MS SQL vs MySQL: Similarities and Differences

Facing the choice of MS SQL vs MySQL? Here’s a guide through the similarities and differences of these two popular database systems.

When discussing SQL, two names regularly come up: Microsoft SQL Server (MS SQL) and MySQL. They are one of the most popular database management systems and SQL flavors among data professionals, together with PostgreSQL. The reason? Well, they really are good at handling and organizing databases for a wide range of applications, software, and websites.

We already compared Postgres vs MySQL. Now, let’s look at the many similarities and differences between MS SQL and MySQL to help you choose the right one for you.

MS SQL vs MySQL: Overview

MS SQL is a relational database management system (RDBMS) developed by Microsoft. It’s known for its high performance, security features, and integration with other Microsoft products. It is commonly used in enterprise environments and supports a wide range of transaction processing, business intelligence, and analytics applications.

MySQL is an open-source RDBMS. It was originally developed by the now-defunct company MySQL AB but has been owned by Oracle since 2010. It’s a simple and reliable database system highly compatible with various web-based applications. MySQL is popular among developers for web-based projects due to its ease of use and effectiveness in handling large databases.

MS SQL vs MySQL: Similarities

Now, let’s go into more detail about the features of both database systems by talking about their similarities.

1. SQL Compliance

SQL is a standard language for relational database systems used for data querying, manipulation, definition, and control. Both database systems use SQL as their primary language. Admittedly, they use their own SQL dialect or flavor but are both highly compliant with the SQL standard.

2. Relational Database Model

Another similarity is that MS SQL and MySQL operate on a relational database model. This means that data is organized in tables that are related to each other based on common data. This database model is still a standard and the most common approach in data management.

3. ACID Compliance

ACID is a set of properties related to database transactions. It stands for Atomicity, Consistency, Isolation, and Durability. Its purpose is to ensure the reliable processing of transactions and maintain data integrity even in the event of errors, power failures, or other unforeseen issues.

4. Support for Primary and Foreign Keys

Both systems support the use of primary and foreign keys, which are essential for establishing relationships between tables and ensuring data integrity.

5. Indexing

MS SQL and MySQL have indexing capabilities. Indexes are crucial for improving the speed and efficiency of data retrieval operations.

6. Stored Procedures and Triggers

Another similarity among them is they allow for the creation of stored procedures and triggers. These are sets of SQL statements stored in the database and can be executed automatically to perform operations like data validation or enforcing business rules.

7. Data Types

Both databases support various data types, allowing for versatile data handling and storage. The most common are integers, decimals, string types, dates, and more.

8. Backup and Recovery

MS SQL and MySQL are very convincing when it comes to data backup and recovery solutions. This is crucial for protecting data against loss and ensuring business continuity.

9. Transactional Support

They both provide strong transactional support, allowing multiple operations to be executed in a single transaction and ensuring data consistency.

10. Scalability

Despite the differences in how they handle scaling, both MS SQL and MySQL are designed to be scalable. This means they are able to grow with the business needs, whether on a single server or out across multiple servers.

11. Community and Documentation

Their community is different, that’s for sure. MySQL leans more towards open-source and community-driven support, while MS SQL has strong official support from Microsoft. However, they both have very active community support.

Also, both database systems have an extensive documentation, which contributes to knowledge sharing.

MS SQL vs MySQL: Differences

The similarities give us the main overview of the database system’s features. However, knowing their differences is even more critical, as only that can help you choose which one to use, MS SQL or MySQL.

1. Licensing and Cost

Admit it or not, but the cost of the product is always one of the main factors when choosing between the options. The same is true for database systems. So, no wonder licensing and cost are placed as the number one difference between MS SQL and MySQL.

MS SQL Licensing and Cost

MS SQL operates on a proprietary licensing model. There are different editions of MS SQL Server, such as Enterprise, Standard, and Express. They come with varying features and pricing structures. The overview is below.

As you can see, the cost can be significant, especially for large-scale deployments. However, it often includes comprehensive support services from Microsoft.

MySQL Licensing and Cost

MySQL is an open-source platform, so it can be used freely under the GNU General Public License. There are also paid editions available, such as Standard, Enterprise, and Cluster Carrier Grade Edition.

