---
layout: article
title: Quick start
description: Create your first native MySQL database in the Appwrite Console, retrieve its credentials, and run your first queries with the mysql client.
---

You can create a MySQL database and run your first query in a few minutes.

# Create a database

1. In your project, go to **Databases**.
2. Click **Create database**.
3. Give your database a name, and optionally a custom database ID.
4. Under **Choose database type**, select **MySQL** from the **Native databases** group.

![Create database type selection](/images/docs/products/databases/mysql/create-database-type.avif)

5. Under **Specifications**, select your preferred tier.
6. Optionally configure **Read replicas** and **Point-in-time recovery (PITR)**. You can change both later.

![Database specifications](/images/docs/products/databases/mysql/create-database-specs.avif)

7. Review the database summary and click **Create database**.

Your database starts provisioning and becomes `ready` shortly after.

# Get your connection details

The connection details are returned on the database object. Fetch the database with an API key that has the `databases.read` scope:

```server-nodejs
import { Client, Mysql } from 'node-appwrite';

const client = new Client()
    .setEndpoint('https://<REGION>.cloud.appwrite.io/v1')
    .setProject('<PROJECT_ID>')
    .setKey('<YOUR_API_KEY>');

const mysql = new Mysql(client);

const database = await mysql.get({
    databaseId: '<DATABASE_ID>',
});

console.log(database.connectionString);
```

The response includes the hostname, port, username, password, and the generated database name, plus a ready-made connection string in the form `mysql://admin:<password>@db-<hash>.<region>.appwrite.center:3306/<database>`. See [Connections](/docs/products/databases/mysql/connections) for the full response and every language.

# Connect with the mysql client

Pass the connection details to the `mysql` command-line client:

```bash
mysql -h db-<hash>.<region>.appwrite.center -P 3306 -u admin -p -D <database>
```

Enter the password when prompted.

# Run your first queries

Create a table, insert a row, and read it back:

```sql
CREATE TABLE books (
    id BIGINT AUTO_INCREMENT PRIMARY KEY,
    title TEXT NOT NULL,
    author TEXT NOT NULL
);

INSERT INTO books (title, author)
VALUES ('The Hitchhiker''s Guide to the Galaxy', 'Douglas Adams');

SELECT * FROM books;
```

You can run the same queries from your application with any MySQL driver. See [Connections](/docs/products/databases/mysql/connections) for driver examples.

# Next steps

- [Connections](/docs/products/databases/mysql/connections): Connect from your application with any MySQL driver or ORM.
- [Backups](/docs/products/databases/mysql/backups): Configure backup policies and point-in-time recovery.
- [High availability](/docs/products/databases/mysql/high-availability): Add read replicas with automatic failover.
- [Monitoring](/docs/products/databases/mysql/monitoring): Poll live health and status information from your pipelines.