> 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/tools/community/mariadb-shell/getting-started.md).

# Getting Started

Start MariaDB Shell, connect to a server, and learn the sessions and global objects you work with.

After you [install MariaDB Shell](/docs/tools/community/mariadb-shell/installation.md), the pages in this section show you how to start it, connect to MariaDB Server, and find your way around the objects that the shell provides. For a full description of connection options, see [Connecting to a Server](/docs/tools/community/mariadb-shell/connecting.md).

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[Starting MariaDB Shell](/docs/tools/community/mariadb-shell/getting-started/starting-mariadb-shell.md)
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How to start the shell, connect at startup, choose SQL or Python mode, get help, and exit.
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[Sessions](/docs/tools/community/mariadb-shell/getting-started/sessions.md)
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How the global session works, how to open additional sessions, and the methods of a session object.
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[Global Objects](/docs/tools/community/mariadb-shell/getting-started/global-objects.md)
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The objects available in Python mode, such as `shell`, `session`, `util`, and `sandbox`.
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[Differences from MySQL Shell](/docs/tools/community/mariadb-shell/getting-started/differences-from-mysql-shell.md)
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The MySQL Shell features that MariaDB Shell leaves out, and what it adds or renames.
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<sub>*This page is licensed: GPLv2*</sub>