The Basic Guide to Understanding WordPress Database Management

WordPress uses MySQL database to manage data dynamically. SQL is the programming language that gives the user access to stored data and MySQL is the database that supports the growth of the data. These databases are entirely self-sustaining. They can save data, update data and formats, backup the relevant data and apply restore whenever necessary. WordPress is now extra secure with the generous slathering of encryption and multi-authentication practices. Most importantly, WordPress is amazingly flexible and customizable. You can add plug-ins to your database for better management, security, updating and a plethora of other functions. 

What is so great about WordPress anyway?

It is one CMS that supports the exponential growth of data. It also supports the multi-dimensional growth of data that bigger companies, online seller sites and websites need most often. The database is so simple to maintain, and it is so well-integrated with the user interface that home-based bloggers also opt for WordPress over Joomla and Drupal. Some larger companies, of course, employ database experts for management of bulk data, but most bloggers and smaller websites do not need expert help.

When WordPress gets down to business

WooCommerce is a WordPress plug-in for e-commerce purposes. Therefore, any seller can utilize this CMS for storing customer information that their WordPress-based e-commerce site. Many indie sellers often use remote database management like remoteDba.com for managing their database components. We know, how challenging it can become to maintain and update each DB component of a marketing site. Each installation comes with 11 distinct tables, and it takes more than intuition to manage these tables!

The better way to manage your website databases

Often, plug-ins like phpMyAdminhelp the users manage their database tables. These default tables contain data about posts, pages, comments, categories, tags, site URLs and custom fields. They are most necessary for proper functioning of the sites. Very simply speaking, phpMyAdmin is a PHP script. It enables the users to access their databases. A version of the data, fields, and tables in MySQL is usually accessible through phpMyAdmin. You will find host control panels like cPanel come with the phpMyAdmin program.

Making changes to the core website tables

The dogma is to create a copy of your database, no matter how many times you have done this before. All changes to this program are undoable.

You can access your phpMyAdmin through your cPanel. Here’s how you can do it in a few easy steps:

  • Log into your dashboard and click the icon.
  • Expand the list of databases on the left if they are not visible.
  • Then, click on the database(s) that correspond to the site you wish to edit.
  • Now, you have access to all the tables corresponding to your website.

In case, you have more than one database, access your file manager from your cPanel account.

  • Go to the wp-config.php file and select edit.
  • Look for: define(‘DB_NAME’, ‘the_name_of_your_database’).
  • Close the file manager and cPanel without saving changes.

Regardless of your experience, it always pays off to have a reliable plug-in to assist in your backups and recovery processes. WordPress databases come with a world of flexibility and editing options, but having someone to guide you through the process is a tremendous relief at least the first couple of times.

Author bio:  Lucy Jones is a database expert. Her work on the evolving structures of MySQL databases has providing brilliant solutions to database management needs of a number of his clients at remoteDba.com.

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