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I use MySQL and MySQL Workbench 8.0+ on Ubuntu 18.04. When I create a column with a string type, I leave the charset/collation to default. In MySQL workbench, it just show me that is it Default Charset.

What is the default charset used by my current MySQL and Workbench? How can I figure this out?

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1 Answer 1

Reset to default
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Use SHOW CREATE TABLE. For example:

CREATE TABLE a ( dflt VARCHAR(11), cs VARCHAR(11) CHARACTER SET latin1, cola VARCHAR(11) COLLATE utf8mb4_hungarian_ci, cc VARCHAR(11) CHARACTER SET latin1 COLLATE latin1_bin, colb VARCHAR(11) COLLATE latin1_bin ); SHOW CREATE TABLE a\G mysql> SHOW CREATE TABLE a\G *************************** 1. row *************************** Table: a Create Table: CREATE TABLE `a` ( `dflt` varchar(11) DEFAULT NULL, `cs` varchar(11) CHARACTER SET latin1 COLLATE latin1_swedish_ci DEFAULT NULL, `cola` varchar(11) CHARACTER SET utf8mb4 COLLATE utf8mb4_hungarian_ci DEFAULT NULL, `cc` varchar(11) CHARACTER SET latin1 COLLATE latin1_bin DEFAULT NULL, `colb` varchar(11) CHARACTER SET latin1 COLLATE latin1_bin DEFAULT NULL ) ENGINE=InnoDB DEFAULT CHARSET=utf8mb4 COLLATE=utf8mb4_0900_ai_ci

Notes:

  • Most of the columns have the charset and collation spelled out.
  • The one that does not (dflt) inherits those settings from the DEFAULTs for the table.
  • Each CHARACTER SET has a "default" collation.
  • Each COLLATE is associated with exactly one CHARACTER SET, namely the first part of the collation name.
  • (Not shown here): The DEFAULTs for the table are inherited from the DATABASE.
  • MySQL 8 defaults to CHARSET=utf8mb4 COLLATE=utf8mb4_0900_ai_ci if you do nothing.
  • Older versions defaulted to CHARSET=latin1 COLLATE=latin1_swedish_ci
  • The "0900" or "520" in some collations refers to Unicode Standards versions 9.0 and 5.20. You can infer from this that there may be new, "better", collations in the future.
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