Website database MySQL 5.7 versus 8.0: Which is better?

On the technological path of enterprise development, the choice of databases often has far-reaching implications. MySQL is a popular open source database around the world, and its 5.7 and 8.0 versions are currently the most common choices among enterprises. For companies planning new projects or considering upgrades, which of the two versions is more advantageous? This article will analyze it for you from a practical application perspective in an easy-to-understand way.

Core comparison: performance and speed

When comparing MySQL 5.7 and 8.0, performance is one of the areas that attracts the most attention.

Query speed: Overall, MySQL 8.0 is generally faster for daily operations and complex queries. This is mainly due to the refactoring of its optimizer (which can be understood as the "intelligent engine" of the database), and the execution plan generation is more efficient, especially when processing multiple table related queries, the speed improvement is more obvious.

Read and write performance: While 8.0 performs better in many scenarios, 5.7 still has advantages in certain situations. For example, in some scenarios with high concurrency and large amounts of data writing, some tests have shown that MySQL 5.7's write performance may be slightly better. But in terms of reading data, 8.0 often provides higher query efficiency with its more advanced technical architecture.

Simply put, if you mainly deal with complex queries or report analysis, the advantages of 8.0 will be obvious; if your business is very intensive write operations, you may need to specifically test the performance of the two versions in your own business scenarios.

Functional comparison: More modern database capabilities

MySQL 8.0 adds many modern features, which makes it more comfortable when dealing with complex needs.

Powerful query capabilities: 8.0 supports more modern SQL writing methods, such as "common table expressions", which makes it easier to write and read complex queries. It also enhances the "window function" function, which is particularly useful for analytical queries that require ranking, group statistics, etc.

Better JSON support: If your application needs to process data in JSON format (which is increasingly common in modern applications), 8.0 provides more complete and efficient JSON functions and storage capabilities.

Management is more convenient: 8.0 introduces features such as role management and atomic DDL operations to make daily database maintenance and rights management more convenient and secure.

In comparison, although MySQL 5.7 has solid and reliable functions, it lacks these modern features. If your business needs to handle complex data relationships or uses JSON format frequently, 8.0 would be a better choice.

security and stability

In terms of data security, MySQL 8.0 has been significantly enhanced:

Safer password management: Use stronger encryption algorithms by default

Transparent data encryption: Supports encryption of static data to better protect sensitive information

Finer rights control: You can manage more nuanced who can access what data

These security enhancements are particularly important for industries such as finance and medical care that have high data security requirements.

In terms of stability, both versions have gone through a lot of practical testing. However, it is worth noting that MySQL 5.7 has been very mature and stable since its release in 2015; and 8.0 has also met the requirements of enterprise-level applications after several years of development.

How to choose: New project versus old system upgrades

Faced with these two versions, how should I choose?

For new projects:

If your team is starting a new project, it is recommended to choose MySQL 8.0 directly. This way you can use more modern features from the beginning, enjoy better performance, and get longer technical support (MySQL 5.7 has stopped supporting official updates).

For existing system upgrades:

If your business is already using MySQL 5.7 and is running stably, you can consider the following factors:

Need new features: If your app needs 8.0-specific features (such as better JSON support or window functions), the upgrade is worth it

Performance requirements: If the performance of the existing system has met the requirements and the upgrade risk is high, the upgrade can be postponed

Security requirements: If data security requirements are improved, upgrading to 8.0 can get better security features

If you decide to upgrade, it is recommended to fully verify it in a test environment and then implement it in stages to avoid impact on the business.

Overall, MySQL 8.0 is generally better than 5.7 in terms of performance, functionality and security, making it especially suitable for new projects and scenarios that require modern database capabilities.

However, MySQL 5.7 is still the choice of some companies because of its mature and stable performance in certain scenarios, especially those systems that are already running stably on 5.7 and have high upgrade costs.

The key to choosing which version still depends on the specific needs of the enterprise, the status of the technical team and the business development plan. We recommend that version 8.0 be given priority to new projects, and existing systems can formulate appropriate upgrade plans based on actual conditions.