Difference Between
MySQL and Oracle
by Muzzamil Arain (BS Cyber Security)
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MySQL and Oracle are both relational database management systems (RDBMS), but they have key differences.
Similarities
• Relational Databases : Both use structured data organized in tables with rows and columns.
• SQL Support : Both use SQL for querying and managing data.
• ACID Compliance : Both ensure data integrity through ACID properties (Atomicity, Consistency, Isolation,
Durability).
• Cross-Platform : Both can run on multiple operating systems.
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Differences
Feature MySQL Oracle
Ownership Open-source (owned by Oracle Corp). Commercial (owned by Oracle Corp).
Cost Free (with paid enterprise editions). Paid (license required for most versions).
Complexity Easier for beginners. More advanced features; better for large-
scale systems.
Stored Procedures Limited capabilities. Robust PL/SQL language for programming.
Scalability Suitable for small to medium apps. Designed for enterprise-level scalability.
Use Cases Web apps, startups, and small businesses. Large-scale systems, ERP, and financial
systems.
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Syntax
MySQL and Oracle both use SQL, but their syntax has notable differences , especially in advanced features.
Data Types:
Feature MySQL Oracle
String Data Type VARCHAR, TEXT VARCHAR2, CLOB
Integer Data Type INT, BIGINT NUMBER, INTEGER
Date Data Type DATE DATE, TIMESTAMP
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Creating a Table
• MySQL :
CREATE TABLE students (
id INT AUTO_INCREMENT PRIMARY KEY,
name VARCHAR(50),
age INT,
enrollment_date DATE );
• Oracle :
CREATE TABLE students (
id NUMBER GENERATED BY DEFAULT AS IDENTITY PRIMARY KEY,
name VARCHAR2(50),
age NUMBER,
enrollment_date DATE );
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