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General Discussion

Desmond Dallas
Desmond Dallas
6,985 Points
Posted by Desmond Dallas
Desmond Dallas
6,985 Points

MySQL - SQL

Advise please!

Started learning PHP and within the book it’s also teaches MySQL, but not in-depth. I’m confused to the difference between MySQL and SQL.

I want to learn programming as well as front and backend web development.

Is it worth learning MySQL or SQL and if so which one?

2 Answers

Luc de Brouwer
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Luc de Brouwer
Full Stack JavaScript Techdegree Student 17,939 Points
Luc de Brouwer
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Luc de Brouwer
Full Stack JavaScript Techdegree Student 17,939 Points

Hi, Desmond,

I think you are trying to ask what the differences between MySql and MS-SQL are. Because MySql is nothing but a relative database and SQL is a Structured Query Language that the most Databases use.

SQL is most definitely worth to learn. However, it comes to personal preference and in what situation you are whether you decide to use (Oracle) MySql(open source) or (Microsoft) MS-SQL(not open source). For beginning tho, MySql is easier to get into at first, less complex.

Desmond Dallas
Desmond Dallas
6,985 Points
Desmond Dallas
Desmond Dallas
6,985 Points

Thanks for the reply. However I’m still confused to what a relational database is.

I wish to have the skill to do front and backend web development. For example if I wish to develop an educational website having and having the functionality to monitor users progress via backend. This I believe I will need a database for.

I prefer to learn the platform that has most to offer regardless of difficulty.

Desmond Dallas
Desmond Dallas
6,985 Points
Desmond Dallas
Desmond Dallas
6,985 Points

Thanks for the reply. However I’m still confused to what a relational database is.

I wish to have the skill to do front and backend web development. For example if I wish to develop an educational website having the facility to monitor users progress. This I believe I will need a database for.

I prefer to learn the platform that has most to offer regardless of difficulty.

Luc de Brouwer
seal-mask
.a{fill-rule:evenodd;}techdegree
Luc de Brouwer
Full Stack JavaScript Techdegree Student 17,939 Points
Luc de Brouwer
.a{fill-rule:evenodd;}techdegree
Luc de Brouwer
Full Stack JavaScript Techdegree Student 17,939 Points

Relational databases are nothing but databases that consist of tables which relate to other tables, relating data with each other.

Imagine you have a customer and that customer has the personal info you need to store in order to complete a purchase in let's say a webshop. You somehow will need to store this data into a database, where the database has to know the relationship between the data in order to process the purchase and to save the status of the order. Hence the name 'relational' databases.

For more information, I'd highly suggest referring to https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Relational_database