> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://mariadb.com/docs/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://mariadb.com/docs/connectors/mariadb-connector-c/mariadb-connector-c-guide.md).

# MariaDB Connector/C Overview

Complete Connector/C reference: Windows MSI install, Linux packages (yum/apt/zypper), MariaDB-shared/devel libraries, and option file configuration.

{% hint style="info" %}
**Browse & download the latest MariaDB connectors**

<a href="https://mariadb.com/downloads/connectors/?utm_source=onpagepromo&#x26;utm_medium=kb" class="button primary">Download Connectors</a>
{% endhint %}

{% hint style="info" %}

<p align="center">The most recent release of <a href="/docs/connectors/mariadb-connector-c.md">MariaDB Connector/C</a> is: <a href="/docs/release-notes/connectors/c/3.4/3.4.11.md"><strong>3.4.11</strong></a></p>

<p align="center"><a href="https://mariadb.com/downloads/connectors/connectors-data-access/c-connector" class="button primary">Download Connector/C 3.4.11</a></p>
{% endhint %}

MariaDB Connector/C is used to connect applications developed in C/C++ to MariaDB and MySQL databases.The client library is LGPL licensed.

## Supported Versions

### Server Compatibility

MariaDB Connector/C is compatible with all MariaDB and MySQL server versions.

### Supported Release Series

The following MariaDB Connector/C release series are supported:

| Release Series | Stable (GA) Date |
| -------------- | ---------------- |
| 3.4            | February 2025    |
| 3.3            | July 2022        |

For End of Standard Support and End of Life dates, see the [MariaDB Engineering Policy](https://mariadb.com/engineering-policies/).

### Checking Your Installed Version

Most users install MariaDB Connector/C from the packages distributed with MariaDB Server, which use the server's versioning scheme rather than the connector's. To find the installed Connector/C version, use the `mariadb_config` utility with the `--cc_version` option:

```bash
mariadb_config --cc_version
```

```
3.4.10
```

{% hint style="warning" %}
The `mariadb_config --version` option returns the **MariaDB Server package** version, not the Connector/C version. Use `--cc_version` for the Connector/C version.
{% endhint %}

An application can also retrieve the client library version at runtime by calling [`mysql_get_client_info()`](/docs/connectors/mariadb-connector-c/api-functions/mysql_get_client_info.md) (string) or [`mysql_get_client_version()`](/docs/connectors/mariadb-connector-c/api-functions/mysql_get_client_version.md) (numeric).

## Integration with MariaDB Server

MariaDB Connector/C is distributed with MariaDB Server packages. MariaDB Connector/C has replaced `libmysqlclient` as the client library for client utilities that are distributed with MariaDB Server. See [MDEV-9055](https://jira.mariadb.org/browse/MDEV-9055) for more information.

## Installing MariaDB Connector/C

MariaDB Connector/C packages can be downloaded by selecting your desired version from the following page:

* MariaDB Connector/C packages can also be downloaded by selecting **C/C++ connector** as the **Product** on the following page:
* [#connectors](https://mariadb.com/downloads/#connectors)

See the instructions below for information on how to install the MariaDB Connector/C package for your operating system.

### Installing MariaDB Connector/C on Windows

To install MariaDB Connector/C on Windows, we distribute [MSI packages](/docs/server/server-management/install-and-upgrade-mariadb/installing-mariadb/binary-packages/installing-mariadb-msi-packages-on-windows.md). The MSI installation process is fairly straightforward. Both 32-bit and 64-bit MSI packages are available.

### Installing MariaDB Connector/C on Linux

MariaDB Connector/C is distributed in [binary tarballs](/docs/server/server-management/install-and-upgrade-mariadb/installing-mariadb/binary-packages/installing-mariadb-binary-tarballs.md) on Linux.

#### Installing with a Package Manager

Since MariaDB Connector/C is now integrated with MariaDB Server, it can also be installed via a package manager on Linux. In order to do so, your system needs to be configured to install from one of the MariaDB repositories.

You can configure your package manager to install it from MariaDB Corporation's MariaDB Package Repository by using the [MariaDB Package Repository setup script](/docs/server/server-management/install-and-upgrade-mariadb/mariadb-package-repository-setup-and-usage.md).

You can also configure your package manager to install it from MariaDB Foundation's MariaDB Repository by using the [MariaDB Repository Configuration Tool](https://mariadb.org/download/?tab=repo-config).

