PostgreSQL ↔ MySQL Converter
100% LocalTranslate database schema syntax between PostgreSQL and MySQL dialects.
Dialect Converter
Automatically translates common syntax and data type differences.
Translation ready.
Common Translations Applied
Paste PostgreSQL or MySQL syntax. Dialect differences in quoting, types, and functions convert.
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What is PostgreSQL ↔ MySQL Converter?
Frequently Asked Questions
Technical Deep Dive
PostgreSQL ↔ MySQL Converter
Switching database engines? This tool automatically translates common DDL syntax differences (like AUTO_INCREMENT vs SERIAL, boolean types, date defaults, and quoting styles) between PostgreSQL and MySQL dialects. Just paste your schema or queries and instantly copy the translated version.
SQL-Aware
Understands joins, indices, and query plans, not just text manipulation.
Schema-Faithful
Preserves constraints, foreign keys, and data types through every transformation.
Big-Table Ready
Handles realistic dataset sizes without locking the tab or eating your RAM.
Translating Between PostgreSQL and MySQL: What Actually Changes
PostgreSQL and MySQL are both relational databases speaking SQL, but their dialects diverged decades ago. Migrating between them, whether for a one-time switch, supporting both as engine targets, or porting a query from a tutorial, requires fixing dozens of small syntactic and semantic differences. This converter handles the common ones.
Identifier Quoting
The first visible difference:
PostgreSQL uses double quotes (standard); MySQL uses backticks. Both engines also allow unquoted identifiers if they avoid reserved words and special characters.
Gotcha: PostgreSQL is case-sensitive for quoted identifiers. "User" and "user" are different tables. MySQL is case-insensitive on most platforms (lowercased at storage on Linux, preserved-case on macOS/Windows). This bites at migration time.
The converter swaps quote characters bidirectionally.
Auto-Increment Columns
Different syntax for the same concept:
SERIAL is a PostgreSQL macro that creates a sequence and uses it as the column default. GENERATED AS IDENTITY is the SQL-standard way and is preferred for new PostgreSQL code. MySQL's AUTO_INCREMENT is per-table only.
The converter translates between these forms.
Data Type Mappings
| PostgreSQL | MySQL | Notes |
|---|---|---|
SERIAL |
INT AUTO_INCREMENT |
Auto-increment integer |
BIGSERIAL |
BIGINT AUTO_INCREMENT |
Large auto-increment |
BOOLEAN |
TINYINT(1) |
MySQL has no native boolean |
TEXT |
LONGTEXT |
MySQL has VARCHAR(N), TEXT, MEDIUMTEXT, LONGTEXT by size |
BYTEA |
BLOB/LONGBLOB |
Binary data |
JSONB |
JSON |
Binary JSON in both; different operators |
UUID |
CHAR(36) or BINARY(16) |
MySQL 8 added native UUID functions |
TIMESTAMP WITH TIME ZONE |
TIMESTAMP |
MySQL stores in UTC, displays in session TZ |
INTERVAL |
(no equivalent) | MySQL uses DATE_ADD/DATE_SUB |
INET |
VARCHAR(45) |
MySQL has no IP address type |
ARRAY |
(no equivalent) | MySQL uses JSON or junction tables |
GEOMETRY (PostGIS) |
GEOMETRY (MySQL Spatial) |
Different feature sets |
When converting from PostgreSQL to MySQL, types unique to PG (arrays, ranges, INET, intervals, custom types) require model changes, not just syntax substitution. The converter flags these.
Functions
Common functions and their equivalents:
| Concept | PostgreSQL | MySQL |
|---|---|---|
| Current timestamp | NOW() or CURRENT_TIMESTAMP |
Same (both accept either) |
| String concatenation | ` | |
| Group concatenation | STRING_AGG(col, sep) |
GROUP_CONCAT(col SEPARATOR sep) |
| Substring | SUBSTRING(s FROM start FOR len) |
SUBSTRING(s, start, len) |
| Length in characters | CHAR_LENGTH() |
CHAR_LENGTH() (both work) |
| Cast | val::type or CAST(val AS type) |
CAST(val AS type) only |
| Regex match | ~ |
REGEXP |
| ILIKE (case-insensitive LIKE) | ILIKE |
LIKE with COLLATE or lowercase comparison |
The converter handles many but not all of these. Complex function calls may need manual review.
Quoting Strings vs Identifiers, A Common Confusion
MySQL's default mode treats double quotes as string delimiters (non-standard). PostgreSQL strictly treats double quotes as identifier delimiters (standard). Setting MySQL's sql_mode to include ANSI_QUOTES switches MySQL to PostgreSQL-compatible behavior.
Migration tip: enable ANSI_QUOTES in MySQL early; you'll catch a lot of dialect-dependent code before it ships.
Schema / Database Terminology
Confusing terminology difference:
- PostgreSQL: A "database" contains "schemas" contains "tables." Schemas are namespaces;
publicis the default. Tables across schemas in the same database can join. - MySQL: A "database" is what PostgreSQL calls a schema. The terms "database" and "schema" are synonymous in MySQL. Tables across MySQL "databases" can still join (cross-database queries) but it's less common.
When migrating from PostgreSQL multi-schema setups to MySQL, you typically flatten, schemas become a naming convention on table names (users_table, billing_invoices) or you create separate MySQL databases.
JSON: Similar Concept, Different Operators
PostgreSQL has richer JSON operators (@> containment, ? key existence, ?| any-key, ?& all-keys, path queries via #> and #>>). MySQL relies more on function calls. The converter swaps obvious operators but complex JSON queries need manual rewriting.
Things That Don't Translate
These features don't have one-to-one mappings:
- PostgreSQL arrays. Use junction tables or JSON in MySQL.
- PostgreSQL custom types / domains / enums (PG enums are kinda). MySQL has
ENUMcolumns but they're not first-class types. - PostgreSQL ranges (int4range, tsrange, etc.). Use pairs of columns in MySQL.
- PostgreSQL extensions (PostGIS, pgcrypto, etc.). MySQL has different extensions with different APIs.
- PostgreSQL inheritance. No equivalent in MySQL.
- PostgreSQL materialized views. MySQL has views but no materialized views (requires manual refresh table).
- PostgreSQL CTEs with RECURSIVE. MySQL 8+ supports them; earlier versions don't.
- PostgreSQL window functions with FILTER clause. MySQL doesn't support
FILTER.
These require schema/code rework, not syntactic translation.
Real Migration Tools (For Production)
This converter is for syntax help during development, not production migration. For real migrations:
- pgloader, fast, mature MySQL → PostgreSQL migrator. Handles schema, data, sequences. The standard tool for this direction.
- AWS DMS (Database Migration Service), cloud-managed migration, handles both directions, ongoing replication.
- Liquibase / Flyway, for ongoing schema management across multiple engines.
- DBeaver / JetBrains DataGrip, GUI tools with migration assistance.
A production migration involves: schema translation, data export/import, sequence/auto-increment value preservation, foreign key handling (often disabled during bulk load), index recreation, stored procedure translation, application code review, testing every query, and a cutover plan. Don't underestimate the work.
Privacy
Translation is pure string manipulation in your browser using regex and rule-based parsing. SQL stays in JavaScript memory. Open DevTools Network during use: zero outbound requests. Schemas (which reveal data models and business logic) and queries (which sometimes contain literal sensitive values during debugging) never leave the tab.