# MariaDB Connector/C Overview {% hint style="info" %} **Browse & download the latest MariaDB connectors** Download Connectors {% endhint %} {% hint style="info" %}

The most recent release of MariaDB Connector/C is:

Connector/C 3.4.8 Download Now

{% endhint %} MariaDB Connector/C is used to connect applications developed in C/C++ to MariaDB and MySQL databases.The client library is LGPL licensed. ## Integration with MariaDB Server MariaDB Connector/C is distributed with MariaDB Server packages. Eventually, it will completely replace the functionality that has traditionally been performed by `libmysqlclient` in those packages. Currently, MariaDB Connector/C has replaced `libmysqlclient` as the client library for client utilities that are distributed with MariaDB Server. See [MDEV-9055](https://jira.mariadb.org/browse/MDEV-9055) for more information. ## Installing MariaDB Connector/C MariaDB Connector/C packages can be downloaded by selecting your desired version from the following page: * MariaDB Connector/C packages can also be downloaded by selecting **C/C++ connector** as the **Product** on the following page: * [#connectors](https://mariadb.com/downloads/#connectors) See the instructions below for information on how to install the MariaDB Connector/C package for your operating system. ### Installing MariaDB Connector/C on Windows To install MariaDB Connector/C on Windows, we distribute [MSI packages](https://app.gitbook.com/s/SsmexDFPv2xG2OTyO5yV/server-management/install-and-upgrade-mariadb/installing-mariadb/binary-packages/installing-mariadb-msi-packages-on-windows). The MSI installation process is fairly straightforward. Both 32-bit and 64-bit MSI packages are available. ### Installing MariaDB Connector/C on Linux MariaDB Connector/C is distributed in [binary tarballs](https://app.gitbook.com/s/SsmexDFPv2xG2OTyO5yV/server-management/install-and-upgrade-mariadb/installing-mariadb/binary-packages/installing-mariadb-binary-tarballs) on Linux. #### Installing with a Package Manager Since MariaDB Connector/C is now integrated with MariaDB Server, it can also be installed via a package manager on Linux. In order to do so, your system needs to be configured to install from one of the MariaDB repositories. The repository needs to be configured for [MariaDB 10.2](https://app.gitbook.com/s/aEnK0ZXmUbJzqQrTjFyb/community-server/old-releases/10.2/what-is-mariadb-102) or later. You can configure your package manager to install it from MariaDB Corporation's MariaDB Package Repository by using the [MariaDB Package Repository setup script](https://app.gitbook.com/s/SsmexDFPv2xG2OTyO5yV/server-management/install-and-upgrade-mariadb/installing-mariadb/binary-packages/mariadb-package-repository-setup-and-usage). You can also configure your package manager to install it from MariaDB Foundation's MariaDB Repository by using the [MariaDB Repository Configuration Tool](https://downloads.mariadb.org/mariadb/repositories/). **Installing with yum/dnf** On RHEL, CentOS, Fedora, and other similar Linux distributions, it is highly recommended to install the relevant [RPM package](https://app.gitbook.com/s/SsmexDFPv2xG2OTyO5yV/server-management/install-and-upgrade-mariadb/installing-mariadb/binary-packages/rpm) from MariaDB's\ repository using [yum](https://app.gitbook.com/s/SsmexDFPv2xG2OTyO5yV/server-management/install-and-upgrade-mariadb/installing-mariadb/binary-packages/rpm/yum) or [dnf](https://app.gitbook.com/s/SsmexDFPv2xG2OTyO5yV/server-management/install-and-upgrade-mariadb/installing-mariadb/binary-packages/rpm/yum). Starting with RHEL 8 and Fedora 22, `yum` has been replaced by `dnf`, which is the next major version of `yum`. However, `yum` commands still work on many systems that use `dnf`. For example: ```bash sudo yum install MariaDB-shared ``` If you want to build applications with MariaDB Connector/C, then you will also need to install the development package. For example: ```bash sudo yum install MariaDB-devel ``` **Installing with apt-get** On Debian, Ubuntu, and other similar Linux distributions, it is highly recommended to install the relevant [DEB