MySQL Tutorial

What is MySQL?

MySQL is a freely available open source Relational Database Management System [RDBMS], a database engine of sorts that uses Structured Query Language (SQL). SQL is the most popular language for adding, accessing, and processing data in a database, and is most noted for its rapid processing, proven reliability, and ease and flexibility of use. Best mate for PHP, MySQL is part in almost every open source application. Good examples for use of its power are phpBB, osCommerce, and phpNuke.

You can see how dynamic MySQL can be when used together with PHP on the web site of the hottest web2.0 applications digg.com and del.icio.us. You can search with 1 keyword or a keyword phrase, the returned results are sorted and best matched through the combined use of PHP and MySQL, generating a dynamically created web page on the fly. Our own site uses MySQL, which manages to answer more than 120 queries per second! Can you do that?

MySQL can be used on multiple web servers, including Windows and Linux and it is offered in most of the hosting packages free of charge.