MariaDB

MariaDB is an open-source relational database management system created as a community-driven fork of MySQL. It aims to remain a drop-in replacement for many MySQL uses while developing its own features.

Why it matters

Many Linux distributions and hosting panels install MariaDB when you ask for "MySQL", so you may be running it without realizing. Basic SQL, client tools, and ports work the same way. As the two projects have drifted apart, newer features and some configuration details differ, so check compatibility before migrating between them.

Example

mariadb --version
mysql -h 127.0.0.1 -u appuser -p   # often works as an alias

SELECT VERSION();

The version string usually contains "MariaDB" so you can tell which server you are on.

Common mistakes

• Assuming every MySQL feature or version number maps one-to-one onto MariaDB.
• Mixing the two in a replication setup without checking supported combinations.
• Skipping upgrade notes, which list changed defaults between major releases.

Related

• MySQL
• Database replication
• DBMS

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