MySQL is short for ‘My Sequel’. Database refers to tables managed in cPanel by phpMyAdmin, which stores all your website data.
Your tables store and manage all your blogs content. SQL is short for Structured Query Language.
My Sql is an open source databases management system used by most blogging platforms. It integrates perfectly with the other components required to run WordPress, Linux servers and Php.
Connecting your database to your files is automatic when you are setting up WordPress using an auto installer.
Your web hosts cPanel should also offer simple scripts or Fantastico which auto install WordPress in one click as well as create a database.
If you install WordPress manually you’ll need to create a database which connects to your website files.
phpMyAdmin
PhpMyAdmin manages your databases within cPanel. phpMyAdmin is a software program written in php code specifically to provide administration for your databases. It allows you to import and export your content as well as perform a large range of management and administration tasks.
Database Wizard
If you install WordPress manually or move your site to a new host/server you’ll need to create a new database. The Wizard walks you through the simple steps required to create databases easily and quickly. Normally it should only take 1-2 minutes.
Databases
Each database needs a name, username and password
How to Backup a Database
The 3 Easiest ways to backup your databases are:
- Install a database (DB) backup plugin for WordPress
- Manually backup your databases using phpMyAdmin
- Manually backup your database using cPanel
You shouldn’t need to use the other applications for databases in cPanel unless your an advanced user or have a problem which is unlikely.
The only times you will deal with databases is if you transfer your site to another server manually or manually install a software program in a new directory that requires a database like a forum or membership software.
Hi,
once I have crated a database, how do I use it? Like how do I create tables and enter records? Sorry if this is a stupid question, I know only the basics of MySQL and know how to create a database, create tables and enter records and perform simple queries but only locally ie from my machine ie using the MySQL command line client and using like MySQL Workbench, so my question is how do you do those create tables, enter data, run queries etc, from WordPress? I am totally new to WordPress.
Thanks in advance
P.S. it would be awesome if you do a YouTube tutorial on how to do it too.
Hi Jay. You don’t need to worry about any of that because its all handled by WordPress using php files.
Can you explain that a bit more please? How exactly does WordPress use that database that we created? What if I want to create another database to store for example, people’s names and email addresses? How can I do that?
Well its a bit complicated. I’ll write about it at some stage.
You wouldn’t create a db for that. You can store names and emails by allowing membership to your site as subscribers
The db is used for many things like storing data for comments, meta data, some plugins etc. You can go into phpmyadmin and see all the tables yourself to learn more about db tables.