6. Introduction to MySQL Programming

This chapter describes reasons for writing your own MySQL-based programs rather than using the standard client programs included in MySQL distributions. It also gives a conceptual overview of the interfaces we use for the three languages covered in the following chapters (C, Perl, and PHP), and discusses factors to consider when choosing a language for a program.

6.1. Why Write Your Own MySQL Programs?

MySQL distributions include a set of client programs that communicate with the server. For example, mysqldump exports table definitions and contents, mysqladmin performs administrative operations, and mysql lets you execute arbitrary SQL statements.

The standard client programs handle many of the most common ...

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