> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://ngquct-docs-fix-500-query-results.mintlify.site/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# MySQL

> Connect to MySQL 5.7 and later with the bundled MariaDB Connector/C driver

MySQL 8 accounts on `caching_sha2_password` connect on the first try, with no auth plugin to switch over. The same bundled driver covers 5.7 and later, and MariaDB as well; MariaDB-specific notes are on [MariaDB](/databases/mariadb).

## Quick setup

<Steps>
  <Step title="Create Connection">
    Click **Create Connection…** on the welcome window and pick **MySQL**
  </Step>

  <Step title="Test and Save">
    Fill in host, port, and credentials, click **Test Connection**, then **Save & Connect**
  </Step>
</Steps>

## Connection settings

| Field        | Default     | Notes                                             |
| ------------ | ----------- | ------------------------------------------------- |
| **Host**     | `localhost` | TCP only, never a Unix socket                     |
| **Port**     | `3306`      |                                                   |
| **Username** | empty       | An empty field connects as your macOS login name  |
| **Password** | empty       | Stored in the macOS Keychain                      |
| **Database** | empty       | Optional. Leave it empty to browse every database |

The session character set is `utf8mb4`, so emoji and non-Latin text round-trip untouched. A connect attempt gives up after 10 seconds.

## Connection URL

```text theme={null}
mysql://user:password@host:3306/database
```

Opening a URL connects directly. See [Connection URL Reference](/connections/urls).

## Common setups

| Where             | Settings                                                                                                                |
| ----------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| Homebrew          | `localhost:3306`                                                                                                        |
| Docker            | `localhost` with the mapped port, password from `MYSQL_ROOT_PASSWORD`                                                   |
| MAMP Pro          | `localhost:8889`, user and password `root`                                                                              |
| AWS RDS / Aurora  | Endpoint hostname, password or [AWS IAM](/connections/aws-iam), which signs a fresh 15-minute token on each connect     |
| Google Cloud SQL  | **Enable Cloud SQL Auth Proxy** and the instance name, in the [Cloud SQL Auth Proxy](/connections/cloud-sql-proxy) pane |
| Remote production | [SSH tunnel](/connections/ssh-tunneling)                                                                                |

## Users & Roles

**Database > Users & Roles** manages users, roles, and privileges. Changes are staged and shown as SQL before they run. See [Users & Roles](/features/users-roles).

## Query plans

`EXPLAIN FORMAT=JSON`, `EXPLAIN FORMAT=TREE`, and `EXPLAIN ANALYZE` render as a plan diagram or tree; plain multi-column `EXPLAIN` stays in the results grid. See [EXPLAIN Visualization](/features/explain-visualization).

<Frame caption="EXPLAIN rendered as a visual plan">
  <img className="block dark:hidden" src="https://mintcdn.com/ngquct-docs-fix-500-query-results/hA72m8tSnRe3b-ew/images/explain-diagram.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=hA72m8tSnRe3b-ew&q=85&s=c496b22ec71234f5117c3da1ffdb6138" alt="Visual EXPLAIN plan diagram" width="3026" height="1720" data-path="images/explain-diagram.png" />

  <img className="hidden dark:block" src="https://mintcdn.com/ngquct-docs-fix-500-query-results/hA72m8tSnRe3b-ew/images/explain-diagram-dark.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=hA72m8tSnRe3b-ew&q=85&s=255818a03dde0ef34e611f8525792082" alt="Visual EXPLAIN plan diagram" width="3028" height="1722" data-path="images/explain-diagram-dark.png" />
</Frame>

## Browsing

The sidebar lists every accessible database with each table's structure and DDL. Switch databases with `Cmd+K`. A tab keeps the database it was opened on; MySQL switches database in place, so that tab runs on the same connection rather than a second one.

Table and column comments show in the UI: dimmed after a table's name in the sidebar, and in the grid header tooltip. Right-click the sidebar and choose **View Options > Comments** to turn that off.

## SSL/TLS

New connections default to **Preferred**: TLS first, dropping to plain text only after an SSL handshake error. Pick **Verify CA** with the provider's certificate for strict validation. See [SSL/TLS](/connections/ssl).

## Limitations

* No Unix socket connections. Give the connection a host and a port, and leave networking on in the server.
* `LOAD DATA LOCAL INFILE` is refused by the driver. Load the file with **File > Import > Import Data…** instead.

## Troubleshooting

**Connection refused**: check the server is running (`brew services start mysql`), the port is right, and `skip-networking` is not set.

**Access denied for user '…'@'…' (using password: YES)**: the password is wrong, or the grant does not cover the host you are connecting from. Check both with `SHOW GRANTS FOR 'user'@'host';`.

**Auth plugin errors**: `caching_sha2_password` needs no configuration. For any other plugin error, read the account's plugin with `SELECT user, plugin FROM mysql.user;`.