package](https://app.gitbook.com/s/SsmexDFPv2xG2OTyO5yV/server-management/install-and-upgrade-mariadb/installing-mariadb/binary-packages/installing-mariadb-deb-files) from MariaDB's\ repository using [apt-get](https://wiki.debian.org/apt-get). For example: ```bash sudo apt-get install libmariadb3 ``` If you want to build applications with MariaDB Connector/C, then you will also need to install the development package. For example: ```bash sudo apt-get install libmariadb-dev ``` **Installing with zypper** On SLES, OpenSUSE, and other similar Linux distributions, it is highly recommended to install the relevant [RPM package](https://app.gitbook.com/s/SsmexDFPv2xG2OTyO5yV/server-management/install-and-upgrade-mariadb/installing-mariadb/binary-packages/rpm) from MariaDB's repository using [zypper](https://app.gitbook.com/s/SsmexDFPv2xG2OTyO5yV/server-management/install-and-upgrade-mariadb/installing-mariadb/binary-packages/rpm/installing-mariadb-with-zypper). For example: ```bash sudo zypper install MariaDB-shared ``` If you want to build applications with MariaDB Connector/C, then you will also need to install the development package. For example: ```bash sudo zypper install MariaDB-devel ``` ### Installing MariaDB Connector/C from Source See [Building Connector/C From Source](https://mariadb.com/docs/connectors/mariadb-connector-c/building-connectorc-from-source) for information on how to build MariaDB Connector/C from source. ## API - Function Reference MariaDB Connector/C has exactly the same API as the MySQL Connector/C for MySQL 5.5 The function reference is available at: * [MariaDB Client Library for C API Functions](https://mariadb.com/docs/connectors/mariadb-connector-c/api-functions) * [MariaDB Client Library for C API Prepared Statement Functions](https://mariadb.com/docs/connectors/mariadb-connector-c/api-prepared-statement-functions) It is also downloadable in html format from [mariadb-client-doc.zip](https://mariadb.org/files/mariadb-client-doc.zip) ## Configuring MariaDB Connector/C with Option Files Just like MariaDB Server and libmysqlclient, MariaDB Connector/C can also read configuration options from client [option groups](https://app.gitbook.com/s/SsmexDFPv2xG2OTyO5yV/server-management/install-and-upgrade-mariadb/configuring-mariadb/configuring-mariadb-with-option-files#option-groups) in [option files](https://app.gitbook.com/s/SsmexDFPv2xG2OTyO5yV/server-management/install-and-upgrade-mariadb/configuring-mariadb/configuring-mariadb-with-option-files). See [Configuring MariaDB Connector/C with Option Files](https://mariadb.com/docs/connectors/mariadb-connector-c/configuring-mariadb-connectorc-with-option-files) for more information. ## Known Bugs and Limitations * double to string conversion for prepared statements doesn't work correctly * Connector 3.0.7 and below doesn't support the MySQL 8.0 default authentication protocol, [caching\_sha2\_password](https://dev.mysql.com/doc/refman/8.0/en/caching-sha2-pluggable-authentication.html). This protocol should be supported in Connector/C 3.0.8 and above. ## Reporting Bugs If you find a bug, please report it via the [CONC project](https://jira.mariadb.org/projects/CONC/issues) on [MariaDB's Jira bug tracker](https://jira.mariadb.org). ## Source Code The source code is available at the [mariadb-connector-c repository](https://github.com/MariaDB/mariadb-connector-c) on GitHub. ## License GNU Lesser General Public License as published by the Free Software Foundation; either version 2.1 of the License, or (at your option) any later version. For licensing questions, see the [Licensing FAQ](https://app.gitbook.com/s/WCInJQ9cmGjq1lsTG91E/community/community/faq/licensing-questions/licensing-faq). {% @marketo/form formId="4316" %} --- # Agent Instructions: Querying This Documentation If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question. Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter: ``` GET https://mariadb.com/docs/connectors/mariadb-connector-c/mariadb-connector-c-guide.md?ask= ``` The question should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language. The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation. Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.