InnoDB Schema Changes

A detailed reference list of specific schema change operations (like adding columns or indexes) and their compatibility with INSTANT, INPLACE, and NOCOPY algorithms.

MariaDB Enterprise Server InnoDB Schema Changes with the INPLACE Algorithm

Changes in enterprise databases and applications are inevitable. Schema changes often block other workloads, incur unique production situations that cannot be fully simulated for testing, and may have unpredictable execution times.

MariaDB Enterprise Server includes the In-place ALTER functionality for the InnoDB storage engine, such that:

When possible, schema change operations are performed INPLACE, minimizing impact on other workloads.

When the alter_algorithm system variable is set to INPLACE, schema change operations will not run unless they can be performed INPLACE, minimizing the risk of unpredictable behavior.

Additional information is available here.

MariaDB Enterprise Server InnoDB Schema Changes with the INSTANT Algorithm

Changes in enterprise databases and applications are inevitable. Schema changes often block other workloads, incur unique production situations that cannot be fully simulated for testing, and may have unpredictable execution times.

MariaDB Enterprise Server includes the Instant ALTER functionality for the InnoDB storage engine, such that:

When possible, schema change operations are performed INSTANT, minimizing impact on other workloads.

When the alter_algorithm system variable is set to INSTANT, schema change operations will not run unless they can be performed INSTANT, minimizing the risk of unpredictable behavior.

Additional information is available here.

MariaDB Enterprise Server InnoDB Schema Changes with the NOCOPY Algorithm

Changes in enterprise databases and applications are inevitable. Schema changes often block other workloads, incur unique production situations that cannot be fully simulated for testing, and may have unpredictable execution times.

MariaDB Enterprise Server includes the No-copy ALTER functionality for the InnoDB storage engine, such that:

When possible, schema change operations are performed NOCOPY, minimizing impact on other workloads.

When the alter_algorithm system variable is set to NOCOPY, schema change operations will not run unless they can be performed NOCOPY, minimizing the risk of unpredictable behavior.

Additional information is available here.

_{This page is: Copyright © 2025 MariaDB. All rights reserved.}