How to Use Database in MySQL: Syntax and Examples

In MySQL, you use the USE database_name; command to select a database to work with. This tells MySQL to run your queries on that specific database until you change it or disconnect.

Syntax

The basic syntax to select a database in MySQL is:

• USE database_name;: This command sets the current database to database_name.
• After this, all your queries will run on the selected database unless you change it.

sql

USE database_name;

Example

This example shows how to select a database named shop and then list all tables inside it.

sql

USE shop;
SHOW TABLES;

Output

Tables_in_shop
products
customers
orders

Common Pitfalls

Common mistakes when using databases in MySQL include:

• Trying to run queries without selecting a database first, which causes errors.
• Using the wrong database name or misspelling it.
• Not ending the USE command with a semicolon.

Always check that the database exists before using it.

sql

/* Wrong way: missing USE command */
SELECT * FROM products;

/* Right way: select database first */
USE shop;
SELECT * FROM products;

Quick Reference

Here is a quick summary of commands related to using databases in MySQL:

Command	Description
USE database_name;	Selects the database to work with
SHOW DATABASES;	Lists all databases on the server
SHOW TABLES;	Lists all tables in the current database
CREATE DATABASE database_name;	Creates a new database
DROP DATABASE database_name;	Deletes a database permanently

Key Takeaways

Use USE database_name; to select the database before running queries.

Always end MySQL commands with a semicolon ;.

Check that the database exists to avoid errors.

Use SHOW DATABASES; to see available databases.

Use SHOW TABLES; to list tables in the selected database.