What is the difference between MySQL and MariaDB?

MySQL predates MariaDB. In fact MariaDB is a fork of MySQL. MySQL was handed down from Sun Microsystems to Oracle which made it somewhat non-open source (http://hodentek.blogspot.com/2009/07/taking-table-over-to-mysql-from-ms.html) and a need for an open source version became desirable. MariaDB has found acceptance from the likes of Google(http://hodentek.blogspot.com/2013/09/mysql-is-challenged-by-its-fork.html) and others. Customers like RedHat,SUSE and WikiPedia have moved away from MySQL.

The reasons are obvious:

• MariaDB has more storage engines then MySQL.

• Better speed

• Has new extensions and features

• Better test and test suites

• Fewer warnings and bug

• Truly Open Source (GPL, LGPL or BSD)

• Strong Community(https://mariadb.com/kb/en/who-is-behind-mariadb/)