If you are facing the dilemma of having to choose a regional database for your application, then there are widely two options that you can choose from. We are, of course, talking about PostgreSQL and MySQL as these two are often considered the top contenders.
Both of these options are powerful and even have a good level of adoption across different development communities. However, there are a lot of differences between them when it comes to design philosophy and even features. They are also different when it comes to being suitable for different applications.
And both of them are not built equal.
Today, we will talk about why PostgreSQL, often simply called “Postgres”, is the better option among the two and why you should choose it. We will talk about all the important reasons for this.
But before we start with the reasons, let us understand what Postgres and MySQL are.
What Is PostgreSQL?
PostgreSQL is considered one of the most powerful open-source object-relational database management systems (ORDBMS) out there and it was released way back in 1989 and developed by the PostgreSQL Global Development Group.
It has one of the best reputations when it comes to standard compliance and even data integrity and it is well known for its rich set of features as well as extensibility. When we talk about performance then again this is a very good option.
PostgreSQL is primarily used for enterprise applications as well as complex data environments and even in GIS systems and much more. It is also a great match when it comes to analytics applications.
What Is MySQL?
Speaking of MySQL, it is also a very well-known relational database management system (RDBMS) and was primary developed by MySQL AB, which is now under Oracle.
This relational database management system is most popular in the LAMP (Linux, Apache, MySQL, PHP/Python/Perl) stack, which makes it very popular for web development.
The best thing about MySQL is that it is simple and also very well known for how easy it is to use, and also for its speed.
While it is not really utilised in enterprise applications as much but it is still favoured by startups and web applications.
When it comes to MySQL, you can expect a good range of tools with it, especially when it comes to PHP-based applications, such as some very popular ones like WordPress and Drupal.
So, Why Choose PostgreSQL Over MySQL? Let’s Find Out
PostgreSQL is More Feature-Rich and Standards-Compliant
One of the greatest advantages of PostgreSQL is the fact that it has a very strong focus on standards compliance and specifically when it comes to SQL:2011 and ANSI SQL compliance.
This means that it is accepted widely across industries and along with that, it also comes with other distinctive advantages such as full ACID compliance.
PostgreSQL utilises advanced indexing techniques such as GIN, GiST, BRIN, expression indexes, partial indexes, which just makes it a much more preferred choice.
Along with that, you also get custom data types and support for arrays and JSONB (binary JSON). You get the advantage of materialised views, triggers, stored procedures in many languages like PL/pgSQL, Python, Perl, etc. and a whole host of other features.
While MySQL does support these features, there are a lot of limitations.
Better Data Integrity and Constraints
If you are looking for a system that focuses highly on data integrity, then PostgreSQL is one of the best options for it, especially when it comes to support for constraints such as check constraints, as well as exclusion constraints and foreign keys with full cascading support, as well as deferrable constraints.
As of now, MySQL 8.0 does support constraints but they are still at a limited capacity compared to PostgreSQL.
Advanced Query Planner and Optimisation
When it comes to query planning and optimisation, we can expect far better results with PostgreSQL as PostgreSQL’s query planner and optimizer are much more sophisticated and this leads to better execution plans and much more efficient queries specially when it comes to complex joins as well as subqueries and even aggregations and geospatial queries (with PostGIS).
This is an area where PostgreSQL steals the competition when it comes to high-performance analytical workloads.
Extensibility and Customisation
PostgreSQL has its strengths and extensibility is definitely one of them. With PostgreSQL’s you will be able to create your own data types and operators and even indexing methods and load custom extensions such as PostGIS (for geospatial data), pg_partman (for time-based partitioning), or pg_stat_statements (for query analytics).
This is one of the reasons PostgreSQL is the natural ideal choice when it comes to very complex domain-specific applications.
First-Class JSON and Document Storage Support
If you have the need to store and query as well as index JSON documents efficiently, then again PostgreSQL is going to be the best choice for you as it allows all of that and provides you with a lot of flexibility when it comes to the flexibility of a document store such as MongoDB.
Key JSON features that you can expect with PostgreSQL include JSON path queries as well as indexing on JSON fields and even different functions that will help you manipulate and transform JSON data, along with hybrid relational + document models.
While MySQL does have support for JSON but it is not nearly as powerful or even as efficient.
Stronger Security Features
An enterprise solution should always offer granular controls when it comes to every aspect of its operation and that is also the case when it comes to security with PostgreSQL.
You can expect truly granular controls in the form of row-level security (RLS) as well as native support for SSL, GSSAPI, SSPI, and LDAP authentication, along with role-based access control, which is very important in enterprise applications.
Along with all of these advantages, a relational database is only as good as it’s community as well as licensing and ecosystem and that is also an area where PostgreSQL is clearly better than the competition as it uses a liberal PostgreSQL License, which is very business friendly, unlike a MySQL licence as it is owned by Oracle.
The PostgreSQL ecosystem is also excellent and along with that, it also has one of the most active and well-organised communities in the development sphere, which all combine to make PostgreSQL just the overall better choice for serious and complex enterprise and analytical workloads and business applications over MySQL.
That is why if you are looking to build an application with data integrity and advanced features in mind, then PostgreSQL is the best option for you and if you are looking for developers with extensive experience in PostgreSQL utilisation, then we are here for you.
We are Think To Share IT Solutions and we have one of the finest reputations in the industry for PostgreSQL utilisation and integration when it comes to relational database development.
We welcome you to visit our website and check out everything we do and we would love to help you build your next application with PostgreSQL.
