Does MySQL support table inheritance?

Question

I have this code in PostgreSQL

CREATE TABLE first (
  id serial,
  primary key(id)
);

CREATE TABLE second (primary key(id)) INHERITS (first);

What is the equivalent code for MySQL?

Answer 1

MySQL does not support table inheritance. The only way to approximate the functionality is by using a foreign key (which MySQL isn't too good at either):

CREATE TABLE first (
  id serial,
  PRIMARY KEY (id)
);

CREATE TABLE second (
  parent integer REFERENCES first,
  PRIMARY KEY (parent)
);

Obviously, you'd have to change any views and queries from the PostgreSQL "inheritance version" to regular multi-relation queries.