What Is New in MariaDB 11.4
MariaDB 11.4 is a long-term support (LTS) release maintained until May 2029. It combines all improvements from the previous LTS (MariaDB 10.11) and the short-term 11.x series, delivering a stable platform with significant enhancements in query optimization, replication, security, and JSON handling.
This release focuses on making the database faster, more secure by default, and easier to manage for modern workloads while maintaining strong backward compatibility.
Optimizer and Query Performance Improvements
MariaDB 11.4 brings major upgrades to the query optimizer, helping many common queries run faster with better index usage.
| Improvement | Description |
|---|---|
| Cost Model | Significant enhancements to the optimizer cost model for more accurate query planning. |
| Semi-join Optimization | Now supported for single-table UPDATE and DELETE statements that use subqueries. |
| Sargable DATE and YEAR | Queries using DATE(col) or YEAR(col) with constants can now utilize indexes. |
| Case-insensitive VARCHAR indexes | UCASE(varchar_col) = 'value' can use indexes when sargable_casefold=ON in optimizer_switch. |
| Descending Indexes | MIN() and MAX() aggregates can now benefit from descending indexes. |
InnoDB and Storage Improvements
Several changes help manage storage space more efficiently.
- Temporary tablespaces can now be shrunk without restarting the server using the new
innodb_truncate_temporary_tablespace_nowsystem variable. - The InnoDB system tablespace automatically reclaims unused space during startup.
ALTER TABLEusesALGORITHM=COPY, LOCK=NONEby default for most operations, allowing concurrent reads and writes during schema changes.
Replication and Binary Log Enhancements
Replication becomes faster and more flexible with several new options.
| Feature | Benefit |
|---|---|
| Faster binary log writing | Checksum calculations moved outside the global binlog mutex. |
max_binlog_total_size |
Automatically purge binary logs when total size exceeds the limit. |
slave_connections_needed_for_purge |
Control when binary log purging is allowed based on connected replicas. |
binlog_row_image = FULL_NODUP |
Reduces binary log size by omitting unchanged columns in the after-image. |
| GTID index in binary log | Optional index for faster replica positioning using GTIDs. |
SQL_BEFORE_GTIDS / SQL_AFTER_GTIDS |
New keywords for START SLAVE UNTIL statements. |
Security Improvements
Security is stronger out of the box in MariaDB 11.4.
- SSL/TLS is enabled by default with automatic self-signed certificate generation if no certificate is provided.
- Clients now require SSL and certificate verification by default (can be disabled with
--disable-sslor--disable-ssl-verify-server-cert). - New client options
--ssl-fpand--ssl-fplistfor certificate fingerprint verification. - New database-level privilege
SHOW CREATE ROUTINEallows viewing routine definitions without full ownership.
JSON and New Functions
JSON capabilities have been extended with useful new functions.
| Function | Description |
|---|---|
JSON_OBJECT_FILTER_KEYS |
Filters keys from a JSON object. |
JSON_OBJECT_TO_ARRAY |
Converts a JSON object to an array of key-value pairs. |
JSON_ARRAY_INTERSECT |
Checks for intersection between JSON arrays. |
JSON_KEY_VALUE |
Extracts key and value pairs when iterating JSON objects with JSON_TABLE. |
JSON_SCHEMA_VALID |
Validates JSON data against a JSON schema. |
FORMAT_PICO_TIME |
Formats picosecond values into a human-readable string with units. |
Backup, Restore and Tools
Backup and data loading tools received practical upgrades.
mariadb-dumpnow supports--parallel(or-j) for parallel table dumping when using--tab.mariadb-importsupports--use-threadsfor parallel operations.mariadb-backup --innobackupexmode is deprecated.- Files previously named
xtrabackup_*are now renamed tomariadb_backup_*.
Other Notable Changes
Additional enhancements include support for partitioning on GEOMETRY columns, automatic casting from INET4 to INET6, new views for application-time periods, extended CONV() base support up to 62, improved DATE_FORMAT with timezone options, and better visibility of temporary tables in INFORMATION_SCHEMA.
FAQ
What is the main focus of MariaDB 11.4?
MariaDB 11.4 emphasizes better query performance through optimizer improvements, stronger default security with SSL enabled by default, and enhanced replication and JSON features.
Is MariaDB 11.4 a long-term support release?
Yes. It is an LTS release supported until May 2029, making it a good choice for production environments.
Does MariaDB 11.4 include vector search support?
No. Native vector data type and vector indexing were introduced later in MariaDB 11.8.
What security changes should I be aware of when upgrading?
SSL is now enabled by default and clients require certificate verification. You can disable these behaviors if needed using command-line options.
Are there important deprecations in MariaDB 11.4?
Yes. The tx_isolation variable is deprecated in favor of transaction_isolation, and several old features and variables have been removed.