Python MySQL Connector

Python MySQL Connector is a powerful library that enables Python programs to interact with MySQL databases. It provides a seamless way to connect, query, and manipulate data stored in MySQL servers.

Installation

To get started, install the MySQL Connector using pip:

pip install mysql-connector-python

Connecting to a MySQL Database

Establishing a connection is the first step in working with MySQL databases:

import mysql.connector

mydb = mysql.connector.connect(
    host="localhost",
    user="yourusername",
    password="yourpassword",
    database="mydatabase"
)

print("Connected to MySQL database!")
    

Executing Queries

Once connected, you can execute SQL queries using a cursor object:

cursor = mydb.cursor()

# Execute a SELECT query
cursor.execute("SELECT * FROM customers")

# Fetch all results
results = cursor.fetchall()

for row in results:
    print(row)
    

Inserting Data

To insert data into a table, use an INSERT query:

sql = "INSERT INTO customers (name, address) VALUES (%s, %s)"
val = ("John Doe", "Highway 21")
cursor.execute(sql, val)

mydb.commit()

print(cursor.rowcount, "record inserted.")
    

Best Practices

• Always close the cursor and connection when done.
• Use parameterized queries to prevent SQL injection.
• Handle exceptions to gracefully manage connection errors.
• Use connection pooling for better performance in multi-threaded applications.

Related Concepts

To further enhance your database skills with Python, explore these related topics:

• Python SQLite for lightweight database operations
• Python PostgreSQL for working with PostgreSQL databases
• Python MongoDB for NoSQL database interactions

By mastering Python MySQL Connector, you'll be able to efficiently interact with MySQL databases, opening up possibilities for robust data-driven applications. Remember to always sanitize inputs and follow security best practices when working with databases.