What is the purpose of the MySQL describe command?

The describe command is used to display the structure of a table, including column names, data types, key information, etc. By using the describe command, you can view the field information of a table, which helps understand the structure and design of the table. When using the DESCRIBE table_name; or DESC table_name; command, MySQL will return information about the structure of the specified table, including the following details:

1. Column name: The name of each column in the table.
2. Type: Indicates the data type stored in the corresponding column, such as INT, VARCHAR, DATETIME, etc.
3. Is it NULL: Indicates if the column allows the storage of NULL values.
4. Key: Displays information about whether a column is a primary key or index.
5. Default value: if a default value is defined, it will be displayed.
6. Additional information: may include other information about columns, such as auto-increment properties.

By using the DESCRIBE command, you can quickly view the structure of a table, providing a clearer understanding of the table’s design and field information when performing database operations.