What are the MariaDB/MySQL servers types, and how do they differ?, e.g., 'standalone' vs 'embedded', vs ...?
"embedded" is for applications that link to a server library and run a database internal to their application. They don't have a connection and all their SQL is via library calls. These aren't that common.

"standalone" seems most appropriate for your use.

embedded and "networked (including sockets)" are the main two server types. Withing networked there are MySQL cluster and MariaDB's galera as special kinds of networked configurations.