The whole category in one page.
WHAT A DATABASE IS
The half of your site holding content, settings, users and orders. Files without it restore an empty shell.
SETTING UP
One database per application One user per database, with all privileges Remember the cPanel prefix on both names Configuration file confirmed unreachable over HTTP
BACKING UP
Daily for changing data, weekly otherwise Before every significant change Stored off the server Restore-tested at least once
USING PHPMYADMIN
Read what is selected before doing anything SELECT before UPDATE or DELETE Export the table before any write query Never a plain SQL replace on serialised data
KEEPING IT FAST
Enable page caching, which eliminates most queries entirely
Clean bloat: revisions, transients, logs, spam
Add indexes where queries are slow Check autoloaded data on WordPress
WHEN THINGS GO WRONG
Check the four connection values first Repair crashed tables in Operations Restore from backup, matching files and database dates
THE THREE HABITS THAT PREVENT MOST PROBLEMS
Back up before changes. Run the SELECT first. Store backups off the server.
