Best for
- Data analysts and developers who want to query read-only MySQL data using natural language
- Claude Desktop users who need to interact with local MySQL databases seamlessly
- Teams that need to query MySQL without directly writing SQL
M
MySQL MCP Server
Community
A read-only MySQL MCP server for querying databases through Claude Desktop.
GitHub source repository ↗
53FMRS · D
The MySQL MCP server provides a convenient way to query read-only MySQL databases via Claude using natural language. It supports dynamic connections and per-query overrides, but its security relies solely on query validation, so a dedicated read-only user is recommended. Its functionality is limited, making it suitable for analysis and development scenarios, but not for production or write-heavy use cases.
The MySQL MCP Server is a Model Context Protocol implementation that enables Claude Desktop to interact with MySQL databases via natural language. It only executes read-only SQL queries, such as SELECT, and blocks data-modifying operations. It features dynamic connection configuration, allowing runtime switching between databases via connection strings. It is distributed as an npm package @hovecapital/read-only-mysql-mcp-server and is also available on GitHub.
Tools
connect
Connect to a MySQL database using a connection string; the connection persists until changed or disconnected.
disconnect
Disconnect from the current runtime database and revert to environment-configured defaults.
query
Execute a read-only SQL query on the currently connected database, optionally overriding the connection for that query.
Setup
Recommended: Use Claude Code CLI: run claude mcp add mysql -s user -- npx -y @hovecapital/read-only-mysql-mcp-server@latest, then set environment variables DB_HOST, DB_PORT, DB_DATABASE, DB_USERNAME, DB_PASSWORD. Alternatively, manually edit the Claude Desktop configuration file (macOS: ~/Library/Application Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json; Windows: %APPDATA%\Claude\claude_desktop_config.json) and add the server configuration under mcpServers.
claude_desktop_config.json
{
"mcpServers": {
"mysql": {
"command": "npx",
"args": ["-y", "@hovecapital/read-only-mysql-mcp-server@latest"],
"env": {
"DB_HOST": "localhost",
"DB_PORT": "3306",
"DB_DATABASE": "your_database_name",
"DB_USERNAME": "your_username",
"DB_PASSWORD": "your_password"
}
}
}
}
Fit and risk
Not for
- Applications that require write or modify operations on the database
- Applications that need to connect to non-MySQL databases (e.g., PostgreSQL)
- Production environments without additional security measures and a dedicated read-only user
Required permissions
- Requires Node.js v16 or higher
- Requires a MySQL database server
- Requires Claude Desktop or Claude Code
- Requires database credentials (via environment variables or connection string)
- Grants only SELECT operations if credentials are limited, but if broad credentials are used, read access to all data is possible
Risks and side effects
- Security may be misleading: the server only blocks non-SELECT statements, but if the provided credentials have write permissions, data could be modified; use a dedicated read-only user
- Data privacy: database credentials are stored in environment variables, accessible to other processes on the same system
- Network exposure: if the MySQL server is exposed, unauthorized access is possible; ensure network security
- Resource usage: complex queries may consume significant resources; monitor query performance
Troubleshooting
- Config not taking effect after restart: verify you edited the correct config file and fully restart Claude.
- Connection failures: check MySQL is running, verify credentials, ensure network connectivity.
- Path errors: if manually installed, ensure the absolute path to dist/index.js is correct.
- JSON syntax issues: validate the claude_desktop_config.json format.
- View logs: run `node dist/index.js` to see server logs.
Use cases
Query database tables and data using natural language
View table structures without writing SQL manually
Fetch sample data for analysis
Provide non-technical users with database query capability
Supported clients
Claude DesktopFull support