Is MySQL Case Sensitive for Table and Column Names?

Case Sensitivity in MySQL: Table and Column Names

Introduction:
A common concern in database design is the handling of case sensitivity in table and column names. In MySQL, this behavior varies depending on the underlying operating system.

Table Names:
On Unix-based systems (e.g., Linux, macOS), table names are case sensitive. This means that "category" and "Category" are treated as distinct tables. However, on Windows systems, table names are not case sensitive. Thus, "category" and "Category" would refer to the same table.

Column Names:
In contrast to table names, column names in MySQL are always case insensitive. This implies that "category_id" and "Category_Id" are equivalent and refer to the same column. Therefore, in terms of column names, there is no distinction between uppercase and lowercase characters.

Implications:
The case sensitivity of table names on Unix systems can lead to potential issues when developing and deploying applications between different operating systems. To ensure seamless operation, it's best practice to adopt a consistent naming convention that adheres to the case sensitivity of the target operating system.

Additional Note:
It's important to note that the case sensitivity of table names applies to the MySQL server machine's operating system, not the client machine's operating system.

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