Client Server Overview

The MySQL database system operates using a client\/server architecture.

MySQL Server

The mysqld program is the MySQL server database program that manages the database and tables.

Client Programs

Client programs communicate with the server by sending request over a network connection. Examples of client programs are mysql and mysqladmin

Non-client utility programs

These programs are used for special purposes and do not act as clients of the server. Examples are mysql_safe, myisamchk