MySQL Command-Line Client (CLI)0%

MySQL Command-Line Client (CLI)

Beginner12 min read•Updated: 2026-09-12

MySQL Command-Line Client (CLI) Essentials

While graphical tools like MySQL Workbench are convenient, true database professionals and backend engineers must master the MySQL Command-Line Interface (CLI). Server deployments, Docker containers, remote cloud servers (AWS EC2, Google Cloud Compute), and CI/CD automated deployment pipelines interact with databases purely via terminal commands.

1. Connecting to MySQL via the CLI

To connect to a local or remote MySQL Server from your terminal:

1# Connect to local server as 'root' with password prompt:
2mysql -u root -p
3 
4# Connect to a specific host and port:
5mysql -h 127.0.0.1 -P 3306 -u root -p
6 
7# Connect directly to a specific database:
8mysql -u root -p my_database

When prompted, type your password. Note that on Unix/Linux systems, no asterisks or characters are shown while typing passwords for security. Press Enter.

Once successfully logged in, you will be greeted with the MySQL prompt:

1Welcome to the MySQL monitor.  Commands end with ; or \g.
2Your MySQL connection id is 12
3Server version: 8.4.0 MySQL Community Server - GPL
4 
5mysql> 

2. Navigating the MySQL Terminal

Inside the mysql> prompt, every SQL statement must terminate with a semicolon (;) or \G.

1-- View all existing databases:
2SHOW DATABASES;
3 
4-- Switch to a database to begin working with it:
5USE mysql;
6 
7-- View all tables in the active database:
8SHOW TABLES;
9 
10-- Clear terminal screen (Ctrl+L or system clear):
11system clear; -- On Linux/macOS
12system cls;   -- On Windows

3. Semicolons & Multiline SQL Statements

If you press Enter without a semicolon, MySQL expects you to continue typing on the next line. Notice how the prompt changes:

1mysql> SELECT user, host
2    -> FROM mysql.user
3    -> WHERE user = 'root';

mysql>: Ready for a new command.
->: Continuation of the current multiline statement.
'>: Unclosed single quote waiting for closing quote.
">: Unclosed double quote waiting for closing quote.
`>: Unclosed backtick waiting for closing backtick.

If you make a typo and want to cancel the current multiline statement without executing it, type \c and press Enter:

1mysql> SELECT * FROM wrongly_typed_table_name
2    -> c
3mysql> 

4. Vertical Output Formatting (`\G`)

When inspecting wide tables with 20+ columns, the standard horizontal table layout wraps around the terminal and becomes unreadable. In MySQL CLI, end your statement with \G (capital G) instead of a semicolon to format results vertically!

1-- Standard horizontal output (can wrap and distort):
2SELECT * FROM mysql.user LIMIT 1;
3 
4-- Vertical output (beautiful key-value list):
5SELECT * FROM mysql.user LIMIT 1G

Example Vertical Output:

1*************************** 1. row ***************************
                  Host: localhost
                  User: root
           Select_priv: Y
           Insert_priv: Y
           Update_priv: Y

5. Exiting the MySQL CLI

To exit the MySQL monitor and return to your operating system shell:

1EXIT;
2-- or
3QUIT;
4-- or press Ctrl+D (Unix) / Ctrl+C

Interactive Quiz• Knowledge Check

Multiple Choice Questions

Question 1

Which flag in the command mysql -u root -p indicates that a password will be provided?

Question 2

How do you cancel an unfinished multiline command in the MySQL CLI without executing it?

Question 3

What does terminating a SQL query with \G instead of a semicolon accomplish in the MySQL CLI?

Question 4

What does the prompt '> indicate in the MySQL CLI?

Question 5

Which SQL statement selects the active database you want to work with in the MySQL CLI?

Next Lesson

Setting Up MySQL Workbench

Continue learning with hands-on practice, examples, and exercises in the upcoming topic.

Related Lessons

Previous Lesson	Next Lesson
Installing MySQL Server	Setting Up MySQL Workbench

Practice Quiz

Test your understanding of this lesson with 5 questions. Each question has one correct answer.