2. Performance and Scalability

In the context of RDBMS, performance means the speed at which the database processes and manages data operations. This refers to:

• Query Execution Time – The speed at which SQL queries are executed.
• Transaction Processing – The ability to handle a high volume of transactions effectively.
• Concurrency Handling – The capacity to manage multiple simultaneous database operations without significant performance degradation.
• Resource Utilization – How effectively the database uses hardware resources like CPU, memory, and disk I/O.

Another essential concept is scalability, or the ability of the system to handle increased load by adding resources without losing performance quality. There are two distinct types of scalability:

• Vertical Scalability (Scaling Up) – Adding more power to the existing machine, such as more CPUs, RAM, or faster disks. It’s about making the server bigger and more powerful.
• Horizontal Scalability (Scaling Out) – Adding more machines or nodes to the database infrastructure. Instead of one powerful server, multiple servers work together to distribute the workload.

Now, let’s discuss how MS SQL and MySQL do this differently.

MS SQL Performance and Scalability

• Complex Queries – MS SQL is known for its efficiency in handling complex queries. It has a powerful query optimizer that can handle complex joins, subqueries, and window functions with high efficiency.
• In-Memory OLTP – Some versions of MS SQL offer an in-memory OLTP feature, which significantly speeds up the performance of transactional processing.
• Integration With Microsoft Products – For applications heavily integrated with other Microsoft services and products, MS SQL typically shows better performance due to its native compatibility.
• Vertical Scalability – Known for its strong vertical scalability.
• Enterprise Focus – Its scalability features, such as clustering, replication, and high availability,  are more aligned with enterprise needs.

MySQL Performance and Scalability

• Read-Heavy Operations – MySQL is generally very efficient in read-heavy operations, making it well-suited for web applications where read operations are more common than writes.
• Simplicity and Efficiency – MySQL is famous for its simplicity and efficiency in handling standard database operations. This makes it a great choice for small to medium-sized applications.
• Optimization for Web Applications – MySQL is optimized for a web environment and works exceptionally well with web applications and content management systems.
• Horizontal Scalability – MySQL shines in horizontal scalability. This is particularly beneficial in cloud environments and distributed architectures.

3. Operating System Compatibility

This feature refers to the ability of the database software to run on various operating systems. Let’s see how MS SQL and MySQL fare against each other.

MS SQL Operating System Compatibility

• Windows-Centric – Traditionally, MS SQL Server has been optimized to run on Windows operating systems, leveraging Windows-specific features for enhanced performance and integration. This makes it an ideal choice for organizations that predominantly use Windows servers and infrastructure.
• Linux Support – In recent years, Microsoft expanded the compatibility of MS SQL Server to include Linux operating systems. Starting with SQL Server 2017, it became possible to deploy MS SQL on Linux servers.
• Docker Containers – MS SQL Server can also be run on Docker, a containerization platform. This means it can be deployed in containerized environments, providing flexibility in terms of both deployment and migration across different systems and clouds.
• Limited to Server Environments – MS SQL Server is primarily designed for server environments. It is not typically used on desktop operating systems for production purposes. However, there are editions like SQL Server Express that can be used for development or lightweight use on desktop versions of Windows.

MySQL Operating System Compatibility

• Cross-Platform Support – MySQL has broad cross-platform support. It can be run on various operating systems, including Linux, Windows, macOS, and Unix. This wide range of compatibility makes it a versatile choice for different IT environments and is one of the reasons for its popularity, especially in web development.
• Preferred in LAMP Stack – MySQL is a core component of the LAMP (Linux, Apache, MySQL, PHP/Perl/Python) stack, a popular set of open-source software used for web application development. Its compatibility with Linux and integration with Apache and PHP make it a preferred choice in this environment.
• Cloud Deployments – MySQL is also widely used in cloud environments and is available as a service in most cloud platforms like AWS, Google Cloud Platform, and Microsoft Azure. Its compatibility across different platforms makes it adaptable to various cloud-based solutions.
• Embedded Systems – Beyond typical server environments, MySQL can also be used in embedded systems due to its relatively small footprint and flexibility.

4. Security Features

These features are important, as they show the level of database protection from unauthorized access, misuse, or theft. Let’s delve deeper into each database system’s security features.

