By default, "mysql" returns query output in text table format. If you want to receive query output in HTML format, you need to use the "-H" command option. Here is a good tutorial exercise:

>cd mysqlin

>mysql -u root -H test

mysql> SELECT * FROM links;

<TABLE BORDER=1><TR><TH>id</TH><TH>name</TH></TR>

<TR><TD>1</TD><TD>www.GlobalGuideLine.com</TD></TR>

<TR><TD>10</TD><TD>www.GlobalGuideLine.com</TD></TR></TABLE>

2 rows in set (0.00 sec)