Published 05.05.2026

MySQL Cheat Sheet: Essential Commands for Developers

MySQL is one of the most popular database management systems used in web development. Whether you work with PHP, Laravel, Magento, WordPress, or Node.js, understanding basic SQL commands is an essential skill. This cheat sheet covers the most commonly used MySQL commands that developers and database administrators use on a daily basis.

This cheat sheet contains the most commonly used MySQL commands for everyday web development.

Connecting to MySQL

Connect to the MySQL Server

mysql -u root -p

Connect to a Specific Database

mysql -u root -p database_name

Database Management

List All Databases

SHOW DATABASES;

Create a Database

CREATE DATABASE db
CHARACTER SET utf8mb4
COLLATE utf8mb4_general_ci;

Delete a Database

DROP DATABASE my_database;

Select a Database

USE my_database;

Table Management

List All Tables

SHOW TABLES;

View Table Structure

DESCRIBE users;

Delete a Table

DROP TABLE users;

Rename a Table

RENAME TABLE users TO customers;

Retrieving Data

Select All Records

SELECT * FROM users;

Select Records with a Condition

SELECT *
FROM users
WHERE id = 1;

Updating Data

Update a Record

UPDATE users
SET name = 'Alex'
WHERE id = 1;

Deleting Data

Delete a Record

DELETE FROM users
WHERE id = 1;

Clear a Table

TRUNCATE TABLE users;

Export and Import

Export a Database

mysqldump -u root -p my_database > backup.sql

Import a Database

mysql -u root -p my_database < backup.sql