MS SQL Security Features

• Authentication and Authorization – MS SQL supports Windows Authentication (integrating with Active Directory) and SQL Server Authentication, providing a robust mechanism for verifying user identities. It also offers granular permissions and role-based security, allowing database administrators to finely control access to data.
• Encryption – MS SQL offers multiple encryption options.
  • Transparent Data Encryption (TDE) – Encrypts the data at rest, ensuring that data files and backups are encrypted.
  • Column-Level Encryption – Allows for encrypting specific data within a database.
  • Always Encrypted – A feature that ensures sensitive data remains encrypted not only at rest but also in memory and during transport.
• Row-Level Security – This feature allows control over which rows in a table can be accessed or modified based on user characteristics or execution context.
• Dynamic Data Masking – Enables non-privileged users to access the database without exposing sensitive data, by masking it.
• Audit and Compliance Tools – MS SQL Server provides comprehensive auditing capabilities, crucial for compliance with various regulations like GDPR, HIPAA, etc.
• Data Loss Prevention – Features like backup encryption, database snapshots, and log shipping enhance data recovery and loss prevention.

MySQL Security Features

• Authentication and Authorization – MySQL provides a privilege-based security model that includes host-based authentication, ensuring only authorized users can access the database server.
• Encryption – MySQL supports Data At Rest Encryption for InnoDB tables, ensuring the data files are encrypted. Also, it offers SSL/TLS support for encrypting data during transfer between the database server and clients.
• User Account Management – MySQL allows for intricate user account management, including password complexity requirements and expiration policies.
• Audit Plugins – While native auditing capabilities aren't as extensive as in MS SQL, MySQL supports audit plugins that can be used to implement auditing. Some examples include MySQL Enterprise Audit, McAfee Audit Plugin, Percona Audit Log Plugin, MariaDB Audit Plugin, and DataSunrise Database Security
• Firewall Plugins – MySQL Enterprise Edition includes a database firewall feature that can prevent unauthorized database activity.
• SQL Injection Protection – MySQL has features to protect against SQL injection attacks, including prepared statements and parameterized queries.

5. Support and Community

The support and community aspect of database systems is an important consideration, as it can significantly impact the ease of use, problem-solving, and overall success of working with these database management systems.

MS SQL Support and Community

• Official Support – MS SQL Server benefits from professional, comprehensive support provided by Microsoft. This includes technical support, regular updates, patches, and security fixes. Microsoft also offers different levels of support plans tailored for businesses of various sizes and needs.
• Documentation – MS SQL comes with extensive, well-organized official documentation that covers everything from basic operation to advanced features.
• Community – The community around MS SQL Server is robust but tends to be more enterprise-focused. It includes database administrators, developers, and IT professionals. Online forums, user groups, and community-driven Q&A sites like StackOverflow provide platforms for users to seek help, share knowledge, and discuss best practices.
• Learning Resources – Numerous learning resources are available, including Microsoft's own learning platforms, third-party tutorials, books, and training courses.

MySQL Support and Community

• Official Support – MySQL has official support provided by Oracle, being owned by them, especially for its paid editions like MySQL Enterprise. This includes technical support, security updates, and maintenance releases. The support level and services can vary based on the subscription plan, with more advanced features and tools available in higher-tier plans.
• Documentation – MySQL also offers comprehensive official documentation that is quite detailed and useful for both beginners and advanced users.
• Community – The MySQL community is one of its strongest aspects, being an open-source project. The community includes diverse users, from hobbyists to professional developers and DBAs. Community support is available through various forums, online discussion groups, community blogs, and Q&A sites. This community-driven support is often more informal but can be highly effective and responsive.
• Learning Resources – A wealth of learning resources is available for MySQL, including free online tutorials, community blogs, webinars, and extensive documentation. There are also numerous books and online courses available for users of all levels.
• Open-Source Advantage – MySQL’s open-source nature means there are many third-party tools and extensions developed by the community. This provides users with a wide range of options for customization and enhancement.

6. Ability to Customize and Extend Functionalities

The nature of the customizations and extensions differs between MS SQL and MySQL. Knowing them is vital in deciding which database system to use, especially for organizations that require specific features or integrations.

