What is MySQL?
MySQL is an Open Source database management system(DBMS) that one can download for free from MySQL Website (www.mysql.com). MySQL is one of the world’s most popular systems for Java web applications because of its consistent fast performance, high reliability and ease of use. MySQL runs on more than 20 platforms including Linux, Windows, OS/X, HP-UX, AIX, Netware, giving the developers right kind of flexibility.
MySQL is owned and sponsored by a single for-profit firm, the Swedish company MySQL AB, now a subsidiary of Sun Microsystems, which holds the copyright to most of the codebase. The project’s source code is available under terms of the GNU General Public License, as well as under a variety of proprietary agreements.