WordPress is an opensource CMS system that uses an opensource database management system for storing, retrieving, updating and managing any website information. WP always relies on MySQL for the maintenance of a database. All the new posts you make, new articles you publish, and the new comments or images go to the database straight. The host of all the database information also includes your username and password for your WordPress admin access.
WordPress has some big players on board
You will find WordPress’ longstanding relationship with MySQL quite easy to believe once you find out that big billionaire tech giants like Google, Twitter, YouTube, and Facebook rely on MySQL (or some version of it) to store their user data and maintain their user database. Currently, WordPress uses PHP for saving and fetching data from the relational databases. More specifically, the data admin uses SQL (structured query language) queries with PHP markup for the purpose.
PHP and SQL share a strong bond here
It is easy to understand how SQL and PHP might work together to create dynamic web pages. The kind we use on banking websites and e-commerce sites. The same type of collaboration supports personalization of data for specific users according to their website credentials as well. For example – you must have seen how some websites allow only members to view particular content. The dynamicity of their relationship allows the website admin to show or hide specific information. These usually depend on user role, IDs and access restrictions based on the same.
Databases for standalone WordPress sites can be simple!
These databases have numerous tables. Sometimes, it can become too confusing for any layman to look at them. That is because all the plug-ins and the themes generate data for the database. Almost all the components of WP use PHP and SQL to update the database. So, if you are the owner of a small website, you may want to gain some fluency in SQL and PHP. However, while working with enterprise level websites, the knowledge of SQL and PHP is a must for all WordPress admins.
Why do websites need expert guidance?
Usually, the WP database schema is quite simple. It has 11 tables for the core components. Therefore, users cannot delete them or remove them. These include tables for comments, comment metadata, links, posts, post meta, options, terms, relationships, term taxonomy, users and user metadata.
On the other hand, the databases of a multisite are very different in structure and management procedures. Setting them up, updating the data and running the queries is very different too. Without an experienced database manager, you will find it quite impossible to run a multisite database smoothly, without glitches. Since the security of all customer data and safety of the website relies on the integrity of the database, a senior DBA is only a smart investment in the path of achieving a successful online presence.
Author bio: Sujain Thomas is a database manager and website developer. She has been toying with programming languages since her early teens. Her prowess on database management makes her one of the best senior DBAs in the city.
