In my last MySQL article, I briefly mentioned that MySQL is owned by Oracle. But that got me thinking, why not compare MySQL and Oracle SQL? They’re both owned by the same company, and yet they both seem very different when using. In theory, every SQL language supported by different management systems should all be at least somewhat different. But these two RDBMSs have more differences than just the syntax. So that’s what we’ll be exploring in this article. Like the others, we’ll first start with a brief overview of Oracle SQL. Just a short description of what it is and some of the details we’ll need to reference later. Finally, we’ll compare some of the differences between MySQL and Oracle SQL. Like the other MySQL versus… articles, it isn’t going to be all-inclusive. But we’ll at least look at some of the major differences.
Oracle SQL Overview
When referring to Oracle SQL, we are talking about Oracle Database. It is a Relational Database Management System (RDBMS) that uses a commercial license. Oracle SQL is a cross-platform management system, meaning it can be run on a variety of operating systems. This database management system was the first relational system to be developed to manipulate records within the database. Oracle SQL was also built to be scalable, portable, and easily programmable.
Oracle SQL is built to handle large quantities of data. It even has recovery management tools. Another major goal is the reliability of that data and ensuring the data’s integrity is maintained. It does so by following the ACID (atomicity, consistency, isolation, and durability) to maintain that integrity.
Open-Source Database
As you know well by now, MySQL is an open-source database. In comparison, however, Oracle SQL is developed to be commercial. That means without a license, you would not be able to use Oracle SQL. There is an express addition of Oracle SQL that is free to use, but that is recommended only for students to use.
Database capabilities
As far as scalability, MySQL can be used for both small and large businesses. Oracle SQL is designed to be large-scale and can support large quantities of data.
MySQL does not support data partitioning and only works with static systems. Oracle SQL, however, supports data partitioning. It can also work with both static and dynamic systems. However, MySQL supports some types that Oracle SQL does not. For example, MySQL supports Null values. Oracle SQL does not support Null values.
MySQL supports the Sql language. However, Oracle SQL supports both SQL and PL/SQL.
Oracle SQL does not support as many operating systems when compared to MySQL. For example, Oracle SQL supports Windows, Mac OS X, Linux, Unix, and z/OS. MySQL supports all of those in addition to BSD, Symbian, and AmigaOS.
Up until version 5, MySQL did not support Stored Procedures. Oracle SQL, in comparison, supports Stored Procedures embedded in the database. They can be either executed or triggered by events.
Oracle SQL cannot be customized, as it is a closed source. In comparison, MySQL can be modified. Because it is open-source, the code can be altered for individual environments based on whatever requirements you may have.
Security and Administration
Both MySQL and Oracle SQL have security such as usernames and passwords. However, there are some small differences between the two. For example, in MySQL, a host needs to be identified. But with the host, a username, and a password, users have access to the database. With Oracle SQL, a username and password are required for logging in, but a profile also needs to be validated. That means if the profile is not set up, then the user cannot access it. That also helps to define the user roles.
Because Oracle owns both Oracle SQL and MySQL, there is support and documentation for both. Oracle SQL uses community support as well as a variety of support options for the paid product. For MySQL, there are technical support services available 24/7. Mainly, those support engineers are looking for fixes on bugs, regular maintenance, and pushing security patches.
Advantages of Oracle
If a high degree of scalability is required, and data is already estimated to be larger, Oracle SQL would be the better option. If that large database also needs to be hosted, then choose Oracle SQL. It should also be chosen when flexibility is required in transaction control. Oracle SQL would also be the better option when the database needs to be platform-independent. Because Oracle SQL is set up for larger databases and higher interaction, it supports a larger concurrency pool than MySQL. Although it is paid, because of the support and capabilities, Oracle SQL is designed to be the optimal option for businesses, especially as it is built to scale with businesses.
Disadvantages of Oracle
The enterprise edition of Oracle SQL is the only free edition, as it is primarily licensed for commercial use. This means it is available to be accessed and learned by few people unless paid for. Because it is paid, it is not open-source. This means that any updates and fixes, or even the prices, are made by Oracle. This means less transparency of the product. It also means less customization and flexibility, as it is a finished product. When compared to MySQL, the final disadvantage is in the syntax. The learning curve is a little steep compared to MySQL. Oracle SQL is not very difficult to learn, but it is just not as simple as MySQL.
Advantages of MySQL
MySQL has a few instances when it is a better option. One such instance is when the database doesn’t need to be scaled to a large degree. Another instance is when a read-only database is needed for a website or a web app. If a higher degree of replication is not needed, MySQL would be the better choice. Because MySQL does have a free and open version under a GNU license, budget would also be a good reason to choose MySQL. The final reason to choose MySQL over Oracle SQL is when there is a low concurrency rate, or if only simple queries are required.
Disadvantages of MySQL
Because MySQL is owned by Oracle, there are many restrictions when compared to other open-source relational database management systems. Although it is flexible for small and large businesses, it isn’t built for large-scale data like Oracle SQL. MySQL also does not support integration with other client applications. It also allows the use of triggers. Although those can be very useful for data, they can also impose a high load on the database server. MySQL is slower in comparison to Oracle SQL and also has lower storage options. It also cannot support large thread pools, but this is because the memory storage capacity is lesser in comparison to Oracle. As we mentioned in the last MySQL versus article, MySQL is not completely open-source. Instead, it does have some proprietary code in its enterprise edition.
Conclusion
MySQL and Oracle SQL are both RDBMSs (relational database management systems) owned by Oracle Corporation. MySQL is built to be primarily free and open-source, while Oracle is primarily built to be commercial and paid. MySQL is also more customizable than Oracle which is because Oracle is a finished product. Both management systems offer support, both community and technical. Although both are owned by the same company, these databases are very different, especially when comparing some of the capabilities such as concurrency threads or data partitioning. Both databases could be very strong options.
When you decide which database you need, you should consider the scale of your project and the budget. Although Oracle does have a free version, it is primarily made for students and not as openly available for everyone to use as MySQL is. MySQL does have a paid version that would help with many missing capabilities lacking from the free version, but for most projects, you would only need the free version at home. At the end of the day, both are good options for database management systems, but if you are working at home you may want to choose MySQL to stay budget-friendly. But if you create your own business, as it scales and data becomes larger, you may consider selecting Oracle SQL to scale with your business. Whatever you decide, you know your project best. Hopefully, this article gave you a little more detail on each database and what makes them so different. Until next time, cheers!
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References:
Difference between Oracle and MySQL – GeeksforGeeks
Difference between MySQL and Oracle – javatpoint
MySQL vs Oracle | Top 7 Most valuable Differences To Learn
MySQL vs Oracle: A Comprehensive Analysis – Learn | Hevo
A Definitive Guide to Databases – Oracle vs. SQL Server vs. MySQL
