MySQL is a popular relational database management system that allows multiple users to access and manage databases. As a database administrator, it is essential to be able to view and manage the users of a MySQL database. In this article, we will discuss five ways to show MySQL users, including using the `mysql` command-line tool, the `information_schema` database, the `mysql.user` table, the `SHOW USERS` statement, and the `GET_USERS()` function.
Method 1: Using the mysql
Command-Line Tool

The mysql
command-line tool is a powerful utility for managing MySQL databases. To show MySQL users using the mysql
command-line tool, you can use the following command:
mysql -u root -p
Replace `root` with your MySQL username and enter your password when prompted. Once you are logged in, you can use the following command to show all MySQL users:
SELECT user FROM mysql.user;
This command will display a list of all MySQL users, including their usernames and hostnames.
Understanding the mysql.user
Table
The mysql.user
table is a system table in MySQL that stores information about all MySQL users. The table has several columns, including user
, host
, password
, and privileges
. The user
column stores the username, the host
column stores the hostname or IP address of the user, and the password
column stores the encrypted password of the user.
Column Name | Description |
---|---|
user | The username of the MySQL user |
host | The hostname or IP address of the MySQL user |
password | The encrypted password of the MySQL user |
privileges | The privileges granted to the MySQL user |

Method 2: Using the information_schema
Database

The information_schema
database is a virtual database in MySQL that provides information about the database. To show MySQL users using the information_schema
database, you can use the following command:
SELECT user FROM information_schema.USER_PRIVILEGES;
This command will display a list of all MySQL users, including their usernames and hostnames.
Understanding the information_schema
Database
The information_schema
database is a read-only database that provides information about the database, including the users, tables, and privileges. The database has several tables, including USER_PRIVILEGES
, TABLE_PRIVILEGES
, and COLUMN_PRIVILEGES
. The USER_PRIVILEGES
table stores information about the privileges granted to each user.
Method 3: Using the mysql.user
Table
The mysql.user
table is a system table in MySQL that stores information about all MySQL users. To show MySQL users using the mysql.user
table, you can use the following command:
SELECT * FROM mysql.user;
This command will display a list of all MySQL users, including their usernames, hostnames, passwords, and privileges.
Understanding the mysql.user
Table Columns
The mysql.user
table has several columns, including user
, host
, password
, and privileges
. The user
column stores the username, the host
column stores the hostname or IP address of the user, and the password
column stores the encrypted password of the user. The privileges
column stores the privileges granted to the user.
Column Name | Description |
---|---|
user | The username of the MySQL user |
host | The hostname or IP address of the MySQL user |
password | The encrypted password of the MySQL user |
privileges | The privileges granted to the MySQL user |
Method 4: Using the SHOW USERS
Statement
The SHOW USERS
statement is a MySQL statement that displays information about the MySQL users. To show MySQL users using the SHOW USERS
statement, you can use the following command:
SHOW USERS;
This command will display a list of all MySQL users, including their usernames and hostnames.
Understanding the SHOW USERS
Statement
The SHOW USERS
statement is a MySQL statement that displays information about the MySQL users. The statement returns a list of all MySQL users, including their usernames and hostnames.
Key Points
- There are five ways to show MySQL users, including using the `mysql` command-line tool, the `information_schema` database, the `mysql.user` table, the `SHOW USERS` statement, and the `GET_USERS()` function.
- The `mysql.user` table stores information about all MySQL users, including their usernames, hostnames, passwords, and privileges.
- The `information_schema` database is a virtual database that provides information about the database, including the users, tables, and privileges.
- The `SHOW USERS` statement displays information about the MySQL users, including their usernames and hostnames.
- The `GET_USERS()` function returns a list of all MySQL users, including their usernames and hostnames.
Method 5: Using the GET_USERS()
Function

The GET_USERS()
function is a MySQL function that returns a list of all MySQL users, including their usernames and hostnames. To show MySQL users using the GET_USERS()
function, you can use the following command:
SELECT GET_USERS();
This command will display a list of all MySQL users, including their usernames and hostnames.
Understanding the GET_USERS()
Function
The GET_USERS()
function is a MySQL function that returns a list of all MySQL users, including their usernames and hostnames. The function returns a list of all MySQL users, including their usernames and hostnames.
What is the `mysql.user` table?
+The `mysql.user` table is a system table in MySQL that stores information about all MySQL users.
What is the `information_schema` database?
+The `information_schema` database is a virtual database in MySQL that provides information about the database, including the users, tables, and privileges.
What is the `SHOW USERS` statement?
+The `SHOW USERS` statement is a MySQL statement that displays information about the MySQL users.
In conclusion, there are five ways to show MySQL users, including using the `mysql` command-line tool, the `information_schema` database, the `mysql.user` table, the `SHOW USERS` statement, and the `GET_USERS()` function. Each method provides a different way to view and manage MySQL users, and they can be used to perform various tasks, such as creating new users, granting privileges, and managing user accounts.
Meta Description: Learn how to show MySQL users using five different methods, including the mysql
command-line tool, the information_schema
database, the mysql.user
table, the SHOW USERS
statement, and the GET_USERS()
function.