How to create a MySQL database and assign a user on Linux

Malo Paletou

Apr 07, 2025 · 1 min read

Managing multiple applications on a Linux server often requires separate MySQL users for each app. In this guide, you’ll learn how to create a MySQL database and assign a user with appropriate privileges — a common task for developers and system administrators.

Step-by-Step guide

1. Open the MySQL terminal

💡 On most systems, you can launch the MySQL terminal with superuser privileges using the following command:

sudo mysql -u root

2. Create a new database

Once inside the MySQL shell, create your new database with:

CREATE DATABASE `your_database_name`;

3. Create a new MySQL user

Create a user and define a secure password:

CREATE USER 'new_user'@'localhost' IDENTIFIED BY 'your_secure_password';

4. Grant privileges to the user

To grant access to all databases:

GRANT ALL PRIVILEGES ON *.* TO 'new_user'@'localhost';

To grant access to a specific database:

GRANT ALL PRIVILEGES ON your_database_name.* TO 'new_user'@'localhost';

5. Apply privilege changes

Make sure MySQL applies the changes immediately:

FLUSH PRIVILEGES;

Additional MySQL commands for user and database management

If you’re managing a MySQL instance, the following commands can come in handy for routine administration:

Show user privileges

SHOW GRANTS FOR 'username'@'localhost';

List all MySQL users

SELECT user, host FROM mysql.user;

List all databases

SHOW DATABASES;

Show the current logged-in user

SELECT current_user();

Delete a MySQL user

DROP USER 'username'@'localhost';

Revoke all user privileges

REVOKE ALL PRIVILEGES ON *.* FROM 'username'@'localhost';

Change a MySQL user password

ALTER USER 'username'@'localhost' IDENTIFIED BY 'new_password';

Tutorials