Import Data into TiDB Cloud via MySQL CLI

This document describes how to import data into TiDB Cloud via the MySQL Command-Line Client. You can import data from an SQL file or a CSV file. The following sections provide step-by-step instructions for importing data from each type of file.

Prerequisites

Before you can import data via MySQL CLI to TiDB Cloud, you need the following prerequisites:

You have access to your TiDB Cloud cluster. If you do not have a TiDB cluster, create one following the instructions in Build a TiDB Serverless Cluster.
Install MySQL CLI on your local computer.

Step 1. Connect to your TiDB Cloud cluster

Connect to your TiDB cluster depending on the TiDB deployment option you have selected.

TiDB Serverless
TiDB Dedicated

Navigate to the Clusters page, and then click the name of your target cluster to go to its overview page.
Click Connect in the upper-right corner. A connection dialog is displayed.
Ensure the configurations in the connection dialog match your operating environment.
- Endpoint Type is set to Public.
- Connect With is set to MySQL CLI.
- Operating System matches your environment.
Click Generate Password to create a random password.
Tip
If you have created a password before, either use the original password or click Reset Password to generate a new one.

Navigate to the Clusters page, and then click the name of your target cluster to go to its overview page.
Click Connect in the upper-right corner. A connection dialog is displayed.
Click Allow Access from Anywhere.
For more details about how to obtain the connection string, see Connect to TiDB Dedicated via Standard Connection.

Step 2. Define the table and insert sample data

Before importing data, you need to prepare the table structure and insert real sample data into it. The following is an example SQL file (product_data.sql) that you can use to create a table and insert sample data:

-- Create a table in your TiDB database
CREATE TABLE products (
    product_id INT PRIMARY KEY,
    product_name VARCHAR(255),
    price DECIMAL(10, 2)
);

-- Insert sample data into the table
INSERT INTO products (product_id, product_name, price) VALUES
    (1, 'Laptop', 999.99),
    (2, 'Smartphone', 499.99),
    (3, 'Tablet', 299.99);

Step 3. Import data from a SQL or CSV file

You can import data from an SQL file or a CSV file. The following sections provide step-by-step instructions for importing data from each type.

From an SQL file
From a CSV file

Do the following to import data from an SQL file:

Provide a real SQL file (for example, product_data.sql) that contains the data you want to import. This SQL file must contain INSERT statements with real data.

Use the following command to import data from the SQL file:

mysql --comments --connect-timeout 150 -u '<your_username>' -h <your_cluster_host> -P 4000 -D test --ssl-mode=VERIFY_IDENTITY --ssl-ca=<your_ca_path> -p <your_password> < product_data.sql

Note

The default database name used here is test, and you can either manually create your own database or use the CREATE DATABASE command in an SQL file.

Do the following to import data from a CSV file:

Create a database and schema in TiDB to match your data import needs.
Provide a sample CSV file (for example, product_data.csv) that contains the data you want to import. The following is an example of a CSV file:
product_data.csv:
```
product_id,product_name,price
4,Laptop,999.99
5,Smartphone,499.99
6,Tablet,299.99
```

Use the following command to import data from the CSV file:

mysql --comments --connect-timeout 150 -u '<your_username>' -h <your_host> -P 4000 -D test --ssl-mode=VERIFY_IDENTITY --ssl-ca=<your_ca_path> -p<your_password> -e "LOAD DATA LOCAL INFILE '<your_csv_path>' INTO TABLE products
FIELDS TERMINATED BY ','
LINES TERMINATED BY '\n'
IGNORE 1 LINES (product_id, product_name, price);"

Make sure to replace the paths, table name (products in this example), <your_username>, <your_host>, <your_password>, <your_csv_path>, <your_ca_path>, and other placeholders with your actual information, and replace the sample CSV data with your real dataset as needed.