### 26.3.22 The INFORMATION\_SCHEMA PLUGINS Table

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 The [`PLUGINS`](information-schema-plugins-table.html) table provides information about server plugins.

 The [`PLUGINS`](information-schema-plugins-table.html) table has these columns:

* `PLUGIN_NAME`

   The name used to refer to the plugin in statements such as [`INSTALL PLUGIN`](install-plugin.html) and [`UNINSTALL PLUGIN`](uninstall-plugin.html).

* `PLUGIN_VERSION`

   The version from the plugin's general type descriptor.

* `PLUGIN_STATUS`

   The plugin status, one of `ACTIVE`, `INACTIVE`, `DISABLED`, `DELETING`, or `DELETED`.

* `PLUGIN_TYPE`

   The type of plugin, such as `STORAGE ENGINE`, `INFORMATION_SCHEMA`, or `AUTHENTICATION`.

* `PLUGIN_TYPE_VERSION`

   The version from the plugin's type-specific descriptor.

* `PLUGIN_LIBRARY`

   The name of the plugin shared library file. This is the name used to refer to the plugin file in statements such as [`INSTALL PLUGIN`](install-plugin.html) and [`UNINSTALL PLUGIN`](uninstall-plugin.html). This file is located in the directory named by the [`plugin_dir`](server-system-variables.html#sysvar_plugin_dir) system variable. If the library name is `NULL`, the plugin is compiled in and cannot be uninstalled with [`UNINSTALL PLUGIN`](uninstall-plugin.html).

* `PLUGIN_LIBRARY_VERSION`

   The plugin API interface version.

* `PLUGIN_AUTHOR`

   The plugin author.

* `PLUGIN_DESCRIPTION`

   A short description of the plugin.

* `PLUGIN_LICENSE`

   How the plugin is licensed (for example, `GPL`).

* `LOAD_OPTION`

   How the plugin was loaded. The value is `OFF`, `ON`, `FORCE`, or `FORCE_PLUS_PERMANENT`. See [Section 5.6.1, “Installing and Uninstalling Plugins”](plugin-loading.html).

#### Notes

* [`PLUGINS`](information-schema-plugins-table.html) is a nonstandard `INFORMATION_SCHEMA` table.

* For plugins installed with [`INSTALL PLUGIN`](install-plugin.html), the `PLUGIN_NAME` and `PLUGIN_LIBRARY` values are also registered in the `mysql.plugin` table.

* For information about plugin data structures that form the basis of the information in the [`PLUGINS`](information-schema-plugins-table.html) table, see [The MySQL Plugin API](https://dev.mysql.com/doc/extending-mysql/8.0/en/plugin-api.html).

 Plugin information is also available from the [`SHOW PLUGINS`](show-plugins.html) statement. See [Section 13.7.7.25, “SHOW PLUGINS Statement”](show-plugins.html). These statements are equivalent:

```
SELECT
  PLUGIN_NAME, PLUGIN_STATUS, PLUGIN_TYPE,
  PLUGIN_LIBRARY, PLUGIN_LICENSE
FROM INFORMATION_SCHEMA.PLUGINS;

SHOW PLUGINS;
```

