If you’re building a website and you plan to have a blog on it, you’re going to be using a little known area of a website that isn’t visible to the average user. Today, we’re going to discuss website database management. First, let’s be clear. This is beyond the basic functions of website management but something that you need to learn.
It will be difficult at first but as you learn about it, it will get easier and you will be able to use the database functions of your site to your advantage. We aren’t going to teach you the specifics of website database management but we’re going to tell you how to get started on your journey of learning about this essential function.
What does it do?
If you have ever been to a blog site or have one of your own, you’ve noticed that each of the blog entries are right there each time you go back. If you add a new post, it displays instantly. At some point, you probably wondered where this information goes.
The answer is that it resides in your website database. A blog program is nothing more than a program that “calls” information from a database and places it in certain spots.
How do I Get to It?
Your webhost will give you the specifics of how to access your website database but most likely, there is a “database management tab” in your website control panel. Databases are almost always administered using MySQL which is a graphical interface allowing you to view your website.
This interface isn’t exactly user friendly. It’s easier to use than other interfaces but it will still take some time to learn. It is recommended that you don’t change anything until you know exactly how it works or you run the risk of erasing key information.
How do I create a database?
Creating a database is normally done using a database management screen. Using your webhost’s directions, create your database giving it a name, a username, and a password. Remember this information as you will need it for any application that requires a database.
How do I incorporate my database in to a blog?
Website database management will first be important if you’re setting up a blog. If you use WordPress, follow the instructions provided. It will tell you to locate the wp-config file and place your database information in that file.
That’s all there is to setting up your WordPress database. WordPress does the rest.
What other uses are there for website database management?
The new way to create websites is to make them as dynamic as possible. Most websites now call most of their information from a website.
Anything that is providing data that changes is using a database. Often databases are used to do statistical analysis, computations, display information based on user preferences, and much more. In short, only the creativity and skill of the programmer is the limitation for the uses of a database.