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      <a name="mysqld">
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      6.3.1 mysqld — The MySQL Server
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  <p>
   <a class="link" href="mysqld.html" title="6.3.1 mysqld — The MySQL Server">
    <span class="command">
     <strong>
      mysqld
     </strong>
    </span>
   </a>
   , also known as MySQL Server, is a
        single multithreaded program that does most of the work in a
        MySQL installation. It does not spawn additional processes.
        MySQL Server manages access to the MySQL data directory that
        contains databases and tables. The data directory is also the
        default location for other information such as log files and
        status files.
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   <div class="admon-title">
    Note
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   <p>
    Some installation packages contain a debugging version of the
          server named
    <a class="link" href="mysqld.html" title="6.3.1 mysqld — The MySQL Server">
     <span class="command">
      <strong>
       mysqld-debug
      </strong>
     </span>
    </a>
    . Invoke this
          version instead of
    <a class="link" href="mysqld.html" title="6.3.1 mysqld — The MySQL Server">
     <span class="command">
      <strong>
       mysqld
      </strong>
     </span>
    </a>
    for debugging
          support, memory allocation checking, and trace file support
          (see
    <a class="xref" href="making-trace-files.html" title="7.9.1.2 Creating Trace Files">
     Section 7.9.1.2, “Creating Trace Files”
    </a>
    ).
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  <p>
   When MySQL server starts, it listens for network connections
        from client programs and manages access to databases on behalf
        of those clients.
  </p>
  <p>
   The
   <a class="link" href="mysqld.html" title="6.3.1 mysqld — The MySQL Server">
    <span class="command">
     <strong>
      mysqld
     </strong>
    </span>
   </a>
   program has many options that can
        be specified at startup. For a complete list of options, run
        this command:
  </p>
  <div class="copytoclipboard-wrapper">
   <pre class="programlisting one-line language-terminal"><div class="docs-select-all right" id="sa91456882"><div class="copy-help left">Press ⌘+C to copy</div> <div class="right"><button class="clipboard-btn" title="Copy to Clipboard"><span class="icon-clipboard"></span></button></div></div><code class="language-terminal">mysqld <span class="token property">--verbose</span> <span class="token property">--help</span></code></pre>
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  <p>
   MySQL Server also has a set of system variables that affect its
        operation as it runs. System variables can be set at server
        startup, and many of them can be changed at runtime to effect
        dynamic server reconfiguration. MySQL Server also has a set of
        status variables that provide information about its operation.
        You can monitor these status variables to access runtime
        performance characteristics.
  </p>
  <p>
   For a full description of MySQL Server command options, system
        variables, and status variables, see
   <a class="xref" href="mysqld-server.html" title="7.1 The MySQL Server">
    Section 7.1, “The MySQL Server”
   </a>
   . For information about
        installing MySQL and setting up the initial configuration, see
   <a class="xref" href="installing.html" title="Chapter 2 Installing MySQL">
    Chapter 2,
    <i>
     Installing MySQL
    </i>
   </a>
   .
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