# mysql\_init

## Syntax

```c
MYSQL * mysql_init(MYSQL * mysql);
```

`mysql` - a pointer to MYSQL or NULL. In case of passing a NULL pointer mysql\_init() will allocate memory and return a pointer to a MYSQL structure.

## Description

Prepares and initializes a MYSQL structure to be used with [mysql\_real\_connect()](https://mariadb.com/docs/connectors/mariadb-connector-c/api-functions/mysql_real_connect).

If mysql\_thread\_init() was not called before, mysql\_init() will also initialize the thread subsystem for the current thread.

{% hint style="info" %}
Members of the MYSQL structure are not intended for application use.

Any subsequent calls to any mysql function (except mysql\_options()) will fail until [mysql\_real\_connect()](https://mariadb.com/docs/connectors/mariadb-connector-c/api-functions/mysql_real_connect) was called.

Memory allocated by mysql\_init() must be freed with [mysql\_close()](https://mariadb.com/docs/connectors/mariadb-connector-c/api-functions/mysql_close).
{% endhint %}

## See also

* [mysql\_real\_connect()](https://mariadb.com/docs/connectors/mariadb-connector-c/api-functions/mysql_real_connect)
* [mysql\_options()](https://mariadb.com/docs/connectors/mariadb-connector-c/api-functions/mysql_options)
* [mysql\_thread\_init()](https://mariadb.com/docs/connectors/mariadb-connector-c/api-functions/mysql_thread_init)
* [mysql\_close()](https://mariadb.com/docs/connectors/mariadb-connector-c/api-functions/mysql_close)

{% @marketo/form formId="4316" %}