When it comes to web hosting and managing your WordPress website, a MySQL database is where you store all your data and retrieve the information as quickly as possible. In short, a database is just a collection of data on your hosting plan. It stores everything from site users to articles you post on the site.
MySQL is simply a program that runs to retrieve this information and deliver it to your site in a presentable fashion. As a webmaster, you need to understand MySQL database management with CPanel to create new databases and develop permissions for which users can access each database.
Let’s take a look at the most common MySQL needs for webmasters in the CPanel.
Step 1:
Login to your hosting account. Every host is going to look a little different in terms of MySQL database management, but they are all pretty similar. I am using Bluehost, so all the buttons and steps should be similar for anything like HostGator, GoDaddy or WP Engine.
Step 2:
Go to the CPanel by clicking on the Hosting tab, then CPanel.
Step 3: Create a Database
Find the Database Tools area in CPanel and click on the MySQL Databases button.
Under the Create New Database area, fill in the field with the database name of your choice.
Click on the Create Database button to create a database and reveal it in your Current Databases section. This step makes a database for you to manipulate, create users for and fill with data.
Step 4: Make a MySQL Database User
You must create database users who will be able to access the database. On the MySQL Databases page you can scroll down to find an area called Add New User. Type in what you want the user to be called and create a password you can remember. Click the Create User button to finish this process.
Step 5: Assign User to a MySQL Database
Once you create a user you need to tell the system which database it has access to. This also happens on the MySQL Databases page. Use the dropdown menu to select a user and choose a database to assign that user to. Click the Add button to finish that step.
Specify which privileges you want the user to have, or just state that they have all privileges for managing the database. Click the Make Changes button.
Step 6: Check On and Repair MySQL Databases
Sometimes a database has problems or it becomes corrupted. To see if there are any problems navigate back to the MySQL Databases page in CPanel and locate the Modify Database header. Select the database you want to check and click the Check DB button.
If any errors come back from the test, select the database and click on the Repair DB button to fix the problems.
Step 7: Take a User Off a Database
If you no longer want a user to have access to one of your databases, go to the MySQL Databases page and locate the Current Databases header. There is a Users header in this table. Find the Red “x” next to the user you want to remove and click on it. It should show a confirmation on the next page to confirm that you want to remove that user from the database.
Step 8: Delete a MySQL Database User
Removing a user from a database still keeps the user around in the hosting account. If you want to completely get rid of a user so it has no permissions through the CPanel, you can delete it by going to the MySQL Databases page once again.
Scroll down to the Current Users header and find the user you want to delete. Click on the Red “x” next to that user and click the Delete button upon confirmation.
Step 9: Delete a Full MySQL Database
Sometimes you no longer need a database so you can delete it. It’s wise to create a backup of the MySQL database in case you need anything later. Keep in mind that none of the users are deleted when you remove a database, but they lose their permissions for that deleted database.
Go to the MySQL Databases page and locate the Current Databases header. On the far right you can find a Delete Database link. Click on this and confirm the deletion after.
That’s it for MySQL database management with the CPanel.
Share your thoughts in the comments section below if you have any questions about MySQL database management with CPanel.
