How to Create a MySQL Database in cPanel

Most web applications - including WordPress, Joomla, and custom PHP sites - require a MySQL database to store their data. dotCanada uses MariaDB (a fully compatible, high-performance drop-in replacement for MySQL) on all shared hosting servers. This guide shows you how to create a new database in cPanel in just a few steps.

Steps to Create a MySQL Database

1. Log in to your cPanel account.
2. In the Databases section, click MySQL Databases.
3. Under Create New Database, enter a name for your database in the text field. Keep it short and descriptive (for example, mysite).
4. Click Create Database.

About the Database Name Prefix

cPanel automatically prepends your cPanel username to the database name, separated by an underscore. For example, if your cPanel username is johndoe and you enter mysite as the name, the full database name will be johndoe_mysite. Make sure to use this full name when configuring your application.

Next Steps After Creating a Database

Creating the database is only the first step. Before an application can use it, you also need to:

1. Create a database user - see the article How to Create a MySQL Database User in cPanel for instructions.
2. Assign the user to the database - grant the user the appropriate privileges to access and manage the database.

Viewing Your Databases

Scroll down the MySQL Databases page to see a list of all existing databases on your account. You can also see which users are assigned to each database from this view.

Database Limits

The number of databases you can create depends on your dotCanada hosting plan. Check your plan's specifications in the dotCanada client area for details.

If you need help creating a database or configuring it for your application, contact our support team and we will be glad to help.