MySQL MCP Server

What is MySQL MCP Server?

MySQL MCP Server is a Model Context Protocol implementation that enables secure interaction between AI applications (hosts/clients) and MySQL databases. It facilitates structured database exploration and analysis through a controlled interface.

How to use MySQL MCP Server?

Install via pip install mysql-mcp-server, then configure environment variables (e.g. MYSQL_HOST, MYSQL_USER, MYSQL_PASSWORD) and integrate with hosts like Claude Desktop or VS Code by adding the server to their MCP configuration. Supports both STDIO and SSE transport modes. For remote deployments, use SSE with a reverse proxy for authentication.

Key features of MySQL MCP Server

• List MySQL tables as resources
• Read table contents and execute SQL queries
• Multi-database mode when MYSQL_DATABASE is omitted
• SSE/HTTP transport support with MCP_TRANSPORT=sse
• SSH tunneling for secure connections
• Comprehensive schema information via get_schema_info
• Table data sampling via get_table_sample
• Secure database access through environment variables

Use cases of MySQL MCP Server

• AI agents exploring database structure before analysis
• Running safe, single‑statement SQL queries through a chat interface
• Sampling data from tables to understand content without large fetches
• Cross‑database queries using database.table notation
• Self‑hosted deployments with SSH tunneling or SSL/TLS encryption

FAQ from MySQL MCP Server

What transport modes does MySQL MCP Server support?

It supports both STDIO (standard input/output) and Streamable HTTP (SSE) transport modes. SSE is recommended for remote or self‑hosted deployments.

How do I enable multi‑database mode?

Omit the MYSQL_DATABASE environment variable. The server then returns all user databases for resource listing and allows fully qualified names like mydb.mytable in queries.

Does SSE transport include built‑in authentication?

No. SSE binds to 0.0.0.0 by default and accepts connections without credentials. If exposed beyond localhost, place it behind a reverse proxy (e.g., nginx with HTTP Basic Auth) and set MCP_SSE_HOST=127.0.0.1.

What are the limitations on SQL queries?

Only single‑statement queries are supported. Multi‑statement queries (e.g., USE db; SELECT …) are not allowed. DML operations (INSERT, UPDATE, DELETE) are marked with a destructive hint.

How are table/column identifiers validated?

Identifiers in get_schema_info and get_table_sample are restricted to alphanumeric characters, underscores, and $. A single dot is allowed as a separator between database and table names. Other special characters are rejected to prevent SQL injection.