Character encoding configuration in MySQL has always been a bit confusing. With too many options to set, unclear relationships between them, and the default settings that make MySQL incompatible with most languages, it is a headache to many users, many of whom end up with broken data. This lecture will provide an overview of the character set support in MySQL, guidelines on how to use it correctly, and will demonstrate several methods of detecting and repairing mangled data.
Speakers: Maciej Dobrzanski