How to Create a Database in MySQL

Introduction

When you build up an application, you need a database (db) to save your data. It could be about your order, member, or transactional data. It really depends on business needs from the application that you build. Another purpose is you can initiate improvements based on huge data that you’ve already saved.

Based on Wikipedia, a database is an organized collection of data, generally stored and accessed electronically from a computer system. Where databases are more complex they are often developed using formal design and modeling techniques Wikipedia.

There are many great databases these days, one of it is MySQL. In this section, we will learn from the beginning how to create a database, tables, and query data with MySQL.

Why MySQL:

  • It is open source. However, there are a personal and enterprise version.
  • Fast. Of course with the right indexes when you have huge amount of rows data.
  • Scalability, maintainability.
  • Suitable for web-based application. E-commerce, warehouse, logging, and many more.

Before we start, to create or manage your MySQL database, you need database client/IDE.

Three IDE options:

Personally, I find Sequel Pro is very helpful and powerful for my day-to-day use.

Start and Login to MySQL on your local machine (Mac OS X).

  1. Go to your System Preferences
  2. Find MySQL
  3. Choose to Start MySQL Server

After the MySQL database started, you can log in.

  1. Go to your database client, in this example I am using Sequel Pro.
  2. Connect to your localhost. You need to provide the username and password before login.
  3. Once you connect, you will be able to create your database.

Create new Database:

Create Database Statements
CREATE DATABASE database_name
    [[DEFAULT] CHARACTER SET charset_name]
    [[DEFAULT] COLLATE collation_name];

Example:

CREATE DATABASE learning_mysql 
    CHARACTER SET utf8
    COLLATE utf8_general_ci;

Using Functionality Provided by IDE
  • Go to Database menu, select Add Database…

  • Then fill in the database name

For common cases and non latin, use UTF-8 for character set, and you can use utf8_general_ci for the collation.

Your database is now ready to use. Ensure you choose the right database that you want to manage. The second step is to prepare tables as per your business needs, to save the data from your application.

Happy exploring!

Rosa
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