Most used Databases for PHP Web Application Development

 

MySQL:

If you're a beginner and just getting started with PHP, then MySQL is the best database for you.

MySQL is a popular open-source relational database management system (RDBMS) that's been around since 1995. While there are newer, more modern databases out there, MySQL still has some notable advantages over them:

MySQL has been around for two decades, so it's well understood by most developers and web hosts. In fact, it's probably the first RDBMS that most people try. As such, there are plenty of books and online resources available to help you get started and solve problems if/when they arise.

It's installed on almost every web host in existence and is compatible with every programming language under the sun. For example, if you want to work with PHP and MySQL together on a shared host or VPS server it will only cost you $5-$15 month (if that).

The MySQL community provides free support via forums where experts can help with questions about installation issues or other common problems encountered by beginners new to PHP development or installing WordPress themselves.

MongoDB:

MongoDB is one of the most popular databases for web applications. The main reason why developers choose MongoDB is because it offers high speed, scalability and availability.

Some of its key features are:

• Easier to use: No need to create a schema before you insert a document. You can simply start inserting documents. This makes it very easy to use and get started with MongoDB.

• Rich Query Language: It provides a rich query language that allows you to select data in various ways and also supports regular expressions for pattern matching.

• Supports multiple storage engines: MongoDB supports multiple storages engines like MMAPv1, WiredTiger, etc that provide different performance benefits based on your application needs.

• Faster reads and writes at scale: MongoDB is built using C++, which makes read operations faster than MySQL by more than 100 times. MongoDB can store large volumes of structured, semi-structured and unstructured data as well as provide read access to this data quickly from any location in the world.

• NoSQL Database: It is not relational so it does not require table joins or fixed schemas or SQL query syntax for storing and retrieving data like traditional RDBMS systems do. You can use JSON like syntax for querying the database or write queries using the Mongo Query Language (MQL).

Which DB will you choose for your Web Application Development?

You need to select a database based on your use case and business requirements. For example, if you require data to be easily added or modified then you should go with MongoDB. On the other hand, if you prefer your data to be structured even before it’s stored in the database then MySQL is the best choice for you.

In short, there is no “one size fits all” approach when it comes to selecting a database for your application development. You need to choose one based on your requirements such as scalability, speed of operation, reliability and support for complex queries etc.