By comparing PostgreSQL vs. MySQL, it’s clear that they’re very different, but which of the two database management systems should you be using for your project? Fortunately, the answer is simple. Use PostgreSQL if you have special database requirements. Where that’s not the case, MySQL is sufficient.
In other words, you’d use PostgreSQL to implement the website of a bank or a critical institution. The full ACID compliance pays off here. Greater demand for stability and data consistency justifies the higher complexity of the ORDBMS. Furthermore, sufficient resources are available for a high-performance PostgreSQL environment.
Another application of PostgreSQL is where a project architecture requires the management of sophisticated data models. To map complex object hierarchies or where inheritance is required as a central component of the data model, the use of the powerful ORDBMS is a good option. This may save the use of object-relational mapping (ORM).
For small to medium web projects,MySQL is the better choice. The RDBMS is less demanding in terms of server resources. It’s easier to find an experienced and affordable MySQL admin. Strong performance when reading data means it’s a good option for websites and small online stores.
Lastly, it should be noted that PostgreSQL and MySQL can be used in tandem. This is particularly attractive for data warehousing solutions. Usually, one or more outward-facing MySQL instances are used in such a setup. They collect data and pass it to a central PostgreSQL installation running evaluations and analyses.