Introduction

This is a simple guide to mySQL administration using the command line client. Generally mySQL administration is not a difficult task especially with the different administration tools out there, not least phpMyadmin.

Connecting to mySQL

To connect using the command line client you need to open a command line or a shell prompt. Then simply type:

This is the most simple way to connect you to your mySQL server. Of course it is too simple for a lot of mySQL servers installations because we haven't specified any connection details. Connection details most commonly are the hostname and suitable security credentials such as user name and password.

This is a more useful and more likely mySQL command line syntax

This will tell the mysql client to use the username of root to use the password of s3cr3tpassw0rd and to connect to the computer name of localhost

Assuming these details are correct you should see a prompt that looks something like this.

Once you see this you are connected and ready to begin administering your system.

Creation of databases

To begin working on mySQL you need to create a database. This is a straight forward command.

For example if you wanted to create a database called "mystuff" you would use this command.

If the database already exists you will be notified of this

if you want to avoid this error message, instead type

Now you have created the database you are ready to begin working on it. So you need to tell mySQL that this is the database you wish to connect to. This is accomplished with the "USE" command.