PostgreSQL vs. MySQL
The choice between PostgreSQL and MySQL is crucial when selecting an open-source relational database management system.
Both PostgreSQL and MySQL are time-proven solutions that are capable of competing with enterprise solutions alternatives like Oracle Database and SQL Server.
MySQL has been famous for its ease of use and speed, whereas PostgreSQL boasts many advanced features, earning it the reputation of an open-source counterpart to Oracle Database.
The following table compares the features of PostgreSQL 16.x vs. MySQL 8.x:
| Feature | PostgreSQL | MySQL |
|---|---|---|
| Known as | PostgreSQL is an open-source project. | The world’s most advanced open-source database. |
| Development | PostgreSQL is an open-source project. | MySQL is an open-source product. |
| Pronunciation | post gress queue ell | my ess queue ell |
| Licensing | MIT-style license | GNU General Public License |
| Implementation programming language | C | C/C++ |
| GUI tool | pgAdmin | MySQL Workbench |
| ACID | Yes | Yes |
| Storage engine | Single storage engine | Multiple storage engines e.g., InnoDB and MyISAM |
| Full-text search | Yes | Yes (Limited) |
| Drop a temporary table | No TEMP or TEMPORARY keyword in DROP TABLE statement | Support the TEMP or TEMPORARY keyword in the DROP TABLE statement that allows you to remove the temporary table only. |
DROP TABLE | Support CASCADE option to drop table’s dependent objects e.g., tables and views. | Does not support CASCADE option. |
TRUNCATE TABLE | PostgreSQL TRUNCATE TABLE supports more features like CASCADE, RESTART IDENTITY, CONTINUE IDENTITY, transaction-safe, etc. | MySQL TRUNCATE TABLE does not support CASCADE and transaction safe i.e., once data is deleted, it cannot be rolled back. |
| Auto increment Column | SERIAL | AUTO_INCREMENT |
| Identity Column | Yes | No |
| Window functions | Yes | Yes |
| Data types | Support SQL-standard types as well as user-defined types | SQL-standard types |
| Unsigned integer | No | Yes |
| Boolean type | Yes | Use TINYINT(1) internally for Boolean |
| IP address data type | Yes | No |
| Set a default value for a column | Support both constant and function call | Must be a constant or CURRENT_TIMESTAMP for TIMESTAMP or DATETIME columns |
| CTE | Yes | Yes (Supported CTE since MySQL 8.0) |
EXPLAIN output | More detailed | Less detailed |
| Materialized views | Yes | No |
| CHECK constraint | Yes | Yes (Supported since MySQL 8.0.16, Before that MySQL just ignored the CHECK constraint) |
| Table inheritance | Yes | No |
| Programming languages for stored procedures | Ruby, Perl, Python, TCL, PL/pgSQL, SQL, JavaScript, etc. | SQL:2003 syntax for stored procedures |
FULL OUTER JOIN | Yes | No |
INTERSECT | Yes | Yes (INTERSECT in MySQL 8.0.31) |
EXCEPT | Yes | Yes |
| Partial indexes | Yes | No |
| Bitmap indexes | Yes | No |
| Expression indexes | Yes | Yes (functional index in MySQL 8.0.13) |
| Covering indexes | Yes (since version 9.2) | Yes. MySQL supports covering indexes that allow data to be retrieved by scanning the index alone without touching the table data. This is advantageous in the case of large tables with millions of rows. |
| Triggers | Support triggers that can fire on most types of command, except for ones affecting the database globally e.g., roles and tablespaces. | Limited to some commands |
| Partitioning | RANGE, LIST | RANGE, LIST, HASH, KEY, and composite partitioning using a combination of RANGE or LIST with HASH or KEY subpartitions |
| Task Scheduler | pgAgent | Scheduled event |
| Connection Scalability | Each new connection is an OS process | Each new connection is an OS thread |