Is there a difference between running the source command from the mysql command line client and '<' from outside it? if so, when should I use each?

Question

I can run the following commands:

C:\myfolder>mysql -uuser -ppassword 

Then from within the client do:

mysql>source C:\path\to\file.sql

Or I can do:

C:\myfolder>mysql -uuser -ppassword  < C:\path\to\file.sql

Is there a difference between these two commands? if so, what is it and when should I use each?

Answer 1

They are the same, but you can use only one depending in which environment you are.

for example when you are in DOS/ linux prompt you can only run mysql.exe

in Mysql command mode you only can use source.

so there is no need to change the environments to import the sql file.