MySQL Database Files

In MySQL database installation, a directory has a set of files that contain database metadata and data. That is the database schema and containing values. These files are,

• .frm – contains a schema
• .myd – contains data
• .myi – contain indices

All the above lists of files may not be available in the MySQL database directory. It depends on various criteria like database engine, platform and etc.

For example, if we use the MyISAM engine, then the data folder will contain all the above files, but for InnoDB, it contains only .frm files.

MySQL Directory Files Location

• The data folder path is set in the MySQL configuration file
• MySQL configuration file in Windows is my.ini and Linux is my.cnf

Windows:

C:\Program Files\MySQL\MySQL Server 5.2\my.ini

Open my.ini and search for the word “basedir”

• basedir – gives the location of MySQL installation
• datadir – gives the location of MySQL data directory

#Path to installation directory
basedir="C:/Program Files/MySQL/MySQL Server 5.2/"
 
#Path to the database root
datadir="C:/Documents and Settings/All Users/Application Data/MySQL/MySQL Server 5.2/Data/"

In that path, there is a separate folder for each database with the name of the database itself. Database files can be used for backup to secure data, schema, and indices in general circumstances, migration and DB upgrades.

Written by Vincy, a web developer with 15+ years of experience and a Masters degree in Computer Science. She specializes in building modern, lightweight websites using PHP, JavaScript, React, and related technologies. Phppot helps you in mastering web development through over a decade of publishing quality tutorials.

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  • MySQL Basics
    • MySQL Data Types
    • MySQL Database Files
    • MySQL SHOW
    • MySQL CONCAT
    • MySQL OrderBy
    • MySQL Date Time
    • MySQL JOINs: An Introduction
    • MySQL Left Join
    • MySQL Right JOIN
    • MySQL vs MySQLi in PHP
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