AsBinary(g), AsWKB(g)

Converts a value in internal geometry format to its WKB representation and returns the binary result.

SELECT AsBinary(g) FROM geom;

AsText(g), AsWKT(g)

Converts a value in internal geometry format to its WKT representation and returns the string result.

mysql> SET @g = 'LineString(1 1,2 2,3 3)';
mysql> SELECT AsText(GeomFromText(@g));
+--------------------------+
| AsText(GeomFromText(@g)) |
+--------------------------+
| LINESTRING(1 1,2 2,3 3)  |
+--------------------------+

GeomFromText(wkt[,srid])

Converts a string value from its WKT representation into internal geometry format and returns the result. A number of type-specific functions are also supported, such as PointFromText() and LineFromText(). See Section 11.12.4.2.1, “Creating Geometry Values Using WKT Functions”.

GeomFromWKB(wkb[,srid])

Converts a binary value from its WKB representation into internal geometry format and returns the result. A number of type-specific functions are also supported, such as PointFromWKB() and LineFromWKB(). See Section 11.12.4.2.2, “Creating Geometry Values Using WKB Functions”.