The MySQL database package consists of the following:
- The MySQL server: This is the heart of MySQL. You can consider it a program that stores and manages your databases.
- MySQL client programs: MySQL comes with many client programs. The one with which we’ll be dealing a lot is called mysql (note: smallcaps). This provides an interface through which you can issue SQL statements and have the results displayed.
- MySQL client Library: This can help you in writing client programs in C. (We won’t be taking about this in our tutorial).
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The difference between MySQL and mysql
MySQL is used to refer to the entire MySQL distribution package or the MySQL server, while mysql refers to a client program.
Why have client and server programs?
The server and client programs are different entities. Thus, you can use client programs on your system to access data on a MySQL server running on another computer. (Note: you would need appropriate permissions for this. Consult the system administrator of the remote machine.)
Dividing the package into a server and clients separates the actual data from the interface.
