MySQL in a Nutshell, 2nd Edition

Name

DELIMITER

Synopsis

DELIMITER character

This statement changes the delimiter (terminating character) of SQL statements from the default of a semicolon to another character. This is useful when creating a stored procedure or trigger, so that MySQL does not confuse a semicolon contained in the procedure or trigger as the end of the CREATE PROCEDURE or CREATE TRIGGER statement. This statement is also used to restore the default delimiter. Don’t use the backslash as the delimiter, as that is used to escape special characters. Examples of this statement appear in the CREATE PROCEDURE and CREATE TRIGGER statements earlier in this chapter.