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To list MySQL databases without opening an interactive prompt, run mysql -u USER -p -e "SHOW DATABASES;". The client asks for the password, executes the statement, prints the databases visible to that account, and exits. Add -h HOST for a remote server and -P PORT when the server listens on a nondefault port.
The quickest command-line methods
There are three practical ways to list databases from a shell. The first two use the MySQL client and the SHOW DATABASES statement; the third uses the separate mysqlshow utility.
| Method | Example | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Noninteractive SQL | mysql -u USER -p -e "SHOW DATABASES;" |
One command, scripts, and automation |
| Interactive SQL | mysql -u USER -p, then SHOW DATABASES; |
Exploring several statements in one session |
mysqlshow |
mysqlshow -u USER -p -h HOST |
A utility that directly prints database names |
All three methods apply the same visibility rule: the server normally returns databases on which the connected account has some privilege, rather than promising a complete server-wide inventory.
List databases without opening the mysql> prompt
Use the client’s -e (long form: --execute) option:
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mysql -u USER -p -e "SHOW DATABASES;"The SQL is passed as one shell argument, executed by the server, and the client exits after displaying the result. Replace USER with the MySQL account name. The -p option causes the client to request the password interactively; it does not require you to place the password in the command line.
Keep the SQL in quotes. The statement contains a space, and quoting also protects characters such as *, %, parentheses, or shell operators when you later add a filter. The semicolon terminates the SQL statement. It is conventional and makes the command unambiguous when more SQL is appended.
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Connect to a remote host
Supply the server name or address with -h:
mysql -u USER -p -h HOST -e "SHOW DATABASES;"For a server using a nondefault TCP port, add uppercase -P followed by the port number:
mysql -u USER -p -h HOST -P PORT -e "SHOW DATABASES;"For example, the shape of a remote command is:
mysql -u reporting -p -h db.example.net -P 3307 -e "SHOW DATABASES;"The host and port identify where the client should connect; the account and its privileges determine which database names the server will return.
Use an interactive MySQL session
Start the client without -e when you want to run more than one statement:
mysql -u USER -pAfter entering the password, wait for the mysql> prompt and enter:
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Interactive mode is useful when listing databases is only the first check—for example, when you need to select one and inspect its tables afterward. It is less convenient for a script because a person must start the session, supply input, and terminate it.
SHOW SCHEMAS is equivalent
MySQL treats SHOW SCHEMAS; as a synonym for SHOW DATABASES;. Either spelling can be entered at the prompt or passed to --execute:
mysql -u USER -p -e "SHOW SCHEMAS;"The two statements use the same connection and privilege rules. Choose the wording that best matches the terminology used by your team or SQL scripts.
Use mysqlshow as a dedicated listing utility
The separate mysqlshow program can list database names directly. When you do not give it a database argument, it displays a list of database names:
mysqlshow -u USER -p -h HOSTAdd -P PORT for a nondefault port:
mysqlshow -u USER -p -h HOST -P PORTLike SHOW DATABASES, mysqlshow shows only databases for which the account has privileges. It is convenient when you want a utility wrapper rather than writing SQL, while mysql -e is the more flexible choice when you need a filter or want to combine this query with other statements.
Choose the right connection options
The same listing statement can be used against a local or remote server. These are the options that matter for this task:
| Option | Purpose | Example |
|---|---|---|
-u USER |
Selects the MySQL account name | -u appreader |
-p |
Prompts for the account password | -p |
-h HOST |
Names the MySQL server host | -h db.internal |
-P PORT |
Selects a nondefault server port | -P 3307 |
-e SQL or --execute=SQL |
Runs SQL and exits | -e "SHOW DATABASES;" |
Option order is flexible as long as the option values stay attached to their options. Keeping the connection options before -e makes commands easier to read. If your shell treats a character specially, quote the complete SQL argument rather than relying on the shell to preserve it.
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Filter the database list
For a large server, listing every visible name may be unnecessary. MySQL allows a pattern with LIKE:
mysql -u USER -p -e "SHOW DATABASES LIKE 'app%';"In this example, app% matches names beginning with app. The percent sign is a SQL wildcard, so enclosing the complete statement in double quotes prevents the shell from interpreting it before MySQL receives it. The single quotes around the pattern are SQL string delimiters.
Use a WHERE expression when a pattern alone is not enough:
mysql -u USER -p -e "SHOW DATABASES WHERE `Database` LIKE 'app%';"The LIKE form is concise for prefix, suffix, or substring searches. The WHERE form lets you express a more general condition against the result column. Keep the backticks around Database in shell examples so the column name is passed exactly as written.
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Why the command may not show every database
Account privileges control visibility
MySQL normally shows databases on which the connected account has some privilege. A successful connection therefore does not imply that the result is a complete list of databases on the server. Two accounts can run the same command and receive different lists.
