title: what does --- and ---- mean in mysql?
body: <p>I know <code>--</code> means starting of comment in mysql. But what does <code>---</code> and <code>----</code> mean?? See my console log.</p>
  
  <pre><code>mysql&gt; --
  mysql&gt; ---
      -&gt; 
      -&gt; ;
  ERROR 1064 (42000): You have an error in your SQL syntax; check the manual that corresponds to your MySQL server version for the right syntax to use near '-' at line 1
  mysql&gt; ----
      -&gt; 
      -&gt; ;
  Query OK, 0 rows affected (0.00 sec)
  </code></pre>
  
  <ul>
  <li>First one seems a comment.</li>
  <li>Second one is NOT</li>
  <li>Third one is not too. They are expecting something.</li>
  </ul>
  
  <p>I wrote an sql file that contains header comments started with <code>---</code> characters. Due to this next query does not run. It throws error. Like this.</p>
  
  <blockquote>
    <p>ERROR 1064 (42000): You have an error in your SQL syntax; check the manual that corresponds to your MySQL server version for the right syntax to use near '-' at line 1</p>
  </blockquote>