# SHOW DATABASES

## Syntax

```sql
SHOW {DATABASES | SCHEMAS}
    [LIKE 'pattern' | WHERE expr]
```

## Description

`SHOW DATABASES` lists the databases on the MariaDB server host.`SHOW SCHEMAS` is a synonym for`SHOW DATABASES`. The `LIKE` clause, if present on its own, indicates which database names to match. The `WHERE` and `LIKE` clauses can be given to select rows using more general conditions, as discussed in [Extended SHOW](https://mariadb.com/docs/server/reference/sql-statements/administrative-sql-statements/show/extended-show).

You see only those databases for which you have some kind of privilege, unless you have the global [SHOW DATABASES privilege](https://mariadb.com/docs/server/reference/sql-statements/account-management-sql-statements/grant). You can also get this list using the [mariadb-show](https://mariadb.com/docs/server/clients-and-utilities/administrative-tools/mariadb-show) command.

If the server was started with the `--skip-show-database` option, you cannot use this statement at all unless you have the [SHOW DATABASES privilege](https://mariadb.com/docs/server/reference/sql-statements/account-management-sql-statements/grant).

The list of results returned by `SHOW DATABASES` is based on directories in the data directory, which is how MariaDB implements databases. It's possible that output includes directories that do not correspond to actual databases.

The [Information Schema SCHEMATA table](https://mariadb.com/docs/server/reference/system-tables/information-schema/information-schema-tables/information-schema-schemata-table) also contains database information.

## Examples

```sql
SHOW DATABASES;
+--------------------+
| Database           |
+--------------------+
| information_schema |
| mysql              |
| performance_schema |
| test               |
+--------------------+
```

```sql
SHOW DATABASES LIKE 'm%';
+---------------+
| Database (m%) |
+---------------+
| mysql         |
+---------------+
```

## See Also

* [CREATE DATABASE](https://mariadb.com/docs/server/reference/sql-statements/data-definition/create/create-database)
* [ALTER DATABASE](https://mariadb.com/docs/server/reference/sql-statements/data-definition/alter/alter-database)
* [DROP DATABASE](https://mariadb.com/docs/server/reference/sql-statements/data-definition/drop/drop-database)
* [SHOW CREATE DATABASE](https://mariadb.com/docs/server/reference/sql-statements/administrative-sql-statements/show/show-create-database)
* [Character Sets and Collations](https://mariadb.com/docs/server/reference/data-types/string-data-types/character-sets/supported-character-sets-and-collations)
* [Information Schema SCHEMATA Table](https://mariadb.com/docs/server/reference/system-tables/information-schema/information-schema-tables/information-schema-schemata-table)

<sub>*This page is licensed: GPLv2, originally from*</sub> [<sub>*fill\_help\_tables.sql*</sub>](https://github.com/MariaDB/server/blob/main/scripts/fill_help_tables.sql)

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