Creating a Database for Joomla!

Every installation of the Joomla! CMS requires a database. The database will store data such as articles, menus, categories, and users. This information is needed to make and manage your Joomla! website. Regardless of the requirements of the version, in order to install Joomla! you must have a working database, database user, database password and proper privileges for the database user. You will need to complete these tasks before you begin the installation. This article will address the most common type of database used when Installing Joomla!, a MySQL database. Although the focus here is on using cPanel on a hosting account, other types of hosting interfaces all have similar steps.

MySQL DB Wizard

For beginners, it is recommended the MySQL Database Wizard is used. The wizard will guide you step by step through the process. You may use these steps to guide you through your own hosting account panel if it differs, they are:

Create a Database → Create a User → Set User password → Set User Privileges.

First, activate the wizard by clicking the icon in you hosting account's cPanel.

Creating a Database

Next, you must choose a name for your database. In a shared hosting environment, your database name is usually proceeded by your hosting account's username, then an id your specify. For example, if your hosting account's username is B1234, your database name could look similar to this: B1234_joomla.

Creating a Database User and User password

Once you have created a database, you now need a 'database user' to access it. This step will create a user and the user's password at the same time. The username for a database will be similar in look to the database name. You can actually use the name of the database for the user, but for security, you should use a unique username with a strong password.

Set the User Privileges