MySQL is a free, dynamically developing database server, which together with the Apache and PHP servers creates the so-called "LAMP". (Linux - Apache - MySQL - PHP) - currently the most popular server architecture for small and medium-sized websites. MySQL was developed primarily with performance in mind, not compliance with current standards.

Therefore, many specialists accuse him of lack of basic functions, which have been available for years in the competition. In version 5, the authors tried to make ANSI SQL 99 compliant and took care to fill in the most important defects so far: lack of stored procedures, views and replications.