How to Check the MySQL Version

Introduction

Before we begin talking about how to check the MySQL version, let's briefly understand – What is MySQL?

The most common open-source relational database management system is MySQL (and its drop-in replacement MariaDB). Knowing which version of MySQL is installed on your server may be crucial in particular circumstances because there are some significant differences between them.

For instance, if you are installing an application that requires a specific MySQL version, you must first determine the version of your MySQL server before proceeding with the installation.

In this tutorial, you will check the MySQL version. We will also address a few FAQs on how to check the MySQL version.

Advantages of MySQL

1. Speed: MySQL is known for its fast processing capabilities, making it ideal for high-performance applications.
2. Scalability: With support for large datasets and concurrent users, MySQL can handle growth and adapt to increasing demands.
3. Reliability: MySQL ensures data integrity through transaction support and ACID compliance, guaranteeing consistent and reliable results.
4. Flexibility: Its open-source nature and compatibility with multiple platforms allow MySQL to be easily integrated into various environments.
5. Community Support: Being widely used, MySQL benefits from an extensive community, providing resources, documentation, and assistance for developers.

From the Command Line

Assuming you have SSH access to the server, you can use a number of commands to determine the version of your MySQL.

mysqld is the name of the MySQL server binary. Run the binary while using the --version or -V option to obtain the server version:

mysqld --version

The command will output details regarding the MySQL version and then exit. The version of the MySQL server is 5.7.27 in this case :

Output

mysqld  Ver 5.7.27-0ubuntu0.18.04.1 for Linux on x86_64 ((Ubuntu))

The client utility mysqladmin is used to carry out administrative tasks on the MySQL servers. Additionally, it can be used to query the MySQL version:

mysqladmin -V

The output will differ slightly from the preceding command:

Output

mysqladmin  Ver 8.42 Distrib 5.7.27, for Linux on x86_64

From the MySQL Shell

The version of the MySQL server can also be found by using a command-line client tool like mysql.

Type mysql to connect to the MySQL server:

mysql

The version will be displayed on the screen after you are connected to the MySQL shell:

Output

Welcome to the MySQL monitor.  Commands end with ; or \g.
Your MySQL connection id is 3
Server version: 5.7.27-0ubuntu0.18.04.1 (Ubuntu)

Query the version variables to obtain information about the MySQL version and other components:

SHOW VARIABLES LIKE "%version%";

Output

+-------------------------+-------------------------+
| Variable_name           | Value                   |
+-------------------------+-------------------------+
| innodb_version          | 5.7.27                  |
| protocol_version        | 10                      |
| slave_type_conversions  |                         |
| tls_version             | TLSv1,TLSv1.1           |
| version                 | 5.7.27-0ubuntu0.18.04.1 |
| version_comment         | (Ubuntu)                |
| version_compile_machine | x86_64                  |
| version_compile_os      | Linux                   |
+-------------------------+-------------------------+
8 rows in set (0.02 sec)

You may also view the server version using a few additional statements and commands. Only the MySQL version will be shown by the SELECT VERSION() statement.

SELECT VERSION();

The STATUS command displays the version of MySQL as well as details about the server's status:

STATUS;

Using PHP

You may find out the version of the MySQL server using PHP if you are on shared hosting and do not have access to the command line or a MySQL client like PhpMyAdmin.

Using an FTP or SFTP client, upload the subsequent PHP file to the document root directory of your website. En sure you switch the my_user and my_password with an actual MySQL user account :

<?php

// Create a database connection.
$link = mysqli_connect("localhost", "my_user", "my_password");

// Print the MySQL version.
echo mysqli_get_server_info($link);

// Close the connection.
mysqli_close($link);

The version of the MySQL server will be visible on your screen when you open the file in your browser:

Output

5.7.27-0ubuntu0.18.04.1

FAQs to Check the MySQL Version

Conclusion

It is quite simple to determine the version of the MySQL server. You have learned several different methods to find the MySQL version running on your system.

If you have any queries, feel free to post a comment below, and we'll be happy to answer them.