# Becoming familiar with databases in phpMyAdmin

> A quick guide to the main features of phpMyAdmin and how to work with your databases and tables.

Source: https://www.kualo.com/knowledgebase/cpanel-databases/becoming-familiar-with-databases-in-phpmyadmin
Updated: 2026-06-10

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phpMyAdmin is a free, web-based tool for managing MySQL databases, and it is built into cPanel. This guide introduces its layout and main features so you know where to find things and what each part does.

To open it, log in to cPanel, find the **Databases** section and click **phpMyAdmin**.

![The phpMyAdmin interface, with the database tree in the left-hand panel, the action tabs across the top, and the selected table's structure in the main area](https://kb-cdn.kualo.com/d8/4f/d84fb3ec7b2320c1b59f398a80a50fc607f1d66a.png)

## The database and its tables

Your databases are listed in the **left-hand panel**. A database is made up of one or more **tables**, and your data lives inside those tables. Click a database to expand it and reveal its tables; click a table to open it in the main area on the right.

In the example above, the database `youruser_kbdemo` contains a single table called `members`.

:::tip
On Kualo accounts every database name is prefixed with your cPanel username (for example `youruser_`), which keeps it unique across the server.
:::

## What you can do with a table

When you open a table, a row of tabs appears across the top of the main area:

![The table action tabs - Browse, Structure, SQL, Search, Insert, Export, Import, Operations and Triggers](https://kb-cdn.kualo.com/75/09/7509869ab63686c014430eecea43218d8ec88093.png)

- **Browse** - view the individual records (rows) stored in the table.
- **Structure** - see the columns that make up the table, their data types, and any keys.
- **SQL** - run a SQL statement against this table.
- **Search** - find rows matching specific values, using a guided form instead of writing SQL by hand.
- **Insert** - add a new row of data.
- **Export** / **Import** - download this single table, or load data into it.
- **Operations** - housekeeping tasks: rename or copy the table, change its options, **empty** it (delete all rows but keep the table) or **drop** it (delete the table entirely).

:::warning
Emptying or dropping a table cannot be undone. Always take a backup first - see [Exporting databases and tables with phpMyAdmin](/knowledgebase/cpanel-databases/exporting-databases-and-tables-with-phpmyadmin).
:::

## Database-level actions

When you select the database itself rather than a single table, the tabs change to act on the whole database:

![The database-level tabs - Structure, SQL, Search, Query, Export, Import, Operations, Routines, Events, Triggers and Designer](https://kb-cdn.kualo.com/2c/e1/2ce1bef7ebc58f23999ba4a5e4f06de70fe367e2.png)

- **Structure** - lists all the tables in the database and lets you [create new ones](/knowledgebase/cpanel-databases/creating-tables-in-a-database-with-phpmyadmin).
- **SQL** - run SQL commands against the database.
- **Search** - search across several tables at once.
- **Export** - download the database (or selected tables) as a SQL file.
- **Import** - upload and restore a previously exported SQL file.
- **Operations** - rename or copy the entire database.

The remaining tabs (**Query**, **Routines**, **Events**, **Triggers** and **Designer**) cover more advanced features you are unlikely to need day to day.

## Understanding table structure

A table's **Structure** tab lists every column along with its data type, default value and any special attributes. One column is usually marked as the **primary key**, shown with a small key icon - this is a unique identifier for each row. In the example, the `id` column is the primary key, so every record can be referenced individually.

## Logging out

Because phpMyAdmin opens using a temporary, secure login from cPanel, you can simply close the tab when you are finished. To end the session straight away, click the **Log out** icon (a door with an arrow) at the top of the left-hand panel.

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Now you know your way around, you can [create a table](/knowledgebase/cpanel-databases/creating-tables-in-a-database-with-phpmyadmin), [run a SQL query](/knowledgebase/cpanel-databases/running-sql-queries-on-a-database-with-phpmyadmin) or [export a backup](/knowledgebase/cpanel-databases/exporting-databases-and-tables-with-phpmyadmin). If you get stuck, our support team is here 24/7 - just [open a support ticket](/knowledgebase/getting-started/how-to-create-a-support-ticket-in-mykualo).


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_Source: Kualo Knowledgebase — https://www.kualo.com/knowledgebase/cpanel-databases/becoming-familiar-with-databases-in-phpmyadmin · © Kualo Ltd._