How to Install the MariaDB Client

How do I install the MariaDB command-line client on macOS, Linux, or Windows?

Install the MariaDB command-line client so you can connect, query, and manage MariaDB and MySQL databases from any operating system.

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Description

Why install the MariaDB client instead of a full server?

You need only the lightweight CLI to connect to remote MariaDB or MySQL servers for development, CI pipelines, or read-only analytics. Skipping the server saves memory and avoids port conflicts.

How do I install the MariaDB client on macOS?

Run brew install mariadb-connector-c for just the client libraries, or brew install mariadb and link only the mariadb binary with brew link --only --overwrite mariadb.

How do I install the client on Ubuntu/Debian?

Update APT, then run sudo apt update && sudo apt install mariadb-client. Verify with mariadb --version.

How do I install the client on RHEL/CentOS/Fedora?

Enable the MariaDB repo or use the default. Run sudo dnf install mariadb (Fedora) or sudo yum install MariaDB-client (CentOS 7).

How do I install on Windows?

Download the MSI from MariaDB.org, choose "Client only," or install via Winget: winget install MariaDB.MariaDB -s winget, then deselect "Server" during setup.

How do I connect to a database after installation?

Use mariadb -h host -P 3306 -u dev_user -p ecommerce. The prompt asks for the password and opens an interactive shell.

What’s a quick way to test connectivity?

Run mariadb -e "SELECT 1" -h host -u dev_user -p. A return value of 1 confirms the client works and credentials are valid.

Why How to Install the MariaDB Client is important

How to Install the MariaDB Client Example Usage


-- List the five most recent orders and customer emails
echo "\
SELECT o.id, c.email, o.total_amount\nFROM Orders o\nJOIN Customers c ON c.id = o.customer_id\nORDER BY o.order_date DESC\nLIMIT 5;\n" | mariadb -h db.company.com -u analyst -p ecommerce

How to Install the MariaDB Client Syntax


mariadb [--host=HOST] [--port=PORT] [--user=USER] [--password] [--database=DB]

# Example
mariadb \
  --host=db.company.com \
  --port=3306 \
  --user=report_user \
  --password \
  --database=ecommerce

# Querying ecommerce tables interactively
SELECT *
FROM Orders
WHERE order_date >= '2024-01-01';

Common Mistakes

Installing the full MariaDB server when you only need the client bloats disk usage and starts unwanted services. Fix by installing the dedicated *mariadb-client* or *mariadb-connector-c* package.
Forgetting to update your package cache causes "package not found" errors. Always run <code>sudo apt update</code> or refresh your package manager before install.