Navigating MySQL Workbench

MySQL Workbench is MySQL’s official graphical interface for working with databases. It lets you do things like:

• Connect to and manage MySQL servers

• write/execute SQL queries

• Explore data visually

• export/import data easily

Step 1: Open MySQL Workbench
Step 2: You should see ‘Local instance’ under MySQL Connections. If you don’t, follow these steps:

• Click the plus beside MySQL Connections

• Give the connection a name like ‘Local Instance’

• Click on Store in Keychain … or Store in Vault … to enter the password made during installation

• Test the connection and click OK

Every time you open MySQL Workbench, use this connection to connect to your local server.

*This is MySQL Workbench on macOS. Windows will look slightly different but overall, they’re almost identical in terms of functionality*

1. New tab: Create a new tab for writing SQL code (queries)

2. Open File: Opening a SQL file

3. Administration tab: used to do administrative work like starting/stopping a server, importing/exporting schemas and more

4. Schemas tab: shows the databases that we have in the current database server. Right now, we just have sys (the database that MySQL uses internally to do its work) and maybe Sakila if you’re on Windows

5. Run Query: Run’s the query

6. Query Editor Window: where we right SQL code

7. Output panel/results grid: where your query results/tables will appear

Note

I will refer to some of these later on with a number in brackets (eg. (2))