Guide to MySQL as an Embedded Database

MySQL is the most popular open source database in the world. Though best known for its use in Web properties such as Google, Facebook and Yahoo!, MySQL is also an extremely popular embedded database. It's relied on by over 3,000 ISV and OEM customers including seven of the top ten largest software companies in the world. This paper first looks at embedded databases in general - what they are, the embedded database market, and the benefits of "OEMing" an embedded database over supporting your customers' databases or building your own embedded database. We next look at the ways in which using MySQL as an embedded database impacts the three most fundamental measures of business success -- costs, revenue, and risk -- by lowering COGS (cost of good sold), increasing customer satisfaction, and mitigating risk.

The goal of this paper is to answer the questions: Why should I use an embedded database? and, Why should I use MySQL as my product's embedded database? This is a good reference document, a compendium of facts and information with numerous links to more information - mostly technical, or about our customers and their experiences with MySQL.

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