What Is MariaDB?
Author: Domeny.ForSale editorial team Published
In brief: MariaDB is an open-source relational database management system: software for storing and organising information in related tables. It is used by websites, online shops and applications that need to save data and retrieve it quickly. MariaDB was built from MySQL, but the two projects develop independently, so not every version and feature is interchangeable.
How does MariaDB work, and what does it store?
A relational database organises information in tables with columns and rows. In an online shop, separate tables might contain customers, products and orders. A customer ID stored with an order links the purchase to the right person without repeatedly copying their details.
Strictly speaking, MariaDB is not a single database, but a system that manages databases. One MariaDB server can support multiple databases and user accounts, and each account can have different permissions. This makes it possible, for example, to separate the data of several applications running on the same server.
Data is handled primarily using SQL — a command language for retrieving, adding, changing and deleting information. An ordinary shop user does not enter these commands: the application executes them in response to the user’s actions. Clicking “My orders” might trigger a query that retrieves purchases associated with the logged-in account.
MariaDB also supports transactions: groups of operations treated as a single unit. Using the InnoDB storage engine, an application can combine the recording of an order and its line items so that all changes are either committed or rolled back. However, this requires the application to be programmed correctly — the mere presence of a database does not ensure that the purchasing process works correctly.
What is MariaDB used for on a website?
MariaDB often runs behind the scenes of a content management system, or CMS, such as WordPress. It stores content such as posts, settings and user account data. This means that changing text in the administration panel does not require manually editing the website’s files.
However, a database does not replace the entire hosting service. Program files, themes, plugins and uploaded photos are usually stored in the server’s file system or in separate storage. The database may store only information about these files, such as their names and locations.
Practical example: if you move WordPress to a new hosting service by copying only the files, the posts and settings stored in the database will be missing. If you copy only the database, photos, the theme and plugins may be missing. A complete migration or backup must include both components.
A simple website made from ready-made HTML files may not need MariaDB at all. A database becomes necessary when the application requires one, for example to handle accounts, a product catalogue or content editing through a control panel.
MariaDB and MySQL — similarities and compatibility limits
MariaDB began as a fork of MySQL: a separate project developed from its code. The two systems share common roots, along with many similar commands and ways of connecting to applications. For this reason, you may still encounter a driver or option named “mysql” in the configuration of a program that uses MariaDB.
This does not mean they are fully compatible. Differences include the available features, support for certain data types, authentication mechanisms and details of query execution. What matters is the specific pair of versions, not just the product name.
If an application officially supports both MariaDB and MySQL, the choice often depends on the hosting provider’s offering and the administrator’s experience. If the developer specifies only one system, you should not assume that the other will work without changes. Nor is there any basis for considering MariaDB always faster: performance depends on queries, data structure, configuration and server resources.
Before switching from MySQL to MariaDB or vice versa, check the migration documentation for the specific versions. Make a backup and perform a trial migration in a test environment. Successfully connecting to the database does not yet prove that all the application’s features work correctly.
What should you check before choosing MariaDB on your hosting?
For a website owner, whether the service meets the application’s requirements matters more than the database’s name alone. Hosting plan specifications and version support periods change, so confirm them in the hosting provider’s documentation, the application’s documentation and official MariaDB materials.
Before purchasing or migrating, check:
- Server version: whether it is supported and compatible with your CMS and add-ons.
- Service limits: available storage, the number of databases and limits on simultaneous connections.
- Backups: how often they are made, how long they are retained and the restoration procedure.
- Export options: whether you can download your data and move it to another provider.
- Access arrangements: whether the hosting service provides the administration tools you need and, if necessary, a secure remote connection.
MariaDB’s open-source nature means its source code is available under the terms of the relevant licences, not that there are no running costs. The server, administration, monitoring and commercial support may involve charges.
If you are launching a standard website on shared hosting, start by checking your CMS’s requirements and the MariaDB version available from the provider. Then establish how to restore the database from a backup — ideally before you store your first important data in it.
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