All About MySQL 4.1

The MySQL database server is the world's most popular open source database. MySQL 4.1, the latest production-ready release includes numerous enhancements that improve performance, internationalization, and the ability to embed the MySQL Server with other hardware and software solutions.

You can download the MySQL 4.1 source and optimized binaries from our global network of download sites.

Articles about 4.1

GIS and Spatial Extensions

Anders Karlsson takes a look at the new spatial extensions in MySQL 4.1, which allow for easier manipulation and storage of spatial data in geographic information system (GIS) and non-GIS applications.

Unicode and Other Funny Characters

We continue our tour of new features in MySQL 4.1 with a look at the extended character set handling, including support for Unicode. The article by Jim Winstead also includes a technique for handling UTF-8 data in web forms that copes with broken browser implementations.

The all-new MySQL Server Windows Installer

A new feature just introduced with MySQL 4.1.5 is a totally revamped installer for the Microsoft Windows platform. Michael G. Zinner explains the new installer and how you can use it to get MySQL up and running even more quickly on Windows.

Prepared Statements

Harrison Fisk explains the benefits (and trade-offs) of the new server-side prepared statements and the support for it from various programming languages.

Temporal Functionality

We continue our tour of new and improved features in 4.1 with a look at the changes to the temporal (date and time related) functionality, including support for fractional seconds, time zones, and a small army of new functions for slicing and dicing temporal information.

Structure Means Subqueries: Nesting SELECTs in MySQL 4.1

Subqueries are another way to get data from multiple tables using a single query, and MySQL 4.1 includes support for this standard SQL construct. Trudy Pelzer explains what this allows you to do, along with examples.

All the Little Features

We've covered the major features in 4.1, now we wrap up our 'New in 4.1' series with an article about all of the little features. But don't let their small size fool you, some of these features may be just what you've been needing from your database server.

Reference Manual

• New features in 4.1
• Changes in 4.1.x