Here are seven ways to check what version of MySQL you’re running.

Option 1: The @@version Variable

In MySQL, the @@version variable contains the server version number. It may also include a suffix with configuration or build information.

You can retrieve its contents with a simple SELECT statement.

Example:

SELECT @@version;

Example result:

+-----------+
| @@version |
+-----------+
| 8.0.29    |
+-----------+

Option 2: The VERSION() Function

The VERSION() function returns the same information – the MySQL server version number, which may also include a suffix with configuration or build information.

This can be called using a SELECT statement. No arguments are required (or accepted).

Example:

SELECT VERSION();

Result:

+-----------+
| VERSION() |
+-----------+
| 8.0.29    |
+-----------+

Option 3: The SHOW VARIABLES Statement

The SHOW VARIABLES statement shows the values of MySQL system variables.

You can use a WHERE clause to narrow the variables to just the version variable.

Example:

SHOW VARIABLES
WHERE variable_name = 'version';

Result:

+---------------+--------+
| Variable_name | Value  |
+---------------+--------+
| version       | 8.0.29 |
+---------------+--------+

Alternatively, you can use a LIKE operator to return other variables that have version in their name.

Example:

SHOW VARIABLES
WHERE variable_name LIKE '%version%';

Result:

+--------------------------+-----------------+
| Variable_name            | Value           |
+--------------------------+-----------------+
| admin_tls_version        | TLSv1.2,TLSv1.3 |
| immediate_server_version | 999999          |
| innodb_version           | 8.0.29          |
| original_server_version  | 999999          |
| protocol_version         | 10              |
| replica_type_conversions |                 |
| slave_type_conversions   |                 |
| tls_version              | TLSv1.2,TLSv1.3 |
| version                  | 8.0.29          |
| version_comment          | Homebrew        |
| version_compile_machine  | arm64           |
| version_compile_os       | macos12.2       |
| version_compile_zlib     | 1.2.11          |
+--------------------------+-----------------+

Option 4: The STATUS Command

You can type STATUS any time you’re logged in to return information about the MySQL version and other details.

Example:

STATUS;

Result:

mysql  Ver 8.0.29 for macos12.2 on arm64 (Homebrew)

Connection id:		8
Current database:	
Current user:		root@localhost
SSL:			Not in use
Current pager:		stdout
Using outfile:		''
Using delimiter:	;
Server version:		8.0.29 Homebrew
Protocol version:	10
Connection:		Localhost via UNIX socket
Server characterset:	utf8mb4
Db     characterset:	utf8mb4
Client characterset:	utf8mb4
Conn.  characterset:	utf8mb4
UNIX socket:		/tmp/mysql.sock
Binary data as:		Hexadecimal
Uptime:			3 min 44 sec

Threads: 2  Questions: 9  Slow queries: 0  Opens: 132  Flush tables: 3  Open tables: 53  Queries per second avg: 0.040

Option 5: Login to MySQL

When you first log in to MySQL, the version number is presented within the “Welcome” message.

For example, opening a new terminal window and running the following command connects to MySQL:

mysql -uroot

And the following “Welcome” (or similar) message is displayed:

Welcome to the MySQL monitor.  Commands end with ; or \g.
Your MySQL connection id is 8
Server version: 8.0.29 Homebrew

Copyright (c) 2000, 2022, Oracle and/or its affiliates.

Oracle is a registered trademark of Oracle Corporation and/or its
affiliates. Other names may be trademarks of their respective
owners.

Type 'help;' or '\h' for help. Type '\c' to clear the current input statement.

Option 6: The --version Option

If you don’t have MySQL open, you can find out what version it is by using the --version (or -V) option of the mysql and mysqladmin programs.

For example, opening a new terminal window and running the following command:

mysql --version

Returns the following on my current system:

mysql  Ver 8.0.29 for macos12.2 on arm64 (Homebrew)

And running the following command:

mysqladmin --version

Returns the following:

mysqladmin  Ver 8.0.29 for macos12.2 on arm64 (Homebrew)

The --version part can alternatively be shortened to just --V.

Example:

mysql -V

Result:

mysql  Ver 8.0.29 for macos12.2 on arm64 (Homebrew)

Option 7: The GUI

If you’re connecting to MySQL via a graphical user interface (GUI), you might be able to see the version displayed somewhere in the GUI.

For example, when I connect to MySQL via Sequel Ace, the MySQL version is displayed in the top left of the GUI, along with connection information:

Option 8 (Bonus): The sys Schema Stored Functions

MySQL also has a bunch of sys schema stored functions, including a few that return information about the MySQL server version.

These are sys.version_major(), sys.version_minor(), and sys.version_patch().

Example:

SELECT 
    sys.version_major() AS major, 
    sys.version_minor() AS minor,
    sys.version_patch() AS patch;

Result:

+-------+-------+-------+
| major | minor | patch |
+-------+-------+-------+
|     8 |     0 |    29 |
+-------+-------+-------+