Work with a MySQL database

Six MySQL steps work with your own MySQL or MariaDB database, one step for each thing you do:

• MySQL · Run a query — Runs SQL you write, with values as parameters.
• MySQL · Insert rows — Adds a row to a table, a value for each column you fill in.
• MySQL · Update rows — Changes the columns you fill in, in the rows that match.
• MySQL · Delete rows — Deletes the rows that match.
• MySQL · Find rows — The rows of a table that match, in the order you choose.
• MySQL · Run a stored procedure — Calls a procedure in the database with the values you give.

In the step picker, the steps that change data say so: Changes data on Insert rows and Update rows, Deletes data on Delete rows, and Can change data on Run a query and Run a stored procedure, whose effect depends on the SQL. The same tag and a sentence sit at the top of each step's settings.

Who can do this

Workspace Admins and Editors. MySQL is a paid-plan service: you can build and test these steps on any plan; publishing needs a paid plan.

Before you start

A MySQL connection in this workspace — see Connect a MySQL or MariaDB database. Its user needs the rights each step uses: SELECT to find, INSERT, UPDATE or DELETE to change rows, EXECUTE to run a procedure.

Steps

1. Select +, then in Apps select MySQL, or search MySQL. Choose the step.
2. Choose the Connection.
3. Fill in the step:

   • Run a query — in Query, write the SQL. It starts with an example:

     select id, status, total
     from orders
     where phone = @phone
     

     Name each value @like_this and give it under Parameters. Under Parameters, add each @name and its value, usually {{ }} from an earlier step.

   • Insert rows — choose the Table. Under Columns, the table's columns load from the database; give a value for each one you want set. Only the columns you fill in are set; the rest take the table's defaults.

   • Update rows — choose the Table. Under Where, add a column and the value it must hold for each condition — every row given must match. Under New values, fill in the columns to change.

   • Delete rows — choose the Table and fill in Where as for Update rows. Deleted rows cannot be brought back.

   • Find rows — choose the Table, and optionally Where, Order by a column, and Order — Lowest first or Highest first.

   • Run a stored procedure — choose the Procedure. Under Parameters, its parameters load from the procedure; give each a value. One left empty is sent as NULL.

4. Optional, on Run a query, Find rows and Run a stored procedure: Most rows — 1,000 unless you change it, up to 10,000.
5. Select Run this step, then check Output.

Output

Good to know

• Values are always parameters. {{ }} is never allowed inside a query; on the other steps, every value you give is sent as a parameter, never glued into the SQL.
• Tables, columns and procedures come from the database's own lists. A value from an earlier step cannot name a table — Choose the table from the list.
• A value takes its column's type. A number column gets a number, a date column a date — 2026-10-02T11:15:00Z from an earlier step is stored as that time in UTC — and an empty value in anything but a text column is stored as NULL.
• Where matches equal values. Each row under Where is column = value; an empty value matches NULL. For anything else — greater than, LIKE, OR — use Run a query.
• Update rows and Delete rows always need Where. To change or delete every row, use Run a query.
• 15 seconds to connect, 30 seconds to run. Each step runs once per item.
• Paid: a live run on a plan without paid services is skipped; tests work on any plan.

If something goes wrong

Related

• Connect a MySQL or MariaDB database
• Start a workflow when a row is added to a MySQL table
• Query a PostgreSQL database
• Query a Microsoft SQL database