## Which MySQL Collation is Best for German Language Websites?

Choosing the Optimal MySQL Collation for German Language

When building websites in German, accommodating special characters like ä, ü, and ß is crucial. To ensure proper handling of these characters, selecting the appropriate MySQL collation is essential.

The recommended character set is UTF-8, as it provides full support for all German characters. For the collation, there are two primary options:

• utf8_unicode_ci: This collation allows case-insensitive searches and employs DIN-1 sorting. It treats ß as ss but unfortunately suffers from the issue of considering u = ü. This can result in missed results when searching for names like "Muller" since it would also return "Müller."
• utf8_bin: In contrast to utf8_unicode_ci, this collation does not exhibit the u = ü problem. However, it only supports case-sensitive searches.

Consider the potential implications of using the binary collation before implementing it. Additionally, it's recommended to set up a real-time Umlaut-aware collation if the utf8_unicode_ci collation is used.

For further clarity, refer to the official MySQL manual page on collations and their effects, as well as the general overview of available collations in MySQL.

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