MySQL has become the most popular open source database and the fastest growing database in the industry. This is based on its dedication to providing a less complicated solution suitable for widespread application deployment at a greatly reduced TCO.

MySQL offers several key advantages:

• Reliability and Performance. MySQL AB provides early versions of all its database server software to the community to allow for several months of "battle testing" by the open source community before it deems them ready for production use.
• Ease of Use and Deployment. MySQL's architecture makes it extremely fast and easy to customize. Its unique multi-storage engine architecture gives corporate customers the flexibility they need with a database management system unmatched in speed, compactness, stability, and ease of deployment.
• Freedom from Platform Lock-in. By providing ready access to source code, MySQL's approach ensures freedom, thereby preventing lock-in to a single company or platform.
• Cross-Platform Support. MySQL is available on more than twenty different platforms including major Linux distributions, Mac OS X, UNIX and Microsoft Windows.
• Millions of Trained and Certified Developers. MySQL is the world's most popular open source database, so it's easy to find high-quality, skilled staff