3.4.1. PostgreSQL and MySQL on Azure

💡 First Principle: Managed open-source databases combine the flexibility of open-source engines with Azure's automated infrastructure management. You keep your existing skills and code while Azure handles the operational burden.

Azure Database for PostgreSQL

• What It Is: Fully managed PostgreSQL as a service.
• Key Features: Supports advanced PostgreSQL features (JSON, GIS, full-text); independent scaling.
• 💡 First Principle: PostgreSQL is a hybrid relational-object database. You can store data in traditional relational tables, or use custom data types with non-relational properties (like JSONB for semi-structured data within a relational context).
• Use Case: Modern apps needing advanced SQL features, JSON integration.

Azure Database for MySQL

• What It Is: Fully managed MySQL as a service
• Key Features: Compatible with MySQL 5.7 and 8.0; read replicas for scaling.
• Use Case: LAMP stack applications (Linux, Apache, MySQL, PHP), WordPress, Drupal.

Azure Database for MariaDB (Retired)

• Status: Azure Database for MariaDB was retired in September 2025 and is no longer available for new or existing deployments.
• 💡 First Principle: MariaDB is a community fork of MySQL and stays wire-protocol compatible with it, so Azure Database for MySQL is the migration target — the application connects with the same driver and largely the same SQL.
• Exam Note: Expect MariaDB to appear as context (a workload you must move) rather than as a correct service choice.

Visual: Open Source Database Options