MS SQL Customization and Extension Functionalities

• Proprietary Software – MS SQL is a proprietary software. This means its core codebase is not open for modification by end-users. Customization within the MS SQL environment typically involves using the provided features and tools to their fullest extent rather than modifying the database engine itself.
• Integration With Microsoft Ecosystem – It integrates seamlessly with other Microsoft products and services, including Microsoft Azure, Visual Studio, Power BI, and more. This integration allows for extensive customization within the Microsoft ecosystem.
• SQL Server Integration Services (SSIS) – SSIS is a powerful tool for data integration and workflow applications. It allows for extracting, transforming, and loading data (ETL) and can be used to automate these processes, integrate with other systems, and customize data handling.
• Stored Procedures and Functions – MS SQL allows for creating complex stored procedures and functions in T-SQL (Transact-SQL), Microsoft's extension of SQL. These can be used to encapsulate business logic, perform complex calculations, and more.
• Extensions and Add-Ons – While direct modification of the core system is not possible, MS SQL supports various extensions and add-ons, including SQL CLR (Common Language Runtime) for writing stored procedures in .NET languages and integration with R and Python for advanced data analytics.

MySQL Customization and Extension Functionalities

• Open-Source Software – MySQL is an open-source RDBMS, which means its source code is freely available for modification. This allows for a high degree of customization, as users can alter the database engine itself to suit their specific needs.
• Plugins and Storage Engines – MySQL supports a plug-in API which allows for adding or modifying features. Custom storage engines can be developed and integrated, enabling customization of data storage and retrieval.
• Community Contributions – Being open-source, MySQL benefits from community contributions. This includes a variety of third-party tools, extensions, and integrations that have been developed over the years.
• Customizable Security – The open-source nature of MySQL allows for customizing and enhancing security features beyond what is available out of the box.
• Flexibility in Deployment – MySQL’s architecture allows for flexibility in deployment and configuration, enabling it to be tailored to specific performance or scalability needs.

7. Ease of Use

The ease of using a database system shows the database’s friendliness to users of varying levels of technical expertise. Let’s explore how easy it is to use each database system.

MS SQL Ease of Use

• Integrated Development Environment (IDE) – SQL Server uses SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS) and Azure Data Studio as its primary IDEs. These comprehensive tools offer a rich set of features for database management, including an intuitive graphical interface, robust query editor, and extensive support for database administration tasks. For users already familiar with Microsoft products, the interface and tools in SSMS might feel more intuitive.
• Documentation and Learning Resources – Microsoft provides extensive documentation, which is well-organized and covers a wide range of topics from basic to advanced. There are numerous tutorials, guides, and learning paths available, especially for users in the Microsoft ecosystem.
• Integration With Microsoft Ecosystem – For businesses already using a range of Microsoft products, MS SQL Server integrates seamlessly with these tools, making data management tasks more straightforward.
• Setup and Configuration – The installation process for MS SQL Server is generally straightforward, with wizards guiding the setup. However, configuring MS SQL Server for optimal performance might require a deeper understanding, especially in complex enterprise environments.

MySQL Ease of Use

• Simplicity and Flexibility – MySQL is often praised for its simplicity. The system is relatively easy to install and set up, with fewer configuration steps to get started compared to MS SQL. Its default configuration is sufficient for many small to medium-sized applications, making it accessible for beginners or small-scale projects.
• Wide Range of Tools – MySQL can be managed using various tools, ranging from the command line to graphical interfaces like MySQL Workbench. MySQL Workbench is a popular choice for database design, development, and administration. The availability of third-party tools and integrations also enhances its ease of use.
• Community Support and Resources – Being open-source, MySQL has a large and active community. There are numerous forums, tutorials, and community guides available, which can be very helpful, especially for new users.
• Cross-Platform Support – MySQL's cross-platform nature makes it a flexible choice for various environments, which can be a significant advantage in terms of ease of deployment and management in diverse IT infrastructures.

8. Syntax Differences Between SQL Dialects

Transact-SQL or T-SQL is MS SQL’s dialect of SQL. MySQL also has its own version of the SQL language. As you can imagine, this leads to some syntax differences between the two SQL extensions. These include

