How Do I Use MySQL?

SQL stands for Structured Query Language. SQL is an international standard in querying and retrieving information from databases. MySQL is essentially an SQL server - it responds to requests for information that are written in SQL. You can communicate with MySQL using a wide variety of programming languages (PHP being one of the most common). MySQL is Open Source software and free for use.

Refer to the following links for more information about MySQL :

• MySQL - The MySQL homepage.
• MySQL and PHP tutorial - A good introduction to using the two Open Source technologies together.

Creating a Database | Removing a Database | Creating a User
Granting Permissions | Managing a Database | Adding Host Access

Create a Database

To create a MySQL database:

1. Click on the MySQL databases button on your cPanel home page.
2. Enter the name of the database in the Db field.
3. Click on the Add Db button. You need to create at least one database user and grant that user permission to use the new database.

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Removing a Database

Removing a database will delete that database from its online location. Be sure that you have saved a copy of the database if you want to keep any of the information in the database. Removing a database will not remove any user's but it will remove all user's permissions to that database.

To remove a database:

1. Click on the MySQL databases button on your cPanel home page.
2. Click on the Delete button next to the specific database.

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Creating a User

You need to create a MySQL user before that user is able to use the database. This does not automatically allow the user to use a database - you need to grant that user permission to the specific database first. Refer to Grant a user's permissions for more information.

To create a MySQL user:

1. Click on the MySQL databases button on your cPanel home page.
2. Enter the user's name in the UserName field and the user's password in the Password field.
3. Click on the Add User button.

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Granting User Permissions

Once you have created a user to use a database you need to grant that user permission to use the database.

To grant user permissions to a MySQL database:

1. Click on the MySQL databases button on your cPanel home page.
2. Choose the specific user from the User drop-down list and the specific database to grant permissions to from the dB drop-down list.
3. Click on the Add User to dB button. The user now has permission to use that database and sample connection strings are shown in the MySQL window.

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Managing the Database

cPanel includes a web-based MySQL management tool called phpMyAdmin. This tool allows you to manage all aspects of your database structure and data.

Note: Refer to the phpMyAdmin documentation if you need to know more about using phpMyAdmin.

To manage MySQL databases using phpMyAdmin:

1. Click on the MySQL databases button on your cPanel home page.
2. Click on the phpMyAdmin link at the base of the window.

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Adding Host Access

You can allow external web servers to access your MySQL databases by adding their domain name to the list of hosts that are able to access databases on your web site. localhost stands for your own web server.

To add host access:

1. Click on the MySQL databases button on your cPanel home page.
2. Enter the domain name or IP number of the host that you wish to add in the Host field.
3. Click on the Add Host button.

Creating a Database | Removing a Database | Creating a User
Granting Permissions | Managing a Database | Adding Host Access

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