Test your skills through the online practice test: MariaDB Quiz Online Practice Test
Freshers / Beginner level questions & answers
Ques 1. Explain the purpose of the mysqldump command.
mysqldump is a command-line utility for creating backups of MySQL or MariaDB databases. It produces a SQL script that can be used to recreate the database structure and data.
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Ques 2. What is the purpose of the MariaDB INFORMATION_SCHEMA database?
The INFORMATION_SCHEMA database in MariaDB contains metadata about the server and its databases. It provides information about tables, columns, indexes, and other aspects of the database system.
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Ques 3. Explain the difference between a primary key and a unique key in MariaDB.
Both primary keys and unique keys in MariaDB enforce uniqueness, but a table can have only one primary key, while it can have multiple unique keys. Additionally, the primary key column(s) cannot contain NULL values, while unique key columns can have NULLs.
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Ques 4. What is the purpose of the FOREIGN KEY constraint in MariaDB?
The FOREIGN KEY constraint in MariaDB ensures referential integrity by enforcing a link between two tables. It ensures that values in a column (or columns) of one table correspond to the values in another table's unique or primary key column(s).
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Ques 5. What is the purpose of the ANALYZE TABLE statement in MariaDB?
The ANALYZE TABLE statement in MariaDB updates statistics about a table, which the query optimizer uses to make better decisions when generating execution plans. Running ANALYZE TABLE can improve the performance of queries, especially after significant data modifications.
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Ques 6. What is the purpose of the TRUNCATE TABLE statement in MariaDB?
The TRUNCATE TABLE statement in MariaDB is used to quickly delete all rows from a table, effectively resetting the table to an empty state. It is faster than the DELETE statement for large tables but does not support conditions or triggers.
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Ques 7. What is the purpose of the OPTIMIZE TABLE statement in MariaDB?
The OPTIMIZE TABLE statement in MariaDB is used to reclaim storage space and defragment a table. It is particularly useful after significant changes or deletions in a table, as it can improve performance by optimizing the table's physical storage layout.
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Ques 8. What is the purpose of the TINYINT data type in MariaDB?
The TINYINT data type in MariaDB is used to store very small integer values, typically ranging from -128 to 127 (signed) or 0 to 255 (unsigned). It is space-efficient and is suitable for columns that store boolean or small numeric values.
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Ques 9. What is the purpose of the SHOW command in MariaDB? Provide an example.
The SHOW command in MariaDB is used to display information about databases, tables, columns, and server settings. For example, 'SHOW DATABASES;' lists the available databases, and 'SHOW TABLES FROM database_name;' shows the tables in a specific database.
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Intermediate / 1 to 5 years experienced level questions & answers
Ques 10. What is MariaDB, and how does it differ from MySQL?
MariaDB is a fork of MySQL, created by the original developers of MySQL. It is designed to be highly compatible with MySQL but includes additional features and performance improvements.
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Ques 11. What is the role of the InnoDB storage engine in MariaDB?
InnoDB is the default storage engine in MariaDB, known for its support of ACID transactions, foreign keys, and row-level locking. It provides reliability and performance for database transactions.
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Ques 12. Explain the purpose of the EXPLAIN statement in MariaDB.
The EXPLAIN statement is used to analyze and optimize the execution plan of a SQL query. It provides information about how MariaDB will execute a query, helping in performance tuning.
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Ques 13. What is a stored procedure, and how can you create one in MariaDB?
A stored procedure is a precompiled collection of one or more SQL statements that can be executed as a single unit. You can create a stored procedure in MariaDB using the CREATE PROCEDURE statement.
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Ques 14. Explain the concept of database normalization and its importance.
Database normalization is the process of organizing data to reduce redundancy and improve data integrity. It involves dividing tables into smaller, related tables to eliminate data anomalies. Normalization improves efficiency and reduces data duplication.
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Ques 15. How do you perform a database backup and restore in MariaDB?
You can use tools like mysqldump for backup and the mysql command or other tools for restoring a MariaDB database. Additionally, there are techniques like using binary logs for point-in-time recovery.
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Ques 16. What is the purpose of the MAX_EXECUTION_TIME system variable in MariaDB?
The MAX_EXECUTION_TIME system variable in MariaDB is used to limit the execution time of individual statements. If a statement exceeds the specified time limit, it is automatically terminated, preventing long-running queries from impacting the server.
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Ques 17. Explain the role of the my.cnf configuration file in MariaDB. Provide an example of a configuration parameter and its purpose.
The my.cnf file is the configuration file for MariaDB. It contains settings that control the behavior of the database server. For example, the 'innodb_buffer_pool_size' parameter determines the size of the InnoDB buffer pool, which is crucial for caching data and improving performance.
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Ques 18. What are triggers in MariaDB, and how are they used? Provide an example.
Triggers in MariaDB are sets of instructions that are automatically executed (or 'triggered') in response to specific events on a particular table or view. An example trigger might be one that automatically updates a 'last_modified' timestamp when a row is updated.
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Ques 19. Explain the concept of ACID properties in database transactions. Why are they important?
ACID stands for Atomicity, Consistency, Isolation, and Durability—the essential properties of a reliable database transaction. These properties ensure that database transactions are executed reliably, without errors or data corruption, even in the event of system failures.
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Ques 20. What is the purpose of the Aria storage engine in MariaDB?
Aria is a storage engine in MariaDB that provides support for non-transactional tables. It is suitable for read-heavy workloads and is often used for temporary or internal tables.
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Ques 21. Explain the concept of full-text search in MariaDB. How can you perform a full-text search?
