# MySQL

## Set up a MySQL connection

When inside a workbook, click **View** > **Databases**, then click the **+** icon and follow the on-screen instructions.

![Create a MySQL connection](https://4179539225-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F-MZqboFGZzD87nn7oPsm%2Fuploads%2Fb4lZRy3caLGWeP4q8qMw%2FScreenshot%202023-06-30%20at%2013.56.47.png?alt=media\&token=c646d17e-af7d-49f6-9bf8-a1732e7eeefa)

For detailed instructions, see [connect-your-data-to-workspace](https://datalab-docs.datacamp.com/connect-to-data/connect-your-data-to-workspace "mention").

If you want to experiment with MySQL without setting up a connection, you can use our sample database with employees data ([source](https://dev.mysql.com/doc/employee/en/)).

## Query the database

You can now query your MySQL database with a [sql-cell](https://datalab-docs.datacamp.com/work/sql-cell "mention"). Select it in the **Select source** dropdown in the top left corner of a SQL cell, or select the sample MySQL database.

![Example of a SQL cell using the employees-test database connection. The query result is available as employees\_df.](https://4179539225-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F-MZqboFGZzD87nn7oPsm%2Fuploads%2FZqAWYkczYdJ5pKExSgzT%2Fimage.png?alt=media\&token=879d3efe-ee94-46ba-aed7-9d31d34a1646)

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