# Converting a MySQL database to UTF-8

> Check your MySQL database's character set and convert it from Latin to UTF-8 so it can store text in any language.

Source: https://helpcenter.ruachost.com/developers/databases/converting-a-mysql-database-to-utf-8/

**Converting a MySQL database to UTF-8**\
This article explains how to convert a MySQL database’s character set to UTF-8 (Unicode), which supports many alphabets and characters for various languages. Many databases use the Latin character set by default, which can be limiting.

## Determining the current character encoding set

1. Log in to your account via SSH:

```
mysql -u username -p
```

Enter your password when prompted.

2. To check the character set for a database (replace `dbname` with your database name):

```
SELECT default_character_set_name
FROM information_schema.SCHEMATA S
WHERE schema_name = "dbname";
```

3. To check the character set for a specific table (replace `dbname` and `tablename`):

```
SELECT CCSA.character_set_name
FROM information_schema.`TABLES` T,
     information_schema.`COLLATION_CHARACTER_SET_APPLICABILITY` CCSA
WHERE CCSA.collation_name = T.table_collation
  AND T.table_schema = "dbname"
  AND T.table_name = "tablename";
```

4. To exit MySQL:

```
\q
```

## Converting the character encoding set to UTF-8

**Warning:** Back up your database before starting!

1. Log in via SSH.
2. Create a `.my.cnf` file for login credentials:

```
nano .my.cnf
```

Add the following, replacing `username` and `password`:

```
[client]
user=username
password="password"
```

Press `Ctrl+X`, then `y` to save, and `Enter`.

3. Convert all tables in the database to UTF-8:

```
mysql --database=dbname -B -N -e "SHOW TABLES" | awk '{print "SET foreign_key_checks = 0; ALTER TABLE", $1, "CONVERT TO CHARACTER SET utf8 COLLATE utf8_general_ci; SET foreign_key_checks = 1; "}' | mysql --database=dbname
```

4. Start MySQL:

```
mysql
```

5. Convert the database itself to UTF-8:

```
ALTER DATABASE dbname CHARACTER SET utf8 COLLATE utf8_general_ci;
```

6. Exit MySQL:

```
\q
```

7. Remove the `.my.cnf` file:

```
rm .my.cnf
```

8. Verify the character set is now UTF-8 by repeating the steps in the **Determining the current character encoding set** section.

## More information

- [UTF-8 and Unicode](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UTF-8)