BIT Data Type: Can be used to store numbers in binary notation.

Cursors: Elementary support for server-side cursors.

Data Dictionary (Information Schema): The introduction of the INFORMATION_SCHEMA database in MySQL 5.0 provided a standards-compliant means for accessing the MySQL Server's metadata; that is, data about the databases (schemas) on the server and the objects which they contain.

Instance Manager: Can be used to start and stop the MySQL Server, even from a remote host.

Precision Math: MySQL 5.0 introduced stricter criteria for acceptance or rejection of data, and implemented a new library for fixed-point arithmetic. These contributed to a much higher degree of accuracy for mathematical operations and greater control over invalid values.

Storage Engines: Storage engines added in MySQL 5.0 include ARCHIVE and FEDERATED.

Stored Routines: Support for named stored procedures and stored functions was implemented in MySQL 5.0.

Strict Mode and Standard Error Handling: MySQL 5.0 added a strict mode where by it follows standard SQL in a number of ways in which it did not previously. Support for standard SQLSTATE error messages was also implemented.

Triggers: MySQL 5.0 added limited support for triggers.

VARCHAR Data Type: The effective maximum length of a VARCHAR column was increased to 65,535 bytes, and stripping of trailing whitespace was eliminated. (The actual maximum length of a VARCHAR is determined by the maximum row size and the character set you use. The maximum effective column length is subject to a row size of 65,535 bytes.)

Views: MySQL 5.0 added support for named, updatable views.