# MariaDB 12.3 Changes & Improvements {% hint style="info" %}

The most recent release of MariaDB 12.3 is:

MariaDB 12.3.1 RC Download Now

Alternate download from mariadb.org

{% endhint %} MariaDB 12.3 is a [long term release](/docs/release-notes/community-server/about/release-model.md), maintained until June 2029. ## New Features ### Security * Support for passphrase protected keys ([MDEV-14091](https://jira.mariadb.org/browse/MDEV-14091)) * [ssl\_passphrase system](/docs/server/security/encryption/data-in-transit-encryption/ssltls-system-variables.md#ssl_passphrase) variable * New statement [SET SESSION AUTHORIZATION](/docs/server/reference/sql-statements/account-management-sql-statements/set-session-authorization.md) for performing actions as another user ([MDEV-20299](https://jira.mariadb.org/browse/MDEV-20299)) * Implement SHA2 support for file\_key\_management.so plugin (TDE) ([MDEV-34712](https://jira.mariadb.org/browse/MDEV-34712)) ### Compatibility Features * Oracle `TO_DATE()` function ([MDEV-19683](https://jira.mariadb.com/browse/MDEV-19683)) * Support for cursors on prepared statements ([MDEV-33830](https://jira.mariadb.com/browse/MDEV-33830)) * SQL Standard `SET PATH` statement ([MDEV-34391](https://jira.mariadb.com/browse/MDEV-34391)) * SQL Standard `IS JSON` predicate ([MDEV-37072](https://jira.mariadb.com/browse/MDEV-37072)) * Allow `UPDATE`/`DELETE` to read from a CTE ([MDEV-37220](https://jira.mariadb.com/browse/MDEV-37220)) * Basic XML data type ([MDEV-37261](https://jira.mariadb.com/browse/MDEV-37261)) * Support for cursors on prepared statements ([MDEV-33830](https://jira.mariadb.org/browse/MDEV-33830)) * New authentication plugin [caching\_sha2\_password](/docs/server/reference/clientserver-protocol/1-connecting/caching_sha2_password-authentication-plugin.md) for MySQL compatibility ([MDEV-9804](https://jira.mariadb.org/browse/MDEV-9804)) * [( + ) for outer join syntax in Oracle mode](/docs/server/reference/sql-statements/data-manipulation/selecting-data/joins/join-syntax.md#oracle-mode) ([MDEV-13817](https://jira.mariadb.org/browse/MDEV-13817)) * Associative arrays: DECLARE TYPE .. TABLE OF .. INDEX BY ([MDEV-34319](https://jira.mariadb.org/browse/MDEV-34319)) ([blog post](https://mariadb.org/bringing-oracles-associative-arrays-to-mariadb/)) * [DROP USER](/docs/server/reference/sql-statements/account-management-sql-statements/drop-user.md) will now by default issue a warning if the user has active sessions, or fail in [Oracle mode](https://github.com/mariadb-corporation/mariadb-docs/blob/main/release-notes/about/compatibility-and-differences/sql_modeoracle.md) ([MDEV-35617](https://jira.mariadb.org/browse/MDEV-35617)) * Implement Oracle [TO\_NUMBER](/docs/server/reference/sql-functions/numeric-functions/to_number.md) function ([MDEV-20022](https://jira.mariadb.org/browse/MDEV-20022)) * Implement Oracle [TRUNC](/docs/server/reference/sql-functions/date-time-functions/trunc.md) function ([MDEV-20023](https://jira.mariadb.org/browse/MDEV-20023)) ### Performance improvements * Segmented key cache for [Aria storage engine](/docs/server/server-usage/storage-engines/aria.md) ([MDEV-24](https://jira.mariadb.org/browse/MDEV-24)) * The new [aria\_pagecache\_segments](/docs/server/server-usage/storage-engines/aria/aria-system-variables.md#aria_pagecache_segments) system variable defines how many segments are used, default is `1`, maximum `128` * MDL scalability improvements ([MDEV-19749](https://jira.mariadb.org/browse/MDEV-19749)) * Asynchronous