diff --git a/.github/workflows/ci-mariadb.yml b/.github/workflows/ci-mariadb.yml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..d12d0a47c65
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.github/workflows/ci-mariadb.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,67 @@
+on:
+  - pull_request
+  - push
+
+name: ci-mariadb
+
+concurrency:
+  group: ${{ github.workflow }}-${{ github.ref }}
+  cancel-in-progress: true
+
+jobs:
+  tests:
+    name: PHP ${{ matrix.php }}-mariadb-${{ matrix.mariadb }}
+    env:
+      extensions: curl, intl, pdo, pdo_mysql
+      XDEBUG_MODE: coverage, develop
+
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+
+    strategy:
+      fail-fast: false
+      matrix:
+        os: [ubuntu-latest]
+        php: [7.4, 8.0, 8.1, 8.2, 8.3, 8.4]
+        mariadb:
+          - mariadb:10.4
+          - mariadb:latest
+
+    services:
+      mysql:
+        image: ${{ matrix.mariadb }}
+        env:
+          MARIADB_ROOT_PASSWORD: root
+          MARIADB_DATABASE: yiitest
+        ports:
+          - 3306:3306
+        options: --health-cmd="mariadb-admin ping" --health-interval=10s --health-timeout=5s --health-retries=3
+
+    steps:
+      - name: Checkout.
+        uses: actions/checkout@v4
+
+      - name: Install PHP with extensions.
+        uses: shivammathur/setup-php@v2
+        with:
+          coverage: xdebug
+          extensions: ${{ env.EXTENSIONS }}
+          ini-values: date.timezone='UTC'
+          php-version: ${{ matrix.php }}
+          tools: composer:v2, pecl
+
+      - name: Install dependencies with composer
+        if: matrix.php != '8.4'
+        run: composer update --prefer-dist --no-interaction --no-progress --optimize-autoloader --ansi
+
+      - name: Install dependencies with PHP 8.4.
+        if: matrix.php == '8.4'
+        run: composer update --prefer-dist --no-interaction --no-progress --optimize-autoloader --ignore-platform-reqs --ansi
+
+      - name: Run MariaDB tests with PHPUnit and generate coverage.
+        run: vendor/bin/phpunit --group mysql --coverage-clover=coverage.xml --colors=always
+
+      - name: Upload coverage to Codecov.
+        if: matrix.php == '7.4'
+        uses: codecov/codecov-action@v3
+        with:
+          file: ./coverage.xml
diff --git a/framework/CHANGELOG.md b/framework/CHANGELOG.md
index a8adf0f0143..8ed5a4669fc 100644
--- a/framework/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/framework/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -30,6 +30,7 @@ Yii Framework 2 Change Log
 - Bug #19817: Add MySQL Query `addCheck()` and `dropCheck()` (@bobonov)
 - Bug #20165: Adjust pretty name of closures for PHP 8.4 compatibility (@staabm)
 - Bug #19855: Fixed `yii\validators\FileValidator` to not limit some of its rules only to array attribute (bizley)
+- Enh: #20171: Support JSON columns for MariaDB 10.4 or higher (@terabytesoftw)
 
 2.0.49.2 October 12, 2023
 -------------------------
diff --git a/framework/db/mysql/JsonExpressionBuilder.php b/framework/db/mysql/JsonExpressionBuilder.php
index fe7fc8b7869..cb2b35c83b2 100644
--- a/framework/db/mysql/JsonExpressionBuilder.php
+++ b/framework/db/mysql/JsonExpressionBuilder.php
@@ -44,6 +44,6 @@ public function build(ExpressionInterface $expression, array &$params = [])
         $placeholder = static::PARAM_PREFIX . count($params);
         $params[$placeholder] = Json::encode($value);
 
-        return "CAST($placeholder AS JSON)";
+        return $placeholder;
     }
 }
diff --git a/framework/db/mysql/Schema.php b/framework/db/mysql/Schema.php
index 7a60c620f21..e9678392f67 100644
--- a/framework/db/mysql/Schema.php
+++ b/framework/db/mysql/Schema.php
@@ -380,10 +380,19 @@ protected function findColumns($table)
             }
             throw $e;
         }
+
