PostgreSQL or MySQL

Databases are collections of information that we structure in a way that makes updating and managing them much easier. In order to make this task seamless and less of a hassle, computer scientists created Database Management Systems, two of which are MySQL and PostgreSQL.

However, with the coming of these two DBMS comes the big argument: PostgreSQL vs MySQL? The decision to use either comes from the fact they serve different use cases and purposes. 

For starters, PostgreSQL is rich with unique features and can handle some complex queries. MySQL, on the other hand, is a lot simpler to use, set up, and manage, is fast, easy to understand, and is super reliable. 

Each of these database management systems has its uses, but these uses may lead to similar paths and goals. The fact is one is better than the other for specific jobs, with one better for analytical processes and the other more focused on speed and reliability. 

So how do you know which of these two unique database management systems to use? Not to worry, this article covers the difference between MySQL and PostgreSQL, what they are, which is better, and when to use them.

PostgreSQL vs MySQL: 18 Difference Between MySQL and PostgreSQL You Need to Know

The first thing to consider when making PostgreSQL vs MySQL comparison is to check their respective meanings and then their PostgreSQL vs MySQL syntax. PostgreSQL is an OBRDMS or Object-Relational Database Management System, while MySQL is more of a community-driven digital management system. 

They are complex tech innovations created to simplify data operations across a wide range of business use cases and are relational DBMS.

This means that PostgreSQL and MySQL have database architectures that structure data according to a relational data model. Developers find them useful for a lot of different reasons. Here are 17 differences between MySQL and PostgreSQL:

Feature	PostgreSQL	MySQL
#1. Acid Compliance	PostgreSQL is fully ACID compliant	MySQL is only ACID-compliant when used with  NDB Cluster Storage and InnoDB engines.
#2. Performance	In the PostgreSQL vs MySQL performance debate, PostgreSQL is used in large systems where reading and writing speeds are crucial.	In the PostgreSQL vs MySQL performance debate, MySQL is mostly used in web-based projects and requires a database for straightforward and simple data transactions.
#3. open-source	PostgreSQL is released under its free, open-source PostgreSQL license. The license is a lot like the MIT and BSD licenses.	MySQL’s source code is readily available under GNU’s General Public License.
#4. Ecosystem	PostgreSQL doesn’t have a lot in terms of high-end options, but new features have been added to its most recent version to boost its ecosystem.	MySQL carries a unique ecosystem with several variants like Galera, MariaDB, and Percona.
#5. SQL-compliant	PostgreSQL DBMS is SQL compliant to a large extent.	MySQL is, however, partially SQL compliant, and it doesn’t support check constraints.
#6. B-tree Indexes	With PostgreSQL, B-tree indexes merged at runtime to evaluate are easily dynamically converted predicates.	When appropriate, you can use two or more B-tree indexes.
#7. The Support for JSON	PostgreSQL has support for JSON and the other NoSQL features such as XML support, and it also permits indexing JSON data for quicker access.	MySQL comes with JSON data type support. It, however, doesn’t support other NoSQL features.
#8. Default Values	With PostgreSQL, you can change default values only at the system level	With MySQL, you can overwrite default values at the statement level and session-level.
#9. Object Statistics	PostgreSQL has very good object statistics.	MySQL has fairly good object statistics.
#10. What are they best for/at?	PostgreSQL excels when executing complex queries.	MySQL has a high performance when in OLTP and OLAP systems when only read speeds are required.
#11. Join Capabilities	Has a good join capability	Has limit join capabilities
#12. Community Support	It boasts of an active community that constantly improves existing features as innovative striving to ensure it remains ahead as the most advanced database. There is a regular release of security enhancements and some top-tier modern features.	It has a strong community of contributors who focus on maintaining the existing features and occasional newer feature releases.
#13. Support for Materialized Views	Supports both temporary tables and materialized views.	It supports temporary tables but doesn’t offer materialized views.
#14. Architecture	Multiprocess; object-relational	Single process; relational
#15. Data Types Supported	JSON, HSTORE, Ranges, Arrays, XML, Date/Time character, Numeric, Enumerated, Boolean, Character, Network Address, Geometric.	Date/Time, Numeric, JSON, Character, Spatial.
#16. Security	Multiple encrypted connection options and Access control	Encrypted connections and Access control.
#17. Indexes Supported	Hash, B-tree, BRIN, GIN, GIST, and SP-GIST.	It is primarily B-tree and supports R-tree, inverted indexes for some data types, and hash.
#18. PostgreSQL vs MySQL Syntax	In the PostgreSQL vs MySQL Syntax debate, PostgreSQL database management system supports procedures but PostgreSQL supports some very advanced procedures.	In the PostgreSQL vs MySQL Syntax debate, MySQL database management system also supports procedures.

What Is MySQL? 

MySQL is an open-source RDBMS or relational database management system that comes with a client-server model. As an RDBMS, it is a service or software built to create and manage databases but based on a relational model.

MySQL is arguably one of the most popular open-source RDBMS, and the data within it is stored in tables, making it easier to perform create, read, update, and delete (CRUD) operations. It has its roots in a Swedish company called MySQL AB, and it developed the system in 1994. 

Sun Microsystems, a US tech company, took full ownership by buying MySQL AB in 2008. US tech giant, Oracle, acquired Sun Microsystems in 2010 and has taken ownership of MySQL since then.

