mysql> help describe
Name: ’DESCRIBE’
Description:
Syntax:
{DESCRIBE | DESC} tbl_name [col_name | wild]
DESCRIBE provides information about the columns in a table. It is a
shortcut for SHOW COLUMNS FROM. As of MySQL 5.0.1, these statements
also display information for views. (See [HELP SHOW COLUMNS].)
URL: http://dev.mysql.com/doc/refman/5.0/en/describe.html