+
+        $jsonColumns = $this->getJsonColumns($table);
+
         foreach ($columns as $info) {
             if ($this->db->slavePdo->getAttribute(\PDO::ATTR_CASE) !== \PDO::CASE_LOWER) {
                 $info = array_change_key_case($info, CASE_LOWER);
             }
+
+            if (\in_array($info['field'], $jsonColumns, true)) {
+                $info['type'] = static::TYPE_JSON;
+            }
+
             $column = $this->loadColumnSchema($info);
             $table->columns[$column->name] = $column;
             if ($column->isPrimaryKey) {
@@ -641,4 +650,20 @@ private function loadTableConstraints($tableName, $returnType)
 
         return $result[$returnType];
     }
+
+    private function getJsonColumns(TableSchema $table): array
+    {
+        $sql = $this->getCreateTableSql($table);
+        $result = [];
+
+        $regexp = '/json_valid\([\`"](.+)[\`"]\s*\)/mi';
+
+        if (\preg_match_all($regexp, $sql, $matches, PREG_SET_ORDER)) {
+            foreach ($matches as $match) {
+                $result[] = $match[1];
+            }
+        }
+
+        return $result;
+    }
 }
diff --git a/framework/web/Controller.php b/framework/web/Controller.php
index d1688cfafee..db7b3d81a1a 100644
--- a/framework/web/Controller.php
+++ b/framework/web/Controller.php
@@ -129,9 +129,8 @@ public function bindActionParams($action, $params)
         foreach ($method->getParameters() as $param) {
             $name = $param->getName();
             if (array_key_exists($name, $params)) {
-                $isValid = true;                
+                $isValid = true;
                 $isArray = ($type = $param->getType()) instanceof \ReflectionNamedType && $type->getName() === 'array';
-                
                 if ($isArray) {
                     $params[$name] = (array)$params[$name];
                 } elseif (is_array($params[$name])) {
diff --git a/tests/framework/db/mysql/QueryBuilderTest.php b/tests/framework/db/mysql/QueryBuilderTest.php
index f0f8cdfb397..7097b8d2b61 100644
--- a/tests/framework/db/mysql/QueryBuilderTest.php
+++ b/tests/framework/db/mysql/QueryBuilderTest.php
@@ -267,35 +267,35 @@ public function conditionProvider()
             // json conditions
             [
                 ['=', 'jsoncol', new JsonExpression(['lang' => 'uk', 'country' => 'UA'])],
-                '[[jsoncol]] = CAST(:qp0 AS JSON)', [':qp0' => '{"lang":"uk","country":"UA"}'],
+                '[[jsoncol]] = :qp0', [':qp0' => '{"lang":"uk","country":"UA"}'],
             ],
             [
                 ['=', 'jsoncol', new JsonExpression([false])],
-                '[[jsoncol]] = CAST(:qp0 AS JSON)', [':qp0' => '[false]']
+                '[[jsoncol]] = :qp0', [':qp0' => '[false]']
             ],
             'object with type. Type is ignored for MySQL' => [
                 ['=', 'prices', new JsonExpression(['seeds' => 15, 'apples' => 25], 'jsonb')],
-                '[[prices]] = CAST(:qp0 AS JSON)', [':qp0' => '{"seeds":15,"apples":25}'],
+                '[[prices]] = :qp0', [':qp0' => '{"seeds":15,"apples":25}'],
             ],
             'nested json' => [
                 ['=', 'data', new JsonExpression(['user' => ['login' => 'silverfire', 'password' => 'c4ny0ur34d17?'], 'props' => ['mood' => 'good']])],
-                '[[data]] = CAST(:qp0 AS JSON)', [':qp0' => '{"user":{"login":"silverfire","password":"c4ny0ur34d17?"},"props":{"mood":"good"}}']
+                '[[data]] = :qp0', [':qp0' => '{"user":{"login":"silverfire","password":"c4ny0ur34d17?"},"props":{"mood":"good"}}']
             ],
             'null value' => [
                 ['=', 'jsoncol', new JsonExpression(null)],
-                '[[jsoncol]] = CAST(:qp0 AS JSON)', [':qp0' => 'null']
+                '[[jsoncol]] = :qp0', [':qp0' => 'null']
