Google Cloud Platform in Action

Chapter 4. Cloud SQL: managed relational storage

This chapter covers

• What is Cloud SQL?
• Configuring a production-grade SQL instance
• Deciding whether Cloud SQL is a good fit
• Choosing between Cloud SQL and MySQL on a VM

Relational databases, sometimes called SQL (pronounced like sequel) databases, are one of the oldest forms of structured data storage, going back to the 1980s. The term relational database comes from the idea that these databases store related data and then allow you to combine it to ask complex questions, such as “How old are this year’s top five highest paid employees?”

This ability makes relational databases great general-purpose storage systems. As a result, most cloud hosting providers offer some sort of push-button option ...