MariaDB | What is MariaDB?

TL;DR MariaDB

MariaDB is an open source relational database management system created in 2009 by the original developers of MySQL after Oracle acquired MySQL. It was designed as a drop-in replacement for MySQL, meaning applications built for MySQL work with MariaDB without modification. Over time MariaDB has diverged from MySQL with its own features, storage engines, and performance improvements, particularly around query optimisation and replication. It uses a structured query language, stores data in tables with rows and columns, and supports complex queries, transactions, and indexing. MariaDB is one of the most widely used databases in web hosting because of its speed, reliability, and compatibility with popular applications like WordPress and WooCommerce. CloudSonic offers fully managed MariaDB with automated backups, replication, and performance tuning included. It sits alongside MySQL, PostgreSQL, and Redis as part of CloudSonic's database offering.

How MariaDB Works

MariaDB is a relational database management system that stores data in structured tables with rows and columns and uses SQL to query and manipulate that data. When an application like WordPress needs to retrieve a post, it sends a SQL query to MariaDB. MariaDB's query optimiser analyses the query, determines the most efficient way to retrieve the requested data using available indexes, executes the retrieval, and returns the result set to the application. MariaDB stores its data on disk using a storage engine, with InnoDB being the default and most widely used. InnoDB supports transactions, meaning a group of related operations either all succeed or all fail together, which protects data integrity. It also supports row-level locking which allows multiple queries to modify different rows in the same table simultaneously without blocking each other, making it well suited to high-traffic web applications.

Frequently Asked Questions on MariaDB

What is the difference between MariaDB and MySQL?

MariaDB was forked from MySQL in 2009 and is maintained independently by the MariaDB Foundation. It is compatible with MySQL at the application level, meaning WordPress and other applications that work with MySQL also work with MariaDB without modification. Over time the two have diverged with MariaDB developing its own features, storage engines, and optimisations. MariaDB generally performs better for write-heavy workloads and has a more active open source development community.

Can I switch from MySQL to MariaDB without changing my WordPress installation?

In most cases yes. MariaDB is designed as a drop-in replacement for MySQL and the wp-config.php database connection settings are identical. Your existing database can be exported from MySQL and imported into MariaDB using standard SQL dump tools. CloudSonic can advise on this process during onboarding if you are migrating from another host.

Which is better for WordPress, MariaDB or MySQL?

Both work well for WordPress. MariaDB has some performance advantages in specific workloads and is generally preferred by hosting providers who prioritise open source software. MySQL is more widely documented specifically in the context of WordPress. The difference in practice for a typical WordPress site is small. CloudSonic offers both as fully managed database options.