MySQL is a relational database management system. It sounds fancy, but doesnt have to be. The novice, like me, can treat it as a black box. Put stuff in, ask for certain stuff out. It just works. That simple.MySQL is based on a clientserver model, so the black box is the MySQL server and your interface to it is the MySQL client program. All the examples of MySQL commands in this article can be entered straight into the MySQL client command line. MySQL supports multiline commands and uses a semicolon to designate the end of the command.

Website: http://www.danchan.com/feature/2000/10/16/mysql/mysql.htm