Building a Database-Driven Web Site Using PHP and MySQL

by Kevin Yank of SitePoint.com

If Your Web Host Provides PHP and MySQL

If the host providing you with Web space has already installed and set up MySQL and PHP for you and you're just hoping to learn how to use them, there really isn't a lot you need to do. Now would be a good time to get in touch with your host and request any information you may need to access these services.

Specifically, you'll need a username and password to access the MySQL server they have set up for you. They'll probably have set up an empty database for you to use as well (this prevents you from messing with the databases of other users that share the same MySQL server), and you'll want to know its name.

There are two ways you can access the MySQL server. The first is to use telnet to log into the host and use the MySQL client programs (mysql, mysqladmin, mysqldump, etc.) installed there to interact with the MySQL server directly. The second is to install those client programs on your own computer and have them connect to the MySQL server. Your Web host may support one or both of these methods, so you'll need to ask which.

If they support logging in by telnet to do your work, you'll need a username and password for the telnet login in addition to those you'll use to access the MySQL server (they can be different). Be sure to ask for both sets of information.

If they support remote access to the MySQL server, you'll want to download a program for connecting to and interacting with the server. This article series will assume you've downloaded the set of MySQL client programs from http://www.mysql.com/. Packages are available for Windows or Unix, and are free. Install instructions are fairly simple and are included with the packages. If you prefer something more graphical, you can download something like MySQLWinAdmin for Windows (also available from http://www.mysql.com/). I'd really recommend getting comfortable with the basic client programs first, though, since the commands you use with them will be similar to those you include in your PHP scripts to access MySQL databases.

Article Index Introduction and Contents Part 1: Installation Part 2: Getting Started with MySQL Part 3: Getting Started with PHP Part 4: Publishing MySQL Data on the Web   Challenge Solution Buy this book in print format now

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SitePoint.com is a fast growing Web Developer Community. Kevin Yank is the Editor of the SitePoint TechTimes, a fresh, technically oriented newsletter for the serious Webmaster.