Explore the iconic MySQL logo – its design, history, and visual identity.
Key information about MySQL: origin, designer, industry, and logo introduction year.
| Website | mysql.com |
| Country | United States |
| Industry | Software |
Explore the MySQL brand, discover MySQL colors, and download the MySQL vector logo in SVG or PNG formats. Browse related logos and logos with similar colors.
The MySQL logo features a distinctive dolphin mascot in orange and blue, representing one of the world’s most popular open-source relational database management systems now owned by Oracle Corporation.
MySQL was created by Swedish developers Michael Widenius, David Axmark, and Allan Larsson, with the name combining “My” (Widenius’s daughter’s name) and “SQL” (Structured Query Language). The database was released as open-source software in 1995 under the GNU General Public License, becoming foundational to the LAMP stack (Linux, Apache, MySQL, PHP/Perl/Python) that powered millions of websites. MySQL AB, the company behind the database, was acquired by Sun Microsystems in 2008 for $1 billion. When Oracle acquired Sun Microsystems in 2010, MySQL became an Oracle product.
Oracle’s ownership raised concerns in the open-source community about MySQL’s future, leading Michael Widenius to fork the codebase and create MariaDB as a community-maintained alternative. Despite these concerns, Oracle has continued MySQL development and offers both free community editions and paid enterprise versions. MySQL remains one of the world’s most widely deployed databases, powering everything from WordPress blogs to Facebook’s infrastructure. The dolphin logo has remained consistent through ownership changes, maintaining brand recognition across the database’s evolution from startup project to Oracle enterprise product.
The MySQL wordmark uses bold, modern sans-serif typography that conveys technical confidence without appearing overly corporate. The letterforms are clean and readable at small sizes, important for developer documentation, IDE integrations, and command-line interfaces. The dolphin mascot, often named “Sakila,” works as a standalone icon appearing in software splash screens, database administration tools, and conference materials. The orange and blue palette creates strong visual contrast, ensuring logo visibility in technical documentation and developer swag. The design successfully bridges MySQL’s open-source heritage with enterprise database credibility.
Who designed the MySQL logo? The MySQL dolphin logo was created during the company’s early years, though specific designer attribution is not widely documented. The dolphin mascot has been maintained through Sun and Oracle ownership.
When was the MySQL logo last updated? The core dolphin design has remained consistent since MySQL’s early years, with minor refinements for high-resolution displays and updated typography accompanying version releases under Oracle’s ownership.
What do the colors in the MySQL logo represent? Teal-blue represents technical reliability and data management, while bright orange adds energy and approachability, reflecting MySQL’s balance between enterprise-grade capability and open-source accessibility.
The MySQL logo represents a software brand from United States. Learn more on the official MySQL website.