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Setting Up MySQL Workbench

MySQL Command-Line Client (CLI)

Beginner12 min read•Updated: 2026-09-12

Study Materials Cheatsheet

MySQL Command-Line Client (CLI) Essentials

1. Connecting to MySQL via the CLI

To connect to a local or remote MySQL Server from your terminal:

1# Connect to local server as 'root' with password prompt:
2mysql -u root -p
3 
4# Connect to a specific host and port:
5mysql -h 127.0.0.1 -P 3306 -u root -p
6 
7# Connect directly to a specific database:
8mysql -u root -p my_database

When prompted, type your password. Note that on Unix/Linux systems, no asterisks or characters are shown while typing passwords for security. Press Enter.

Once successfully logged in, you will be greeted with the MySQL prompt:

1Welcome to the MySQL monitor.  Commands end with ; or \g.
2Your MySQL connection id is 12
3Server version: 8.4.0 MySQL Community Server - GPL
4 
5mysql> 

2. Navigating the MySQL Terminal

Inside the mysql> prompt, every SQL statement must terminate with a semicolon (;) or \G.

1-- View all existing databases:
2SHOW DATABASES;
3 
4-- Switch to a database to begin working with it:
5USE mysql;
6 
7-- View all tables in the active database:
8SHOW TABLES;
9 
10-- Clear terminal screen (Ctrl+L or system clear):
11system clear; -- On Linux/macOS
12system cls;   -- On Windows

3. Semicolons & Multiline SQL Statements

If you press Enter without a semicolon, MySQL expects you to continue typing on the next line. Notice how the prompt changes:

1mysql> SELECT user, host
2    -> FROM mysql.user
3    -> WHERE user = 'root';

mysql>: Ready for a new command.
->: Continuation of the current multiline statement.
'>: Unclosed single quote waiting for closing quote.
">: Unclosed double quote waiting for closing quote.
`>: Unclosed backtick waiting for closing backtick.

If you make a typo and want to cancel the current multiline statement without executing it, type \c and press Enter:

1mysql> SELECT * FROM wrongly_typed_table_name
2    -> c
3mysql> 

4. Vertical Output Formatting (`\G`)

1-- Standard horizontal output (can wrap and distort):
2SELECT * FROM mysql.user LIMIT 1;
3 
4-- Vertical output (beautiful key-value list):
5SELECT * FROM mysql.user LIMIT 1G

Example Vertical Output:

1*************************** 1. row ***************************
                  Host: localhost
                  User: root
           Select_priv: Y
           Insert_priv: Y
           Update_priv: Y

5. Exiting the MySQL CLI

To exit the MySQL monitor and return to your operating system shell:

1EXIT;
2-- or
3QUIT;
4-- or press Ctrl+D (Unix) / Ctrl+C

Interactive Quiz• Knowledge Check

Multiple Choice Questions

Question 1

Which flag in the command mysql -u root -p indicates that a password will be provided?

Question 2

How do you cancel an unfinished multiline command in the MySQL CLI without executing it?

Question 3

What does terminating a SQL query with \G instead of a semicolon accomplish in the MySQL CLI?

Question 4

What does the prompt '> indicate in the MySQL CLI?

Question 5

Which SQL statement selects the active database you want to work with in the MySQL CLI?

Next Lesson

Setting Up MySQL Workbench

Continue learning with hands-on practice, examples, and exercises in the upcoming topic.

Related Lessons

Previous Lesson	Next Lesson
Installing MySQL Server	Setting Up MySQL Workbench

Practice Quiz

Test your understanding of this lesson with 5 questions. Each question has one correct answer.

Previous Next

MySQL Command-Line Client (CLI) Essentials

1. Connecting to MySQL via the CLI

2. Navigating the MySQL Terminal

3. Semicolons & Multiline SQL Statements

4. Vertical Output Formatting (\G)

Example Vertical Output:

5. Exiting the MySQL CLI

Multiple Choice Questions

Setting Up MySQL Workbench

Related Lessons

Practice Quiz

Loading Page Content...

MySQL Command-Line Client (CLI) Essentials

1. Connecting to MySQL via the CLI

2. Navigating the MySQL Terminal

3. Semicolons & Multiline SQL Statements

4. Vertical Output Formatting (\G)

Example Vertical Output:

5. Exiting the MySQL CLI

Multiple Choice Questions

Setting Up MySQL Workbench

Related Lessons

Practice Quiz

4. Vertical Output Formatting (`\G`)

4. Vertical Output Formatting (`\G`)