# Parameter groups for Amazon RDS
<a name="USER_WorkingWithParamGroups"></a>

*Database parameters* specify how the database is configured. For example, database parameters can specify the amount of resources, such as memory, to allocate to a database.

You manage your database configuration by associating your DB instances and Multi-AZ DB clusters with parameter groups. Amazon RDS defines parameter groups with default settings. You can also define your own parameter groups with customized settings.

**Note**  
Some DB engines offer additional features that you can add to your database as options in an option group. For information about option groups, see [Working with option groups](USER_WorkingWithOptionGroups.md).

**Topics**
+ [Overview of parameter groups](parameter-groups-overview.md)
+ [DB parameter groups for Amazon RDS DB instances](USER_WorkingWithDBInstanceParamGroups.md)
+ [Working with DB cluster parameter groups for Multi-AZ DB clusters](USER_WorkingWithDBClusterParamGroups.md)
+ [Comparing DB parameter groups](USER_WorkingWithParamGroups.Comparing.md)
+ [Specifying DB parameters](USER_ParamValuesRef.md)