MySQL Front Ends

By itself, maintenance of a MySQL database it done via a command prompt. SQL statements must be typed in manually before execution. This can be a cumbersome process, so software has been written that masks this process behind an easy-to-use interface. This is called a front end.

One of the more popular front ends which is available on many web hosts, is phpMyAdmin. phpMyAdmin is written in PHP and runs from a web server. This allows it to be used online, like any other web page.

phpMyAdmin simplifies a variety of tasks, including:

• creating and removing databases
• adding, modifying or removing tables
• adding, modifying or removing fields
• browsing and exporting data
• executing SQL statements

The robustness and wide-spread availability of phpMyAdmin make it an attractive choice for managing a MySQL server.

There are other options, each with their strengths and weaknesses. Some other front ends include EMS MySQL Manager, SQLyog, and Navicat. Depending on your platform (Linux, Windows, Mac OS), you will need to choose a solution to meet your needs.

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