• String Concatenation
  • T-SQL: Uses the '+' operator.
  • MySQL: Uses the CONCAT() function.
• Top N Queries
  • T-SQL: Retrieves the top N records using the TOP keyword.
  • MySQL: Uses the keyword LIMIT.
• Date and Time Functions
  • T-SQL: To get the current timestamp, it uses GETDATE(). To extract parts of the date, there are DATEPART() or functions like YEAR(), MONTH(), and DAY().
  • MySQL: Uses NOW() to get the current timestamp. For extracting part of the date there are YEAR(), MONTH(), DAY().
• Handling NULL Values
  • T-SQL: Uses ISNULL() to replace NULL with a specified value.
  • MySQL: Uses IFNULL() or COALESCE() for similar functionality.
• Case Sensitivity
  • T-SQL: Generally case-insensitive, particularly in identifiers.
  • MySQL: Can be case-sensitive or not, depending on the operating system and server configuration.
• Variables
  • T-SQL: Local variables are declared with DECLARE and prefixed with '@'
  • MySQL: Variables can be user-defined (prefixed with '@') or system variables and are set with SET.

Let’s have a look at some practical examples of the mentioned differences.

Example 1: Employees With Same Birth Month

This question by Block asks you to find the number of employees within each department that share the same birth month.

Link to the question: https://platform.stratascratch.com/coding/10355-employees-with-same-birth-month

If you’re solving this question in MS SQL, you could use the MONTH() function to extract the month from the date. However, if you prefer DATEPART(), you could use it instead.

SELECT profession AS department,
    	 SUM(CASE WHEN DATEPART(MONTH, birthday) = 1 THEN 1 ELSE 0 END) AS month_1,
    	 SUM(CASE WHEN DATEPART(MONTH, birthday) = 2 THEN 1 ELSE 0 END) AS month_2,
    	 SUM(CASE WHEN DATEPART(MONTH, birthday) = 3 THEN 1 ELSE 0 END) AS month_3,
    	 SUM(CASE WHEN DATEPART(MONTH, birthday) = 4 THEN 1 ELSE 0 END) AS month_4,
    	 SUM(CASE WHEN DATEPART(MONTH, birthday) = 5 THEN 1 ELSE 0 END) AS month_5,
    	 SUM(CASE WHEN DATEPART(MONTH, birthday) = 6 THEN 1 ELSE 0 END) AS month_6,
    	 SUM(CASE WHEN DATEPART(MONTH, birthday) = 7 THEN 1 ELSE 0 END) AS month_7,
    	 SUM(CASE WHEN DATEPART(MONTH, birthday) = 8 THEN 1 ELSE 0 END) AS month_8,
    	 SUM(CASE WHEN DATEPART(MONTH, birthday) = 9 THEN 1 ELSE 0 END) AS month_9,
    	 SUM(CASE WHEN DATEPART(MONTH, birthday) = 10 THEN 1 ELSE 0 END) AS month_10,
    	 SUM(CASE WHEN DATEPART(MONTH, birthday) = 11 THEN 1 ELSE 0 END) AS month_11,
    	 SUM(CASE WHEN DATEPART(MONTH, birthday) = 12 THEN 1 ELSE 0 END) AS month_12
FROM employee_list
GROUP BY profession;

In MySQL, however, you don’t have such a choice, and you’d have to use the MONTH() function.

SELECT profession AS department,
    	 SUM(CASE WHEN MONTH(birthday) = 1 THEN 1 ELSE 0 END) AS month_1,
    	 SUM(CASE WHEN MONTH(birthday) = 2 THEN 1 ELSE 0 END) AS month_2,
    	 SUM(CASE WHEN MONTH(birthday) = 3 THEN 1 ELSE 0 END) AS month_3,
   	 SUM(CASE WHEN MONTH(birthday) = 4 THEN 1 ELSE 0 END) AS month_4,
    	SUM(CASE WHEN MONTH(birthday) = 5 THEN 1 ELSE 0 END) AS month_5,
    	SUM(CASE WHEN MONTH(birthday) = 6 THEN 1 ELSE 0 END) AS month_6,
    	SUM(CASE WHEN MONTH(birthday) = 7 THEN 1 ELSE 0 END) AS month_7,
    	SUM(CASE WHEN MONTH(birthday) = 8 THEN 1 ELSE 0 END) AS month_8,
    	SUM(CASE WHEN MONTH(birthday) = 9 THEN 1 ELSE 0 END) AS month_9,
    	SUM(CASE WHEN MONTH(birthday) = 10 THEN 1 ELSE 0 END) AS month_10,
    	SUM(CASE WHEN MONTH(birthday) = 11 THEN 1 ELSE 0 END) AS month_11,
    	SUM(CASE WHEN MONTH(birthday) = 12 THEN 1 ELSE 0 END) AS month_12
FROM employee_list
GROUP BY profession;

Example 2: Cast Stars Column Values to Integer and Return With All Other Column Values

Another example of differences between MS SQL and MySQL is evident in the question by Yelp.

