MySQL command line – quick tips

From Bash

Login (localhost access)

mysql -u <userid> -p

From the MySQL command prompt

List all databases on the current server

mysql> show databases;

Switch to a database

mysql> use <db name>;

Show all tables in the currently selected database

mysql> show tables;

View a table’s schema

mysql> describe <table name>;

Issue a select statement (example)

mysql> select * from <table name>;

Limit number of rows returned in a select

(TOP doesn’t work in MySQL…)

mysql> select * from <table name> limit 0,10;