MySQL: Explain DATABASE() in MySQL.

 

In MySQL, the DATABASE() function is used to return the name of the current default database for the session. The default database is the one that is automatically selected when you connect to the MySQL server unless another database is specified in the connection string or through the USE statement.

The basic syntax of DATABASE() is as follows:

sql
DATABASE()

When you execute this function, it returns the name of the current default database as a string.

For example:

sql
SELECT DATABASE();

This query will return the name of the currently selected default database.

It's important to note that the result of DATABASE() is influenced by the USE statement, which is used to set the default database for the current session. If no USE statement has been executed, the default database is determined by the connection parameters when connecting to the MySQL server.

Here's an example that illustrates the use of DATABASE() in combination with USE:

sql
USE your_database;
SELECT DATABASE();

In this example, the USE statement sets the default database to your_database, and the subsequent SELECT DATABASE() statement returns the name of the default database, which is now your_database.

DATABASE() is useful in scenarios where you need to programmatically determine or display the current default database within a MySQL session.