PostgreSQL vs MySQL: Choosing the Right Database

PostgreSQL and MySQL are the two most popular open-source relational databases. PostgreSQL ranks #4 and MySQL ranks #2 on DB-Engines (2025). Each excels in different scenarios.

Feature Comparison

Feature              | PostgreSQL        | MySQL (InnoDB)
---------------------|-------------------|------------------
JSONB Support        | Native, indexed   | JSON type, limited
Full-Text Search     | Built-in, good    | Built-in, basic
Window Functions     | Comprehensive     | Supported (8.0+)
Partial Indexes      | Yes               | No
Array Columns        | Native            | No
GIS/Spatial          | PostGIS (best)    | Basic
License              | PostgreSQL (MIT)  | GPL / Commercial

PostgreSQL Strengths

-- JSONB with indexing
CREATE INDEX idx_metadata ON products USING gin (metadata jsonb_path_ops);
SELECT * FROM products WHERE metadata @> '{"color": "red"}';

-- Array columns
CREATE TABLE posts (id SERIAL PRIMARY KEY, tags TEXT[] DEFAULT '{}');
SELECT * FROM posts WHERE 'laravel' = ANY(tags);

-- Partial indexes (only index what matters)
CREATE INDEX idx_active ON users (email) WHERE active = true;

-- Full-text search
SELECT * FROM posts
WHERE to_tsvector('english', title || ' ' || content) @@ to_tsquery('docker & kubernetes');

When to Choose Which

Choose PostgreSQL when:
  ✓ Complex queries, analytics, reporting
  ✓ JSON/document storage alongside relational data
  ✓ Geospatial data (PostGIS)
  ✓ Advanced indexing needs

Choose MySQL when:
  ✓ Simple CRUD applications
  ✓ Shared hosting environments
  ✓ Read-heavy workloads with simple queries
  ✓ WordPress/Magento ecosystem

Laravel Configuration

// .env — just change the driver
DB_CONNECTION=pgsql
DB_HOST=127.0.0.1
DB_PORT=5432
// Laravel supports both seamlessly via Eloquent

PostgreSQL is trending upward for new projects due to its richer feature set, while MySQL remains dominant in the WordPress ecosystem.