How to create a new database on MySQL and MariaDB

Creating a new database is an essential skill for any database administrator or developer working with MySQL or MariaDB. A database organizes your data, making it easy to store, retrieve, and manage information efficiently.

MySQL and MariaDB, two of the most popular open-source relational database management systems, have similar operations and command syntax. They both provide tools for database creation and management, and the process of creating a new database in either of them is straightforward.

Whether you're setting up a new application, moving data, or structuring your records, you'll need to create a database at some point. With the right permissions, this task can be accomplished easily via the command-line interface.

1. Open a terminal or a command prompt.
2. Connect to the MySQL or MariaDB server using the mysql client.

   $ mysql -u root -p
   Enter password:

3. Create a new database with the desired name.

   mysql> CREATE DATABASE your_database_name;

   Replace your_database_name with the desired name for the new database.

4. Verify that the database has been created.

   mysql> SHOW DATABASES;

5. Exit the mysql client once done.

   mysql> EXIT;

6. Secure the new database by assigning user permissions.

   mysql> GRANT ALL PRIVILEGES ON your_database_name.* TO 'username'@'localhost' IDENTIFIED BY 'password';

   Make sure to replace username and password with secure values and keep them confidential.

7. Reload the privilege tables to ensure changes take effect.

   mysql> FLUSH PRIVILEGES;

8. Exit the mysql client.

   mysql> EXIT;

Creating databases on MySQL or MariaDB provides the foundation for organizing and managing data for web applications, analytics, and more. Ensure you maintain regular backups and monitor your databases for optimal performance.