# MySQL/MariaDB - Compatibility Research

## Latest Version & Changes
**MySQL**: Version 8.0 (stable, widely adopted)
**MariaDB**: Version 11.4 LTS (recommended as of June 2025)

### Market Trends (2025)
- **Shift**: MariaDB now powers more WordPress sites than MySQL (as of March 2025)
- **Performance**: MariaDB 13-36% faster than MySQL 8.0
- **Adoption**: Growing preference for MariaDB in new projects

## Compatibility Analysis
- **Drop-in Replacement**: MariaDB 10.6+ limited compatibility with MySQL 5.7
- **MySQL 8.0 vs MariaDB**: Significant differences, not directly compatible
- **Connectors**: All MySQL connectors work with MariaDB
- **Binary Compatibility**: MariaDB data files generally compatible

## Known Issues & Problems
- **Replication**: MariaDB <10.6.21 cannot replicate from MySQL 8.0
- **GTIDs**: Different implementations between systems
- **Feature Differences**: Growing divergence in advanced features

## Best Practices & Recommendations
### For New Projects (2025)
- **Recommended**: MariaDB 11.4 LTS (better performance, features)
- **Alternative**: MySQL 8.0 (enterprise-grade, wide support)

### Migration Considerations  
- **MySQL to MariaDB**: Generally straightforward
- **MariaDB to MySQL**: More complex due to feature differences
- **Version Strategy**: Avoid MariaDB <10.6 (EOL status)

### Production Recommendations
- **Primary Choice**: MariaDB 11.4 LTS
- **Fallback**: MySQL 8.0 for enterprise requirements
- **Compatibility**: Plan for potential differences in advanced features

Research Date: 2025-09-12
**VERDICT**: ✅ BOTH VIABLE - MariaDB preferred for performance