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Learn how MySQL powers WordPress and WooCommerce, and how it can scale with Hadoop for big data insights in large e-commerce platforms.
By Billy Kasis
A Short History of MySQL
MySQL was first released in 1995 by a Swedish company called MySQL AB.
It quickly became one of the most widely used open-source database management systems in the world. In 2008, Sun Microsystems acquired it, and in 2010, Oracle Corporation took over MySQL when it bought Sun.
Today, MySQL continues to power websites, applications, and online stores across the world.
Where Is MySQL Used?
MySQL is the default database behind:
WordPress websites
WooCommerce online shops
Many personal blogs, company websites, and content platforms.
Every time you publish a blog post, sell a product, or register a user, that data is stored and managed in a MySQL database.
Why MySQL Is Still a Great Choice.
Fast and Lightweight – It can handle thousands of queries efficiently.
Secure – User access roles, encrypted connections, and other features protect data.
Easy to Manage – Tools like phpMyAdmin make it user-friendly, even for non-developers.
Flexible and Portable – Supports all major hosting environments and is easy to back up or migrate.
How WooCommerce Uses MySQL
When you run a WooCommerce shop, your store’s data is saved in several MySQL tables. Some of the most important ones are:
wp_posts: Stores products, orders, and content.
wp_postmeta: Stores metadata for products and orders (like price, stock, and variations).
wp_users: Stores customer and admin login details.
wp_woocommerce_order_items: Keeps track of what customers ordered.
Understanding these tables helps developers and store owners customize WooCommerce more effectively.
Can MySQL Handle Big Data?
MySQL works well for websites and stores with regular traffic and average data volumes.
But when your site handles massive amounts of data, such as thousands of orders or complex customer analytics, you may need more power.
That’s where Hadoop comes in.
Hadoop is a system built to process and analyze huge datasets across multiple machines at the same time.
While MySQL is great for transactional data, Hadoop is made for big data analysis, such as:
Analyzing sales trends across millions of transactions
Building customer behavior models
Running large-scale reports and predictions
You can export MySQL data to Hadoop using tools like Apache Sqoop, or connect both systems through custom data pipelines for advanced reporting and machine learning.
When Should You Combine MySQL and Hadoop?
Use both when:
You have outgrown MySQL’s performance limits
You want to do complex, large-scale data analysis
Your WooCommerce store handles thousands of orders per day
You need to store and analyze data over long periods (months or years)
For smaller or medium-sized shops, MySQL alone is usually more than enough.
But as your business grows, combining it with Hadoop can unlock new levels of insight and performance.
Final Thoughts
MySQL is still one of the most trusted tools for powering WordPress and WooCommerce. It’s fast, secure, and easy to use.
For most users, it does the job perfectly.
But when your data grows and your store gets bigger, integrating MySQL with Hadoop or other big data tools can help you make smarter, data-driven decisions.
Even after almost 30 years, MySQL remains at the core of modern websites. And with the right strategy, it can grow with your project, from your first blog post to a global e-commerce platform.
Written by Billy Kasis
Digital Marketing & Web Technologies
Follow me on Medium for more insights on WordPress, MySQL, and data-driven web development.
MySQL, WordPress, WooCommerce, Databases, E-commerce, Big Data, Hadoop,
phpMyAdmin, Web Development, Data Analytics