MariaDB is an open-source, relational database management system (RDBMS) that emerged as a fork of the popular MySQL database. It was created by the original developers of MySQL in response to concerns about its acquisition by Oracle Corporation. MariaDB aims to provide a compatible, drop-in replacement for MySQL, while also offering additional features and performance improvements.
One of the key advantages of MariaDB is its strong commitment to open-source principles and its active community involvement. It fosters collaboration and encourages contributions from developers worldwide, resulting in regular updates, bug fixes, and new features. As a result, MariaDB has gained significant popularity and is widely adopted by individuals, small businesses, and large enterprises.