Features Of MySQL

These are some features of MySQL:

• It offers Multi-version Concurrency Control (MVCC) features
• It is a free and an open-source relational database management system
• MySQL has a devoted community of developers available to assist with troubleshooting when it is needed.
• It is compliant with the ANSI SQL standard.
• MySQL is compatible with different platforms that use all major middleware and languages.
• There’s log-based and trigger-based replication SSL
• It runs on several varieties of UNIX and other non-UNIX systems such as OS/2 and Windows.
• Multi-layered design highlights its independent modules
• There are built-in tools for space analysis and query analysis
• MySQL is full multi-threaded while using Kernel Threads
• This RDBMS can handle any amount of data, even as much as 50 million rows and more.
• Its server is available in the client-server model or embedded DB.
• MySQL is object-oriented and compatible with ANSI-SQL2008.

When Do You Use MySQL? 

MySQL has several use cases as a relational database management system. Here is when to use MySQL:

• If you need an RDMBS for read-mostly applications, MySQL is great because of its very low overhead with the MyISAM storage engine.
• Query Cache for repeated statements that are repeatedly used.
• When you need support for a memory storage engine, especially for frequently used tables
• When you need the support features like Scale-out and Master-slave replication
• MySQL supports Geographic Data Distribution and Offload Reporting.

What Is PostgreSQL?

PostgreSQL is a solid open-source object-relational database management system with more than 30 years of active development. Now PostgreSQL is known for its performance, reliability, and robustness of its features.

As a more advanced, open-source, and enterprise-class RDMBS, PostgreSQL supports non-relational (JSON) and relational (SQL) querying. The PostgreSQL project began in 1986 at the Berkeley Computer Science Department University, California.

It was previously called POSTGRES, a nod to the older Ingres database which was developed at Berkeley as well. The major aim of the POSTGRES project was to add minimal features required to support multiple data types.

Features of PostgreSQL

Some people in the world of databases consider PostgreSQL one of, if not the world’s most advanced open-source relational database. This is no doubt partly down to the fact that it helps solve challenges and make applications. These features also help shed more light:

• PostgreSQL allows administrators to build and develop environments that are fault-tolerant by protecting data integrity. 
• Helps developers build useful applications. 
• It has support for MVCC. 
• Trigger-based and log-based SSL. 
• Compatibility with different platforms that use all major middleware and languages
• A more matured server-side programming functionality
• PostgreSQL offers an incredibly sophisticated locking mechanism. 
• Its support for JSON allows users to link with other data stores, such as NoSQL, acting as a federated for all polyglot databases. 
• PostgreSQL is also compliant with ANSI SQL standards.
• It is compatible with ANSI-SQL2008 and is also Object-oriented. 
• High availability and standby server

When Do You Use PostgreSQL? 

Several companies like Red Hat, Apple, Instagram, and Cisco, build solutions and products based on PostgreSQL. PostgreSQL has several use cases as an object-relational database management system. Here are some instances to use PostgreSQL:

• • When you require a rich database in the LAPP stack: LAPP is an acronym for Linux, Apache, PostgreSQL, and PHP. You can use PostgreSQL as a robust back-end database that powers and runs several dynamic web applications and websites.

• Geospatial: Spatial or Geographic data analysis is arguably a crucial part of data analysis. It helps find geographic properties such as distances and locations. PostgreSQL’s PostGIS extension permits geographic objects. It could also be used as a geographic information system and a geospatial data store for some location-based services.

• General Purpose Transaction Database: PostgreSQL serves as an important use case for startups and large corporations who need to use it as a primary database to support their products and applications.

• PostgreSQL As a Federated Hub: PostgreSQL is able to federate data while acting as a hub within an infrastructure. This is impressive considering that PostgreSQL has foreign data wrappers for Oracle, MySQL, CouchDB, MongoDB, Informix, Redis, and more.

PostgreSQL vs MySQL: Which is Better?

One of the big questions surrounding these two relational database management systems is this: which is better in the PostgreSQL vs MysSQL debate? For a start, if you’re going to develop an app with a database back end, which of these two do you use?

The natural choice will be PostgreSQL for applications that have the potential to grow to an enterprise-level or scope along with frequent write operations and complex queries. But if you’re a newcomer to the technical world of databases, need a quick tool for prototyping, and aren’t considering scaling up, then MySQL is a much better choice.

These are solid pointers, but there are also other considerations to look out for depending on what your needs are. For instance, cloud platform providers might offer benefits in terms of running one database over the other one.

What’s more, the application framework that users use might suit one of PostgreSQL or MySQL. However, MySQL is the more widely used option, and this means it gets more developers, available third-party tools, and DBAs are more familiar with it. 

In terms of extensibility, PostgreSQL is very extensible can support a variety of data types, including native UUID, timezone-aware timestamps, JSONB, and geometric/GIS. On the flip side, MySQL doesn’t offer similar options.

When you consider replication, MySQL does offer one-way asynchronous replication. Here, one database is dominant, the others minor. With PostgreSQL, 2-safe or synchronous replication is a norm and is typical. It allows the main database to synchronize with the minor ones.

With this sort of replication, you get more security because your data will only get lost if both databases break at once. But the truth is that both PostgreSQL has purposes they serve and aren’t the only two open-source database choices available.

Conclusion

From analyzing performance metrics to storing a digital representation of all your purchasing orders, relational database management systems are built to enhance working with data at scale. All RDBMS aren’t created the same, but the MySQL vs PostgreSQL debate will always pop up when choosing the right database. 

The right choice of RDBMS can mitigate and offset issues like lack of support and limited analytics that arise in the latter stages of a project. However, with the PostgreSQL vs MySQL comparisons in this article, you can make a better choice amongst the two most popular databases in the world.