| name | tidb-cloud-zero |
| description | Provision a disposable MySQL-compatible database instantly with no auth required. Includes a claim URL to convert Zero instances into regular TiDB Starter instances when the user needs persistence or more quota. |
| compatibility | Requires a MySQL-compatible client or driver (e.g. mysql CLI, mysql2, PyMySQL) and network access to zero.tidbapi.com. |
| metadata | {"version":"1.3.1","homepage":"https://zero.tidbcloud.com/"} |
TiDB Cloud Zero
Provisions an ephemeral TiDB database via a single unauthenticated API call. No sign-up or billing is required to start. Instances auto-expire in 30 days unless claimed. Treat Zero as disposable infrastructure, not an unlimited long-running environment.
TiDB is MySQL-compatible and also supports vector search (VECTOR type + vector indexes), full-text search, and horizontal scaling. Use standard MySQL clients/drivers to connect.
Important Notes
- The API is unauthenticated and free to start. Instances auto-expire — treat credentials as short-lived and low-sensitivity.
- Prefer environment variables (e.g.
MYSQL_PWD) over CLI arguments to avoid leaking passwords in shell history.
- Always connect with TLS (
--ssl-mode=REQUIRED for CLI, ssl: true for drivers).
- Do not promise unlimited usage. Zero is a disposable sandbox, and claimed TiDB Cloud Starter instances have finite free quota: 5 GiB row storage, 5 GiB columnar storage, and 50 million RUs per month for each of the first five Starter clusters in an organization.
