Glossary

Glossary

Plain-English definitions of the terms used throughout this wiki.

async (asynchronous) — Doing slow work in the background so your server doesn't freeze. omp-MySQL runs queries on a worker thread and calls your callback when the answer is ready. (Opposite: synchronous/blocking, which waits and can lag the server.)

callback — A function omp-MySQL calls for you when an async query finishes, e.g. public OnLogin(playerid). You read the result inside it.

caching_sha2_password — MySQL 8.0+'s default way of storing/checking the database user's login. omp-MySQL supports it (don't confuse it with your players' passwords, which you hash yourself with Argon2id).

CA (Certificate Authority) — The thing a TLS certificate "chains to" to prove it's trustworthy. For local MySQL you point omp-MySQL at the server's CA file to verify it.

column — One field in a table (e.g. money). See table.

component — A native open.mp add-on that drops into components/. omp-MySQL is a component (not a legacy SA-MP "plugin").

connection / handle — An open link to the database. mysql_connect returns a MySQL: handle you pass to every query.

fail-closed — If something can't be done securely, refuse rather than do it insecurely. omp-MySQL is fail-closed on TLS: no encryption = no connection.

hash (password hash) — A one-way scramble of a password. You store the hash, never the password. omp-MySQL uses Argon2id (mysql_hash / mysql_verify).

injection (SQL injection) — An attack where user input is crafted to change your SQL (e.g. '; DROP TABLE users; --). Prevented by prepared statements and escaping.

LTS (Long-Term Support) — A release supported with fixes for years. MySQL 8.4 is the current LTS — the safe production pick.

prepared statement — A query with ? placeholders where values are sent separately from the SQL text, so they can never be interpreted as SQL. The safe way to use player input. See Prepared statements.

query — A command you send to the database in SQL (SELECT, INSERT, UPDATE, DELETE).

RCON (Remote Console) — An operator-only admin channel in open.mp (/rcon login). The mysql-admin demo uses it for /mysql diagnostics and to promote the first admin.

result set — The rows a SELECT returns. Read them with the mysql_rs_* functions.

row — One entry in a table (e.g. one player's account). See table.

schema / database — A named collection of tables (e.g. mydb). "Database" and "schema" mean the same thing in MySQL.

SQL (Structured Query Language) — The language you talk to the database in.

table — A grid of data: columns (what you store) and rows (the entries). Like a spreadsheet tab.

TLS (Transport Layer Security) — Encryption for the connection (the padlock in your browser is TLS). omp-MySQL always uses it. SSL is the old name for the same thing.

VECTOR — A MySQL 9.0+ datatype for storing/searching vectors (AI/similarity features). Only exists on MySQL 9.0 and newer.

worker thread — A background thread (one per connection) where omp-MySQL runs your queries, so the main server thread never blocks.