A unique constraint specifies, one or more columns as unique it identifies. It is satisfied only when no two rows store the same non-null values at its core. A primary key constraint is a unique one that will say PRIMARY KEY in its defined way. It is satisfied only when rows unfold, and none may […]

At Percona, our mission has always been to help you succeed with open source databases. We do that by listening to the community, understanding the challenges you face, and building the solutions you need. Now, after a comprehensive review of market trends and direct feedback from our customers and the MySQL community, we are excited […]

The MySQL database server is a foundational component of the open-source world. While its impact is undeniable, looking at the raw statistics of its core source code repository reveals a dynamic and sometimes surprising development history. By analyzing the total lines of code inserted, the number of commits over the years, and unique contributors, we […]

In a recent post, The Quirks of Index Maintenance in Open Source Databases, I compared the IO load generated by open source databases while inserting rows in a table with many secondary indexes. Because of its change buffer, InnoDB was the most efficient solution. However, that’s not the end of the story. Evolution of the […]

Data masking lets you hide sensitive fields (emails, credit-card numbers, job titles, etc.) while keeping data realistic for reporting, support, or testing. It is particularly useful when you collaborate with external entities and need to share your data for development reasons. You also need to protect your data and keep your customers’ privacy safe. Last […]

We’ve mentioned this a few times here on the blog already, but in case you missed it, MySQL 8.0’s end-of-life date is April 2026. This probably sounds forever away, but it’s going to sneak up before you know it. Maybe you’ve been putting off thinking about it, or maybe you’re already weighing your options but […]

When you run a simple write, …it may look simple, but under the hood, MySQL’s InnoDB engine kicks off a pretty complex sequence to ensure your data stays safe, consistent, and crash-recoverable. In the top-left corner of the diagram, we see exactly where this begins — the moment the query is executed: [crayon-69531605409bf841336617/] The log […]

Right now, you’re probably hoping someone else will deal with this MySQL 8.0 end-of-life situation. Maybe your team can squeeze another few months out of it. Maybe Oracle will extend support. Maybe it won’t be as bad as everyone says. We get it.  You’ve got enough things going on without adding “major database upgrade” to […]

How do you know if your backup is truly reliable? The last thing you want is to discover your data is corrupted during a critical restore or during a migration. While MyDumper is a powerful tool for logical backups, its -M option takes backup integrity to the next level by creating checksums. This often-overlooked feature […]

If you manage a MySQL database, you’ve probably heard the news: MySQL 8.0 is heading for its End of Life (EOL), and taking center stage is MySQL 8.4, the first-ever Long-Term Support (LTS) release. This is great news for all of us who value stability, as it means a more predictable, enterprise-ready platform for the […]