ProxySQL is a high-performance proxy for MySQL and PostgreSQL that enables protocol-aware connection routing and query management.
ProxySQL addresses the scarcity of open source database proxies capable of delivering high performance. It acts as an intermediary between applications and database servers, handling connection pooling, query routing, and protocol translation for MySQL, its forks like Percona Server and MariaDB, and PostgreSQL. The proxy operates with protocol awareness, allowing it to understand and intelligently route database traffic based on query characteristics and backend availability.
Teams managing multiple database instances or seeking to implement connection pooling without modifying application code should consider ProxySQL. It suits environments where high-performance proxying is critical and where the flexibility of an open source solution under GPL licensing is preferred. The tool is particularly valuable for deployments requiring protocol-aware routing across heterogeneous database backends.
Development activity shows consistent attention to platform support and distribution accessibility. The project maintains packages for multiple Linux distributions including Ubuntu, Debian, Red Hat, CentOS, Amazon Linux, AlmaLinux, OpenSSE, and FreeBSD. Generic Linux binaries in tarball format are published for environments where distribution-specific packages are inconvenient, with support for both amd64 and arm64 architectures. The codebase includes embedded OpenSSL libraries to reduce host dependency requirements, and the project tracks future FIPS module support as a separate initiative. Recent builds incorporate runtime plugins for MySQL X protocol support and MySQL Router compatibility, with the Router plugin available through source builds.
