Is MySQL a Structured Query Language?

MySQL is an open-source relational database management system we can interact with using Structured Query Language (SQL). A query language is a simple programming language that can help you access, manipulate and manage data in a relational database. We use MySQL to store all the information you need to efficiently run large, complex websites.

MySQL represents the M in LAMP (Linux, Apache, MySQL, PHP/Perl/Python), which is a collection of tools used to build web applications. In order to build a web application, we need an operating system, a web server to hold our web application, a database that stores and allows us to access the data and a programming language to develop our application. 

Since MySQL is a commonly used database management system, it’s supported by various programming languages like Python, PHP and JavaScript, hence we can run it on any platform or operating system.

MySQL is used by many of the world’s most powerful web applications like Uber, Netflix, Slack, Twitter, Shopify and Airbnb.

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MySQL and SQL: What’s the Difference?

MySQL is a database management system; it’s a way we can store and retrieve data in a structured way so we can use that data in web applications.

The way we can communicate with a database management system is through SQL, Structured Query Language. SQL helps us ask a database management system for specific data through queries, which are basically a set of conditions stating what data we need to retrieve from the database.

Is MySQL Open Source?

Yes, MySQL is open source. MySQL was first introduced as an open-source database management system in 1995 though MySQL AB, a Swedish company. Sun Microsystems acquired the RDBMS in 2008 and Oracle took it over in 2010. Although Oracle owns MySQL, it remains open source for individual developers to use and modify under the GNU General Public License. That said, enterprise companies must obtain a commercial license from Oracle in order to use MySQL at scale.

How Does MySQL Work?

MySQL is fundamentally based on two main concepts: the relational database and the client-server model. 

1. Relational Database

In a relational database, you store data in separate storage areas, which we call tables. These tables are often related to each other. For example, suppose I have two tables for an airline company, one for the pilots and one for the flights. In that case, they can be connected by a relation, a column in both tables, as in the image below. 

In this case, the representation of the relation between the two tables will be the PilotID; in database language we call that a primary key. A primary key is the main connection between two tables in a relational database. 

2. Client-Server Model

MySQL is a management system built on the client-server model. Simply put, the server is where the data is stored and the client is the tool (or approach) you’ll need to use in order to access and retrieve this data.

In the case of MySQL, you can use open-source packages with various programming languages like Python and JavaScript. These packages enable you to use MySQL to handle your data from within your code. We do this using SQL commands that form queries. There are various SQL commands that allow you to perform and retrieve exactly the data you need. For example, if we consider the example above, here are some queries we can use to retrieve different data from the database.

1. Display All the Data in the Pilots Table

2. Display a Specific Column in the Pilots Table

SELECT Name
FROM Pilots;

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3. Display a Specific Pilot Based on Their ID

SELECT *
FROM Pilots
WHERE PilotID = 10 ;

4. Make a New Table for Meals on a Flight

Where the FlightID is an integer, the name of the meal is within 25 characters and the quantity of each meal is also an integer.

CREATE TABLE MealsInfo(
FlightID INT,
MealName VARCHAR(25),
Quantity INT,
);

5. Add Meals to the MealsInfo Table

INSERT INTO MealsInfo (FlightID,MealName, Quantity)
VALUES 
(1002, Chicken, 46),
(1003, Beef , 28),
(1004, Veg , 39);

All these commands are independent of the programming language you use to build your application. So, whether you use Python, PHP,  JavaScript or another language, the commands to interact with the database will always be in SQL.

Are you thinking about getting into a career which involves Business Analysis, Big Data, or Database Administration? Obviously, if that’s the case, then you’ll have to have a good understanding of what SQL, MySQL can do for you. It is inconceivable to expect that you can ignore these fundamental concepts when seeking a job in a position involving databases in the future.

Therefore, it is imperative that you have a firm grasp of not just SQL and MySQL but also the basic differences between the two as well. The purpose of this article is to provide you with a detailed breakdown of the differences between SQL and MySQL and how they can be applied to your daily business.

Table Of Contents

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• What is a Database?
• What is RDBMS?
• What is SQL?
• What is MySQL?
• Difference Between SQL and MySQL
• Conclusion
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Additional Resources

The boom of the Internet and online business has led every industry to explore the digital side of the market. The Pandemic also became a significant catalyst for businesses to go digital and make their presence on the web. All of this opened up new avenues for data analysts, business administrators, database administrators, etc, as data became a principal source for making strategic decisions.

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With this surging demand for creating pipelines for managing, analyzing, storing, and securing data, professionals require software and tools. This is how technology introduced us to databases, database systems, SQL, and MySQL.

Let us look at a few terminologies before diving right into the difference between MySQL and SQL.

What is a Database?

A database is a collection of all the data stored and organized electronically in a software system. It is a technology that allows us to store any type or large volume of data for easy accessibility and use.

There are so many types of databases catering to different purposes like centralized databases managing all the information for universities at a centralized location or a cloud database where the information is stored on a server that can be accessed online.

What is RDBMS?

In order to manage, retrieve, store and maintain the database, a system is required. That is called the Database Management System.

