MySQL Reference Manual :: 13.1.3 CREATE DATABASE Syntax

       CREATE {DATABASE | SCHEMA} [IF NOT EXISTS] db_name
       [create_specification [, create_specification] ...]
       
       create_specification:
       [DEFAULT] CHARACTER SET charset_name
       | [DEFAULT] COLLATE collation_name
     

CREATE DATABASE creates a database with the given name. To use CREATE DATABASE, you need the CREATE privilege on the database.

Rules for allowable database names are given in Section 9.2, “Database, Table, Index, Column, and Alias Names”. An error occurs if the database exists and you didn't specify IF NOT EXISTS.

As of MySQL 4.1.1, create_specification options can be given to specify database characteristics. Database characteristics are stored in the db.opt file in the database directory. The CHARACTER SET clause specifies the default database character set. The COLLATE clause specifies the default database collation. Character set and collation names are discussed in Chapter 10, Character Set Support.

Databases in MySQL are implemented as directories containing files that correspond to tables in the database. Because there are no tables in a database when it is initially created, the CREATE DATABASE statement only creates a directory under the MySQL data directory (and the db.opt file, for MySQL 4.1.1 and up).

If you manually create a directory under the data directory (for example, with mkdir), the server considers it a database directory and it shows up in the output of SHOW DATABASES.

CREATE SCHEMA can be used as of MySQL 5.0.2.

You can also use the mysqladmin program to create databases. See Section 8.4, “mysqladmin, Administering a MySQL Server”.