PostgreSQL vs. MySQL: What’s the Difference?

I bet you that you are very excited about this fierce faceoff between PostgreSQL and MySQL but, before taking you to the battle between PostgreSQL vs MySQL, let me enlighten you about databases. Databases are the types of storage provided over the web where you can store data safely and in a very well-organized manner. The whole lineage of databases are divided into two part, either they can be SQL-based or NoSQL based.

Let’s quickly do the pre-launch systems check and get you ready for the blast-off.  Concentration? Check! Dedication? Check! Interest? Check! Points to be pondered? Oh!

We forgot to check them, quickly check out the  points to be pondered upon and we are to liftoff to the world of databases.

Points to be pondered:

• What is PostgreSQL?
• What is MySQL?
• Features of PostgreSQL
• Features of MySQL
• PostgreSQL vs. MySQL: What are the Differences?
• Conclusion

If you want to learn about MySQL in detail, then check out our Youtube video

What is PostgreSQL?

Let’s first check the preparations of PostgreSQL, and what PostgreSQL has in its arsenal PostgreSQL, also known as Postgres. It is a type of powerful and popular database which falls under the category of ORDBMS (Object Relational Database Management System).

• PostgreSQL offers free service solutions to everyone as it is open-source software. You can use its source code for free.
• Postgres provides unconditional support to both SQL as well NoSQL-based databases, which means it provides extendability to them.
• Unlike traditional SQL and NoSQL-based databases, PostgreSQL provides additional benefits to the users, and concepts like table inheritance and function overloading are also present. 
• The working principle of Postgres is almost similar to other types of contemporary databases. But, the architecture of PostgreSQL is more powerful.
• Various components of PostgreSQL are developed as a combination of multiple procedural languages like Java, Python, Pearl, etc. But initial development is done in C programming language.

Well, it seems like PostgreSQL has some lethal pointers in its arsenal to win this one. But, we cannot judge just by looking at only one side of the faceoff. In the coming section, we are going to check what MySQL has to offer.

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What is MySQL?

MySQL is very trendy in the market. It is a type of database that belongs to RDBMS (Relational Database Management System) and it stores data in a tabular form, and the data stored is known as records.

• MySQL is freely available in open source, you can customize it as per your requirement.
• MySQL promises to equip you with a scalable, flexible, and easily accessible database.
• The core components of MySQL are written in C programming language and CPP programming languages.
• You can pronounce MySQL as you want, but the official pronunciation is “My Ess, Que Ell”.
• MySQL works on a simple client-server architecture, in which the end users are known as clients.
• The end users request through a server to access the resources, and a request-response cycle is generated.

I think MySQL also has similar services as that Postgres, I didn’t notice much difference. What do you think?

Let’s hop forward and check out other parameters to predict the winner of the faceoff.

Features of PostgreSQL

PostgreSQL has still not managed to outshine its competitors specifically MySQL despite its exceptional features. Most of the features of both the parties are same.

Below you can find the points on which PostgreSQL is preferred, a pointer that is similar to that of MySQL is also mentioned. Don’t look at them as similarities between both parties, just look at them as features of PostgreSQL.

• PostgreSQL is built on a very strong architecture that offers a fault-tolerant system making it the most robust database solution provider.
• PostgreSQL is fast, provides a flexible system, has a scope of scalability, and is highly secured as compared to other competitors.
• PostgreSQL offers a highly compatible software system that makes PostgreSQL compatible with every operating system present out there in the market.
• PostgreSQL provides integration possibilities with the new emerging technologies which makes it more reliable than any other database.

Don’t you think it is not giving much clarity? Both of them still have similar differences. Let’s directly hop on the detailed differences which will make a crystal clear difference to you about each one of them.

Features of MySQL

In this section, we will check other parameters to predict the winner of the battle day, it’s still a long way to go. MySQL is very popular among developers, check out the below-mentioned reasons.

