Introduction
Welcome to Beginning MySQL, the definitive resource for anyone new to the MySQL database manage-
ment system. As the most popular open source database system in the world, MySQL has gained not only
recognition among its peers but a place of prominence in the worldwide technical industry, ensuring an
ever-growing need for information and training on how to implement a MySQL database and access and
manage data in that database.
Because of its ease of implementation, low overhead, reliability, and lower Total Cost of Ownership (TCO),
MySQL has made remarkable inroads in the database management system market. As a result, the number
of programmers who must connect to a MySQL database and embed SQL statements in their applications
is growing steadily. There are now over five million MySQL installations worldwide, and that number is
increasing rapidly. In addition, MySQL supports connectivity to numerous application languages and envi-
ronments, including C, C++, PHP, ASP, ASP.NET, Java, Perl, C#, and Python, and it can be implemented on
a number of platforms, including Windows, Linux, Unix, Solaris, FreeBSD, Mac OS, and HP-UX.
Corporate implementations continue to grow and include such companies as Yahoo!, Cox Communications,
Google, Cisco, Texas Instruments, UPS, Sabre Holdings, HP, and the Associated Press. Even NASA and the
U.S. Census Bureau have implemented MySQL solutions. MySQL has been proven to work in large deploy-
ments, while reducing system downtimes and administrative overhead and lowering hardware expendi-
tures and licensing costs.
As organizations continue to seek ways to cut their TCO, MySQL will continue to gain in popularity—
and its user-base will continue to grow. As a result, MySQL will gain further ground in becoming a
prominent force in the industry. To meet this demand, Beginning MySQL provides you with a valuable
resource and step-by-step learning tool that supplies you with the background information, examples,
and hands-on exercises that you need to implement MySQL and manage data in its databases. Concepts
are introduced in a logical manner, with each chapter building on the previous chapters. By the end of
this book, you’ll have a complete foundation in MySQL, its implementation, and the methods necessary
to connect to databases and manipulate data.
Who This Book Is For
Before beginning any book that covers a computer technology such as MySQL, it’s always useful to
know who the book is intended for, what assumptions are made about your level of knowledge, and
what system setup—if any—is required to perform the exercises in the book. Beginning MySQL is no
exception. So before you delve into the book too deeply, take a closer look at each of these issues.
Because MySQL is such a robust, flexible, and easy-to-implement application, a beginner’s book about
the product will benefit a wide audience, both at home and at the office. The primary audience for
Beginning MySQL can be any of the following readers:
❑ Experienced PHP, Java, or ASP.NET programmers who are developing applications that access
backend databases and who are new to MySQL
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