If you use MySQL databases to manage your data, you probably have multiple databases. To manage these databases, you’ll need to be able to switch between them. When you edit a database, you need to select it first to make sure you’re editing the right data.

You can select MySQL databases using:

cPanel
the command line

Using cPanel to Select MySQL Databases

If you aren’t familiar with the command line interface, you can use cPanel and phpMyAdmin to select specific databases.

Log into your cPanel account.
Scroll down to the Databases section and click on phpMyAdmin. The phpMyAdmin interface will open in a new window.
Use the side navigation to click on the database you want to work with. Or, click on Databases in the top navigation and then click on a database to work on.

Once you’ve chosen a database, you can view the database data, run SQL queries, export and import data, and more!

Using the Command Line to Select MySQL Databases

If you’re comfortable with the command line, you can make changes to your databases just by using your keyboard.

Using the terminal program of your choice, log into your server as root. If you haven’t logged into your server using the command line before, read Logging into Your Server via Secure Shell (SSH) first.
Now you’ll log into your MySQL server by typing
```
mysql -u root -p
```
Then press Enter. The -u root flag tells MySQL you want to log in as the root user, and the -p flag prompts MySQL to ask you for a password. When prompted, enter your root password and press Enter. If necessary, learn how to change your MySQL password first.
You’ll now see a MySQL prompt that looks like
```
mysql>
```
Now, check to see what database is currently selected. Type:
```
SELECT database();
```
The press Enter. The output might look like this:
```
+------------+
| database() |
+------------+
| NULL       |
+------------+
1 row in set (0.00 sec)
```
“Null” means there is no database currently selected.
Now you’ll select a database. Type:
```
USE database_name;
```
and press Enter. Replace “database_name” with database you want to start using. Remember that ever time you want to start working with a different database, you need to use the USE command to change databases first.

Make sure the database as changed by running the SELECT command again.

SELECT database();

The output should show your selected database:

+-------------------+
| database()        |
+-------------------+
| tutorial_database |
+-------------------+
1 row in set (0.00 sec)

Now you know how to move between different databases so you can manipulate your data.

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Selecting a MySQL Database via Command Line and cPanel

Using cPanel to Select MySQL Databases

Using the Command Line to Select MySQL Databases