# MariaDB Connector/C Overview
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**Browse & download the latest MariaDB connectors**
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The most recent release of MariaDB Connector/C is:
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MariaDB Connector/C is used to connect applications developed in C/C++ to MariaDB and MySQL databases.The client library is LGPL licensed.
## Integration with MariaDB Server
MariaDB Connector/C is distributed with MariaDB Server packages. Eventually, it will completely replace the functionality that has traditionally been performed by `libmysqlclient` in those packages. Currently, 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](https://app.gitbook.com/s/SsmexDFPv2xG2OTyO5yV/server-management/install-and-upgrade-mariadb/installing-mariadb/binary-packages/installing-mariadb-msi-packages-on-windows). 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](https://app.gitbook.com/s/SsmexDFPv2xG2OTyO5yV/server-management/install-and-upgrade-mariadb/installing-mariadb/binary-packages/installing-mariadb-binary-tarballs) 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. The repository needs to be configured for [MariaDB 10.2](https://app.gitbook.com/s/aEnK0ZXmUbJzqQrTjFyb/community-server/old-releases/10.2/what-is-mariadb-102) or later.
You can configure your package manager to install it from MariaDB Corporation's MariaDB Package Repository by using the [MariaDB Package Repository setup script](https://app.gitbook.com/s/SsmexDFPv2xG2OTyO5yV/server-management/install-and-upgrade-mariadb/installing-mariadb/binary-packages/mariadb-package-repository-setup-and-usage).
You can also configure your package manager to install it from MariaDB Foundation's MariaDB Repository by using the [MariaDB Repository Configuration Tool](https://downloads.mariadb.org/mariadb/repositories/).
**Installing with yum/dnf**
On RHEL, CentOS, Fedora, and other similar Linux distributions, it is highly recommended to install the relevant [RPM package](https://app.gitbook.com/s/SsmexDFPv2xG2OTyO5yV/server-management/install-and-upgrade-mariadb/installing-mariadb/binary-packages/rpm) from MariaDB's\
repository using [yum](https://app.gitbook.com/s/SsmexDFPv2xG2OTyO5yV/server-management/install-and-upgrade-mariadb/installing-mariadb/binary-packages/rpm/yum) or [dnf](https://app.gitbook.com/s/SsmexDFPv2xG2OTyO5yV/server-management/install-and-upgrade-mariadb/installing-mariadb/binary-packages/rpm/yum). 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](https://app.gitbook.com/s/SsmexDFPv2xG2OTyO5yV/server-management/install-and-upgrade-mariadb/installing-mariadb/binary-packages/installing-mariadb-deb-files) 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](https://app.gitbook.com/s/SsmexDFPv2xG2OTyO5yV/server-management/install-and-upgrade-mariadb/installing-mariadb/binary-packages/rpm) from MariaDB's repository using [zypper](https://app.gitbook.com/s/SsmexDFPv2xG2OTyO5yV/server-management/install-and-upgrade-mariadb/installing-mariadb/binary-packages/rpm/installing-mariadb-with-zypper).
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](https://mariadb.com/docs/connectors/mariadb-connector-c/building-connectorc-from-source) 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](https://mariadb.com/docs/connectors/mariadb-connector-c/api-functions)
* [MariaDB Client Library for C API Prepared Statement Functions](https://mariadb.com/docs/connectors/mariadb-connector-c/api-prepared-statement-functions)
It is also downloadable in html format from [mariadb-client-doc.zip](https://mariadb.org/files/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](https://app.gitbook.com/s/SsmexDFPv2xG2OTyO5yV/server-management/install-and-upgrade-mariadb/configuring-mariadb/configuring-mariadb-with-option-files#option-groups) in [option files](https://app.gitbook.com/s/SsmexDFPv2xG2OTyO5yV/server-management/install-and-upgrade-mariadb/configuring-mariadb/configuring-mariadb-with-option-files).
See [Configuring MariaDB Connector/C with Option Files](https://mariadb.com/docs/connectors/mariadb-connector-c/configuring-mariadb-connectorc-with-option-files) 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](https://app.gitbook.com/s/WCInJQ9cmGjq1lsTG91E/community/community/faq/licensing-questions/licensing-faq).
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