What is MySQL?
MySQL
is a type of database software that runs on a server. A database can
enable your site to automatically collect and store information in
an organized, searchable format, without you having to do even be
involved. Most large web sites such as CNET, Ebay, Yahoo and others
rely on a database of some kind to store the information that they
display on their sites. Some discussion forums and guest book even
use databases to store things more efficiently. There are many types
of databases that can be run on a server, such as Microsoft Access,
Microsoft SQL Server, Oracle, Sybase, and others.
MySQL is a popular open source database, open source meaning
that unlike most other database servers, there is no expensive
licensing fee to use it. This makes it popular with web hosts who
want to offer it to their customers as part of an economical hosting
package. MySQL is known for its speed and reliability and because of
its popularity is easy to get help with.
Data can be stored without using a database, but for large
amounts of information that is to be picked apart and presented in
different combinations, a database can be much faster and more
efficient for the job. MySQL uses a Structured Query Language (SQL)
that makes it easy to ask the database for things, as well as to
add, edit or delete things from the database. MySQL can handle many
requests at a time and can search millions of records quickly, so it
is great for large data stores, yet it also works well for small
databases. Many popular scripting languages such as PHP and Perl are
MySQL friendly. In fact, PHP and MySQL are commonly found together
because PHP makes it especially easy to communicate with the
database and to format and display the results of the
query.
How do I Build and Manage a
Database?
Historically, only programmer types have been
able to work with databases, since it required a good knowledge of
the SQL language and an ability to get around using a UNIX command
line, not to mention a hosting package that allowed command-line
access to the server. Nowadays however, most hosting services
provide PHPMyAdmin, a web-based tool that lets you point and click
to create and work with your MySQL database, and is almost easy
enough for a "normal" person to use.
Do I need MySQL?
Generally, databases
can be frustrating for inexperienced users to work with. If you
don't know a lot about working with databases, then you probably
aren't ready for MySQL, unless you have someone who can walk you
through it or do it for you. Personal web sites rarely use a
database directly, and e-commerce web sites typically use more
specialize "shopping cart" software. Sites that are good candidates
for needing a database are ones that will have large stores of
information that need to be searched in different ways or sites that
are built "on the fly" from information from a database. Many
hosting customers try to find a hosting plan that includes MySQL
support "just in case" they need it, but generally only a minority
of hosting customers do more than "play around with it" on their
site. Keep in mind though that some CGIs may require access to a
database, so if you plan to run any heavy duty CGIs on your site you
may want to consider having MySQL access as an available option.
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