List tables in a MySQL database

# mysql_list_tables

(PHP 4, PHP 5)

mysql_list_tables — List tables in a MySQL database

Warning

This function was deprecated in PHP 4.3.0, and it and the entire original MySQL extension was removed in PHP 7.0.0. Instead, use either the actively developed MySQLi or PDO_MySQL extensions. See also the MySQL: choosing an API guide. Alternatives to this function include:

- SQL Query: `SHOW TABLES FROM dbname`

### Description

mysql_list_tables(string `$database`, resource `$link_identifier` = NULL): resource|false

Retrieves a list of table names from a MySQL database.

This function is deprecated. It is preferable to use mysql_query() to issue an SQL `SHOW TABLES [FROM db_name] [LIKE 'pattern']` statement instead.

### Parameters

`database`
  The name of the database
`link_identifier`

  The MySQL connection. If the link identifier is not specified, the last link opened by mysql_connect() is assumed. If no such link is found, it will try to create one as if mysql_connect() had been called with no arguments. If no connection is found or established, an `E_WARNING` level error is generated.

### Return Values

A result pointer resource on success or `false` on failure.

Use the mysql_tablename() function to traverse this result pointer, or any function for result tables, such as mysql_fetch_array().

### Examples

Example #1 mysql_list_tables() alternative example

`<?php
$dbname = 'mysql_dbname';
if (!mysql_connect('mysql_host', 'mysql_user', 'mysql_password')) {
echo 'Could not connect to mysql';
exit;
}
$sql = "SHOW TABLES FROM $dbname";
$result = mysql_query($sql);
if (!$result) {
echo "DB Error, could not list tables\n";
echo 'MySQL Error: ' . mysql_error();
exit;
}
while ($row = mysql_fetch_row($result)) {
echo "Table: {$row[0]}\n";
}
mysql_free_result($result);
?>`

### Notes

> Note: For backward compatibility, the following deprecated alias may be used: mysql_listtables()

### See Also

- mysql_list_dbs() - List databases available on a MySQL server
- mysql_tablename() - Get table name of field

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