             ],
             'null as array value' => [
                 ['=', 'jsoncol', new JsonExpression([null])],
-                '[[jsoncol]] = CAST(:qp0 AS JSON)', [':qp0' => '[null]']
+                '[[jsoncol]] = :qp0', [':qp0' => '[null]']
             ],
             'null as object value' => [
                 ['=', 'jsoncol', new JsonExpression(['nil' => null])],
-                '[[jsoncol]] = CAST(:qp0 AS JSON)', [':qp0' => '{"nil":null}']
+                '[[jsoncol]] = :qp0', [':qp0' => '{"nil":null}']
             ],
             'with object as value' => [
                 ['=', 'jsoncol', new JsonExpression(new DynamicModel(['a' => 1, 'b' => 2]))],
-                '[[jsoncol]] = CAST(:qp0 AS JSON)', [':qp0' => '{"a":1,"b":2}']
+                '[[jsoncol]] = :qp0', [':qp0' => '{"a":1,"b":2}']
             ],
             'query' => [
                 ['=', 'jsoncol', new JsonExpression((new Query())->select('params')->from('user')->where(['id' => 1]))],
@@ -307,7 +307,7 @@ public function conditionProvider()
             ],
             'nested and combined json expression' => [
                 ['=', 'jsoncol', new JsonExpression(new JsonExpression(['a' => 1, 'b' => 2, 'd' => new JsonExpression(['e' => 3])]))],
-                "[[jsoncol]] = CAST(:qp0 AS JSON)", [':qp0' => '{"a":1,"b":2,"d":{"e":3}}']
+                "[[jsoncol]] = :qp0", [':qp0' => '{"a":1,"b":2,"d":{"e":3}}']
             ],
             'search by property in JSON column (issue #15838)' => [
                 ['=', new Expression("(jsoncol->>'$.someKey')"), '42'],
@@ -328,7 +328,7 @@ public function updateProvider()
             [
                 'id' => 1,
             ],
-            $this->replaceQuotes('UPDATE [[profile]] SET [[description]]=CAST(:qp0 AS JSON) WHERE [[id]]=:qp1'),
+            $this->replaceQuotes('UPDATE [[profile]] SET [[description]]=:qp0 WHERE [[id]]=:qp1'),
             [
                 ':qp0' => '{"abc":"def","0":123,"1":null}',
                 ':qp1' => 1,
diff --git a/tests/framework/db/mysql/SchemaTest.php b/tests/framework/db/mysql/SchemaTest.php
index ba98f45e385..aa2634ff307 100644
--- a/tests/framework/db/mysql/SchemaTest.php
+++ b/tests/framework/db/mysql/SchemaTest.php
@@ -146,87 +146,108 @@ public function testAlternativeDisplayOfDefaultCurrentTimestampAsNullInMariaDB()
 
     public function getExpectedColumns()
     {
-        $version = $this->getConnection()->getSchema()->getServerVersion();
+        $version = $this->getConnection(false)->getServerVersion();
 
         $columns = array_merge(
             parent::getExpectedColumns(),
             [
                 'int_col' => [
                     'type' => 'integer',
-                    'dbType' => \version_compare($version, '8.0.17', '>') ? 'int' : 'int(11)',
+                    'dbType' => 'int(11)',
                     'phpType' => 'integer',
                     'allowNull' => false,
                     'autoIncrement' => false,
                     'enumValues' => null,
-                    'size' => \version_compare($version, '8.0.17', '>') ? null : 11,
-                    'precision' => \version_compare($version, '8.0.17', '>') ? null : 11,
+                    'size' => 11,
+                    'precision' => 11,
                     'scale' => null,
                     'defaultValue' => null,
                 ],
                 'int_col2' => [
                     'type' => 'integer',
-                    'dbType' => \version_compare($version, '8.0.17', '>') ? 'int' : 'int(11)',
+                    'dbType' => 'int(11)',
                     'phpType' => 'integer',
                     'allowNull' => true,
                     'autoIncrement' => false,
                     'enumValues' => null,