replication between two [Galera Clusters](https://mariadb.com/docs/galera-cluster/) can now use parallel replication * This is managed by the [slave\_parallel\_threads](/docs/galera-cluster/high-availability/using-mariadb-replication-with-mariadb-galera-cluster/using-mariadb-replication-with-mariadb-galera-cluster-using-mariadb-replica.md#parallel-replication-support) system variable ([MDEV-20065](https://jira.mariadb.org/browse/MDEV-20065)) * The [audit plugin](/docs/server/reference/plugins/mariadb-audit-plugin.md) now supports buffered logging * The size of the buffer is defined using the new system variable [server\_audit\_file\_buffer\_size](/docs/server/reference/plugins/mariadb-audit-plugin/mariadb-audit-plugin-options-and-system-variables.md#server_audit_file_buffer_size) ([MDEV-34680](https://jira.mariadb.org/browse/MDEV-34680)) * Faster [vector](/docs/server/reference/sql-structure/vectors.md) distance calculations via extrapolation ([MDEV-36205](https://jira.mariadb.org/browse/MDEV-36205)) ### Audit Plugin * The [Audit Plugin](/docs/server/reference/plugins/mariadb-audit-plugin/mariadb-audit-plugin-overview.md) now logs HOST:PORT of incoming connections instead of just the host ([MDEV-1282](https://jira.mariadb.org/browse/MDEV-1282)) * Added tls\_version field for connection audit plugins ([MDEV-33834](https://jira.mariadb.org/browse/MDEV-33834)) ### Configuration * Get option group suffix from `$MARIADB_GROUP_SUFFIX` in addition to `$MYSQL_GROUP_SUFFIX` ([MDEV-21375](https://jira.mariadb.org/browse/MDEV-21375)) ### Data types * Comparison [ROW](/docs/server/reference/data-types/string-data-types/row.md)(stored\_func(),1)=ROW(1,1) erroneously called stored\_func() twice per row. It led to a performance degradation, as well as to a double execution of the possible stored function side effects. ([MDEV-36322](https://jira.mariadb.org/browse/MDEV-36322)) ### Galera * In [Galera](https://mariadb.com/docs/galera-cluster/), needless foreign key checks during Incremental State Transfers are now avoided ([MDEV-34822](https://jira.mariadb.org/browse/MDEV-34822)) ### GIS New [GIS](/docs/server/reference/sql-structure/geometry/gis-features-in-533.md) functions. These functions improve compatibility with MySQL 8. * [ST\_Validate](/docs/server/reference/sql-statements/geometry-constructors/miscellaneous-gis-functions/st_validate.md) ([MDEV-34137](https://jira.mariadb.org/browse/MDEV-34137)) * [MBRCoveredBy](/docs/server/reference/sql-statements/geometry-constructors/mbr-minimum-bounding-rectangle/mbrcoveredby.md) ([MDEV-34138](https://jira.mariadb.org/browse/MDEV-34138)) * [ST\_Simplify](/docs/server/reference/sql-statements/geometry-constructors/miscellaneous-gis-functions/st_simplify.md) ([MDEV-34141](https://jira.mariadb.org/browse/MDEV-34141)) * [ST\_GeoHash](/docs/server/reference/sql-statements/geometry-constructors/miscellaneous-gis-functions/st_geohash.md) ([MDEV-34158](https://jira.mariadb.org/browse/MDEV-34158)) * [ST\_LatFromGeoHash](/docs/server/reference/sql-statements/geometry-constructors/miscellaneous-gis-functions/st_latfromgeohash.md) ([MDEV-34159](https://jira.mariadb.org/browse/MDEV-34159)) * [ST\_LongFromGeoHash](/docs/server/reference/sql-statements/geometry-constructors/miscellaneous-gis-functions/st_longfromgeohash.md) ([MDEV-34160](https://jira.mariadb.org/browse/MDEV-34160)) * [ST\_PointFromGeoHash](/docs/server/reference/sql-statements/geometry-constructors/miscellaneous-gis-functions/st_pointfromgeohash.md) ([MDEV-34277](https://jira.mariadb.org/browse/MDEV-34277)) * [ST\_IsValid](/docs/server/reference/sql-statements/geometry-constructors/miscellaneous-gis-functions/st_isvalid.md) ([MDEV-34276](https://jira.mariadb.org/browse/MDEV-34276)) * [ST\_Collect](/docs/server/reference/sql-statements/geometry-constructors/miscellaneous-gis-functions/st_collect.md) ([MDEV-34278](https://jira.mariadb.org/browse/MDEV-34278)) ### mariadb