The name of the performance_schema database is lowercase, as are the names of tables within it. Queries should specify the names in lowercase.

Many tables in the performance_schema database are read only and cannot be modified:

mysql> TRUNCATE TABLE performance_schema.setup_instruments;
ERROR 1683 (HY000): Invalid performance_schema usage.

Some of the setup tables have columns that can be modified to affect Performance Schema operation; some also permit rows to be inserted or deleted. Truncation is permitted to clear collected events, so TRUNCATE TABLE can be used on tables containing those kinds of information, such as tables named with a prefix of events_waits_.

Summary tables can be truncated with TRUNCATE TABLE. Generally, the effect is to reset the summary columns to 0 or NULL, not to remove rows. This enables you to clear collected values and restart aggregation. That might be useful, for example, after you have made a runtime configuration change. Exceptions to this truncation behavior are noted in individual summary table sections.

Privileges are as for other databases and tables:

Because only a limited set of privileges apply to Performance Schema tables, attempts to use GRANT ALL as shorthand for granting privileges at the database or table leval fail with an error:

mysql> GRANT ALL ON performance_schema.*
       TO 'u1'@'localhost';
ERROR 1044 (42000): Access denied for user 'root'@'localhost'
to database 'performance_schema'
mysql> GRANT ALL ON performance_schema.setup_instruments
       TO 'u2'@'localhost';
ERROR 1044 (42000): Access denied for user 'root'@'localhost'
to database 'performance_schema'

Instead, grant exactly the desired privileges:

mysql> GRANT SELECT ON performance_schema.*
       TO 'u1'@'localhost';
Query OK, 0 rows affected (0.03 sec)

mysql> GRANT SELECT, UPDATE ON performance_schema.setup_instruments
       TO 'u2'@'localhost';
Query OK, 0 rows affected (0.02 sec)