# Differences Between MariaDB and Other DBMSs

This page lists *general* differences between MariaDB and other DBMSs (database management systems). For *specific* differences (for instance, between MariaDB and PostgreSQL), refer to the respective pages in this section.

## Database vs. Schema

In MariaDB, the terms *schema* and *database* are synonymous and used interchangeable. The `CREATE SCHEMA` statement is a synonym for `CREATE DATABASE`, meaning they create the same object—a container for database objects like tables and views.

MariaDB does not support a distinction between schema and database as seen in other systems like SQL Server or PostgreSQL, where a schema is a logical container within a database. Instead, a database in MariaDB serves as both a namespace and a logical container to separate objects, and it has a default character set and collation that are inherited by its tables.


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