MySQL encode()

Definition on MySQL encode()

• MySQL Encode() is a MySQL function that is responsible to encrypt a string value provided. As a result, this encode function will return a binary string having a similar length of the original specified string.
• This MySQL Encode() function is implemented for encrypting any plain string text provided as an argument during function execution. Therefore, the function Encode() will provide the result as a binary string that is of the identical size as of the plain string text specified.
• If the argument passed in the Encode() function delivered is a void string then it will return the strings as an empty value too. The MySQL Encode() function receives two parameters that are the string that will be encrypted as well as the key string passed to encrypt this specified simple string text.

Syntax:

The syntax for the MySQL Encode() is explained below:

ENCODE(Encrypt_String, Password_String);

In the above syntax structure, the two-argument terms of the Encode() function are described as:

• Encrypt_String is the initial string that is to be encrypted by the MySQL Encode() function.
• Password_String is the particular string passed next to the initial one in the Encode () that will be applied as a key string to encrypt the first argument Encrypt_String.

Return Value:

After encryption the MySQL Encode() function yields a binary string.

This Encode() function in MySQL is supported for some of the versions like MySQL 4.1, 5.0, 5.1, 5.5, 5.6, 5.7.

Generally, we can say that this Encoding is a method of reversible conversion of data format in MySQL database which is implemented to reserve the usability of data. Another side, Encryption normally is a method for secure encoding procedure of the server data that is used for safeguarding the confidentiality of the data records.

How Encode() function works in MySQL?

• We have the basic syntax as Encode(Encrypt_String, Password_String) for the function in MySQL, where the encode function executes to encrypt the Encrypt-String value using the Password_String as the required password key string to perform the encryption.
• The resultant will be present in binary string form having the identical length as str. Similarly, if we want to decode the encoded result then, in MySQL we will apply the Decode() function.
• We need to note that the Encode() as well as the Decode() function in MySQL are deprecated in version 5.7 and mentioned that it should not to be implemented for longer times. You can expect that they will be removed in upcoming future release of MySQL versions.
• But if a user still requires to implement using MySQL Encode(), then we can apply a salt value mainly with it that will reduce the risk causing no error or notice. Suppose, we can view the following instance to illustrate the concept:

ENCODE(‘plain_text’, CONCAT(‘demo_random_salt’,’demo_secret_pass_string’));

• Hence, do remember a new value of random salt should be implemented whenever a password value is modified.
• In MySQL, the MySQL Enterprise Encryption permits your enterprise to:
• Protect the server data using the grouping of private, public, and symmetric keys to encode and decode data.
• Encoding the information stored in the MySQL server using DSA, RSA, or even DH encryption algorithms.
• The MySQL Encode() function involves a change of data into a fresh format with the help of schema. This encoding process can be reversible as data can be encoded and secured to a new arrangement and also can be decoded back into its novel format.
• The encoding classically comprises of a publicly existing scheme which can be simply reversed. This encoding guarantees usability and integrity of data and is frequently used when the data info cannot be transmitted into its present format between applications or systems. Normally, encoding is not used for protecting data or securing data since it can be reversed definitely in MySQL.
• While Encryption encodes the data securely in a way where only approved users having a key or a password can decrypt it back to disclose the original one. Like in the Encode() function we need to take two arguments to be encrypted and the other encryption key string used to encrypt the original plain text into a binary string as a return value when the MySQL function is executed.
• We can find two kinds of encryption ways such as symmetric key where a similar key is implemented to encrypt as well as decrypt the data using as a password and the other is the public key where one key applies encryption on a string as input and different key applies to decrypt the encrypted data. Thus, encryption is useful when the information requires protection so that in absence of the decryption keys one cannot make access to the main data. For example, when the data is directed to a website over HTTPS then it is encrypted with the help of the type public key.
• Whereas encryption consists of encoding data, so both of them cannot be said as interchangeable terms because encryption is always related to data that has been encoded firmly. We apply data encoding just when we talk about data records which is not encoded securely. Its example can be AES 256.

Examples

Let us discuss some of the examples showing the MySQL Encode() function and its working:

1. Executing Encode() function using a string:

We will implement the Encode() function using the SELECT statement as follows:

SELECT ENCODE('mysqlcommand', 'Password_String');

The above output provides the following output:

2. Executing Encode() function using a string having the grouping of integers and characters:

SELECT ENCODE('mysql123command','Password_String');

It gives the below output:

3. Executing the MySQL Encode() function using a NULL string:

SELECT ENCODE (' ','Password_String');

In the first argument above, we have provided the value as NULL or empty, then the output will result as follows:

Conclusion

• MySQL Encode() function helps to make any data records secure by encrypting the values with certain key values and changing the originals to binary string form.
• This encoding function is useful for protecting the plain text from any unauthorized process which secures our database information as well as integrity in MySQL.

This is a guide to MySQL encode(). Here we discuss the definition, syntax, How Encode() function works in MySQL? and examples along with code implementation respectively. You may also have a look at the following articles to learn more –

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