The two names you will see.
WHAT THEY ARE
Database server software. Your application connects to it and asks for data.
MariaDB began as a fork of MySQL and remains largely compatible. Most applications work with either without modification.
WHICH YOU HAVE
cPanel > phpMyAdmin shows the version on the home screen.
Or run a query for the version.
DOES IT MATTER
Rarely. Applications state a minimum version, and both satisfy it.
It matters when an application requires a specific feature, or when importing a dump between significantly different versions.
VERSION DIFFERENCES THAT BITE
Newer versions are stricter about invalid data, particularly dates such as 0000-00-00.
An old dump may import cleanly on an older version and fail on a newer one.
Character set defaults changed over time, which affects how text is stored and can produce mangled characters after a migration.
WHAT TO CHECK BEFORE A MIGRATION
The version at both ends. A large gap warrants testing the import before relying on it.
WHAT YOU DO NOT NEED TO DO
Choose between them. We run what we run, and it suits standard applications.