**Installing with yum/dnf**

On RHEL, CentOS, Fedora, and other similar Linux distributions, it is highly recommended to install the relevant [RPM package](/docs/server/server-management/install-and-upgrade-mariadb/installing-mariadb/binary-packages/rpm.md) from MariaDB's repository using [yum](/docs/server/server-management/install-and-upgrade-mariadb/installing-mariadb/binary-packages/rpm/yum.md) or [dnf](/docs/server/server-management/install-and-upgrade-mariadb/installing-mariadb/binary-packages/rpm/yum.md). Starting with RHEL 8 and Fedora 22, `yum` has been replaced by `dnf`, which is the next major version of `yum`. However, `yum` commands still work on many systems that use `dnf`. For example:

```bash
sudo yum install MariaDB-shared
```

If you want to build applications with MariaDB Connector/C, then you will also need to install the development package. For example:

```bash
sudo yum install MariaDB-devel
```

**Installing with apt-get**

On Debian, Ubuntu, and other similar Linux distributions, it is highly recommended to install the relevant [DEB package](/docs/server/server-management/install-and-upgrade-mariadb/installing-mariadb/binary-packages/installing-mariadb-deb-files.md) from MariaDB's repository using [apt-get](https://wiki.debian.org/apt-get). For example:

```bash
sudo apt-get install libmariadb3
```

If you want to build applications with MariaDB Connector/C, then you will also need to install the development package. For example:

```bash
sudo apt-get install libmariadb-dev
```

**Installing with zypper**

On SLES, OpenSUSE, and other similar Linux distributions, it is highly recommended to install the relevant [RPM package](/docs/server/server-management/install-and-upgrade-mariadb/installing-mariadb/binary-packages/rpm.md) from MariaDB's repository using [zypper](/docs/server/server-management/install-and-upgrade-mariadb/installing-mariadb/binary-packages/rpm/installing-mariadb-with-zypper.md).

For example:

```bash
sudo zypper install MariaDB-shared
```

If you want to build applications with MariaDB Connector/C, then you will also need to install the development package. For example:

```bash
sudo zypper install MariaDB-devel
```

### Installing MariaDB Connector/C from Source

See [Building Connector/C From Source](/docs/connectors/mariadb-connector-c/building-connectorc-from-source.md) for information on how to build MariaDB Connector/C from source.

## API - Function Reference

MariaDB Connector/C has exactly the same API as the MySQL Connector/C for MySQL 5.5

The function reference is available at:

* [MariaDB Client Library for C API Functions](/docs/connectors/mariadb-connector-c/api-functions.md)
* [MariaDB Client Library for C API Prepared Statement Functions](/docs/connectors/mariadb-connector-c/api-prepared-statement-functions.md)

It is also downloadable in html format from mariadb-client-doc.zip

## Configuring MariaDB Connector/C with Option Files

Just like MariaDB Server and libmysqlclient, MariaDB Connector/C can also read configuration options from client [option groups](/docs/server/server-management/install-and-upgrade-mariadb/configuring-mariadb/configuring-mariadb-with-option-files.md#option-groups) in [option files](/docs/server/server-management/install-and-upgrade-mariadb/configuring-mariadb/configuring-mariadb-with-option-files.md).

See [Configuring MariaDB Connector/C with Option Files](/docs/connectors/mariadb-connector-c/configuring-mariadb-connectorc-with-option-files.md) for more information.

## Known Bugs and Limitations

* double to string conversion for prepared statements doesn't work correctly
* Connector 3.0.7 and below doesn't support the MySQL 8.0 default authentication protocol, [caching\_sha2\_password](https://dev.mysql.com/doc/refman/8.0/en/caching-sha2-pluggable-authentication.html). This protocol should be supported in Connector/C 3.0.8 and above.

## Reporting Bugs

If you find a bug, please report it via the [CONC project](https://jira.mariadb.org/projects/CONC/issues) on [MariaDB's Jira bug tracker](https://jira.mariadb.org).

## Source Code

The source code is available at the [mariadb-connector-c repository](https://github.com/MariaDB/mariadb-connector-c) on GitHub.

## License

GNU Lesser General Public License as published by the Free Software Foundation; either version 2.1 of the License, or (at your option) any later version.

For licensing questions, see the [Licensing FAQ](/docs/general-resources/community/community/faq/licensing-questions/licensing-faq.md).

<sub>*This page is: Copyright © 2026 MariaDB. All rights reserved.*</sub>

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