How to Convert MySQL Database Character Set and Collation to UTF-8?

Converting MySQL Database Character Set and Collation to UTF-8

MySQL databases can be set up with various character sets and collations, which determine how text data is stored and compared. Converting an entire MySQL database to UTF-8 encoding and Unicode collation is essential for handling international characters and ensuring data integrity.

Using ALTER DATABASE and ALTER TABLE Commands

To convert the character set and collation of an entire MySQL database, use the following commands:

• ALTER DATABASE: Change the database character set and collation:

ALTER DATABASE databasename CHARACTER SET utf8mb4 COLLATE utf8mb4_unicode_ci;

• ALTER TABLE: Convert all tables in the database to the new character set and collation:

ALTER TABLE tablename CONVERT TO CHARACTER SET utf8mb4 COLLATE utf8mb4_unicode_ci;

Alternative for MySQL 5.5.2 or Older

If you are still using MySQL version 5.5.2 or older, which does not support 4-byte UTF-8, use the following commands:

• ALTER DATABASE: Change the database character set and collation to UTF-8:

ALTER DATABASE databasename CHARACTER SET utf8 COLLATE utf8_unicode_ci;

• ALTER TABLE: Convert all tables in the database to the new character set and collation:

ALTER TABLE tablename CONVERT TO CHARACTER SET utf8 COLLATE utf8_unicode_ci;

Note:

• It is recommended to back up your database before performing these conversions.
• The conversion process may take some time depending on the size of your database.
• Ensure that all columns storing text data are converted to UTF-8, as mixed character sets can lead to data integrity issues.

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