# How to Import MySQL Databases into DigitalOcean Managed Databases

MySQL is an open source, object-relational database built with speed and reliability in mind. Its large and active developer community has created many third-party applications, tools, and libraries that expand MySQL’s functionality.

To import or export databases with the DigitalOcean Managed Databases MySQL engine, you will need:

- A **MySQL client**, like the [MySQL command line client](https://www.digitalocean.com/community/tutorials/how-to-install-the-latest-mysql-on-ubuntu-18-04) or [MySQL Secure Shell](https://dev.mysql.com/doc/mysql-shell/8.0/en/mysql-shell-install.html).
- The **database’s connection string**; we recommend using the **Flags** format, which supplies the variables as individual flags that are easier to read and customize.

To get the database’s connection parameters from your control panel, visit [the Databases page](https://cloud.digitalocean.com/databases), open the database’s **More** menu, then select Connection details and click **Flags**.

![Databases Overview screen showing connection string](https://docs.digitalocean.com/screenshots/databases/mysql-connection-string.1d68b3742bbfa0584723e56693350eef92b2bc1e01bce3588db4b7f550d83ff8.png)

Click **Copy** to copy the flags with the password. If you want to highlight and copy the text from the screen directly, click **show-password** first to copy the actual password on your clipboard.

To import a database, you will also need the exported database file stored locally on the same machine as your MySQL client. If your database file is on a remote server, you can transfer it with tools like [`sftp`](https://www.digitalocean.com/community/tutorials/how-to-use-sftp-to-securely-transfer-files-with-a-remote-server) or [`rsync`](https://www.digitalocean.com/community/tutorials/how-to-use-rsync-to-sync-local-and-remote-directories-on-a-vps).

## Import with the MySQL Command Line Client

To import a database with the MySQL command line client, the exported database file must be in `sql` format and must be stored locally on the same machine as your client.

Once you have the `sql` file of the database, import it using `mysql` as in the following command. Use your connection string and substitute the actual path to your database file.

```shell
mysql -u doadmin -p -h mysql-test-do-user-4915853-0.db.ondigitalocean.com -P 25060 your_database_name \
< /path/to/database_file_name.sql
```

The application will prompt you for your MySQL `doadmin` user password.

Adding `< /path/to/database_file.sql` after the connection parameters passes the file to the `mysql` command. Learn more about `<` and `>` in [An Introduction to Linux I/O Redirection](https://www.digitalocean.com/community/tutorials/an-introduction-to-linux-i-o-redirection#stream-redirection).

## Import with MySQL Secure Shell

To import a database with MySQL Secure Shell, the exported database file must be in `sql` or JSON format. `sql`-format files must be stored locally on the same machine as your client. How you import the file depends on the format.

To import a `sql`-format database file, use the `mysqlsh` command with the `-f` flag and specify the path to the file.

```shell
mysqlsh -u doadmin -p -h mysql-test-do-user-4915853-0.db.ondigitalocean.com -P 25060 -D your_database_name \
-f /path/to/database_file_name.sql
```

The application will prompt you for your MySQL `doadmin` user password.

To import a JSON database file, first [connect to the server using `mysqlsh`](https://docs.digitalocean.com/products/databases/mysql/how-to/connect/index.html.md), then use the `--import` command and specify the path to the file.

```sql
--import /path/to/file.json
```

You can also specify a target database or column using this method. Learn more in [Importing JSON documents with the –import command](https://dev.mysql.com/doc/mysql-shell/8.0/en/mysql-shell-utilities-json-import-command.html) from the official MySQL documentation.

## Export with mysqldump

To export your database, use `mysqldump` with your connection string as below. Specify a path to save the resulting `sql` file and to set the `--set-gtid-purged` flag to `off` as shown in the following command. The `--set-gtid-purged` flag determines whether to retain [GTID data](https://dev.mysql.com/doc/refman/5.6/en/replication-gtids-concepts.html) during the export process.

**Warning**: If you don’t set the `--set-gtid-purged` flag to `off` during export, importing the data may fail.

```shell
mysqldump -u doadmin -p -h mysql-test-do-user-4915853-0.db.ondigitalocean.com -P 25060 --single-transaction --set-gtid-purged=OFF your_database_name \
> /path/to/database_file.sql
```

The application prompts you for your MySQL `doadmin` user password.

Adding `> /path/to/database_file.sql` after the connection parameters saves the output of the command to the path you specify. Learn more about `<` and `>` in [An Introduction to Linux I/O Redirection](https://www.digitalocean.com/community/tutorials/an-introduction-to-linux-i-o-redirection#stream-redirection).

The `mysqldump` program has many flags that let you customize the resulting dump file, like changing the output format or modifying statements for MySQL version compatibility. Learn more in [Using `mysqldump` for Backups reference](https://dev.mysql.com/doc/refman/8.0/en/using-mysqldump.html) from the official MySQL documentation.

## Import and Export with PHPMyAdmin or Other MySQL Clients

There are many other clients you can use to import and export MySQL databases. Here are some additional import/export resources, including official documentation from other tools:

- [PHPMyAdmin: Import and Export](https://docs.phpmyadmin.net/en/latest/import_export.html)
- [MySQL Workbench Data Export and Import Wizard](https://dev.mysql.com/doc/workbench/en/wb-admin-export-import-management.html)
- [How to Import and Export Databases in MySQL or MariaDB](https://www.digitalocean.com/community/tutorials/how-to-import-and-export-databases-in-mysql-or-mariadb) from the DigitalOcean community