Full-text search in MariaDB allows searching for words and phrases within text columns. To perform a full-text search, you can use the MATCH() ... AGAINST() syntax. This feature is particularly useful for applications that require advanced text searching capabilities.
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Ques 22. Explain the concept of a view in MariaDB. How is it different from a table?
A view in MariaDB is a virtual table that is based on the result of a SELECT query. Unlike a table, a view does not store data on its own but provides a way to represent complex queries or join operations as if they were a table. Views are used for simplifying query complexity and security.
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Ques 23. Explain the concept of connection pooling in the context of MariaDB. Why is it used?
Connection pooling involves reusing existing database connections instead of creating new ones for each user request. It helps improve performance by reducing the overhead of establishing and closing connections, especially in applications with a high volume of short-lived connections.
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Ques 24. What is the purpose of the SET TRANSACTION statement in MariaDB?
The SET TRANSACTION statement in MariaDB is used to set characteristics for the current transaction, such as isolation level and transaction access mode. It allows developers to control the behavior of transactions to meet specific requirements.
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Ques 25. Explain the concept of the Query Cache in MariaDB. When is it beneficial, and are there any drawbacks?
The Query Cache in MariaDB is a mechanism for caching the results of SELECT queries, allowing subsequent identical queries to be served directly from the cache. While it can improve performance for certain scenarios, it has drawbacks such as potential contention issues and inefficiency for dynamic datasets.
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Ques 26. What is the purpose of the CONNECT storage engine in MariaDB?
The CONNECT storage engine in MariaDB allows you to access data from various external sources, such as other databases, text files, or web services, as if they were MariaDB tables. It provides a unified interface for querying and manipulating diverse data sources.
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Ques 27. Explain the concept of the LOCK TABLES statement in MariaDB. When is it used?
The LOCK TABLES statement in MariaDB is used to explicitly lock tables for read or write operations. It is typically used in situations where a sequence of queries needs to be executed without interference from other sessions, ensuring data consistency during a specific operation.
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Experienced / Expert level questions & answers
Ques 28. How can you secure a MariaDB installation?
Securing MariaDB involves actions like setting strong passwords, limiting user privileges, enabling the firewall, and keeping the software up to date. Additionally, encryption and audit logging can enhance security.
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Ques 29. What is the purpose of the MariaDB optimizer, and how does it work?
The MariaDB optimizer is responsible for choosing the most efficient query execution plan. It evaluates various plans and selects the one with the lowest cost, based on factors like indexes and statistics.
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Ques 30. Explain the concept of indexing in MariaDB. Why is it important, and how does it impact query performance?
Indexing in MariaDB involves creating data structures to quickly locate and access the rows in a table. It is crucial for improving query performance by reducing the time required to retrieve data. Indexes are created on columns that are frequently used in WHERE clauses and JOIN conditions.
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Ques 31. How can you monitor the performance of MariaDB? Name some tools and techniques.
Performance monitoring in MariaDB can be done using tools like the Performance Schema, the slow query log, and external monitoring tools like Percona Monitoring and Management (PMM). Techniques include analyzing query execution plans, identifying bottlenecks, and optimizing queries.
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Ques 32. What is the purpose of the TokuDB storage engine in MariaDB?
TokuDB is a high-performance storage engine for MariaDB that is optimized for write-intensive workloads. It uses Fractal Tree indexing to provide efficient data compression and improved insert/update performance.
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Ques 33. Explain the concept of replication in MariaDB. How does it work, and what are its use cases?
Replication in MariaDB involves copying and distributing data from one database server (the master) to one or more other servers (the slaves). It is used for data redundancy, load balancing, and high availability.
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Ques 34. Explain the concept of sharding in MariaDB. When is it beneficial, and what challenges does it address?
Sharding involves splitting a large database into smaller, more manageable parts (shards). It is beneficial for improving scalability and performance. Sharding addresses challenges related to handling large datasets and high transaction volumes by distributing the load across multiple servers.
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Ques 35. What is the purpose of the HANDLER statement in MariaDB?
The HANDLER statement in MariaDB allows direct access to a table's internal data, bypassing SQL processing. It is used for low-level operations on tables and is not commonly used in typical application development scenarios.
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Ques 36. Explain the concept of the binlog in MariaDB. How is it used in database replication?
The binlog, or binary log, in MariaDB is a log file that contains a record of changes to the database. In replication, the binlog is used to replicate these changes from the master to the slave(s), ensuring consistency across multiple database instances.
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Ques 37. Explain the concept of the FEDERATED storage engine in MariaDB. When is it useful?
The FEDERATED storage engine in MariaDB allows access to data from a remote MariaDB server as if it were a local table. It is useful in scenarios where you need to integrate data from different databases or servers without physically replicating the data.
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Ques 38. Explain the concept of the Galera Cluster in MariaDB. When is it used, and what benefits does it provide?
The Galera Cluster is a synchronous multi-master cluster for MariaDB that provides high availability and scalability. It allows for active-active replication, meaning that multiple nodes can accept both read and write operations concurrently. It is beneficial for applications requiring high availability and fault tolerance.
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Ques 39. Explain the concept of the WAIT_FOR_EXECUTED_GTID_SET() function in MariaDB. When is it used?
The WAIT_FOR_EXECUTED_GTID_SET() function in MariaDB is used in replication scenarios to wait until a specified Global Transaction ID (GTID) set has been executed on a given server. It ensures that the server has processed all transactions up to a specific point before continuing.
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Ques 40. What is the purpose of the HANDLER READ FIRST statement in MariaDB?
The HANDLER READ FIRST statement in MariaDB is used to fetch the first row from a table using the HANDLER interface. It provides a low-level mechanism for reading and manipulating data without using SQL. This statement is not commonly used in regular application development.
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