Client * Can set an alternative directory path for searching scripts invoked via the source command, with the [--script-dir](/docs/server/clients-and-utilities/mariadb-client/mariadb-command-line-client.md#script-dir) mariadb client option ([MDEV-23818](https://jira.mariadb.org/browse/MDEV-23818)) ### Optimizer * [Rowid Filtering](/docs/server/ha-and-performance/optimization-and-tuning/query-optimizations/rowid-filtering-optimization.md) optimization can now be applied for reverse-ordered scans ([MDEV-36094](https://jira.mariadb.org/browse/MDEV-36094)) * [Index Condition Pushdown](/docs/server/ha-and-performance/optimization-and-tuning/query-optimizations/index-condition-pushdown.md) optimization can now applied for reverse-ordered scans ([MDEV-34413](https://jira.mariadb.org/browse/MDEV-34413)) * Loose Index Scan ("Use index for group-by") optimization can now use indexes with DESC key parts ([MDEV-32732](https://jira.mariadb.org/browse/MDEV-32732)) * find\_order\_in\_list mismatch when order item needs fixing() ([MDEV-36607](https://jira.mariadb.org/browse/MDEV-36607)) * If the join\_condition is specified via USING (column\_list), the query plan depends on the sequence of tables in the query ([MDEV-36592](https://jira.mariadb.org/browse/MDEV-36592)) * Optimizations for GROUP/ORDER BY can make use of indexes on virtual columns ([MDEV-36132](https://jira.mariadb.org/browse/MDEV-36132)) * Include definitions of tables and views in the [optimizer trace](/docs/server/ha-and-performance/optimization-and-tuning/query-optimizer/optimizer-trace.md) ([MDEV-36483](https://jira.mariadb.org/browse/MDEV-36483)) * [optimizer\_record\_context](/docs/server/server-management/variables-and-modes/server-system-variables.md#optimizer_record_context) system variable. * Join optimizer is now able to infer that derived table with GROUP BY clause has distinct GROUP BY columns ([MDEV-36321](https://jira.mariadb.org/browse/MDEV-36321)) ### Optimizer hints * Add support for [optimizer hints](/docs/server/ha-and-performance/optimization-and-tuning/optimizer-hints.md) ([MDEV-35504](https://jira.mariadb.org/browse/MDEV-35504)) * [QB\_NAME](/docs/server/ha-and-performance/optimization-and-tuning/optimizer-hints.md#query-block-naming) * [NO\_RANGE\_OPTIMIZATION](/docs/server/ha-and-performance/optimization-and-tuning/optimizer-hints.md#no_range_optimization) * [NO\_ICP](/docs/server/ha-and-performance/optimization-and-tuning/optimizer-hints.md#no_icp) * [MRR, NO\_MRR](/docs/server/ha-and-performance/optimization-and-tuning/optimizer-hints.md#mrr-and-no_mrr) * [BKA, NO\_BKA](/docs/server/ha-and-performance/optimization-and-tuning/optimizer-hints.md#bka-and-no_bka) * [BNL, NO\_BNL](/docs/server/ha-and-performance/optimization-and-tuning/optimizer-hints.md#bnl-and-no_bnl) * Add support for subquery optimizer hints ([MDEV-34888](https://jira.mariadb.org/browse/MDEV-34888)) * [SEMIJOIN](/docs/server/ha-and-performance/optimization-and-tuning/optimizer-hints.md#semijoin-and-no_semijoin) * [SUBQUERY](/docs/server/ha-and-performance/optimization-and-tuning/optimizer-hints.md#subquery-hint) * Add