RDBMS(Relational Database Management System) is an advanced version of a database system that allows you to arrange, maintain, retrieve and manage databases in a tabular format. It is one of the most used tools by data analysts or database administrators for handling large amounts of data.

RDBMS is the first choice for many top-tier companies as it arranges data in tables that provide the following benefits:

• Limited Data Redundancy
• Data Security
• Easy Data recovery and backup
• Enhanced Data Usability
• Multiple Users can access data

Some of the examples of RDBMS are MYSQL, Oracle, etc.

What is SQL?

SQL or the Structured Query Language is a programming language that enables the function of retrieving, managing, storing the data in the relational database management system.

Just like to create an application on any system you require a programming language, likewise, it is required for managing the databases as well.

The condition of the SQL statements is declarative in nature and is known as SQL Query. There are different SQL clauses that can be used while writing the queries to define the purpose of action.
Some of the most basic and fundamental clauses and their function are:

• SELECT: extracts data from the database
• CREATE DATABASE: creates a new database
• DELETE: deletes the data from the dataset
• ALTER TABLE: modifies a table
• INSERT INTO: inserts new data into a database
• CREATE TABLE: creates a new table within a database
• UPDATE: updates data in a database
• FROM: retrieve data from specific columns of a table
• WHERE: filter records based on conditions

The format and structure of every SQL query are particular and case-sensitive. One must have to be flawless in writing the SQL statements. Suppose, for extracting all data from the table data_science, the SQL query structure will be as follow:

SELECT * FROM data_science;

Things to be considered

• The statement will be started by a command.
• The end of the query will be marked by a semicolon.
• The symbol ‘*’ defines all.

Besides the common clauses, there are many SQL keywords as well like AS (query to create an alias for a table or column name), BETWEEN (allow to select data or values from a given range), LIMIT (retrieve data from a set number of rows in the table) to perform specific functions.

SQL is a standardized, interactive programming language that is used by many organizations due to its portability, faster query processing, and efficiency in retrieving and managing databases.

What is MySQL?

MySQL, now owned and managed by Oracle Corporation, is a type of relational database management system. It is an open-source platform that allows one to store, retrieve and manage relational databases.

What Is MySQL?

MySQL uses SQL queries to perform actions on the database. MySQL is one of the most popular RDBMS available that is faster, efficient, reliable, and easy to use.

Many top-tier companies like Yahoo, Google, Facebook, and many other companies have MySQL as their preferred choice of database system for managing a large volume of data.

Benefits of using MySQL are:

• Open-source
• Data Security
• On-demand flexibility and Scalability
• Eminent Performance
• Comprehensive Workflow Control
• Complete Transactional Assistance

It is compatible with different modern-day programming languages including C++, C, Java, Python, etc for different platforms be it Windows, Linux, or macOS. Its versatility and cross-platform adaptability make it innovative and a high-end product for its clients.

Difference Between SQL and MySQL

Difference Between SQL and MySQL

There are times when people get confused between what is SQL and what is MySQL. So let us look at the primary difference between SQL and MySQL.

Conclusion

There is no denying the fact that there is a remarkable difference between SQL and MySQL. However, to conclude, an inclination towards any side is not possible. In summary, the main difference between SQL and MySQL is that SQL is a query programming language that manages relational database management systems, whereas MySQL is a relational database management system that utilizes SQL as a query language. The primary purpose of SQL is to query and operate databases, while My SQL allows you to manage, store, modify, and delete data as well as store it in an organized manner. Both of them are quite popular in their domain and, in-demand in professions that emphasize managing and administering data for strategic or insightful purposes.

SQL is a programming language whereas MySQL is open-source software. Both of them are quite popular in their domain and, in-demand in professions that emphasize managing and administering data for strategic or insightful purposes.

SQL and MySQL have different purposes and functions. All your choices come into play when you compare them with their competitors like choosing MySQL over other RDBMS because of its data security, high performance, and providing access free of cost.

SQL and MySQL might be different but have similarities to help achieve scalability, efficiency, and better performance for the interested parties. Ultimately, the decision to pick one over the other will depend on your specific requirements and the benefits each offer. Therefore, you should not learn about the differences between SQL and MySQL with the intention of choosing one over the other. You should instead learn the differences between both database management tools in order to gain a basic understanding of the syntax and usage.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is MySQL the same as SQL Server?

No, MySQL and SQL Servers are both different Relational Database Management Systems that support different platforms and programming languages like C++, Python, PHP, etc.

Should I learn SQL or MySQL?

To work on any database management system you are required to learn the standard query language or SQL. Therefore, it is better to first learn the language and then understand the fundamentals of the RDBMS.

How difficult is it to learn SQL?

SQL is not really a complex language. It is a basic language with a fixed format and does not really have so many updates. Therefore, if you put your mind to it you could learn it easily.

What programs use SQL and MySQL?

Many famous web-based applications and companies use MySQL like WordPress, Youtube, Joomla, etc. SQL is also used by many platforms like MYSQL, Oracle, Microsoft SQL Server, etc.

Is MySQL structured?

What type of SQL is MySQL?

Is SQL a structured query language?

What type of language does MySQL use?