-                    'size' => \version_compare($version, '8.0.17', '>') ? null : 11,
-                    'precision' => \version_compare($version, '8.0.17', '>') ? null : 11,
+                    'size' => 11,
+                    'precision' => 11,
                     'scale' => null,
                     'defaultValue' => 1,
                 ],
                 'int_col3' => [
                     'type' => 'integer',
-                    'dbType' => \version_compare($version, '8.0.17', '>') ? 'int unsigned' : 'int(11) unsigned',
+                    'dbType' => 'int(11) unsigned',
                     'phpType' => 'integer',
                     'allowNull' => true,
                     'autoIncrement' => false,
                     'enumValues' => null,
-                    'size' => \version_compare($version, '8.0.17', '>') ? null : 11,
-                    'precision' => \version_compare($version, '8.0.17', '>') ? null : 11,
+                    'size' => 11,
+                    'precision' => 11,
                     'scale' => null,
                     'defaultValue' => 1,
                 ],
                 'tinyint_col' => [
                     'type' => 'tinyint',
-                    'dbType' => \version_compare($version, '8.0.17', '>') ? 'tinyint' : 'tinyint(3)',
+                    'dbType' => 'tinyint(3)',
                     'phpType' => 'integer',
                     'allowNull' => true,
                     'autoIncrement' => false,
                     'enumValues' => null,
-                    'size' => \version_compare($version, '8.0.17', '>') ? null : 3,
-                    'precision' => \version_compare($version, '8.0.17', '>') ? null : 3,
+                    'size' => 3,
+                    'precision' => 3,
                     'scale' => null,
                     'defaultValue' => 1,
                 ],
                 'smallint_col' => [
                     'type' => 'smallint',
-                    'dbType' =>  \version_compare($version, '8.0.17', '>') ? 'smallint' : 'smallint(1)',
+                    'dbType' =>  'smallint(1)',
                     'phpType' => 'integer',
                     'allowNull' => true,
                     'autoIncrement' => false,
                     'enumValues' => null,
-                    'size' => \version_compare($version, '8.0.17', '>') ? null : 1,
-                    'precision' => \version_compare($version, '8.0.17', '>') ? null : 1,
+                    'size' => 1,
+                    'precision' => 1,
                     'scale' => null,
                     'defaultValue' => 1,
                 ],
                 'bigint_col' => [
                     'type' => 'bigint',
-                    'dbType' => \version_compare($version, '8.0.17', '>') ? 'bigint unsigned' : 'bigint(20) unsigned',
+                    'dbType' => 'bigint(20) unsigned',
                     'phpType' => 'string',
                     'allowNull' => true,
                     'autoIncrement' => false,
                     'enumValues' => null,
-                    'size' => \version_compare($version, '8.0.17', '>') ? null : 20,
-                    'precision' => \version_compare($version, '8.0.17', '>') ? null : 20,
+                    'size' => 20,
+                    'precision' => 20,
                     'scale' => null,
                     'defaultValue' => null,
                 ],
             ]
         );
 
-        if (version_compare($version, '5.7', '<')) {
+        if (\version_compare($version, '8.0.17', '>') && \stripos($version, 'MariaDb') === false) {
+            $columns['int_col']['dbType'] = 'int';
+            $columns['int_col']['size'] = null;
+            $columns['int_col']['precision'] = null;
+            $columns['int_col2']['dbType'] = 'int';
