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Creating a MySQL Database with phpMyAdmin

A database organises persistent information in related tables. This practice creates a small fictional database without prescribing an assessed design.

Create the database

  1. Start Apache and MySQL.
  2. Open http://localhost/phpmyadmin/.
  3. Select Databases.
  4. Create campready_db with a Unicode collation such as utf8mb4_unicode_ci.

Use lowercase names and underscores. Avoid spaces and personal names.

Create a practice table

Create activities with these columns:

Column Type Settings Purpose
activity_id INT PRIMARY KEY, AUTO_INCREMENT Unique identifier
activity_name VARCHAR(100) NOT NULL Activity label
location VARCHAR(100) NOT NULL Fictional location
capacity INT NOT NULL Maximum participants

This is practice only. Design assessment tables from the actual data, relationships and user needs.

Add fictional rows

activity_name location capacity
Navigation challenge North field 24
Shelter setup Camp zone A 30
Team cooking Kitchen shelter 20

Leave the identifier blank because AUTO_INCREMENT creates it.

The equivalent SQL is:

CREATE TABLE activities (
    activity_id INT AUTO_INCREMENT PRIMARY KEY,
    activity_name VARCHAR(100) NOT NULL,
    location VARCHAR(100) NOT NULL,
    capacity INT NOT NULL
);

Design principles

  • Give every table a primary key.
  • Match data types to values.
  • Use NOT NULL for essential values.
  • Do not store several separate values in one field.
  • Separate entities into related tables.
  • Use fabricated classroom data only.

Verification checklist

  • The database and table exist.
  • The table has an auto-incrementing primary key.
  • Fields use suitable types.
  • Three fictional rows appear in Browse.
  • You can explain why each field exists.
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