PostgreSQL and MySQL are relational databases that organize data into tables. These tables can be linked — or related — based on data that is common to each. Relational databases enable your business to better understand the relationships among available data and help gain new insights for making better decisions or identifying new opportunities.
What is MySQL database?
MySQL — a fast, reliable, scalable, and easy-to-use open-source relational database system — is designed to handle mission-critical, heavy-load production applications. It is a common and easy-to-start database with low memory, disk, and CPU utilization, managed by a relational database management system (RDMS). MySQL Community Edition is a free downloadable version supported by an active online community.
MySQL features include all the SQL standard commands, transactions, and ACID compliance (atomicity, consistency, isolation, and durability).
The two most common relational databases are MySQL and Oracle. MySQL is not synonymous with SQL Server, a licensed Microsoft product that lacks compatibility with MAC OS X.
What Is PostgreSQL?
PostgreSQL also referred to as Postgres, is an object-relational database management system that is both free and open-source. It can run on all major operating systems and is ACID (atomicity, consistency, isolation, durability) compliant. Postgres not only comes with a wide variety of features but also has flexibility for customization. The syntax is also easier to learn and beginner-friendly.
Now that we have a brief background on Postgres, let’s look at the difference between MySQL and Postgres.
RDBMS vs ORDBMS
MySQL is a Relational Database Management System (RDBMS) while Postgres is an Object-Relational Database Management System (ORDBMS). In a Relational Database Management System, the database is based on the relational model. This means that all tables have at least one relation to another table, and none exist without a relation. An Object-Relational Database Management System has qualities of both an RDBMS and the Object-Oriented Relational Database Management System. This means that not only are the tables related and linked, but there are also elements of Object-Oriented management systems, which means that it supports features such as objects, classes, and inheritance.
Data Types
Along with traditional data types, MySQL supports types such as Strings, Characters, Date and Time, Decimals, Large Text, Booleans, and even BLOB types. BLOB is a type that may store binary data. On the other hand, Postgres supports every data type listed above and then some. It can store Enumerated types, Unstructured types such as JSON or XML, Geometric types, and even Network types. There is also support for spatial data types.
Database Capabilities
When considering the GUI that will be used for each, MySQL has MySQL Workbench. For Postgres, you would use PgAdmin. Postgres also uses a single storage engine, while MySQL has multiple. MySQL is seen as more of a product, whereas Postgres is more of a project.
In terms of the SQL capabilities, there are a few differences. Once such difference occurs with temporary tables. Although both may create temporary tables with a “CREATE TEMPORARY TABLE”, only MySQL has the keyword TEMPORARY in the DROP statement. This means that you must be more careful with your naming conventions, as a temp table may have the same name as a regular table, and because you don’t specify the “temp” in the DROP statement, you could unintentionally lose data.
When it comes to dropping or truncating tables, there is a major difference as well. With Postgres, a dropped table supports the CASCADE option. This means it will also drop anything dependent on that table. MySQL does not support CASCADE. Similarly, with truncating tables MySQL does not support any CASCADE options. With Postgres, truncating allows for CASCADE, RESTART IDENTITY to put the ID back at the starting value as if previous data never existed, or CONTINUE IDENTITY which would be more like what MySQL does with the ID remaining in the same place even though the data is gone. For IDENTITY, Postgres supports an IDENTITY, while in MySQL the equivalent would be an AUTO_INCREMENT integer
MySQL is not case sensitive, but Postgres is. This means that queries could fail if not cased appropriately. In addition, MySQL allows for IF and IFNULL statements, while Postgres does not. Instead, a CASE statement should be used.
Scalability
When new connections are added, each connection with MySQL is a thread, while a connection in Postgres is a process. When it comes to concurrency, Postgres uses Multi-version Concurrency Control (MVCC). This is made to support multiple users with less of a chance to lock. This is because of the parallel query plans it implements.
Because of the additional processes for each connection in Postgres, there is a small amount of memory (approximately 10 MB) required for each. However, Postgres does not limit the database size, making it a good choice for large database management. As far as complexity, Postgres is also more complex as it allows functions, inheritance, and so on. MySQL is focused on speed and reliability.
Conclusion
If you’re looking for an easy, fast, and popular database that will be reliable and easy to understand, MySQL may be the better option. But if you’re looking for a much larger database or more features and complexity, PostgreSQL may be the better choice. Maybe your decision boils down to support, where you need the database with better help. Or maybe your decision is based on more standards or work expectations. Regardless, both database management systems seem to be a fair choice.
For your projects, as I’ve said a hundred times, it really is up to you. You can pick any technology you need to suit your own needs, and my opinions may not line up with the goals for your projects in the same way they do for mine. In either choice, you know your project better than anyone else, so try to take what you know about both to decide instead of simply knowing the decisions of others.
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