Import Database into MySQL

To import a database into MySQL from a .sql file, you can use one of the following methods depending on your environment:

---

🖥️ Method 1: Using the MySQL Command Line

mysql -u username -p database_name < path/to/your/file.sql

• Replace username with your MySQL username.
• Replace database_name with the name of the database you want to import into.
• You’ll be prompted for your password.
• Make sure the database already exists. If not, create it first:

  mysql -u username -p -e "CREATE DATABASE database_name;"
  

---

🧰 Method 2: Using MySQL Workbench

1. Open MySQL Workbench and connect to your server.
2. Go to File > Open SQL Script and select your .sql file.
3. The script will open in a new tab. Click Execute (lightning bolt icon) to run it.
4. Alternatively, use Server > Data Import and choose “Import from Self-Contained File”.

---

🐳 Method 3: Inside a Docker Container

If you’re using MySQL in Docker:

docker exec -i mysql-container-name mysql -u username -p database_name < file.sql

• Make sure the .sql file is accessible to the container (e.g., via volume mount).

---

🧪 Bonus Tips

• If your .sql file includes CREATE DATABASE statements, you don’t need to pre-create the database.
• For large files, consider using mysqlimport or source from within the MySQL shell:

  mysql> USE database_name;
  mysql> SOURCE /path/to/file.sql;