mysql select syntax

Question

What is the purpose of this symbol in MySQL queries?

`

For example:

SELECT `show` FROM table WHERE id = "4"

Answer 1

In MySQL the backtick is used to quote column names. It is normally optional but here it is needed because SHOW is a reserved word.

A list of reserved words can be found here.

Answer 2

There is a difference between quotation marks (' and ") and backticks (`) in mysql.

Backticks are known as an "identifier quote" and are used to surround identifiers, such as:

tables columns indexes stored functions etc.

Quote go around strings, often used when inserting, updating, or trying to match against a string in the database (eg a WHERE clause)

Answer 3

Backticks are known as an "identifier quote" and are used to surround identifiers, such as: you can live without them but but they are necessary when

• identifiers name contains spaces e.g. a column name is `customer name `
• identifiers name is a reserved work e.g. a column name is `name `