How to Connect to a MySQL Database Using phpMyAdmin and PHP
Daniel Hayes
Full-Stack Engineer · Leapcell

Key Takeaways
- phpMyAdmin is a user-friendly tool for managing MySQL databases.
- PHP connects to MySQL using MySQLi or PDO with specific connection strings.
- Security practices like using prepared statements and securing credentials are essential.
Connecting to a MySQL database is a fundamental step in developing dynamic web applications. phpMyAdmin is a widely used web-based tool that facilitates the management of MySQL databases. This guide will walk you through the process of establishing a connection to a MySQL database using PHP, with phpMyAdmin as a reference point.(https://leapcell.io/?lc_t=n_goselect)
Understanding phpMyAdmin and MySQL
phpMyAdmin is an open-source, web-based application written in PHP that provides a user-friendly interface for managing MySQL and MariaDB databases. It allows users to perform various database operations such as creating, modifying, and deleting databases, tables, and records without the need to use command-line tools. (https://leapcell.io/?lc_t=n_goselect)
PHP Methods for Connecting to MySQL
PHP offers two primary methods for connecting to MySQL databases:
1. MySQLi (MySQL Improved)
MySQLi is an enhanced version of the original MySQL extension, providing improved security, performance, and support for advanced features like prepared statements. It supports both procedural and object-oriented programming paradigms.(https://leapcell.io/?lc_t=n_goselect)
Example (Procedural):
<?php $servername = "localhost"; $username = "your_username"; $password = "your_password"; $database = "your_database"; // Create connection $conn = mysqli_connect($servername, $username, $password, $database); // Check connection if (!$conn) { die("Connection failed: " . mysqli_connect_error()); } echo "Connected successfully"; ?>
Example (Object-Oriented):
<?php $servername = "localhost"; $username = "your_username"; $password = "your_password"; $database = "your_database"; // Create connection $conn = new mysqli($servername, $username, $password, $database); // Check connection if ($conn->connect_error) { die("Connection failed: " . $conn->connect_error); } echo "Connected successfully"; ?>
2. PDO (PHP Data Objects)
PDO provides a consistent interface for accessing various databases, including MySQL. It supports prepared statements and is known for its flexibility and security features.
Example:
<?php $servername = "localhost"; $username = "your_username"; $password = "your_password"; $database = "your_database"; try { $conn = new PDO("mysql:host=$servername;dbname=$database", $username, $password); // Set the PDO error mode to exception $conn->setAttribute(PDO::ATTR_ERRMODE, PDO::ERRMODE_EXCEPTION); echo "Connected successfully"; } catch(PDOException $e) { echo "Connection failed: " . $e->getMessage(); } ?>
Retrieving Connection Details from phpMyAdmin
phpMyAdmin itself does not provide a direct way to retrieve the connection string. However, you can obtain the necessary details from the config.inc.php
file located in the phpMyAdmin installation directory. This file contains configuration settings such as the server name, username, and password used to connect to the MySQL server. (https://leapcell.io/?lc_t=n_goselect)
Note: Ensure you have the appropriate permissions to access this file, and handle any sensitive information securely.
Common Connection String Format
When connecting to a MySQL database, the connection string typically includes the following components:
- Server: The hostname or IP address of the MySQL server (e.g.,
localhost
or127.0.0.1
). - Username: The MySQL user account (e.g.,
root
). - Password: The password associated with the MySQL user account.
- Database: The specific database you want to connect to.
Example Connection String:
$servername = "localhost"; $username = "your_username"; $password = "your_password"; $database = "your_database";
Replace the placeholders with your actual database credentials.
Security Considerations
- Use Prepared Statements: To prevent SQL injection attacks, always use prepared statements when executing SQL queries.
- Secure Credentials: Avoid hardcoding sensitive information like passwords in your scripts. Consider using environment variables or configuration files with appropriate access controls.
- Restrict Access: Ensure that your database server is not exposed to unauthorized access by configuring firewalls and using secure connections.
Conclusion
Establishing a connection between PHP and a MySQL database is a crucial step in developing dynamic web applications. By utilizing phpMyAdmin for database management and employing secure coding practices in PHP, you can efficiently interact with your database to perform various operations.(https://leapcell.io/?lc_t=n_goselect)
FAQs
phpMyAdmin is a web-based tool for managing MySQL databases.
Use MySQLi or PDO in PHP with the correct server, username, password, and database.
It prevents unauthorized access and protects data from SQL injection attacks.
We are Leapcell, your top choice for hosting backend projects.
Leapcell is the Next-Gen Serverless Platform for Web Hosting, Async Tasks, and Redis:
Multi-Language Support
- Develop with Node.js, Python, Go, or Rust.
Deploy unlimited projects for free
- pay only for usage — no requests, no charges.
Unbeatable Cost Efficiency
- Pay-as-you-go with no idle charges.
- Example: $25 supports 6.94M requests at a 60ms average response time.
Streamlined Developer Experience
- Intuitive UI for effortless setup.
- Fully automated CI/CD pipelines and GitOps integration.
- Real-time metrics and logging for actionable insights.
Effortless Scalability and High Performance
- Auto-scaling to handle high concurrency with ease.
- Zero operational overhead — just focus on building.
Explore more in the Documentation!
Follow us on X: @LeapcellHQ