How do I access MySQL server from the shell prompt (command line)?

Posted by Vivek Gite [Last updated: March 28, 2006]

MySQL software includes mysql client. It is a text-based client for mysqld, a SQL-based relational database server.

Genreal syntax:

mysql -u {mysql-user} -p {mysql-password} -h {mysql-server}

Where,

-u {mysql-user} : Specify MySQL user name. Use root only when connecting to local system.
-p {mysql-password}: Specify password, Employ the specified password when connecting to the database server. If a password is not supplied, it will be requested interactively.
-h {mysql-server}: Connect to the specified host (remote or local)

For example remote connect to MySQL server called mysql10.nixcraft.in and user vivek:

$ mysql -u vivek â€“h mysql10.nixcraft.in -p

Output

Enter password:
Welcome to the MySQL monitor.  Commands end with ; or \g.
Your MySQL connection id is 5 to server version: 4.1.15-Debian_1-log

Type 'help;' or '\h' for help. Type '\c' to clear the buffer.

mysql>

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