What is MySQL?

The MySQL management system

MySQL is a relational database management system (RDBMS) offering a variety of practical tools. It can be used to create, modify and extract data from relational databases (using SQL programming language). It can also be used to control users' access to a database.

MySQL is an open source RDBMS. It therefore stores data as tables, is very flexible and free. This is therefore a suitable option for both small and large websites. MySQL is used by many companies at the forefront of the digital world, including YouTube, Facebook, Uber, eBay or PayPal.

There are many RDBMS on the market, but MySQL is by far the most popular. Alternatives include Oracle, IBM, and Microsoft SQL Server. These systems offer a more traditional B2B experience with a few customization options added. Their configurations differ from MySQL, which is suitable from the outset for most websites.

MySQL uses the structured query language (called SQL) to access and modify databases. This programming language allows websites to retrieve, add, update and delete data contained in a database.

SQL also allows you to create new databases and add new tables within a database.

Updated on: 09/03/2023