What is the difference between MariaDB and MySQL?

MariaDB is a fork of MySQL that originated soon after MySQL was acquired by Oracle. Here are some differences between MariaDB and MySQL:

1. Developers: MySQL was developed by MySQL AB in Sweden and was acquired by Sun Microsystems in 2008, then later acquired by Oracle. Meanwhile, MariaDB was developed by a team led by the original MySQL founder Michael Widenius.
2. Open-source nature: MariaDB is an open-source project, with its source code fully available for free modification and distribution. However, MySQL’s open-source nature is somewhat restricted, as Oracle has released two versions: an open-source version (Community Edition) and a commercial version (Enterprise Edition).
3. Feature expansion: MariaDB is basically compatible with MySQL in terms of functionality, but it also includes some additional features and extensions. For example, MariaDB has introduced XtraDB (a branch of InnoDB) and Aria engines in terms of storage engines, as well as better performance and security.
4. Community involvement: The MariaDB community has relatively high participation, with many contributions from developers and users. In contrast, the MySQL community has relatively low participation, with most of the development work being handled by Oracle.
5. Release cycle: MariaDB’s version releases are more frequent than MySQL. MariaDB uses a more flexible version release strategy, allowing for quicker introduction of new features and bug fixes.

In general, MariaDB is a branch of MySQL aimed at maintaining compatibility with MySQL while offering additional features and improvements. In some cases, MariaDB may be preferred by certain developers and users, especially those who value open-source nature and community involvement.