Safe Update Mode MySQL

What is MySQL?

MySQL is an Open-Source Relational Database Management System (RDBMS) that uses Structured Query Language (SQL) to manage RDBs. Initially developed by MySQL AB in 1994, it has been adopted by over 5,000 companies, including Uber, Netflix, Pinterest, Amazon, Airbnb, and Twitter.

What are the features of MySQL?

• Easy to access
  Since MySQL is open-source, any person can download, use, and modify the software. It can be easy to use and provided free of cost. MySQL's source code can be accessed for study and customization according to needs. It makes use of the GPL, or GNU General Public License, which provides restrictions for what is permissible and not permissible with the program.
• Rapid and Trustworthy
  MySQL effectively saves information in memory to ensure consistency and prevent duplication. MySQL enables rapid access to and manipulation of data.
• Adaptable
  he capacity of a system to work well with large or small groups of machines and other types of data is referred to as scalability. The MySQL server was created for handling big databases.
• Data Formats
  Numerous data types are supported, including float (FLOAT), double (DOUBLE), character (CHAR), variable character (VARCHAR), text, date, time, datetime, timestamp, year, signed and unsigned integers, and many more.
• Character Groups
  It is compatible with other character sets, such as German, Ujis, Latin 1 (cp1252 character encoding), other Unicode character sets, and so forth.
• Be protected
  As a result of its customizable password system that verifies the password according to the host before allowing access to the database, it offers a safe interface. When the password is being connected to the server, it is encrypted.
• support with big databases
  Large databases, with up to 5,000,000,000 rows, 150,000-200,000 tables, and 40-50 million records, are supported by this software.

What is Safe Update Mode?

Safe Update Mode is one of the special features of MySQL. It is actually used to prevent operations on the database. Let us say we have a database, and in the database, we have a list of 50 employees and their details, such as joining date, salary, name, date of birth, etc. The Safe Update Mode plays a protective role in the database that prevents someone from changing data in that table or the database. In some cases, Safe Update Mode gives us an extra layer of protection in important columns like salary or joining date. The Safe Update Mode minimizes the risk of accidental data loss and promotes a safer database management environment.

Example

See the actual Safe Update Mode.

This will update the column. If Safe Mode is enabled, then the next query will not execute; it will result in an error.

The error will look like

ERROR 1175 (HY000): You are using safe update mode, and you tried to update a table without a WHERE that uses a KEY column.

Why do we use Safe Update Mode?

As we see above, the Safe Update Mode gives us an extra layer of protection for our data.

We use or enable this mode for some reasons, and the following are the reasons.

• Avoid accidental data changes:
  As the Safe Update Mode promotes extra protection, which means changing any data in the table or the database, we should rethink like "Are you sure?". This will minimize the risk and prevent data from unnecessary modification.
• Safe the important data in the table:
  In some cases, in our data table, we have important columns that should be changed at any cost. If by mistake it changes, we have lost the actual data.
• Minimize human errors:
  It acts as a safety guard. If someone thinks to change data while enabling safe update mode, they will get an error message to remind them data changes may affect the whole data.
• Foreign Key and Safe Update:
  If a column is specified as Foreign Key, then the Safe Update Mode will work better together.

How to enable safe Update Mode?

The following SQL command will help to enable Safe Update Mode for the database. The command will be valid only for the current session.

If someone wants to enable Safe Update Mode globally, then the following command will help. To enable Safe Update Mode globally, administrative permission is needed.

If someone wants to enable Safe Update Mode for a particular user, then open the MySQL configuration file add, the command, and restart the MySQL server.

How do you disable safe Update Mode?

The following SQL command will help to disable Safe Update Mode for the database. The command will be valid only for the current session.

If someone wants to disable Safe Update Mode globally, then the following command will help. To disable Safe Update Mode globally, administrative permission is needed.

If someone wants to disable Safe Update Mode for a particular user, then open the MySQL configuration file, add the command, and restart the MySQL server.

What are the drawbacks of Safe Update Mode?

• Enabling Safe Update Mode affects the bulk updates or deletes statements as you must develop more complex queries.
• Safe Update Mode is not a user-friendly feature. Those who need to become more familiar with it sometimes find it challenging.
• Safe Update Mode became complex as the data grew up in the table.
• Safe Update Mode affects the developer's continuous workflows.

What are the error messages related to Safe Update Mode?

MySQL may encounter error messages when Safe Update Mode is enabled.

Error 1: Error Code 1175

Someone may face Error code 1175 as Safe Update Mode is enabled. This issue happens when you update a table without using a WHERE clause that references a column that has an index. Safe Update Mode requires a WHERE clause in order to guard against unintentional mass updates.

Error 2: Error Code 1099

Someone may face Error code 1099 as Safe Update Mode is enabled. This issue happens when you try to update a table that is currently locked for reading. The lock must be released before the update can be completed, indicating that another procedure is in progress.

How to Fix Commonly Occurring Errors?

Following is the common way to fix the errors caused by the Safe Update Mode.

• Verify an Index Column Is Specified in the WHERE Clause:
  After enabling safe update mode, do not forget to use the WHERE clause when using the UPDATE or DELETE statement. By using WHERE clauses, we can prevent accidental data updates. Rather, we can specify the row.
• Search For Active Transactions:
  Sometimes, Safe Update Mode and Transaction may intersect. Before committing an update or delete statement, ensure that there is no running transaction.
• Look up for column and table names:
  Check for the second time if you want to avoid an error regarding your table and column name.

Conclusion

MySQL's feature Safe Update Mode is a crucial guard for database management to save data from data loss and data modifications. This mode acts as a safety net. Safe Update Mode considers the data integrity and relationship when dealing with information like student tables, employee tables, or product management tables.

Safe Update Mode tells the developer or the administrators to rethink their operations on data. This mode becomes valuable when columns such as salary, DOB, and joining data are triggered. But still, it has some drawbacks, as we discussed previously. This mode also generates errors 1175 or 1099.

Developers should follow best practices, such as supplying index columns in WHERE clauses, monitoring for ongoing transactions, and carefully reviewing table and column names in order to handle Safe Update Mode efficiently. By using Safe Update Mode wisely and balancing care and knowledge, MySQL users may strengthen their databases against accidental changes and create a dependable and safe database administration environment.