Sign in into the **Google Cloud Platform**

Type "**SQL**" in the search bar and click on the **SQL** option

**What is SQL?**\
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In Google Cloud Platform (GCP), SQL refers to the managed relational database services provided through Cloud SQL. Cloud SQL supports popular SQL-based databases like MySQL, PostgreSQL, and SQL Server, allowing users to set up, maintain, manage, and administer relational databases in the cloud. It offers automatic backups, scaling, patch management, and high availability, making it easier to run and manage SQL databases without handling the underlying infrastructure.

**Cloud SQL** wizard will open, click on the **CREATE INSTANCE** button

**What is Cloud SQL Instance?**\
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A Cloud SQL instance in Google Cloud Platform (GCP) is a managed database service that hosts and manages relational databases. It provides a fully managed environment for running databases like MySQL, PostgreSQL, and SQL Server. Key features of a Cloud SQL instance include automatic backups, scaling, high availability, and security patches. It simplifies database management by handling routine administrative tasks, allowing users to focus on application development and data analysis.

**Create an instance** wizard will open, scroll to the **MySQL** section and click on the **Choose MySQL** button

**What is MySQL?**\
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MySQL is an open-source relational database management system (RDBMS) known for its performance, reliability, and ease of use. It uses Structured Query Language (SQL) for accessing and managing data stored in tables. MySQL is widely used in various applications, from small websites to large-scale enterprise systems, and supports features such as data replication, high availability, and strong security. It is often used in conjunction with other technologies like PHP and Apache in web development environments, forming the popular LAMP stack (Linux, Apache, MySQL, PHP/Perl/Python).

Scroll to the **Choose a Cloud SQL edition** section and select the **Enterprise** option

**What is Cloud SQL edition: Enterprise?**\
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In Google Cloud Platform (GCP), the "Cloud SQL edition: Enterprise" is a premium version offering advanced features for high-performance, enterprise-grade applications. It provides enhanced performance, additional security features, and extended support with higher availability guarantees, making it suitable for mission-critical and large-scale deployments.

Scroll to the **Edition preset** dropdown section and select the option **Production**

**What is Edition preset: Production?**\
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In Google Cloud Platform (GCP), the "Edition preset: Production" refers to a predefined configuration for Cloud SQL instances designed for production environments. This preset includes optimized settings for performance, reliability, and scalability to support live, mission-critical applications. It typically offers higher resource allocations, enhanced availability options, and robust security features, ensuring that the database can handle high workloads and provide consistent, reliable performance in production scenarios.

Scroll to the **Database version** dropdown section and select the option **MySQL 8.0** or whichever is the latest version

Scroll to the **Instance ID** text input field and type "**my-first-cloud-sql-instance**"

Scroll to the **Password** section and enter the password

**Note:** Make sure to set a strong password.

Scroll to the **Zonal availability** section and select the option **Single zone**

**What is Zonal availability : Single Zone?**\
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In Google Cloud Platform (GCP), "Zonal availability: Single Zone" refers to a deployment configuration where a Cloud SQL instance is hosted in a single geographic zone. This setup means that the database resides in one specific data center within a region. While this configuration can be cost-effective and simpler to manage, it does not provide high availability or automatic failover. If the zone experiences issues or outages, the instance might be affected, potentially impacting application uptime and reliability. For higher availability, users can opt for multi-zone or regional configurations.

Scroll the page and click on the **CREATE INSTANCE** button

**my-first-cloud-sql-instance** wizard will open

Click on the **Databases** from the left bar

**What are Databases?**\
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In Google Cloud Platform (GCP), "Databases" refer to structured collections of data managed by database systems like Cloud SQL, Firestore, or Bigtable. They store data in tables, documents, or other formats, depending on the database type. Databases facilitate efficient data storage, retrieval, and management, supporting various operations such as querying, updating, and organizing data. GCP databases provide scalable and managed solutions to handle different workloads and application needs, ensuring performance, reliability, and security.

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Playing with Cloud SQL