MySQL 5.7 Release Notes
SET {CHARACTER SET | CHARSET}
{'charset_name' | DEFAULT}
This statement maps all strings sent between the server and the
current client with the given mapping. SET CHARACTER
SET sets three session system variables:
character_set_client and
character_set_results are set
to the given character set, and
character_set_connection to the
value of
character_set_database. See
Section 10.4, “Connection Character Sets and Collations”.
charset_name may be quoted or
unquoted.
The default character set mapping can be restored by using the
value DEFAULT. The default depends on the
server configuration.
Some character sets cannot be used as the client character set.
Attempting to use them with SET CHARACTER
SET produces an error. See
Impermissible Client Character Sets.