What is database engine or storage engine? Mention f...

A database engine, also known as a storage engine, is the underlying software component of a database management system (DBMS) that is responsible for creating, reading, updating, and deleting (CRUD) data from a database. It manages how data is stored, retrieved, and manipulated on disk or in memory. Different storage engines provide various features and capabilities, affecting the performance, reliability, and scalability of a database system. The choice of a storage engine is crucial because it influences how data is stored and accessed, impacting the overall functionality and efficiency of the database system[7][8][10][16].

MySQL, one of the most popular relational database management systems, supports multiple storage engines, each designed for specific use cases and requirements. Here are a few notable storage engines supported by MySQL and their primary uses:

1. InnoDB: This is the default storage engine for MySQL 5.5 and higher versions. It is a transaction-safe (ACID-compliant) engine that supports foreign key constraints and row-level locking. InnoDB is well-suited for applications that require high reliability and multi-user concurrency. It is designed to maximize performance and durability, making it ideal for both OLTP (Online Transaction Processing) and general-purpose use[2][3][4][13].

2. MyISAM: Before InnoDB became the default, MyISAM was the default storage engine. It is known for its high-speed storage and retrieval capabilities but does not support transactions or foreign keys. MyISAM is optimized for environments with heavy read operations and light write operations, making it suitable for read-heavy applications like data warehousing and web-based applications where data integrity and transactions are not critical[2][3][13].

3. MEMORY (HEAP): The MEMORY storage engine creates tables that are stored in memory, offering very fast data access. However, the data is volatile and is lost when the database server restarts. This engine is ideal for creating temporary tables or caches of frequently accessed data where persistence is not required[2][3][13].

4. FEDERATED: This engine allows access to data from a remote MySQL database without using replication or clustering technologies. It is useful for distributed databases where data is spread across multiple databases...