Creating Dynamic Web Sites with PHP and MySQL

General information

PHP is a programming language that lets you develop interactive Web sites. If you use it in conjunction with a MySQL database, you can build applications that collect information via the Web, store it in a database, and provide a wide range of reporting options.

MySQL is only available on request. If you want to use MySQL, please send a request to hosting@vt.edu. We do not offer individual consulting on the use of PHP and MySQL. There are many good PHP-related resources freely available on the Web. Please refer to the PHP Web site or use a search engine like Google for more information.  Please contact hosting@vt.edu for technical asistance only after you are confident that you encountered a problem with the server setup.

Using the MySQL Database

Once enabled, there is exactly one database for your Web site. Everyone who uses your Web site will share this database. However, there is no limitation on the number of tables that you can create within your database.

To manage your database, go to the Web Administration Tool, and log on by providing your Web site address, PID, and password. Select the Database tab on top of the page. On top of the screen, you will notice information about the database name, user-ID, and password. You will need all of them to connect to your database via PHP.

To create a table in your database, just click the SQL tab and specify the data structure. Here is an example:

CREATE TABLE test (
  firstname text,
  lastname text
);

INSERT INTO test (firstname,lastname) VALUES ('Joe','Smith');
INSERT INTO test (firstname,lastname) VALUES ('Mary','Jones');
INSERT INTO test (firstname,lastname) VALUES ('Thomas','Miller');
    

Here is an example of PHP code that connects to the database, retrieves information and outputs it to a Web browser.
Substitute the database name that is shown on the database tab in the Web administration tool for "database1".
Substitute the User-ID that is shown on the database tab in the Web administration tool for "site1".
Substitute the password that is shown on the database tab in the Web administration tool for "Kkw87%3E".

<?php
  
  require_once('DB.php');
  $mydbhost = "database.hosting.vt.edu";
  $mydatabase = "database1";
  $mydbuserid = "site1";
  $mydbpassword = "Kkw87%3E";
  $database = DB::connect( "mysql://".$mydbuserid.":".$mydbpassword."@".$mydbhost."/".$mydatabase );
  $result = $database->query( "SELECT * FROM test ORDER BY lastname" );
  $rows = $result->numRows();
  for ($i=0; $i < $rows; $i++) {
    $data = $result->fetchRow(DB_FETCHMODE_ASSOC, $i);
    $firstname = $data['firstname'];
    $lastname = $data['lastname'];
    echo $firstname," ",$lastname,"<br>";
  }
  $database->disconnect();
?>
    

If you execute the script above, your Web browser will show:

Mary Jones
Thomas Miller
Joe Smith

You can find more detailed information in the Creating Database-driven Websites with PHP&MySQL tutorial.