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What are the MySQL storage engines?

MySQL supports multiple storage engines, each with its own advantages, disadvantages, and use cases. The storage engine you choose for a table determines how the data is stored, how the data can be indexed, and what types of queries can be used.

As of my knowledge cutoff in September 2021, here are some of the commonly used MySQL storage engines:

  1. InnoDB: This is the default storage engine for MySQL as of version 5.5.5. It provides full ACID (Atomicity, Consistency, Isolation, Durability) compliance, row-level locking (which is better for high concurrency), and support for foreign keys. It's a great choice for most use cases.

  2. MyISAM: This was the default storage engine in earlier versions of MySQL. It is simpler and faster than InnoDB and supports full-text indexing, but it lacks transaction support and only provides table-level locking. It's a good choice for read-heavy workloads where transactions are not needed.

  3. Memory (or HEAP): This engine stores all data in RAM, which makes it incredibly fast. However, it's not durable: all data is lost when the database is shut down. It's best for temporary tables or caching read-only data.

  4. CSV: This engine stores data in text files in CSV format. It's a good choice for integrating with other systems that use or produce CSV files.

  5. Archive: This engine is optimized for storing large amounts of data without indexes. It's a good choice for logging, auditing, or other use cases where data is inserted and then rarely modified.

  6. Blackhole: This engine acts as a "black hole" that accepts data but throws it away and does not store it. Queries always return an empty set. It's useful in replication scenarios where the binary log is needed but not the actual data.

  7. NDB (or NDBCLUSTER): This is a distributed, transactional storage engine with high redundancy and availability. It's used primarily for running clustered MySQL.

  8. Federated: This engine offers the ability to separate MySQL servers to create one logical database from many physical servers. It doesn't store data itself, but retrieves it from other tables on other MySQL servers.

  9. Merge: This engine is a collection of identical MyISAM tables that can be used as one. It's also known as the MRG_MyISAM engine.

Each engine has its strengths and weaknesses, and the best one to use depends on the specific requirements of your database and application. Always consider factors like the need for transactions, the expected read/write load, the size of the data, and the need for full-text search or foreign keys when choosing a storage engine.