# Database access intro

Source: https://docs.fortrabbit.com/platform/mysql/access/intro
Published: 2025-09-08
Updated: 2026-07-04
Reviewed: 2026-07-04

> Every route to a fortrabbit MySQL database: from the terminal, from a GUI client over an SSH tunnel, and from inside the environment.


## Get ready

To connect to the remote MySQL database, it first needs to be booked. The [MySQL component](/platform/components/mysql) is optional but pre-booked for database-driven software systems.

To be able to connect to the remote database from your computer, also a [local development environment](/integrations/local-development/intro) with `mysql` and `mysqldump` is required for terminal usage. A database GUI such as Workbench or Sequel Ace is another option. Different local development environments come with different paradigms for working with a database. For containerized systems, the database service might not be directly exposed.

## Next steps

- [Connect from within the environment](/platform/mysql/access/access-environment)
- [Database access via terminal from local](/platform/mysql/access/access-local-terminal)
  - [Database up via terminal](/platform/mysql/export-import/database-up-terminal)
  - [Database down via terminal](/platform/mysql/export-import/database-down-terminal)
- [Database access via GUI from local](/platform/mysql/access/access-local-gui)
  - [Database up via GUI](/platform/mysql/export-import/database-up-gui)
  - [Database down via GUI](/platform/mysql/export-import/database-down-gui)

## Dashboard settings

} / {{app-env-name}}" path="/environments/{{app-env-id}}/mysql#access"}

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- [MySQL component](/platform/components/mysql)