Inserting fields into database tables with phpMyAdmin

A field (also called a column) defines one piece of information a table stores - a name, an email address, a date, and so on. phpMyAdmin lets you add a new field to an existing table at any time, without writing SQL. This guide shows how.

Before you start

Open phpMyAdmin from the Databases section of cPanel, click your database in the left-hand panel, then click the table you want to change. If phpMyAdmin is new to you, see Becoming familiar with databases in phpMyAdmin.

Add a new field

1. With the table open, click the Structure tab.

2. Find the Add row beneath the list of columns. Enter how many fields you want to add, choose where they should go (for example after an existing column, or at the start of the table), then click Go.

   

3. Fill in the new field's details:

   • Name - what the field is called, for example phone.
   • Type - the kind of data it holds. VARCHAR suits short text, INT whole numbers, DATETIME a date and time, and TEXT long text.
   • Length/Values - for VARCHAR, the maximum number of characters (for example 20 for a phone number).

   

4. Click Save.

The new field is added to the table and appears in the Structure list, ready to store data.

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