support for join order hints ([MDEV-34870](https://jira.mariadb.org/browse/MDEV-34870)) * [JOIN\_FIXED\_ORDER](/docs/server/ha-and-performance/optimization-and-tuning/optimizer-hints/expanded-optimizer-hints.md#join_fixed_order) similar to existing STRAIGHT\_JOIN hint * [JOIN\_ORDER](/docs/server/ha-and-performance/optimization-and-tuning/optimizer-hints/expanded-optimizer-hints.md#join_order) to apply the specified table order * [JOIN\_PREFIX](/docs/server/ha-and-performance/optimization-and-tuning/optimizer-hints/expanded-optimizer-hints.md#join_prefix) to hint what tables should be first in the join * [JOIN\_SUFFIX](/docs/server/ha-and-performance/optimization-and-tuning/optimizer-hints/expanded-optimizer-hints.md#join_suffix) to hint what tables should be last in the join * Add support for the [MAX\_EXECUTION\_TIME](/docs/server/ha-and-performance/optimization-and-tuning/optimizer-hints.md#max_execution_time) hint ([MDEV-34860](https://jira.mariadb.org/browse/MDEV-34860)) * [Optimizer hints](/docs/server/ha-and-performance/optimization-and-tuning/optimizer-hints.md): [\[NO\_\]JOIN\_INDEX](/docs/server/ha-and-performance/optimization-and-tuning/optimizer-hints.md#join_index-and-no_join_index), [\[NO\_\]GROUP\_INDEX](/docs/server/ha-and-performance/optimization-and-tuning/optimizer-hints.md#group_index-and-no_group_index), [\[NO\_\]ORDER\_INDEX](/docs/server/ha-and-performance/optimization-and-tuning/optimizer-hints.md#order_index-and-no_order_index), [\[NO\_\]INDEX](/docs/server/ha-and-performance/optimization-and-tuning/optimizer-hints.md#index-and-no_index) ([MDEV-35856](https://jira.mariadb.org/browse/MDEV-35856)) * [Optimizer hints](/docs/server/ha-and-performance/optimization-and-tuning/optimizer-hints.md): [\[NO\_\]SPLIT\_MATERIALIZED](/docs/server/ha-and-performance/optimization-and-tuning/optimizer-hints.md#split_materialized-x-and-no_split_materialized-x) ([MDEV-36092](https://jira.mariadb.org/browse/MDEV-36092)) * [Optimizer hints](/docs/server/ha-and-performance/optimization-and-tuning/optimizer-hints.md): [\[NO\_\]DERIVED\_CONDITION\_PUSHDOWN](/docs/server/ha-and-performance/optimization-and-tuning/optimizer-hints.md#derived_condition_pushdown-and-no_derived_condition_pushdown), [\[NO\_\]MERGE ](/docs/server/ha-and-performance/optimization-and-tuning/optimizer-hints.md#merge-and-no_merge)([MDEV-36106](https://jira.mariadb.org/browse/MDEV-36106)) * [Optimizer hint](/docs/server/ha-and-performance/optimization-and-tuning/optimizer-hints.md): [\[NO\_\]ROWID\_FILTER](/docs/server/ha-and-performance/optimization-and-tuning/optimizer-hints/index-level-hints.md#rowid_filter-no_rowid_filter) ([MDEV-36089](https://jira.mariadb.org/browse/MDEV-36089)), * [Optimizer hint](/docs/server/ha-and-performance/optimization-and-tuning/optimizer-hints.md): [\[NO\_\]INDEX\_MERGE](/docs/server/ha-and-performance/optimization-and-tuning/optimizer-hints/index-level-hints.md#index_merge-no_index_merge) ([MDEV-36125](https://jira.mariadb.org/browse/MDEV-36125)) * [Optimizer hints](/docs/server/ha-and-performance/optimization-and-tuning/optimizer-hints.md): Implicit query block names ([MDEV-37511](https://jira.mariadb.org/browse/MDEV-37511)) ### Replication * Server displays if it was started with the [skip-slave-start](/docs/server/server-management/starting-and-stopping-mariadb/mariadbd-options.md#skip-slave-start) option ([MDEV-27669](https://jira.mariadb.org/browse/MDEV-27669)) * [show\_slave\_auth\_info](/docs/server/ha-and-performance/standard-replication/replication-and-binary-log-system-variables.md#show_slave_auth_info) has been added as a system variable (previously it was just an option). It determines whether to show the user and password in [SHOW REPLICA HOSTS](/docs/server/reference/sql-statements/administrative-sql-statements/show/show-replica-hosts.md) (SHOW SLAVE HOSTS) on the primary. * [replicate\_same\_server\_id](/docs/server/ha-and-performance/standard-replication/replication-and-binary-log-system-variables.md#replicate_same_server_id) system variable added (previously it was just an option), which permits not skipping events having our server id. * Ensure that creation and usage of temporary tables in replication is predictable ([MDEV-36099](https://jira.mariadb.org/browse/MDEV-36099)) * [create\_tmp\_table\_binlog\_formats](/docs/server/ha-and-performance/standard-replication/replication-and-binary-log-system-variables.md#create_tmp_table_binlog_formats) system variable. * Configurable defaults for `MASTER_SSL_*` settings for `CHANGE MASTER` ([MDEV-28302](https://jira.mariadb.com/browse/MDEV-28302)) * Fragment ROW replication events larger than `max_packet_size` ([MDEV-32570](https://jira.mariadb.com/browse/MDEV-32570)) * Improving performance of binary logging by removing the need of syncing it ([MDEV-34705](https://jira.mariadb.com/browse/MDEV-34705)) ### Stored Routines * Add support for the pre-defined weak SYS\_REFCURSOR ([MDEV-20034](https://jira.mariadb.org/browse/MDEV-20034)) * [max\_open\_cursors](/docs/server/server-management/variables-and-modes/server-system-variables.md#max_open_cursors) system variable limits the number of [cursors](/docs/server/reference/sql-statements/programmatic-compound-statements/programmatic-compound-statements-cursors.md) opened at the same time ### Server * Add the FM format to [TO\_CHAR](/docs/server/reference/sql-functions/string-functions/to_char.md), which suppresses following padding ([MDEV-36216](https://jira.mariadb.org/browse/MDEV-36216)) * [mariadb-check](/docs/server/clients-and-utilities/table-tools/mariadb-check.md) and [CHECK TABLE](/docs/server/reference/sql-statements/table-statements/check-table.md) now support [SEQUENCE tables](/docs/server/server-usage/storage-engines/sequence-storage-engine.md) ([MDEV-22491](https://jira.mariadb.org/browse/MDEV-22491)) ### Trigger * Add support for TRIGGERS that fire on multiple events ([MDEV-10164](https://jira.mariadb.org/browse/MDEV-10164)) ### Miscellaneous * Hashicorp Plugin: Implement cache flush for forced key rotation ([MDEV-30847](https://jira.mariadb.com/browse/MDEV-30847)) * New hash algorithms for `PARTITION BY KEY` ([MDEV-9826](https://jira.mariadb.com/browse/MDEV-9826)) * Optimise reorderable LEFT JOINs ([MDEV-36055](https://jira.mariadb.com/browse/MDEV-36055)) * Retry applying of write sets on [Galera](https://mariadb.com/docs/galera-cluster/) nodes ([MDEV-36077](https://jira.mariadb.org/browse/MDEV-36077)) * Controlled through the [wsrep\_applier\_retry\_count](/docs/galera-cluster/reference/galera-cluster-system-variables.md#wsrep_applier_retry_count) system variable * [mariadb-dump](/docs/server/clients-and-utilities/backup-restore-and-import-clients/mariadb-dump.md) now supports [wildcards](/docs/server/clients-and-utilities/backup-restore-and-import-clients/mariadb-dump.md#l-wildcards) with the `-L` or `--wildcards` option ([MDEV-21376](https://jira.mariadb.org/browse/MDEV-21376)) * [Foreign key](/docs/server/ha-and-performance/optimization-and-tuning/optimization-and-indexes/foreign-keys.md) constraint names no longer need to be unique per database, only per table ([MDEV-28933](https://jira.mariadb.org/browse/MDEV-28933)) ([blog post](https://mariadb.org/per-table-unique-foreign-key-constraint-names-new-feature-in-mariadb-12-1/)) * Remove depth limit of 32 from JSON functions ([MDEV-32854](https://jira.mariadb.org/browse/MDEV-32854)) * Add [INFORMATION\_SCHEMA.TRIGGERED\_UPDATE\_COLUMNS](/docs/server/reference/system-tables/information-schema/information-schema-tables/information-schema-triggered_update_columns.md) ([MDEV-36996](https://jira.mariadb.org/browse/MDEV-36996)) * Implement [INFORMATION\_SCHEMA.PARAMETERS](/docs/server/reference/system-tables/information-schema/information-schema-tables/information-schema-parameters-table.md).PARAMETER\_DEFAULT column ([MDEV-37054](https://jira.mariadb.org/browse/MDEV-37054)) ## Notable Items ### Galera * The Galera package dependency has been removed from server packages ([MDEV-38744](https://jira.mariadb.org/browse/MDEV-38744)) ### InnoDB **Behavioral change:** [innodb\_snapshot\_isolation](https://mariadb.com/docs/server/server-usage/storage-engines/innodb/innodb-system-variables#innodb_snapshot_isolation) system variable now defaults to `ON`, previously was `OFF` ([MDEV-35124](https://jira.mariadb.org/browse/MDEV-35124)). This changes the behavior of [repeatable reads](/docs/server/reference/sql-statements/administrative-sql-statements/set-commands/set-transaction.md#repeatable-read). ### Variables For a list of all new variables added since MariaDB 11.8, see: * [System Variables Added in MariaDB 12.0](/docs/server/ha-and-performance/optimization-and-tuning/system-variables/system-and-status-variables-added-by-major-release/system-variables-added-in-mariadb-12.0.md) * [System Variables Added in MariaDB 12.1](/docs/server/ha-and-performance/optimization-and-tuning/system-variables/system-and-status-variables-added-by-major-release/system-variables-added-in-mariadb-12.1.md) #### Removed Variables * [big\_tables](/docs/server/server-management/variables-and-modes/server-system-variables.md#big_tables), deprecated in [MariaDB 10.5.0](/docs/release-notes/community-server/old-releases/10.5/10.5.0.md) * [large\_page\_size](/docs/server/server-management/variables-and-modes/server-system-variables.md#large_page_size), deprecated in [MariaDB 10.5.3](/docs/release-notes/community-server/old-releases/10.5/10.5.3.md) * [storage\_engine](/docs/server/server-management/variables-and-modes/server-system-variables.md#storage_engine), deprecated in [MariaDB 5.5](/docs/release-notes/community-server/old-releases/5.5/changes-improvements-in-mariadb-5-5.md). ## List of All MariaDB 12.3 Releases | Date | Release | Status | Release Notes | Changelog | | ----------- | -------------------- | ------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | 12 Feb 2026 | 12.3.1 | RC | [Release Notes](/docs/release-notes/community-server/12.3/12.3.1.md) | [Changelog](/docs/release-notes/community-server/changelogs/12.3/12.3.1.md) | | 22 Dec 2025 | MariaDB 12.3 Preview | Preview | | | *This page is licensed: CC BY-SA / Gnu FDL* {% @marketo/form formid="4316" formId="4316" %} --- # Agent Instructions: Querying This Documentation If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question. 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