mysql Command Reference: Flags, Usage & CI Examples

mysql runs SQL against a MySQL or MariaDB server from the shell.

mysql connects to a MySQL/MariaDB server and runs SQL interactively, from -e, or from a piped file. In CI it seeds databases and runs migrations against a service container.

Common flags and usage

• -h <host>: server host (use 127.0.0.1 to force TCP)
• -P <port>: server port (uppercase; default 3306)
• -u <user>: connect as this user
• -p[password]: password attached with no space (or set MYSQL_PWD)
• -e "SQL": run one statement and exit
• -N -B: header-free, tab-separated output for capture

Example

MYSQL_PWD=${MYSQL_PWD} mysql -h 127.0.0.1 -P 3306 -u root app < schema.sql
MYSQL_PWD=${MYSQL_PWD} mysql -h 127.0.0.1 -u root -N -B -e 'SELECT 1' app

In CI

Use -h 127.0.0.1 (not localhost) to force TCP to the service container instead of a missing Unix socket. Supply the password via MYSQL_PWD or attached to -p with no space; a space after -p is a common "Access denied" cause.

Key takeaways

• mysql runs SQL interactively, via -e, or from a piped file.
• Force TCP with -h 127.0.0.1 to reach a CI service container.
• Pass the password via MYSQL_PWD or attached to -p, never spaced.

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