A database management system is essential for helping users to manage and develop databases. The most popular one is MySQL. It lets developers build multiple databases that can be accessed by multiple users at the same time. MySQL is perfect for managing relational databases, which typically handle very large amounts of data for all sorts of purposes. These usually come in the form of tables with columns and rows. Indexes are often used to make access quicker. Lots of large familiar companies like Facebook and Flickr depend on MySQL for their services. There’s a free version of MySQL and you can also pay for extra features that expand the possibilities.
MySQL is part of the LAMP collection of software which is often used with web servers. Programs like WordPress, phpBB, TYPO3 and Drupal use MySQL. MySQL is popular and widely used because versions are available for around 30 operating systems, including Linux, Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X, AIX, Solaris, and Symbian.
For the management of MySQL there are various graphical applications that can be used for a simple user-friendly creation and manipulation of databases, most popular of which is phpMyAdmin—also free web-based application offered by most hosts worldwide.