Core features and use cases

MariaDB is engineered to deliver speed, scalability, and reliability for modern applications. Here are the core features that make it an excellent choice for developers and data teams looking for MySQL compatibility with enterprise enhancements:

Core features

ACID compliance & transactional integrity

Guarantee data consistency and reliability with full ACID (Atomicity, Consistency, Isolation, Durability) support across all storage engines. Essential for applications requiring bulletproof data integrity and transactional consistency.

MySQL compatibility with enhancements

Enjoy seamless migration from MySQL while benefiting from performance improvements, additional storage engines, and enhanced features. Drop-in replacement capability with superior functionality and optimization.

Multiple storage engine support

Choose the optimal storage engine for your workload: InnoDB for transactions, MyISAM for read-heavy operations, ColumnStore for analytics, or Aria for crash-safe MyISAM replacement. Each engine optimized for specific use cases.

Advanced replication & clustering

Scale horizontally with sophisticated replication options including master-slave, master-master, and Galera Cluster for synchronous multi-master replication. Built-in load balancing and automatic failover capabilities.

High-performance query optimization

Accelerate query execution with the advanced optimizer, parallel query processing, and intelligent query caching. Thread pool support ensures consistent performance under high concurrent loads.

Enterprise security features

Protect sensitive data with comprehensive security including role-based access control, data-at-rest encryption, SSL/TLS connections, password validation plugins, and detailed audit logging.

JSON & NoSQL capabilities

Handle semi-structured data with native JSON support, dynamic columns, and NoSQL-style operations. Bridge relational and document database paradigms within a single system.

Comprehensive backup & recovery

Safeguard your data with point-in-time recovery, incremental backups, and hot backup capabilities. MariaBackup provides non-blocking backup solutions for mission-critical environments.

Use cases

MariaDB provides the performance and enterprise features needed for demanding production environments. Here are key scenarios where it delivers exceptional value:

Web applications & e-commerce

Power high-traffic websites and online stores with optimized read/write performance. Handle shopping carts, user sessions, and product catalogs while maintaining ACID compliance for financial transactions.

Content management & media platforms

Manage large volumes of content with efficient storage and retrieval. Support blogs, news sites, and media platforms with full-text search, flexible schema design, and high-availability configurations.

Analytics & data processing

Process analytical workloads with ColumnStore engine designed for big data analytics. Perform complex aggregations, data mining, and business intelligence queries on massive datasets.

Cloud-native applications

Deploy scalable microservices with containerized MariaDB instances. Leverage Galera Cluster for distributed deployments, automatic scaling, and cloud-native architectures.

Legacy MySQL migrations

Modernize existing MySQL applications with enhanced performance and features. Seamless compatibility ensures smooth transitions while unlocking advanced capabilities and improved reliability.

Real-time applications

Support gaming platforms, chat applications, and live streaming services with low-latency performance. Thread pool architecture and connection handling optimize response times for real-time interactions.

Enterprise resource planning (ERP)

Build comprehensive business management systems with complex relational models. Multi-storage engine flexibility allows optimization of different components within integrated business applications.