Windows?
I use the "mysql commandline tool":
Start > Run > cmd > mysql
Some use
phpmyadmin
Unix (Linux, etc)?
mysql
mysql may (should) need parameters:
mysql -u root -p
and then it will prompt for the password.
Some of these may provide examples, details, etc:
http://forums.mysql.com/read.php?20,614124 (Can't connect to local DB using IP instead of localhost)
http://forums.mysql.com/read.php?10,612944 (New MySQL Install - 5.7 service/instance doesn't start..)
http://forums.mysql.com/read.php?10,607484 (Different Visible Databases for each User)
http://forums.mysql.com/read.php?10,599404 (MySQL service fails to start)
http://forums.mysql.com/read.php?10,576410 (Access denied for root user)
http://forums.mysql.com/read.php?10,566700 (Messed up my root@local host)
http://forums.mysql.com/read.php?10,563410 (help tables in mysql database?)
http://forums.mysql.com/read.php?10,562523 (How to add new user and grant all privilges)
http://forums.mysql.com/read.php?10,505680 (Unable to login to mysql database after system restart)
http://forums.mysql.com/read.php?10,505052 (Accessing Server Instances)
http://forums.mysql.com/read.php?10,503900 (remote access a databsse)
http://forums.mysql.com/read.php?10,499640 (General help and advice)
http://forums.mysql.com/read.php?10,402089 (effect of hostname and ip change on mysql server)
http://forums.mysql.com/read.php?10,375208 (when restoring a back up it says "Access denied for user 'admin'@'%' ")