source under the GPL license, while commercial licenses are available for proprietary use.

PostgreSQL:

• Completely open-source under the PostgreSQL License, which is a liberal open-source license similar to the MIT License.

SQL Compliance

MySQL:

• Partially compliant with the SQL standard.
• Some proprietary extensions and deviations from the SQL standard.

PostgreSQL:

• Highly compliant with the SQL standard.
• Includes advanced SQL features such as window functions, common table expressions (CTEs), and full support for transactions.

Features

MySQL:

• Simpler to set up and manage.
• Supports multiple storage engines, including InnoDB (default) and MyISAM.
• Limited support for advanced SQL features (e.g., partial support for window functions and CTEs).

PostgreSQL:

• Advanced support for ACID (Atomicity, Consistency, Isolation, Durability) properties.
• Rich support for advanced data types (e.g., arrays, JSON, hstore, and user-defined types).
• Extensive support for advanced SQL features (e.g., full-text search, indexing on expressions, table inheritance).

Performance

MySQL:

• Generally faster for read-heavy operations and simple queries.
• Limited support for concurrency control compared to PostgreSQL.

PostgreSQL:

• Generally better performance for write-heavy operations and complex queries.
• Advanced concurrency control mechanisms (e.g., MVCC – Multi-Version Concurrency Control).

Extensibility

MySQL:

• Limited support for custom extensions.
• Plugins are available, but fewer than PostgreSQL.

PostgreSQL:

• Highly extensible with support for custom functions, data types, and operators.
• Many third-party extensions are available (e.g., PostGIS for geographic data).

Data Integrity and Reliability

MySQL:

• Good support for data integrity with the InnoDB engine (foreign keys, transactions).
• Some limitations with older engines like MyISAM (lack of foreign key support).

PostgreSQL:

• Excellent support for data integrity and reliability.
• Strong enforcement of foreign keys, transactions, and constraints.

Replication and Clustering

MySQL:

• Native support for master-slave replication and master-master replication.
• Several third-party tools for clustering (e.g., Galera Cluster, NDB Cluster).

PostgreSQL:

• Native support for streaming replication and logical replication.
• Advanced clustering solutions are available (e.g., Citus, Patroni, and BDR).

Community and Support

MySQL:

• Large and active community.
• Extensive documentation and support resources.
• Commercial support is available from Oracle and third-party providers.

PostgreSQL:

• Active and growing community.
• Comprehensive documentation and support resources.
• Commercial support is available from companies like EnterpriseDB and third-party providers.

Use Cases

MySQL:

• Ideal for web applications, content management systems (CMS), and read-heavy workloads.
• Commonly used in LAMP stack (Linux, Apache, MySQL, PHP/Python/Perl).

PostgreSQL:

• Suitable for complex applications requiring advanced SQL features, data integrity, and high concurrency.
• Often used in data warehousing, geospatial applications, and environments requiring extensive data analysis.

Conclusion

Both MySQL and PostgreSQL are powerful RDBMS options, and the choice between them often depends on the specific requirements of the project:

• Choose MySQL if you need a simple, fast, and reliable database for web applications with a focus on read-heavy operations.
• Choose PostgreSQL if you need advanced SQL features, strong data integrity, and support for complex, write-heavy operations.

Ultimately, the decision should be based on the specific needs of your application, your familiarity with the database systems, and the particular features and performance characteristics you require.