> 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/server/security/user-account-management/catalogs.md).

# Catalogs

{% hint style="info" %}
Catalogs are planned for an upcoming release, and don't yet appear in any current releases.
{% endhint %}

Catalogs are a user account management feature. This section explains their role in organizing database objects and controlling access permissions.

{% columns %}
{% column %}
{% content-ref url="/pages/5CIawXMqSzWUqttnK6Ml" %}
[Catalogs Overview](/docs/server/security/user-account-management/catalogs/catalogs-overview.md)
{% endcontent-ref %}
{% endcolumn %}

{% column %}
Introduces MariaDB catalogs, a multi-tenancy feature that lets a single server host multiple independent tenants, each with their own users, schemas, and logs.
{% endcolumn %}
{% endcolumns %}

{% columns %}
{% column %}
{% content-ref url="/pages/uY6pC1VGSYw1nQfo0rxV" %}
[Starting with Catalogs](/docs/server/security/user-account-management/catalogs/starting-with-catalogs.md)
{% endcontent-ref %}
{% endcolumn %}

{% column %}
Guide to initializing a MariaDB server with catalog support using `mariadb-install-db --catalogs` and adding new catalogs to a running instance.
{% endcolumn %}
{% endcolumns %}

{% columns %}
{% column %}
{% content-ref url="/pages/LeQmV9BTno8juXQwylKm" %}
[Catalog-Specific Functions and Variables](/docs/server/security/user-account-management/catalogs/catalog-specific-functions-and-variables.md)
{% endcontent-ref %}
{% endcolumn %}

{% column %}
Documents the catalog() function, which returns the current catalog name, and the @@catalogs system variable, which indicates if the server is configured for catalogs.
{% endcolumn %}
{% endcolumns %}

{% columns %}
{% column %}
{% content-ref url="/pages/hZlZ4bejKN4BCwbADhkE" %}
[Catalog Status Variables](/docs/server/security/user-account-management/catalogs/catalog-status-variables.md)
{% endcontent-ref %}
{% endcolumn %}

{% column %}
Covers status variables related to catalog operations and performance, useful for monitoring multi-tenant environments.
{% endcolumn %}
{% endcolumns %}

{% columns %}
{% column %}
{% content-ref url="/pages/mODKDadIVU8ip8bIAWpX" %}
[Connecting to a Server Configured for Catalogs](/docs/server/security/user-account-management/catalogs/connecting-to-a-server-configured-for-catalogs.md)
{% endcontent-ref %}
{% endcolumn %}

{% column %}
Explains how to connect to a specific catalog using the --catalog client option or the catalog\_name.database\_name syntax.
{% endcolumn %}
{% endcolumns %}

{% columns %}
{% column %}
{% content-ref url="/pages/OqxQFiWEFW9hkvq94gYr" %}
[CREATE CATALOG](/docs/server/security/user-account-management/catalogs/create-catalog.md)
{% endcontent-ref %}
{% endcolumn %}

{% column %}
Define external catalogs for data integration. This statement configures connections to remote storage systems, allowing query access to external data sources.
{% endcolumn %}
{% endcolumns %}

{% columns %}
{% column %}
{% content-ref url="/pages/5PgU7kRcdnI39Lyos1Iy" %}
[SHOW CREATE CATALOG](/docs/server/security/user-account-management/catalogs/show-create-catalog.md)
{% endcontent-ref %}
{% endcolumn %}

{% column %}
Reference for the SHOW CREATE CATALOG statement, which displays the SQL statement used to create a specific catalog.
{% endcolumn %}
{% endcolumns %}

{% columns %}
{% column %}
{% content-ref url="/pages/l0O5b0TVtrQWuRdjy7E0" %}
[SHOW CATALOGS](/docs/server/security/user-account-management/catalogs/show-catalogs.md)
{% endcontent-ref %}
{% endcolumn %}

{% column %}
Reference for the SHOW CATALOGS statement, which lists all available catalogs on the server.
{% endcolumn %}
{% endcolumns %}

{% columns %}
{% column %}
{% content-ref url="/pages/YYI7Ief9uRSpUvkxNQ49" %}
[USE CATALOG](/docs/server/security/user-account-management/catalogs/use-catalog.md)
{% endcontent-ref %}
{% endcolumn %}

{% column %}
Reference for the USE CATALOG statement, allowing a user to switch their current session's context to a different catalog.
{% endcolumn %}
{% endcolumns %}

{% columns %}
{% column %}
{% content-ref url="/pages/YY4EMo8j4aFQ6zzO2ypQ" %}
[DROP CATALOG](/docs/server/security/user-account-management/catalogs/drop-catalog.md)
{% endcontent-ref %}
{% endcolumn %}

{% column %}
Reference for the DROP CATALOG statement, used to remove a catalog and all its associated databases and users.
{% endcolumn %}
{% endcolumns %}