PostgreSQL vs. MySQL: What You Need to Know

MySQL and PostgreSQL are the two most popular open source relational databases, serving as backends for numerous applications. Both have been around for a long time and offer secure RDBMSes with support for clustering and network fault tolerance. However, they differ in several aspects such as architecture, data types supported, indexes supported, performance, security, and support. PostgreSQL is an object-relational database offering more complex data types and allowing objects to inherit properties, while MySQL is purely relational with support for 16 different storage engines suitable for various use cases. In terms of data types, Postgres offers a wider variety than MySQL, making it a better choice if dealing with unique or unstructured data. Both databases have comparable security options and support community-based forums, but MySQL also offers paid support plans from Oracle. The choice between the two depends on the specific needs of an application, such as its expected growth, complexity of queries, frequency of write operations, familiarity with developers, and third-party tool availability.