Create a MySQL Database on Linux via Command Line

While the are many ways to create databases, system administrators benefit from knowing how to create a MySQL database in Linux via the command line. Knowing more than one way to accomplish a task provides flexibility in case the usual way you perform it is not an option. Use this tutorial to create a MySQL database via the command line.

Prerequisites

• Server running CentOS or AlmaLinux.
• Root-level access to the server.

Create MySQL Database on Linux using Command Line

Step 1:

Log into the MySQL server from the command line with the following command, specifying the user root with the -u flag, and prompt for a password using the -p flag. Enter your current password once prompted to complete the login.

mysql -u root -p

You can change the MySQL password for the root user or any other user in the database via the command line.

A prompt displays like the one below once you log in.

mysql>

Step 2:

To create a database with the name tutorial_database, type the following command.

CREATE DATABASE tutorial_database;

If a database of the same name already exists, the system will not create a new database, and you will receive this error.

ERROR 1007 (HY000): Can't create database 'tutorial_database'; database exists

You can avoid this error by using the following command. It only creates the database tutorial_database if a database of that name does not already exist.

CREATE DATABASE IF NOT EXISTS tutorial_database;

View All MySQL Databases

Use the following command to view the database you've created.

SHOW DATABASES;

Here is the resulting output.

mysql> SHOW DATABASES;
+--------------------+
| Database           |
+--------------------+
| information_schema |
| mysql              |
| test               |
| tutorial_database  |
+--------------------+
4 rows in set (0.00 sec)

Wrapping Up

Creating a MySQL database from the Linux command line is an easy process. System administrators would do well to have this process in their toolkit to add flexibility to their workflow.

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