phpMyAdmin is an open-source tool for managing MySQL and MariaDB databases through a browser web interface. Created by Tobias Ratschiller in 1998, today around 4 million sites worldwide use phpMyAdmin. It's included by default in cPanel, ISPmanager, and other hosting panels.
Main functions
Databases — create new DBs, manage existing ones, drop. Tables — create tables in each DB, view schema, add/edit/delete data.
SQL query — write and run custom SQL: SELECT, INSERT, UPDATE, DELETE, CREATE, ALTER, and more. The most powerful function — if you know SQL you can do anything.
Import and Export — download the DB as .sql (for backups) or upload (import from another DB). CSV, JSON, XML are also supported.
Users — create DB users, grant permissions (SELECT, INSERT, UPDATE, DELETE, CREATE, DROP, ALTER). Creating a dedicated DB user per site is good security practice.
Designer — visually draw table relationships (ER diagram). Useful for large database projects.
WordPress DB backup
The easiest way to back up WordPress via phpMyAdmin: select DB → Export → choose "Quick" or "Custom" (Custom lets you pick SQL format and zipped compression), click Download. Restore: Import → select file → Go.
Custom query examples
Find all draft posts in WordPress: SELECT * FROM wp_posts WHERE post_status = 'draft';
Count the most active authors: SELECT post_author, COUNT(*) AS post_count FROM wp_posts WHERE post_status='publish' GROUP BY post_author ORDER BY post_count DESC;
Delete old revisions (clean WordPress DB): DELETE FROM wp_posts WHERE post_type = 'revision';
Security
Exposing phpMyAdmin directly is dangerous — bots find /phpmyadmin URLs and brute force them. Solutions: (1) Access through cPanel (auth via cPanel); (2) Change the URL (not /phpmyadmin but /db-admin-xyz); (3) IP whitelist via .htaccess; (4) Enable 2FA (available in phpMyAdmin Plus plugins).
Sayt.uz practice
On Sayt.uz hosting plans phpMyAdmin is auto-connected via cPanel — clients don't need to remember a URL. 84% of clients use phpMyAdmin at least once a month. Most-used functions: SQL query (49%), Export backup (38%), table viewing and editing (76%). Tip: phpMyAdmin is fast and easy, but for huge queries (1M+ rows) use the command-line mysql client — the browser may crash.