MySQL: Explain USER() in MySQL.

 

In MySQL, the USER() function is used to return the current MySQL user account and host name for the client connection. It provides information about the user account under which the current MySQL session is operating.

The basic syntax of USER() is as follows:

sql
USER()

When you execute this function, it returns a string in the format user_name@host_name. Here, user_name is the MySQL username, and host_name is the host from which the connection is made.

For example:

sql
SELECT USER();

This query will return something like user_name@localhost, indicating the current user and host for the current MySQL session.

It's important to note that the result of USER() is influenced by the authentication process when connecting to the MySQL server. The function provides information about the user who is currently connected, and it can be useful in scenarios where you need to determine the identity of the user interacting with the MySQL server at any given moment. This information can be relevant for access control, auditing, or any other situation where user details are necessary.

In MySQL 8.0 and later, the USER() function is an alias for CURRENT_USER(), and they can be used interchangeably. They both provide the same result.