When should you choose to use InnoDB in MySQL?

Question

I am rather confused by the hurt-mongering here.

I know how to do them, see below, but no idea why? What are they for?

create table orders (         


        

Answer 1

You may be interested in this article from Database Journal which discusses the InnoDB table type in MySQL.

Excerpt:

Last month we looked at the HEAP table type, a table type which runs entirely in memory. This month we look at setting up the InnoDB table type, the type of most interest to serious users. The standard MyISAM table type is ideal for website use, where there are many reads in comparison to writes, and no transactions. Where these conditions do not apply (and besides websites, they do not apply often in the database world), the InnoDB table is likely to be the table type of choice. This article is aimed at users who are familiar with MySQL, but have only used the default MyISAM table type.

I wouldn't be put off by the other question. Keep proper backups of your database, of any type -- and don't drop tables by accident ;-) -- and you'll be ok whatever table type you choose.