Stage 1 · Lesson 5 of 8
MySQL Workbench as your GUI
is the official graphical tool for MySQL. In September 2026 Oracle released MySQL Workbench 26, a rebuilt version with a script editor, SQL notebooks, a visual EXPLAIN (a diagram of how a query runs) and administration screens.
Workbench 8.0 is . Create a connection to your local server, browse and tables, and run scripts from the editor. You will use the visual EXPLAIN later when you tune slow queries.
or with a database extension work well too. Whatever tool you use, keep the SQL visible: read what it generates when you create a table or index.
Common trapfollowing screenshots of Workbench 8.0 from older tutorials and getting lost, or learning only clicks and never the statements behind them.
A question to check yourself, an AI practice session and 1 cheat sheet entry come with the full roadmap. Unlock
Resources for this stage
Start with· follow one of these
- CourseFreeCS50's Introduction to Databases with SQL
Harvard University · Beginner
Watch Lecture 0 (Querying) for the relational model; it uses SQLite, and the ideas carry straight across
- GuideFreeMySQL Tutorial (official manual)
Oracle · Beginner
The official tutorial chapter: connecting, entering queries and creating your first database and tables