+            $columns['int_col2']['size'] = null;
+            $columns['int_col2']['precision'] = null;
+            $columns['int_col3']['dbType'] = 'int unsigned';
+            $columns['int_col3']['size'] = null;
+            $columns['int_col3']['precision'] = null;
+            $columns['tinyint_col']['dbType'] = 'tinyint';
+            $columns['tinyint_col']['size'] = null;
+            $columns['tinyint_col']['precision'] = null;
+            $columns['smallint_col']['dbType'] = 'smallint';
+            $columns['smallint_col']['size'] = null;
+            $columns['smallint_col']['precision'] = null;
+            $columns['bigint_col']['dbType'] = 'bigint unsigned';
+            $columns['bigint_col']['size'] = null;
+            $columns['bigint_col']['precision'] = null;
+        }
+
+        if (version_compare($version, '5.7', '<') && \stripos($version, 'MariaDb') === false) {
             $columns['int_col3']['phpType'] = 'string';
             $columns['json_col']['type'] = 'text';
             $columns['json_col']['dbType'] = 'longtext';
diff --git a/tests/framework/db/mysql/type/JsonTest.php b/tests/framework/db/mysql/type/JsonTest.php
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..b955c7221cd
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/framework/db/mysql/type/JsonTest.php
@@ -0,0 +1,85 @@
+<?php
+/**
+ * @link https://www.yiiframework.com/
+ * @copyright Copyright (c) 2008 Yii Software LLC
+ * @license https://www.yiiframework.com/license/
+ */
+
+namespace yiiunit\framework\db\mysql\type;
+
+use yii\db\JsonExpression;
+use yii\db\mysql\Schema;
+use yiiunit\framework\db\DatabaseTestCase;
+
+/**
+ * @group db
+ * @group mysql
+ */
+class JsonTest extends DatabaseTestCase
+{
+    protected $driverName = 'mysql';
+
+    public function testCreateTable(): void
+    {
+        $db = $this->getConnection();
+
+        if ($db->getSchema()->getTableSchema('json') !== null) {
+            $db->createCommand()->dropTable('json')->execute();
+        }
+
+        $command = $db->createCommand();
+        $command->createTable('json', ['id' => Schema::TYPE_PK, 'data' => Schema::TYPE_JSON])->execute();
+
+        $this->assertTrue($db->getTableSchema('json') !== null);
+        $this->assertSame('data', $db->getTableSchema('json')->getColumn('data')->name);
+        $this->assertSame('json', $db->getTableSchema('json')->getColumn('data')->type);
+    }
+
+    public function testInsertAndSelect(): void
+    {
+        $db = $this->getConnection(true);
+        $version = $db->getServerVersion();
+
+        $command = $db->createCommand();
+        $command->insert('storage', ['data' => ['a' => 1, 'b' => 2]])->execute();
+
+        if (\stripos($version, 'MariaDb') === false) {
+            $rowExpected = '{"a": 1, "b": 2}';
+        } else {
+            $rowExpected = '{"a":1,"b":2}';
+        }
+
+        $this->assertSame(
+            $rowExpected,
+            $command->setSql(
+                <<<SQL
+                SELECT `data` FROM `storage`
+                SQL,
+            )->queryScalar(),
+        );
+    }
+
+    public function testInsertJsonExpressionAndSelect(): void
+    {
+        $db = $this->getConnection(true);
+        $version = $db->getServerVersion();
+
+        $command = $db->createCommand();
+        $command->insert('storage', ['data' => new JsonExpression(['a' => 1, 'b' => 2])])->execute();
+
+        if (\stripos($version, 'MariaDb') === false) {
+            $rowExpected = '{"a": 1, "b": 2}';
+        } else {
+            $rowExpected = '{"a":1,"b":2}';
+        }
+
+        $this->assertSame(
+            $rowExpected,
+            $command->setSql(
+                <<<SQL
+                SELECT `data` FROM `storage`
+                SQL,
+            )->queryScalar(),
+        );
+    }
+}