Link to the question: https://platform.stratascratch.com/coding/10056-cast-stars-column-values-to-integer-and-return-with-all-other-column-values

In MS SQL, you can convert data using the standard SQL function CAST(), but also the T-SQL version CONVERT(). The latter can be found in the code below.

SELECT business_name,
    	 review_id,
    	 user_id,
    	 CONVERT(INT, stars) AS stars,
    	 review_date,
    	 review_text,
    	 funny,
    	 useful,
    	 cool
FROM yelp_reviews
WHERE stars <> '?';

MySQL also allows both functions. However, the CONVERT() syntax is a bit different. Also, MySQL doesn’t use INT or INTEGER in these functions, but SIGNED (a signed BIGINT value) or UNSIGNED (unsigned BIGINT value), with more info about these data types here.

Here’s how to adapt the above code to MySQL syntax.

SELECT business_name,
    	 review_id,
    	 user_id,
    	 CONVERT(stars, UNSIGNED) AS stars,
    	 review_date,
    	 review_text,
    	 funny,
    	 useful,
    	 cool
FROM yelp_reviews
WHERE stars <> '?';

Example 3: Top Teams In The Rio De Janeiro 2016 Olympics

This question by ESPN showcases how MS SQL and MySQL are used differently to work with strings. For example, in the below solution, MS SQL uses the plus (+) symbol to concatenate strings.

Link to the question: https://platform.stratascratch.com/coding/9960-top-teams-in-the-rio-de-janeiro-2016-olympics

SELECT event,
       MAX(gold_team) AS gold_team,
       COALESCE(MAX(silver_team), 'No Team') AS silver_team,
       COALESCE(MAX(bronze_team), 'No Team') AS bronze_team
FROM
    (SELECT event, 
        CASE 
            WHEN team_position = 1 
            THEN team + ' with ' + CAST(medals_count AS VARCHAR) + ' medals'
            ELSE NULL 
        END AS gold_team,
        CASE 
            WHEN team_position = 2
            THEN team + ' with ' + CAST(medals_count AS VARCHAR) + ' medals'
            ELSE NULL 
        END AS silver_team,
        CASE 
            WHEN team_position = 3
            THEN team + ' with ' + CAST(medals_count AS VARCHAR) + ' medals'
            ELSE NULL 
        END AS bronze_team
    FROM
      (SELECT event,
              team,
              medals_count,
              ROW_NUMBER() OVER (PARTITION BY event ORDER BY medals_count DESC, team ASC) AS team_position
      FROM
        (SELECT
            event,
            team,
            COUNT(*) AS medals_count
        FROM
            olympics_athletes_events
        WHERE 
            medal IS NOT NULL AND year = 2016
        GROUP BY event, team) tmp) tmp2
WHERE tmp2.team_position <= 3) tmp3
GROUP BY event;

You can’t do that in MySQL, but have to use the CONCAT() function to concatenate string data. Additionally, there’s a small change when casting data because MySQL doesn’t recognize the VARCHAR data type. Instead, use CHAR.

SELECT event,
       MAX(gold_team) AS gold_team,
       COALESCE(MAX(silver_team), 'No Team') AS silver_team,
       COALESCE(MAX(bronze_team), 'No Team') AS bronze_team
FROM
    (SELECT event, 
        CASE 
            WHEN team_position = 1 
            THEN CONCAT(team, ' with ', CAST(medals_count AS CHAR), ' medals')
            ELSE NULL 
        END AS gold_team,
        CASE 
            WHEN team_position = 2
            THEN CONCAT(team, ' with ', CAST(medals_count AS CHAR), ' medals')
            ELSE NULL 
        END AS silver_team,
        CASE 
            WHEN team_position = 3
            THEN CONCAT(team, ' with ', CAST(medals_count AS CHAR), ' medals')
            ELSE NULL 
        END AS bronze_team
    FROM
      (SELECT event,
              team,
              medals_count,
              ROW_NUMBER() OVER (PARTITION BY event ORDER BY medals_count DESC, team ASC) AS team_position
        FROM
            (SELECT event,
                    team,
                    COUNT(*) AS medals_count
             FROM olympics_athletes_events
             WHERE medal IS NOT NULL AND year = 2016
             GROUP BY event, team) tmp) tmp2
    WHERE tmp2.team_position <= 3) tmp3
GROUP BY event;

MS SQL vs MySQL: Use Cases and Applications

Both database systems are flexible and have a wide variety of uses within companies. They tend to be favored in different use cases based on their inherent strengths and features.

