I’m having trouble with a database issue where MySQL cuts off my text when I try to save content that has both Arabic and English characters in one field.
When I store JavaScript code that contains both languages, the database only keeps the English part up to where the Arabic text begins. After that point, everything gets truncated during retrieval.
Expected output:
if(status=="false"){confirm("العملية فشلت يرجى المحاولة مرة أخرى");}
What I actually get:
if(status=="false"){confirm("Ø
The Arabic text gets corrupted and the rest of the string disappears completely. Has anyone encountered this problem with mixed language content in MySQL? What could be causing this truncation issue?
Character encoding mismatches are brutal. Everyone’s hitting the core issue but here’s what I’ve learned dealing with this across multiple production systems.
Truncation happens because MySQL hits bytes it can’t decode and gives up. Your Arabic characters need proper UTF-8 handling end-to-end.
Here’s the thing - fixing this once won’t prevent it happening again with other data sources or new system integrations.
I built a data preprocessing pipeline in Latenode that sits between any input source and my database. It auto-detects encoding issues, converts everything to proper UTF-8, validates character sets, and flags problems before they corrupt your data.
The workflow handles validation for mixed language content and routes different language combinations to appropriate storage solutions. Logs everything so you can track what’s getting processed.
Saves me from constantly debugging encoding problems every time we add new data sources or integrations. Set it up once and it handles all the encoding complexity automatically.
This happens because MySQL hits invalid byte sequences in your mixed-language content and just stops reading. The moment it encounters characters that don’t match the expected encoding, it cuts everything off. Your Arabic text has multibyte sequences that need proper UTF-8 handling, but something in your pipeline is mangling the encoding. Check the usual charset fixes others mentioned, but also make sure your app layer properly escapes JavaScript before inserting it. Special characters in code + right-to-left Arabic text can cause parsing issues that look like truncation. I had the same problem storing HTML templates with Arabic content - turns out different MySQL versions handle multibyte boundaries differently during string operations. Try testing your exact data string through direct MySQL console to see if the issue happens during storage or when retrieving.
This happens because MySQL hits your multibyte Arabic characters and chokes on the first invalid byte sequence. I’ve seen the same issue with Chinese text interspersed in English code snippets. The problem is not solely in storage; it occurs during data transmission at the MySQL client level. Your connection charset must be capable of handling multibyte sequences properly. Verify your application’s database connection settings, as many frameworks default to latin1 or basic utf8, which completely fail with 4-byte characters. After addressing the charset mismatch, ensure your column type can accommodate the data length. Arabic characters require more bytes than their English counterparts, so a VARCHAR(100) may truncate your content earlier than expected with mixed language entries. I had to increase several column sizes after switching to utf8mb4 since the same number of characters began to demand significantly more storage.
MySQL’s truncating your content because it can’t decode the Arabic characters mixed in with your JavaScript. This usually happens right where the multibyte Arabic text starts. Your connection’s probably defaulting to a charset that can’t handle the full UTF-8 range Arabic needs. Sure, convert your tables to utf8mb4, but also make sure your MySQL driver explicitly sets the connection charset. Lots of drivers quietly fall back to latin1 even when your tables are configured right. Also check if your app does any string manipulation or validation before inserting into the database. Some validation libraries completely choke when they hit right-to-left Arabic characters mixed with code syntax. Try inserting your exact string through a direct MySQL client first - that’ll tell you if the truncation’s happening during storage or when you’re pulling the data back out.
You’re encountering truncation of text in your MySQL database when storing content containing both Arabic and English characters. Specifically, Arabic text within JavaScript code is causing the database to cut off the string prematurely, resulting in data loss. The issue arises during both storage and retrieval of the data.
Understanding the “Why” (The Root Cause):
The core problem is a character encoding mismatch between your application, the database connection, and the MySQL database itself. MySQL likely defaults to a character set (like latin1) that cannot correctly handle the multi-byte characters used in Arabic text (UTF-8). When MySQL encounters these characters it cannot decode, it interprets them as invalid byte sequences and truncates the string at that point. The mixed nature of your JavaScript code and right-to-left Arabic script further complicates the encoding process, potentially leading to misinterpretations by various parts of your system.
