1. Introduction and Tutorials

   1. Chapter 1 Introduction to MySQL

      1. The Value of MySQL
      2. The MySQL Package
      3. Licensing
      4. Mailing Lists
      5. Books and Other Publications

   2. Chapter 2 Installing MySQL

      1. Choosing a Distribution
      2. Unix Source Distributions
      3. Unix Binary Distributions
      4. Linux RPM Distributions
      5. Macintosh OS X Distributions
      6. Novell NetWare Distributions
      7. Windows Distributions
      8. Postinstallation

   3. Chapter 3 MySQL Basics

      1. The mysql Client
      2. Creating a Database and Tables
      3. Show Me
      4. Inserting Data
      5. Selecting Data
      6. Ordering, Limiting, and Grouping
      7. Analyzing and Manipulating Data
      8. Changing Data
      9. Deleting Data
      10. Searching Data
      11. Importing Data in Bulk
      12. Command-Line Interface
      13. Conclusion

2. SQL Statements and Functions

   1. Chapter 4 Security and User Statements and Functions

      1. Statements and Functions
      2. SQL Statements in Alphabetical Order
      3. Functions in Alphabetical Order

   2. Chapter 5 Database and Table Schema Statements

      1. Statements and Clauses in Alphabetical Order

   3. Chapter 6 Data Manipulation Statements and Functions

      1. Statements and Functions Grouped by Characteristics
      2. Statements and Clauses in Alphabetical Order
      3. Functions in Alphabetical Order

   4. Chapter 7 Table and Server Administration Statements and Functions

      1. Statements and Clauses in Alphabetical Order
      2. Functions in Alphabetical Order

   5. Chapter 8 Replication Statements and Functions

      1. Merits of Replication
      2. Replication Process
      3. The Replication User Account
      4. Configuring the Servers
      5. Copying Databases and Starting Replication
      6. Starting Replication
      7. Backups with Replication
      8. SQL Statements and Functions in Alphabetical Order
      9. Replication States

   6. Chapter 9 Stored Routines Statements

      1. Statements in Alphabetical Order

   7. Chapter 10 Aggregate Clauses, Aggregate Functions, and Subqueries

      1. Aggregate Functions in Alphabetical Order
      2. Subqueries

   8. Chapter 11 String Functions

      1. String Functions Grouped by Type
      2. String Functions in Alphabetical Order

   9. Chapter 12 Date and Time Functions

      1. Date and Time Functions Grouped by Type
      2. Date and Time Functions in Alphabetical Order

   10. Chapter 13 Mathematical Functions

       1. Functions in Alphabetical Order

   11. Chapter 14 Flow Control Functions

       1. Functions in Alphabetical Order

3. MySQL Server and Client Tools

   1. Chapter 15 MySQL Server and Client

      1. mysql Client
      2. mysqld Server
      3. mysqld_multi
      4. mysqld_safe

   2. Chapter 16 Command-Line Utilities

4. APIs and Connectors

   1. Chapter 17 C API

      1. Using C with MySQL
      2. Functions in Alphabetical Order
      3. C API Datatypes

   2. Chapter 18 Perl API

      1. Using Perl DBI with MySQL
      2. Perl DBI Reference
      3. Attributes for Handles

   3. Chapter 19 PHP API

      1. Using PHP with MySQL
      2. PHP MySQL Functions in Alphabetical Order

5. Appendixes

   1. Appendix Data Types

      1. Numeric Data Types
      2. Date and Time Data Types
      3. String Data Types

   2. Appendix Operators

      1. Arithmetic Operators
      2. Relational Operators
      3. Logical Operators
      4. Bitwise Operators
      5. Regular Expressions

   3. Appendix Server and Environment Variables

1. Colophon

The animal on the cover of MySQL in a Nutshell, Second Edition, is the pied kingfisher (Ceryle rudis). At 80 grams and 28 centimeters in length, the pied kingfisher is the largest bird in the world capable of a true hover in still air. Like most kingfishers, it hunts small fish from a perch or by hovering over open water. But unlike others, the pied kingfisher often travels up to three miles from land. While the closely related giant kingfisher relies heavily on shoreline perching places, the pied kingfisher can hover above choppy water and swallow its prey on the fly. For this adaptive skill, the pied kingfisher is considered the most advanced of the 87 kingfisher species.

Pied kingfishers are common and widespread across much of Africa, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia, and are easily distinguishable from other kingfishers by their unique black and white markings. Never far from water, pied kingfishers breed in burrows excavated into riverbanks. These birds form family groups, with the previous season's offspring often helping to raise their parents' next brood. Additional male helpers may also contribute food depending on their availability. If food is scarce, the breeding male feeds its mate, while helpers feed both parents and chicks after hatching. Helpers may thus increase their chances of mating with a nesting female the following year.

Although kingfishers are known for their fishing skills, many kingfishers don't eat fish at all; among those that do, less than half of all dives are successful. Kingfishers are apparently blind under water, so their survival depends on perfect aim from above. They are able to judge both the size and depth of fish swimming below—the two greatest factors in determining a likely and rewarding catch. The instant a kingfisher hits water, opaque, protective third eyelids called nicitating membranes cover the eyes. More than a few hungry kingfishers have been seen emerging with stones in their bills. Still, among piscivorous birds, the kingfisher has earned its name justly.

The cover image is a 19th-century engraving from the Dover Pictorial Archive. The cover font is Adobe ITC Garamond. The text font is Linotype Birka; the heading font is Adobe Myriad Condensed; and the code font is LucasFont's TheSansMonoCondensed.