SQL is a programming language you can use to store and process information in a relational database. MySQL is the most widely adopted open-source relational database. It serves as the primary relational data store for many popular websites, applications, and commercial products. Both technologies work together so that you can store and process data in structured tables with rows and columns. MySQL is the underlying technology that stores the data, while SQL is the language you use to read, modify, and delete that data. Several relational database management systems use SQL, including Microsoft SQL Server, which is also very popular. The terms SQL and SQL Server are often used interchangeably, but they refer to two very different technologies.","sortDate":"2023-07-06","headlineUrl":"https://aws.amazon.com/compare/the-difference-between-sql-and-mysql/?trk=faq_card","id":"faq-hub#whats-the-difference-between-sql-and-mysql","category":"Databases","primaryCTA":"https://portal.aws.amazon.com/gp/aws/developer/registration/index.html?pg=compare_header","headline":"What’s the Difference Between SQL and MySQL?"},"metadata":{"tags":[{"id":"GLOBAL#tech-category#databases","name":"Databases","namespaceId":"GLOBAL#tech-category","description":"Databases","metadata":{}},{"id":"faq-hub#faq-type#compare","name":"compare","namespaceId":"faq-hub#faq-type","description":"

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SQL is a programming language you can use to store and process information in a relational database. MySQL is the most widely adopted open-source relational database. It serves as the primary relational data store for many popular websites, applications, and commercial products. Both technologies work together so that you can store and process data in structured tables with rows and columns. MySQL is the underlying technology that stores the data, while SQL is the language you use to read, modify, and delete that data. Several relational database management systems use SQL, including Microsoft SQL Server, which is also very popular. The terms SQL and SQL Server are often used interchangeably, but they refer to two very different technologies. \n

Read about SQL » \n

Read about MySQL »","id":"seo-faq-pairs#what-is-the-difference-between-sql-mysql","customSort":"1"},"metadata":{"tags":[{"id":"seo-faq-pairs#faq-collections#sql-vs-mysql","name":"sql-vs-mysql","namespaceId":"seo-faq-pairs#faq-collections","description":"

sql-vs-mysql","metadata":{}}]}},{"fields":{"faqQuestion":"What are the similarities between SQL and MySQL?","faqAnswer":"

MySQL and SQL are similar only in name and in that they’re both used in relational database systems. A relational database stores information in rows and series of tables, which means you can query them efficiently.  \n

Both SQL and MySQL have been around for decades. In the 1970s, Edgar Frank Codd published a paper called “A Relational Model of Data for Large Shared Data Banks.” From this paper, Raymond Boyce and Donald Chamberlin created SQL. In 1995, Monty Widenius co-created MySQL, naming it after his daughter My. \n

SQL and MySQL are still frequently used in data management and within relational database management systems today.","id":"seo-faq-pairs#what-are-similarities-between-sql-mysql","customSort":"2"},"metadata":{"tags":[{"id":"seo-faq-pairs#faq-collections#sql-vs-mysql","name":"sql-vs-mysql","namespaceId":"seo-faq-pairs#faq-collections","description":"

sql-vs-mysql","metadata":{}}]}},{"fields":{"faqQuestion":"Key differences: SQL vs. MySQL","faqAnswer":"

While MySQL and SQL are used in relational database management systems, they serve different functions.  \n

What they are \n

SQL is a programming language that you can use to query and process information in a relational database. You can use SQL to add, update, or retrieve data within a database. In 1986, the American National Standards Institute made SQL the official standard for relational databases. The International Organization for Standardization followed in 1987. \n

In contrast, MySQL is a relational database management system. As a relational database management system, you can use MySQL to store and manage data using tables. You can create tables and define relationships between them. You can also use multiple techniques—like indexes, transactions, and normalization—to store and retrieve data while maintaining consistency and accuracy.  \n

How they work \n

SQL implementation involves a server machine that processes the database queries and returns the results. Your SQL query goes through several software components, including the following: \n