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Description

MariaDB Error 1049, 'Unknown database', indicates that the MariaDB server could not locate or identify the database name provided in a connection attempt or SQL query. This error typically occurs when the specified database does not exist, is misspelled, or the connecting user lacks the necessary permissions to access it.

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Error Message

Unknown database '%s'

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Known Causes

4 known causes

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Database Does Not Exist

The database name provided in the connection string or SQL query has not been created on the MariaDB server.

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Incorrect Database Name

A typo, incorrect casing, or an invalid database name was entered in the client application, script, or SQL statement.

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Misconfigured Application

The application or client is configured to connect to a database that is either not present or incorrectly referenced on the MariaDB server.

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Insufficient User Privileges

The connected user account lacks the necessary permissions to access or even view the specified database, making it appear 'unknown'.

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Solutions

4 solutions available

1. Create the Missing Database easy

Create the database if it should exist

1

Connect to MariaDB as root

mysql -u root -p

2

Create the database

CREATE DATABASE my_database
    CHARACTER SET utf8mb4
    COLLATE utf8mb4_unicode_ci;

3

Grant privileges to user

GRANT ALL PRIVILEGES ON my_database.* TO 'username'@'localhost';
FLUSH PRIVILEGES;

2. Verify Database Name easy

Check spelling and available databases

1

List all existing databases

SHOW DATABASES;

2

Search for similar database names

SHOW DATABASES LIKE '%mydb%';

3

Check connection string in your application

# Common locations:
# PHP: config.php, .env, database.php
# Node.js: .env, config.js
# Python: settings.py, .env
# Java: application.properties

3. Fix Application Configuration easy

Update database name in your app config

1

Laravel (.env)

DB_DATABASE=correct_database_name

2

Node.js connection

const connection = mysql.createConnection({
    host: 'localhost',
    user: 'username',
    password: 'password',
    database: 'correct_database_name'  // Fix this
});

3

Python (Django settings.py)

DATABASES = {
    'default': {
        'ENGINE': 'django.db.backends.mysql',
        'NAME': 'correct_database_name',  # Fix this
        ...
    }
}

4. Check User Permissions medium

User might not have access to see the database

1

Check what databases user can see

-- As the user
SHOW DATABASES;

2

As root, check user privileges

SHOW GRANTS FOR 'username'@'localhost';

3

Grant access to the database

GRANT ALL PRIVILEGES ON database_name.* TO 'username'@'localhost';
FLUSH PRIVILEGES;

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Related Errors

5 related errors

MariaDB Error 1049: Unknown Database Specified