Step-by-Step Guide:
Ensure UTF-8mb4 Encoding Throughout: This is the most crucial step. You need to ensure consistent UTF-8mb4 encoding at every stage:
Database Table: Verify your MySQL table’s character set and collation are set to utf8mb4_unicode_ci or a similar compatible collation. Use the following query to check and modify if needed:
SHOW CREATE TABLE your_table_name; -- Check current settings
ALTER TABLE your_table_name CONVERT TO CHARACTER SET utf8mb4 COLLATE utf8mb4_unicode_ci; -- Modify if necessary
Database Connection: Confirm your database connection string explicitly sets the character set to utf8mb4. The exact method depends on your programming language and database driver. For example, in PHP with PDO, you’d add charset=utf8mb4 to your DSN. For other languages (Python, Node.js, etc.), consult your driver’s documentation on setting the connection character set.
Application Layer: Ensure your application correctly encodes data as UTF-8 before sending it to the database. This involves setting the appropriate encoding headers and using functions provided by your programming language to handle UTF-8 strings. Thoroughly review your application’s code for any potential encoding issues, paying particular attention to how strings containing Arabic and English text are handled. Avoid using functions or libraries that may perform implicit encoding conversions.
Verify Data Integrity at Each Stage: Insert your test string directly using a MySQL client (like mysql command-line tool or phpMyAdmin) to isolate the problem. If this works, then the issue is within your application’s data handling. If the truncation still occurs here, there’s a problem with the database or connection settings.
Increase Column Size (If Necessary): UTF-8mb4 characters require more storage space than those in other encodings. Ensure your text column has a sufficiently large VARCHAR or TEXT size to accommodate the combined English and Arabic text. You may need to increase the column size if your current size is too small to hold all data after converting to UTF-8mb4.
Common Pitfalls & What to Check Next:
Partial UTF-8 Support: Some older MySQL versions or clients might only support UTF-8 up to a certain point, potentially cutting off the characters after a certain byte threshold. Upgrading to the latest stable version is a great step for many cases.
Incorrect Collation: Choosing the wrong collation can hinder character comparisons and sorting for Arabic text, potentially leading to inaccurate results (although it won’t directly cause truncation).
Data Source Encoding: Make sure the data source from where you receive the initial text (e.g. a file, an API response, user input) is correctly encoded in UTF-8 before your processing begins.
Implicit Conversions: Be cautious about implicit encoding conversions between your application layer and database. If any library or framework attempts to implicitly convert your strings to another encoding, then the entire process could be compromised. Always be explicit about the UTF-8 encoding.
Still running into issues? Share your (sanitized) config files, the exact command you ran, and any other relevant details. The community is here to help!
check your php connection string too. had the same weird truncation with hebrew text in js code. turns out my pdo connection wasn’t set to utf8mb4 even though the table was right. added charset=utf8mb4 to the dsn and it worked. mysql silently fails on multibyte characters when connection encoding doesn’t match.
Sounds like a character set mismatch between your connection and table. I hit this exact issue with Arabic content before. Your MySQL connection charset probably doesn’t match your table’s character set. Run SHOW CREATE TABLE your_table_name to check what you’re working with. If it shows latin1 or utf8, there’s your problem - you need utf8mb4 for Arabic. Also check your connection with SHOW VARIABLES LIKE 'character_set%'. MySQL truncates because it hits bytes it can’t interpret and just stops. Even if you’re sending UTF-8 data, mismatched encoding between connection and table causes exactly this. I ended up rebuilding my tables with utf8mb4 collation and made sure all connection strings used the same charset. Total pain but fixed the truncation for good.
Understanding the “Why” (The Root Cause):
Step-by-Step Guide:
Common Pitfalls & What to Check Next:
Still running into issues? Share your (sanitized) config files, the exact command you ran, and any other relevant details. The community is here to help!