MariaDB

MariaDB is an open source relational database management system that emerged as a fork of MySQL in 2009. Created by MySQL founder Michael "Monty" Widenius, MariaDB was developed to ensure an open source future for the database after MySQL's acquisition by Oracle. MariaDB offers a drop-in replacement for MySQL with high compatibility, while also providing additional features and performance enhancements.

MariaDB is designed to be fast, scalable and robust, supporting a wide range of use cases from banking applications to websites. It offers native support for multiple storage engines including InnoDB, MyRocks, and ColumnStore, allowing users to optimize for different workloads. MariaDB also provides advanced features like JSON support, temporal data processing, and database encryption.

The database is developed as open source software under the GNU General Public License. This allows users to freely use, modify and distribute the software. MariaDB's development is guided by the non-profit MariaDB Foundation, which aims to ensure the database remains open and community-driven.

Key customers and partnerships

MariaDB has gained widespread adoption among major technology companies and organizations. Notable users include Wikipedia, Google, and WordPress. Other significant users include Deutsche Telekom and ServiceNow.

In the financial sector, MariaDB is employed for managing sensitive transactions and customer data due to its strong security features. healthcare systems utilize MariaDB for patient records and medical data management. Educational institutions implement it for student information systems and research data analysis.

MariaDB Corporation, a commercial entity distinct from the MariaDB Foundation, provides enterprise support, services and products built on MariaDB. In February 2022, MariaDB Corporation announced plans to go public through a merger with a special purpose acquisition company, valuing the business at USD 672 million. The public listing aimed to accelerate MariaDB's growth and expansion in the database market.