A quick way to send SQL queries to the MySQL server

When MySQL is installed, a simple, text-based program called mysql (or sometimes the terminal monitor or the monitor) is also installed. Programs that communicate with servers are client software; because this program communicates with the MySQL server, it’s a client. When you enter SQL queries in this client, the response is returned to the client and displayed onscreen. The monitor program can send queries across a network; it doesn’t have to be running on the machine where the database is stored.
To send SQL queries to MySQL by using the mysql client, follow these steps:

• Locate the mysql client. By default, the mysql client program is installed in the subdirectory bin, under the directory where MySQL is installed. In Unix/Linux, the default is /usr/local/mysql/bin or /usr/local/bin. In Windows, the default is c:\Program Files\MySQL\MySQL Server 5.0\bin. However, the client might be installed in a different directory. Or, if you’re not the MySQL administrator, you might not have access to the mysql client. If you don’t know where MySQL is installed or can’t run the client, ask the MySQL administrator to put the client somewhere where you can run it or to give you a copy that you can put on your own computer.
• Start the client. In Unix and Linux, type the path/filename (for example, /usr/local/mysql/bin/ mysql). In Windows, open a command prompt window and then type the path\filename (for example, c:\ Program Files\MySQL\MySQL Server 5.0\bin\mysql). This command will start the client if you don’t need to use an account name or a password. If you need to enter an account or a password or both, use the following parameters:
• u user: user is your MySQL account name.
• p: This parameter prompts you for the password for your MySQL account.

For instance, if you’re in the directory where the mysql client is located, the command might look like this:

mysql -u root -p

• If you’re starting the mysql client to access a database across the network, use the following parameter after the mysql command:
• h host: host is the name of the machine where MySQL is located.

For instance, if you’re in the directory where the mysql client is located, the command might look like this:
mysql -h mysqlhost.mycompany.com -u root -p
Press Enter after typing the command.

• Enter your password when prompted for it. The mysql client starts, and you see something similar to this: Welcome to the MySQL monitor. Commands end with ; or \g. Your MySQL connection id is 459 to server version: 5.0.15 Type ‘help;’ or ‘\h’ for help. Type ‘\c’ to clear the buffer. mysql>
• Select the database that you want to use. At the mysql prompt, type the following: use databasename Use the name of the database that you want to query.
• At the mysql prompt, type your SQL query followed by a semicolon (;), and then press the Enter key. The mysql client continues to prompt for input and does not execute the query until you enter a semicolon. The response to the query is displayed onscreen.
• To leave the mysql client, type quit at the prompt and then press the Enter key.