Let’s look at some of these scenarios and mention some notable companies known for using a particular RDBMS.

MS SQL Use Cases and Applications

MS SQL, with its robust feature set and integration with the Microsoft ecosystem, is often the go-to choice for large enterprises and applications that demand high performance, scalability, and comprehensive security features.

Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) and Customer Relationship Management (CRM): Many companies use MS SQL for their ERP and CRM systems, like SAP and Microsoft Dynamics. These systems require reliable transaction processing, complex querying capabilities, and strong integration with other business tools, which MS SQL provides.

Financial Services: Banks and financial institutions, such as JPMorgan Chase & Co., rely on MS SQL for high-performance transaction processing, data analysis, and reporting. The robust security and compliance features of MS SQL are crucial in these highly regulated environments.

Healthcare Systems: Healthcare providers like Allscripts utilize MS SQL for managing patient data, where data integrity, security, and confidentiality are paramount.

Retail and E-Commerce: Large retailers, including Walmart, use MS SQL to manage their inventory, sales data, and customer information, benefiting from its scalability and robustness for handling large volumes of transactions.

Other notable uses are by Samsung Electronics (handling large volumes of data and BI purposes), Dell (managing databases and various enterprise applications), Bosch (manufacturing and business processes), 3M (data management, analysis, and supporting business operations), ExxonMobil (data management and analysis), Accenture (database management and client solutions), and T-Mobile (customer service and business strategies).

MySQL Use Cases and Applications

MySQL is widely popular in web applications, small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and startups due to its simplicity, cost-effectiveness, and reliability.

Web Applications and Content Management Systems (CMS): WordPress, the world's most popular CMS, uses MySQL to store website data. This includes content from websites like TechCrunch and The New York Times. MySQL’s performance and ease of use make it ideal for web-based applications.

E-Commerce Platforms: Magento, a popular e-commerce platform, relies on MySQL for its data storage. Companies like Adidas and Burger King use Magento for their online stores, leveraging MySQL’s reliability and scalability.

Social Media Platforms: Facebook, one of the largest social media platforms, uses MySQL for large parts of its data storage. Despite its massive scale, Facebook effectively utilizes MySQL’s capabilities to manage and process vast amounts of data.

Cloud-Based Applications: Netflix, which relies heavily on cloud architectures, uses MySQL as part of its data storage strategy. MySQL’s compatibility and performance in cloud environments make it suitable for high-demand streaming services.

Some other notable MySQL users are Twitter, YouTube, Spotify, Uber, Airbnb, Booking.com, LinkedIn, and Pinterest.

Choosing Between MS SQL and MySQL

The choice between the two database systems depends on how they match your needs. We cannot give you a generic answer as to which database system is better for you. But, when choosing, you should generally consider these factors.

• Budget Constraints: MySQL is more budget-friendly.
• Organizational Infrastructure: If an organization is heavily invested in Microsoft’s ecosystem, MS SQL might be a natural choice.
• Project Requirements: For web-based projects, MySQL is often preferred, while MS SQL is ideal for complex, data-intensive applications.
• Scalability Needs: MS SQL is often the choice for scalability and high-performance needs.
• Security Requirements: For advanced security features, MS SQL has an edge.

Conclusion

Both MS SQL and MySQL are competent tools that do what’s required of database systems on a very high level. However, they are different, and they have their strengths and weaknesses.

You must be clear about your needs when choosing between the database systems. These boil down to how much money you have and what the project, scalability, and security requirements are. Once you’re clear on those needs, you can see how they fit into the features of the two database systems, which is what this article does.

In most situations, you won’t be implementing but using one of the two systems. As they are very popular, the chance is that you’ll have to use MS SQL, MySQL, or both in your data career. If you want to practice interview questions, here are MySQL interview questions and MS SQL Interview Questions.