How to DROP a database with character '?' in its name?

Question

Just trying out ubuntu server on my pc and have been testing some commands including mysql. I'm not sure why phpMyAdmin permitted me to create a database like this 'testing?db'. I'm trying to drop this database via SSH but I get this error:

mysql> show databases
    -> ;
+--------------------+
| Database           |
+--------------------+
| information_schema |
| mysql              |
| phpmyadmin         |
| testing?db         |
| testing_db         |
| wp                 |
+--------------------+
6 rows in set (0.00 sec)

mysql> DROP DATABASE testing?db;
ERROR 1064 (42000): You have an error in your SQL syntax; check the manual that corresponds to your MySQL server version for the right syntax to use near '?db' at line 1
mysql>

I tried creating a database with a '?' in it and it also gives me syntax error. via ssh. so how do I remove this database?

mvds · Accepted Answer · 2011-03-27 03:13:27Z

61

Try:

DROP DATABASE `testing?db`;

answered Mar 27, 2011 at 3:13

mvds

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6 Comments

Yanick Rochon Over a year ago

yes, you can escape your table/fields name with a ` character

SQLMason Over a year ago

I was going to post the same thing. Nice.

mvds Over a year ago

It's called the backtick, present on any keyboard, but not in a fixed location. Look somewhere to the top or bottom left.

hugseirvak Over a year ago

oh thanks! :) i've been using the computer for as long as i can remember but never noticed this backtick character on my keyboard.

mvds Over a year ago

@Jasmine I think not, the lsqo is a quotation character, while the backtick is actually an accent (fileformat.info/info/unicode/char/0060/index.htm)

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