In the context of a beginner creating a browser game, what are the key differences between using MySQL and MariaDB for data storage and management?

When creating a browser game as a beginner, the key differences between using MySQL and MariaDB for data storage and management lie in their compatibility, performance, and features. MySQL is a more established and widely used database management system with a larger community and support, while MariaDB is a fork of MySQL that offers additional features and improvements. For a beginner, either option can be suitable depending on their specific needs and preferences.

// To connect to a MySQL database in PHP
$servername = "localhost";
$username = "username";
$password = "password";
$dbname = "myDB";

$conn = new mysqli($servername, $username, $password, $dbname);

if ($conn->connect_error) {
    die("Connection failed: " . $conn->connect_error);
}
echo "Connected successfully to MySQL database";
```

```php
// To connect to a MariaDB database in PHP
$servername = "localhost";
$username = "username";
$password = "password";
$dbname = "myDB";

$conn = new mysqli($servername, $username, $password, $dbname);

if ($conn->connect_error) {
    die("Connection failed: " . $conn->connect_error);
}
echo "Connected successfully to MariaDB database";