Determining the True Size of Your MySQL Database

When selecting a suitable web host, it is crucial to estimate the storage space required for your MySQL database. This involves understanding the accurate size of your database. While the SHOW TABLE STATUS command provides some insights, it leaves room for ambiguity regarding the total data usage.

To obtain the precise size of your database, consider employing the following SQL query suggested by S. Prakash on the MySQL forum:

SELECT table_schema "database name",
    sum( data_length   index_length ) / 1024 / 1024 "database size in MB",
    sum( data_free )/ 1024 / 1024 "free space in MB"
FROM information_schema.TABLES
GROUP BY table_schema;

This query provides a comprehensive breakdown of your database, including:

• Database name: Identifying the database in question.
• Database size in MB: The total space occupied by both data and indexes.
• Free space in MB: The amount of unused space within the database.

By executing this query, you can obtain the true size of your MySQL database, aiding you in making informed decisions regarding web hosting needs.

Note that the Index Length column in SHOW TABLE STATUS refers to the size of the indexes created for a specific table, which helps optimize query performance by providing quick access to data.