This document summarizes the history and capabilities of MySQL's geographic information system (GIS) functions. Key points include:
- MySQL has included basic GIS functions since version 4.1 in 2003, with improvements in versions 5.0, 5.7, and 8.0.
- Version 8.0 added support for over 400 spatial reference systems and over 100 new spatial functions.
- MySQL spatial types include POINT, LINESTRING, POLYGON, and GEOMETRYCOLLECTION, and functions allow operations like distance calculations and coordinate transformations.