# Searching through a database with phpMyAdmin

> Use phpMyAdmin's Search feature to find specific words or values across tables in your MySQL database.

Source: https://www.kualo.com/knowledgebase/cpanel-databases/searching-through-a-database-with-phpmyadmin
Updated: 2026-06-11

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phpMyAdmin includes a built-in Search feature that lets you find specific words or values across one or more tables in a database without writing SQL manually.

## Open the database in phpMyAdmin

1. Log in to cPanel and open phpMyAdmin.
2. In the left-hand panel, click the name of the database you want to search.

## Run a search

1. With the database selected, click the **Search** tab at the top of the main panel.
2. Enter the word or value you want to find - for example, a city name.
3. Use the options to refine your search:
   - Choose a search type (for example, contains, exact match, or starts with).
   - If your database has multiple tables, select which to include, or leave all selected to search everywhere.
4. Click **Go** to run the search.

## Review the results

phpMyAdmin lists each table where a match was found, with a count of matching rows. Click **Browse** next to a result to view the matching records.

![Search results in phpMyAdmin, showing the rows that matched](https://kb-cdn.kualo.com/16/96/169630927954382abdf47b7b055a4930e44eafac.png)

:::tip
For large databases, narrowing the search to specific tables speeds things up considerably and reduces the chance of timing out. If nothing is found, phpMyAdmin shows a "No match" message - check your spelling and search type, then try again.
:::


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_Source: Kualo Knowledgebase — https://www.kualo.com/knowledgebase/cpanel-databases/searching-through-a-database-with-phpmyadmin · © Kualo Ltd._