MySQL is a Relational DataBase Management System (RDBMS).

What is SQL?

• SQL stands for Structured Query Language
• SQL lets you access and manipulate databases
• SQL is an ANSI (American National Standards Institute) standard

Features of MySQL

1. Speed:Ofcourse, the speed at which a server side program runs depends primarily on the server hardware. Given that the server hardware is optimal, MySQL runs very fast. It supports clustered servers for demanding applications.

2. Ease of use:MySQL is a high-performance, relatively simple database system. From the beginning, MySQL has typically been configured, monitored, and managed from the command line. However, several MySQL graphical interfaces are available as described below:

• MySQL Administrator: This tool makes it possible for administrators to set up, evaluate, and tune their MySQL database server. This is intended as a replacement for mysqladmin.
• MySQL Query Browser: Provides database developers and operators with a graphical database operation interface. It is especially useful for seeing multiple query plans and result sets in a single user interface.
• Configuration Wizard: Administrators can choose from a predefined list of optimal settings, or create their own.
• MySQL System Tray: Provides Windows-based administrators a single view of their MySQL instance, including the ability to start and stop their database servers.

3. Cost:MySQL is available free of cost. MySQL  is a “Open Source” database. MySQL is part of LAMP (Linux, Apache, MySQL, PHP / Perl / Python) environemtn, a fast growing open source enterprise software stack. More and more companies are using LAMP as an alternative to expensive proprietary software stacks because of its lower cost, reliability, and documentation.

4.Query Language Support:MySQL understands standards based SQL (Structured Query Language).

5.Capability :Many clients can connect to the server at the same time. Clients can use multiple database simultaneously. You can  access MySQL using several interfaces such as command-line clients, Web browsers.

6.Connectivity and security: MySQL is fully networked, and database can be accessed from anywhere on the Internet, so you can share your data with  anyone, anywhere. The connectivity could be achieved with Windows programs by using ODBC drivers. By using the ODBC connector to MySQL, any ODBC-aware client application (for example, Microsoft Office, report writers, Visual Basic) can connect to MySQL.

7.Portability: MySQL runs on many varieties of UNIX, as well as on other non-UNIX systems, such as Windows and OS/2. MySQL runs on hardware from home PCs to high-end server. MySQL can be installed on Windows XP, Windows Server 2003, Red Hat Fedora Linux, Debian Linux, and others.