Amazon RDS for MariaDB supports Long-Term Support version 12.3 in Amazon RDS Database Preview Environment

[Amazon RDS for MariaDB](https://aws.amazon.com/rds/mariadb/) now supports MariaDB 12.3 in the [Amazon RDS Database Preview Environment](https://aws.amazon.com/rds/databasepreview/), allowing you to evaluate the latest Long-Term Support Release on Amazon RDS for MariaDB. This preview environment provides a sandbox where you can test applications and explore new MariaDB 12.3 capabilities before they become generally available. MariaDB 12.3 includes Oracle TO\_DATE() function compatibility, a SQL Standard IS JSON predicate for native JSON validation, and a basic XML data type. It adds support for cursors on prepared statements and allows UPDATE/DELETE operations to read from Common Table Expressions. The query optimizer now handles reorderable LEFT JOIN statements and ordered scans over RANGE partitions more efficiently. Please refer to the [MariaDB 12.3 release notes](https://mariadb.com/docs/release-notes/community-server/12.3/12.3.1) for more details. Amazon RDS Database Preview Environment database instances are retained for a maximum period of 60 days and are automatically deleted after the retention period. Amazon RDS database snapshots created in the preview environment can only be used to create or restore database instances within the preview environment. For pricing information, see [Amazon RDS for MariaDB pricing](https://aws.amazon.com/rds/mariadb/pricing/). For further information, see [Working with the Database Preview Environment](https://docs.aws.amazon.com/AmazonRDS/latest/UserGuide/CHAP%5FPreviewenvironment.html).