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MySQL 9.4 Reference Manual  / ...  / MySQL Programs  / Client Programs  /  mysql — The MySQL Command-Line Client

6.5.1 mysql — The MySQL Command-Line Client

mysql is a simple SQL shell with input line editing capabilities. It supports interactive and noninteractive use. When used interactively, query results are presented in an ASCII-table format. When used noninteractively (for example, as a filter), the result is presented in tab-separated format. The output format can be changed using command options.

If you have problems due to insufficient memory for large result sets, use the--quick option. This forcesmysql to retrieve results from the server a row at a time rather than retrieving the entire result set and buffering it in memory before displaying it. This is done by returning the result set using themysql_use_result() C API function in the client/server library rather thanmysql_store_result().

Note

Alternatively, MySQL Shell offers access to the X DevAPI. For details, seeMySQL Shell 9.4.

Usingmysql is very easy. Invoke it from the prompt of your command interpreter as follows:

mysqldb_name

Or:

mysql --user=user_name --passworddb_name

In this case, you'll need to enter your password in response to the prompt thatmysql displays:

Enter password:your_password

Then type an SQL statement, end it with;,\g, or\G and press Enter.

TypingControl+C interrupts the current statement if there is one, or cancels any partial input line otherwise.

You can execute SQL statements in a script file (batch file) like this:

mysqldb_name <script.sql >output.tab

On Unix, themysql client logs statements executed interactively to a history file. SeeSection 6.5.1.3, “mysql Client Logging”.