What is a MySQL database?

MySQL is one of the most popular and widely used Relational Database Management Systems (RDBMS). Many web applications such as forums, content management systems, etc. use a database to store data (content). The majority of the web applications that use databases require a MySQL database to operate. For example, the popular web applications Joomla, Drupal, osCommerce and WordPress store their data in MySQL databases. It is almost guaranteed that if your web application (especially those written in PHP) requires the use of a database, then it will need exactly a MySQL database or will at least support MySQL. To be sure, however, check the technical requirements of the web application. The data in a MySQL database is structured in tables which consist of columns and rows. Whenever your script (application) needs to access specific data, it “asks” (makes query) the MySQL database for the content of a specific field (the intersection of a column and a row in a table).

To create a MySQL database in your hosting account, go to the Databases -> MySQL Databases section of your Web Hosting Control Panel. The form at the top of the page is used for adding new databases.

Usually a separate database is created for each web application that you install. Thus, the web applications can be managed easier. In the MySQL Databases section you can also see a list of all MySQL databases that you have. Note that the database name and the username are the same. For example, if you have a database whose name is account_database, then the username for the database will be account_database and vice-versa. On our servers a database can only have one user (that is created by default) and new users cannot be created. The default user of the database has all the priviliges.

When you set up a script to use one of your databases you need the database name and username (which are the same, as mentioned above), the password and the MySQL host/server. You can find the MySQL host under the table with your existing MySQL databases. It is usually localhost.