Introduction to MYSQL Database Management System (DBMS) is used to store, retrieve, and modify the data. A good database engine serves as connector between you and your data, organizing and cataloging the data for quick and easy retrieval.
Database Architectures
Before you work with database, you need decide on which database you want to experiment. In short first you need to decide on which type of database architecture you are going to use. There are two options
- embedded
- client – server.
Let’s have a look on both the options
Embedded Databases
An embedded database engine sits inside the application that uses PHP. Therefore it always runs and stores its data on the same machine as the host application. The database is not networked, and only one program can connect to it at any given time. Moreover, the database cannot be shared between different machines because each one would simply end up storing and manipulating its own separate version of the data.
Advantages:
- Faster
- Easier to configure
- Easier to work with
Embedded database engines include dBase and dbm both and PHP supports these engines in the form of PHP extensions. Recently SQLite is being included, which is bundled with the PHP engine itself and easy to install.
Client – Server Databases
Client – server databases is more powerful and flexible than embedded databases.
Client – server is usually designed for use over networks, allowing many applications in a network to work simultaneously with the same data. The client- server database engine itself acts as a server, serving up data to its clients (much like Web servers serve pages to Web browsers).
Most relational databases including Oracle, DB2, and SQL Server have a client – server architecture.
A relational database is a more power and flexible database .it is also known as RDBMSs (Relational Database Management Systems). On the other hand, RDBMSs are often expensive and complex to set up and administer.
The PostgreSQL and MySQL, are both open source relational database systems that has been used by PHP developers for many years. They are fast, stable, easily meet the needs of most small – to – medium sized projects, and, free to download.
Advantages:
- Today, Relational Database is one of the most popular databases being used on the Web.
- It is freely available as a download to install and run on the machine.
- It is also easy to install on a wide range of operating systems (including UNIX, Windows, and Mac OS X).
- It is available as a relatively cheap feature in many Web hosting packages.
- It is very simple to use and also includes some administration tools.
- It is a fast, powerful system that will be managed well with large, complex databases.