If an application database is absent, first confirm that you connected with the intended account and host. Then ask a MySQL administrator to verify that the account has a privilege on that database or to grant the appropriate access. Changing the SQL spelling will not reveal a database that the account is not allowed to see.
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The SHOW DATABASES privilege
The global SHOW DATABASES privilege permits broader visibility. Whether it is appropriate depends on the server’s security policy: granting it can reveal database names that the account otherwise would not see. Request it only when the account genuinely needs a server-wide inventory.
The --skip-show-database server setting
If the server was started with --skip-show-database, the SHOW DATABASES statement cannot be used unless the account has the SHOW DATABASES privilege. In that configuration, an account that merely has privileges on individual databases may still be unable to obtain the list through this statement.
This is a server-side setting, not a client option. If you encounter this restriction, an administrator must review the account privileges or the server configuration; adding -h, -P, or a different filter will not bypass it.
Troubleshoot common command-line failures
“command not found” or an unavailable client
If the shell cannot find mysql or mysqlshow, the MySQL client programs are not available through the current executable path. Install or enable the client package appropriate to your operating system, or invoke the client using its full path. This problem occurs before a database query is sent, so changing SHOW DATABASES will not help.
Access denied
An access-denied error indicates that authentication failed or that the account is not permitted to connect in the way requested. Recheck the user name, password, host name, and port. If the account authenticates successfully but the list is incomplete, investigate database privileges separately; authentication and database visibility are different checks.
Unable to connect to the server
For a connection error, verify that -h names the intended server and that -P matches the port on which that server accepts connections. A remote server may also restrict which client hosts can connect. Test the connection details with the administrator before changing the SQL statement.
The command returns an unexpected short list
Check whether you are using a restricted account, whether you connected to a different host than expected, and whether the server uses --skip-show-database. Run the unfiltered statement first; a LIKE or WHERE condition can hide names that would otherwise be visible.
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The shell changes the query
Quote the complete SQL argument, especially when it contains spaces, percent signs, parentheses, backticks, or comparison operators. For example:
mysql -u USER -p -e "SHOW DATABASES LIKE 'app%';"Using the wrong quote style can cause the shell to expand a wildcard or treat part of the SQL as a separate argument. If a command behaves differently from the same statement at the mysql> prompt, inspect the shell quoting first.
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The noninteractive form is designed for scripting because it performs one query and terminates:
mysql -u USER -p -h HOST -P PORT -e "SHOW DATABASES;"A script can capture or redirect the command’s output using normal shell features. Keep the password prompt interactive unless your environment has an approved, protected credential mechanism. Do not place a real password directly after -p in a command that may be stored in shell history or visible in process listings.
Use a narrowly scoped account for automation. A listing job that only needs to discover databases should not automatically receive write privileges. If the job must see every database, coordinate the required visibility with an administrator rather than assuming that a normal application account can provide a server-wide list.
When diagnosing automation, run the exact command manually first, then add redirection or scheduling. This separates connection, privilege, and shell-quoting problems from issues introduced by the surrounding script.
Interactive versus noninteractive versus mysqlshow
| Question | mysql -e |
Interactive mysql |
mysqlshow |
|---|---|---|---|
Does it open the mysql> prompt? |
No | Yes | No |
| Does it execute the canonical SQL statement? | Yes, through -e |
Yes, when you enter SHOW DATABASES; |
It uses the client utility to list names |
Can you add a LIKE or WHERE filter? |
Yes | Yes | The direct listing form is less suitable for SQL expressions |
| Can you provide host and port options? | Yes, with -h and -P |
Yes, with -h and -P |
Yes, with -h and -P |
| Which databases are shown? | Those visible to the connected account, subject to the server’s SHOW DATABASES privilege and --skip-show-database setting |
||
For a single command or scheduled check, use mysql -e. For exploratory work that will continue into other SQL statements, use an interactive session. Choose mysqlshow when a small command-line utility is more convenient than writing the SQL yourself.
A practical checklist
- Confirm that the
mysqlclient is installed and available in the shell. - Choose the MySQL account whose visibility you need.
- Use
-h HOSTfor the intended server and-P PORTwhen its port is nondefault. - Run
mysql -u USER -p -e "SHOW DATABASES;"for a one-shot listing. - Use
SHOW SCHEMAS;if that synonym fits your SQL style. - Add
LIKEor aWHEREexpression when you need a filtered result. - If names are missing, check account privileges and the server’s
--skip-show-databasesetting. - Use
mysqlshow -u USER -p -h HOSTwhen you prefer the dedicated utility.
Which command should you use?
For most command-line questions, use mysql -u USER -p -e "SHOW DATABASES;". It is the canonical SQL query in a form that works from a shell, can be directed at a named host and port, and can be extended with SQL filters. Remember that its output is a privilege-filtered view, not automatically a complete inventory of the server. Use an interactive session for follow-up SQL, or mysqlshow when a direct listing utility better fits your workflow.
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