• MySQL is well documented, well maintained, and has the rich support of an active community.
• MySQL stores data in a tabular format, that is in rows and columns. Every record present in the database is indexed which makes it highly accessible.
• MySQL has the longest active development time phase as compared to others and PostgreSQL if we want to talk specifically about it.
• MySQL offers a very scalable system that has better performance optimization when offering services.
• Services offered by MySQL are agile and highly customizable according to your needs.
• The software solutions provided by MySQL are very versatile which means that it is supported by almost every operating system.
• MySQL has very comprehensive support for multiple programming languages and associated frameworks, which makes integration with other services very simple.

Whoa! That’s too much to offer  by a single tech, don’t you think? Without wasting a second let’s take a look at PostgreSQL’s campsite.

Learning MySQL will help you to kickstart your journey in the field of databases, check out our blog on SQL Tutorial for Beginners.

Also, learn how to create database in PostgreSQL.

PostgreSQL vs. MySQL: What are the Differences?

Below mentioned are the detailed differences between PostgreSQL and MySQL which will help us to decide who is the winner of this faceoff:

	Parameters	PostgreSQL	MySQL
1	Open source	PostgreSQL is a type of open source database, which is licensed under PostgreSQL license.	MySQL is a type of open-source database, which is licensed under GNU general public license.
2	Type of Database	PostgreSQL is based on ORDBMS.	MySQL is based on RDBMS.
3	Written in	The initial development of PostgreSQL is done in C programming language, and later on, updates components are developed in various procedural languages.	The initial, as well as the latest development of MySQL, is done in C programming language and CPP programming language.
4	GUI tool provided	The GUI tool is called as PgAdmin.	The GUI of MySQL is called MySQL Workbench.
5	SQL compliance	PostgreSQL shows almost complete compliance with SQL.	MySQL shows partial compliance with SQL. Concepts like check constraints are not supported.
6	Data types supported	PostgreSQL supports advanced data types like user-defined types, arrays, etc.	MySQL only supports standard data types like numbers, char, etc, no support for advanced data types is present.
7	Troubleshooting	Troubleshooting PostgreSQL is difficult compared to MySQL.	Troubleshooting MySQL is very easy compared to any other competitor present.
8	Scalability	PostgreSQL provides a highly scalable system for complex queries and data.	For simpler data, MySQL provides a highly scalable system but for complex data scalability is low.
9	Flexibility	PostgreSQL is highly flexible with multiple technologies with the same yield, even with new emerging technologies.	MySQL is flexible but it does not provide high flexibility, integration with new emerging technology is not possible.
10	Architecture	The architecture on which PostgreSQL is built is very strong and powerful.	The architecture on which MySQL is built is very simple and weaker than that of PostgreSQL.
11	Usage	PostgreSQL is used for large systems where data is more complex.	MySQL is usually used for web-based projects where the data used is simple.
12	MVCC supported	Full support is provided by MVCC.	Partial/ Limited support is provided by MVCC.
13	Used by	Netflix, Instagram, Groupon, etc	Airbnb, Uber, Twitter, etc

We are about to declare the winner of the battle day. Both of the parties have performed well and showed exemplary performance throughout the whole process. Move to the next section to see who won.

So now our journey comes to an end, we just spectate a fierce faceoff between both technologies. Both performed well but at the same time, both sides have similar weapons in their arsenal. It’s time to conclude the whole scene and move to the final section to conclude results.

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Conclusion

Congratulations to make it to the last. We have seen a fierce faceoff between two renowned technologies, checked about them, and why to use them. MySQL and PostgreSQL are very popular databases and are preferred in their respective fields. PostgreSQL is still in the development phase but at the same time, PostgreSQL possesses qualities to outdo its competitors, which in nearby future can happen which is very similar to its competitor. We notice how PostgreSQL and MySQL have similar things to offer so it’s a tie.I hope that you learned something new and that we were able to be worth your time.

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