MySQL Cookbook, 4th Edition

Chapter 1. Using the mysql Client Program

1.0 Introduction

The MySQL database system uses a client-server architecture. The server, mysqld, is the program that actually manipulates databases. To tell the server what to do, use a client program that communicates your intent by means of statements written in SQL. Client programs are written for diverse purposes, but each interacts with the server by connecting to it, sending SQL statements to have database operations performed, and receiving the results.

Clients are installed locally on the machine from which you want to access MySQL, but the server can be installed anywhere, as long as clients can connect to it. Because MySQL is an inherently networked database system, clients can communicate with a server running locally on your own machine or somewhere on the other side of the planet.

The mysql program is one of the clients included in MySQL distributions. When used interactively, mysql prompts you for a statement, sends it to the MySQL server for execution, and displays the results. mysql can also be used noninteractively in batch mode to read statements stored in files or produced by programs. This enables the use of mysql from within scripts or cron jobs or in conjunction with other applications.

This chapter describes mysql’s capabilities so that you can use it more effectively:

• Setting up a MySQL account using the cookbook database

• Specifying connection parameters and using option files

• Executing SQL statements interactively and ...