- Relational Database Management System (RDBMS): MySQL is a relational database management system.
- Easy to use: MySQL is easy to use. You have to get only the basic knowledge of SQL. You can build and interact with MySQL with only a few simple SQL statements.
- It is secure: MySQL consist of a solid data security layer that protects sensitive data from intruders. Passwords are encrypted in MySQL.
- Client/ Server Architecture: MySQL follows a client /server architecture. There is a database server (MySQL) and arbitrarily many clients (application programs), which communicate with the server; that is, they query data, save changes, etc.
- Free to download: MySQL is free to use and you can download it from MySQL official website.
- It is scalable: MySQL can handle almost any amount of data, up to as much as 50 million rows or more. The default file size limit is about 4 GB. However, you can increase this number to a theoretical limit of 8 TB of data.
- Compatibale on many operating systems: MySQL is compatible to run on many operating systems, like Novell NetWare, Windows* Linux*, many varieties of UNIX* (such as Sun* Solaris*, AIX, and DEC* UNIX), OS/2, FreeBSD*, and others. MySQL also provides a facility that the clients can run on the same computer as the server or on another computer (communication via a local network or the Internet).
- Allows roll-back: MySQL allows transactions to be rolled back, commit and crash recovery.
- High Performance: MySQL is faster, more reliable and cheaper because of its unique storage engine architecture.
- High Flexibility: MySQL supports a large number of embedded applications which makes MySQL very flexible.
- High Productivity: MySQL uses Triggers, Stored procedures and views which allows the developer to give a higher productivity.
Disadvantages / Drawback of MySQL:
Following are the few disadvantages of MySQL:
- MySQL version less than 5.0 doesn't support ROLE, COMMIT and stored procedure.
- MySQL does not support a very large database size as efficiently.
- MySQL doesn't handle transactions very efficiently and it is prone to data corruption.
- MySQL is accused that it doesn't have a good developing and debugging tool compared to paid databases.
- MySQL doesn't support SQL check constraints.
