MySQL Data Dictionary

Summary

In this final chapter, you’ve learned about one of the newest features of the MySQL 5 server: INFORMATION_SCHEMA. You were introduced to some of the advantages of using this virtual database for reviewing metadata about your database objects, most notably the benefits of standardization and the ability to use SELECT to view metadata. We detailed the fields available in each of the views in INFORMATION_SCHEMA. Afterwards, we demonstrated how valuable the virtual database interface can be through two examples that wouldn’t previously have been possible in a single SELECT statement.

Because this is a new feature, be sure to check http://www.mysql.com in case new columns or views become available. We hope that you’ll take some time to experiment with the INFORMATION_SCHEMA views, and create some of your own scripts summarizing the metadata stored in MySQL.