WordPress is one of the most popular and credible content management systems in the world and has more than 82 million active websites. Despite its huge popularity and benefits, there are many beginners and non-technical users who don’t understand WordPress database management. That’s why, in this blog post, we have discussed the basics of WordPress Database Management and how you can use it to better manage and optimize your WordPress websites.
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What is a WordPress Database?
The WordPress database is a collection of all tables and data of your website stored on a web server. WordPress uses a MySQL database – an open-source relational database management system.
It enables WordPress to create and store the necessary information you need for your website. If you don’t have a database, your WordPress website will not be able to function properly.
- Posts
- Webpages
- Comment
- User profiles, etc.
WordPress uses the language of Structured Query Language (SQL) to store data. It’s the same language that other databases, such as Oracle, Microsoft SQL Server, etc., use.
Why is Database Management Important for WordPress?
Let’s start with an example to let you know the importance of database management for WordPress. For instance, you have a dataset of 20,000 customers. If you want to effectively manage this data and store, update, and access it properly, you need to store and manipulate it in a standardized format.
It is only a database that will allow you to do just that. It has a structured language and interface and ensures that your data is stored, manipulated, and retrieved in a good manner. Using a database, you will easily clone and back up your data and protect it against data loss.
How the WordPress Database Works?
Before you install WordPress, you need to have a MySQL database. This database holds all the information that makes up a WordPress site, like posts, pages, comments, form submissions, and options.
When someone visits your WordPress site, the PHP files will connect to the database to get the information they need and put it all together on a page. WordPress stores most of its data in tables. Each table has information about a different part of the website.
For example, the wp posts table has the title, content, author, and other information about each post. The comments about posts and pages are in the wp comments table. The wp options table stores the site’s settings, such as the site’s name and description, user permissions, etc.
Each time a page is viewed, WordPress queries the database for the relevant data. Once your web page is completed, WordPress will disconnect from the database.
How the WordPress Database Organizes Data
The WordPress database stores information in several tables that work together to make the site’s foundation. It includes users, posts, comments, terms, meta, options, and other related things. There are different ways to make a table, and each has different columns, but all of the data is linked so that the system works well.
Let’s take an example to better understand it. Each comment is linked to a post in the comments table by a column. There is also a column in the post table that links to the user who wrote it. Due to the way tables and columns are interconnected, all of the data is always easy to find, well-organized, and up-to-date.
How to Create a WordPress Database?
To create a WordPress database, you must first access your web hosting control panel or log in to your web hosting account. You can make a database once you are in the control panel. Depending on your hosting provider, the steps will be different, but you will usually need to find the “databases” tab and click on “MySQL databases” or “MySQL database.”
After making the database, you will have to make a database user. Usually, you have to click on the “MySQL Users” link and then fill in the necessary information. After you make the user and the database, you will have to link the user to the database. To do this, go to the link that says “MySQL databases” and click on the link that says “add user.”
After adding the user to the database, you will need to give the user “all privileges.” In the end, you will need to write down the database name, the MySQL username, and the MySQL password for your WordPress database. When you set up WordPress, you will need to use this information.
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How to Create a WordPress Database with PHP My Admin?
Following are 6 easy ways to create a WordPress database with PHP My Admin.
Step 1: Assuming that you already have WordPress installed, open up the PHPMyAdmin tool.
Step 2: In the left-hand menu, find the tab labeled “database.” It is the place where you will create the database.
Step 3: On this page, type in the name of the database and click on the “Create” button. You can name the database whatever you would like, or you can leave this as the default as well.
Step 4: Now, it is time to create the tables. Each table should have an appropriate name that matches what it is used for. Breaking information down into tables gives our database structure. For example, the table names should be descriptive. If you have a table for users, it could be called a “users table.”
Step 5: We need to add our fields now. Click on the “Structure” tab in the menu on the left of each of the tables we just made. Here, we can add columns that will hold different kinds of information. Remember that the data that is being stored should be reflected in the column names and types.
Step 6: Now the database is created! You can now populate your tables with data, and they can be accessed within the WordPress framework.
How to Optimize a WordPress Database?
Following are 6 ways to optimize a WordPress database.
Ensure WordPress is up to date – Update WordPress regularly to ensure all the latest security patches, bug fixes, and features.
Limit Post Revisions – By default, WordPress stores multiple revisions of each post and page. To ensure the database is optimized, limit the stored number of revisions with the help of a plugin such as WP-Optimize.
Clean out Unused Plugins and Themes – Remove unnecessary plugins and themes installed as they occupy unnecessary space and waste resources.
Remove Spam and Post Trash – Regularly check the comments and delete any spam or trash comments which occupy space in the database.
Optimize Tables – Optimize WordPress database tables manually or automatically with the help of a plugin.
Backup Database – Moreover, the database should be backed up at regular intervals to avoid data loss in case of any crashes.
How Can You Secure Your WordPress Database?
WordPress is one of the most popular and credible content management systems, so the protection of its databases must be of utmost importance. To secure your WordPress database, consider implementing the 5 following measures:
Use Strong Passwords – Use a mix of alphanumeric characters in your passwords to protect the database. Keep changing them periodically to reduce the chances of unauthorized access.
Implement Database Backup – Ensure you have backups of the database and keep them updated. These backups will come in handy when your system goes down, or in case there is any malicious activity targeting the database.
Use Security Plugins – Install plugins such as iThemes Security and WordFence to help secure your WordPress Database. These plugins will help you block access to malicious actors.
Use SSL Certificate – SSL certificates help encrypt and protect data transferred between the server and the client. It is an effective measure to protect your WordPress database against data breaches.
Limit Database Access – Limit who has access to the database and monitors their activities. It will reduce the chances of any unauthorized access and activities.
How to Create a WordPress Backup Using a Plugin?
Using a plugin to back up your WordPress site is the easiest and most effective way to make sure you always have a safe copy of your data. With these plugins, you can export your entire website, including all of its files and database, to another location.
The first step is to create a WordPress backup plugin and turn it on. Many free and paid plugins are available, so check them before choosing the best WordPress backup plugin for you. After you install the plugin, select the type of backup you want to make (e.g., full, file, or database).
Afterward, choose a time when you want the backup to happen (e.g., daily, weekly, etc.).
Lastly, the plugin will run the chosen backup based on the schedule, automatically making a copy of your website. Depending on the plugin, you may be able to set up the settings so that the backup is automatically sent to a remote server or email address. So you can be sure that your information is safe and secure.
Conclusion
We hope that this all-inclusive guide has helped you learn more about how to manage WordPress databases. As we’ve discussed, many steps are involved in properly managing your database, such as backing up, optimizing, securing, and troubleshooting. A website that is safe and functions properly need a well-managed WordPress database.
If you’re the curious type of person who wants to know everything about this topic, you’ll love our guides on how WordPress actually works, as well as how WordPress plugins work. Using the tips and resources in this article, you will better manage your WordPress database with ease. Good luck!