Create a MySQL database from the terminal

Create MySQL database from terminal

Why create a database from terminal?

Creating a database from the terminal gives you more control and flexibility, especially if you don't have access to phpMyAdmin or prefer working from the command line.

Prerequisites

To create a database from terminal you need:

• ✅ SSH access to your server
• ✅ User with permissions to create databases (usually root or a user with privileges)
• ✅ MySQL or MariaDB installed on the server

Step 1: Connect to server via SSH

• Connect to your server using SSH
• Log in with a user that has admin permissions

ssh user@23.175.40.20

Step 2: Access MySQL

Once connected, access MySQL:

mysql -u root -p

It will ask for the root password. Enter it and press Enter.

Note: If you use a different user, replace root with your user.

Step 3: Create the database

Once inside MySQL, execute the following command:

CREATE DATABASE database_name;

Example:

CREATE DATABASE my_webapp;

Important: Don't forget the semicolon (;) at the end of the command.

If everything went well, you'll see:

Query OK, 1 row affected (0.00 sec)

Step 4: Create a user and grant permissions (recommended)

It's good practice to create a specific user for each database:

CREATE USER 'username'@'localhost' IDENTIFIED BY 'secure_password';

Example:

CREATE USER 'app_user'@'localhost' IDENTIFIED BY 'MyPassword123!';

Grant full permissions on the database:

GRANT ALL PRIVILEGES ON database_name.* TO 'username'@'localhost';

Example:

GRANT ALL PRIVILEGES ON my_webapp.* TO 'app_user'@'localhost';

Apply the changes:

FLUSH PRIVILEGES;

Step 5: Verify database was created

To see all databases:

SHOW DATABASES;

You should see your new database in the list.

To see created users:

SELECT user, host FROM mysql.user;

Option: Create from single command

You can also create the database without entering MySQL, executing from terminal:

mysql -u root -p -e "CREATE DATABASE database_name;"

Example:

mysql -u root -p -e "CREATE DATABASE my_webapp;"

It will ask for the password and create the database directly.

Configure charset and collation

To create a database with specific charset and collation (recommended for UTF-8):

CREATE DATABASE database_name 
CHARACTER SET utf8mb4 
COLLATE utf8mb4_unicode_ci;

Example:

CREATE DATABASE my_webapp 
CHARACTER SET utf8mb4 
COLLATE utf8mb4_unicode_ci;

Advantages of utf8mb4:

• ✅ Supports emojis and special characters
• ✅ Compatible with all languages
• ✅ Recommended for modern applications

Common issues

"Access denied" error

• Verify that the user has permissions to create databases
• Use root user or a user with privileges
• Verify that the password is correct

"database already exists" error

• The database already exists
• Verify with SHOW DATABASES;
• Use a different name or delete the existing one first

Syntax error

• Verify that the semicolon (;) is not missing at the end
• Verify there are no typos
• Verify that names don't have spaces or special characters

Delete a database

If you need to delete a database:

DROP DATABASE database_name;

⚠️ Warning: This will permanently delete the database and all its data. Make sure you have a backup first.

Exit MySQL

Para salir de MySQL:

exit

Or press CTRL + D

Tips

• ✅ Use descriptive names for your databases
• ✅ Create a specific user for each database
• ✅ Use strong passwords for users
• ✅ Configure utf8mb4 charset for full character support
• ✅ Backup before deleting databases
• ✅ Document the users and permissions created

Need help?

If you're having trouble creating databases or need assistance, open a ticket from the billing.baires.host panel or contact us for support.

You can also reach us through our social media:

• Instagram: @baires_host
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