Most website owners will eventually have to go beyond learning HTML. Any kind of complicated site will require database use. Database is simply a way of storing information in an orderly way through the use of tables. Forums, blogs, chats, bulletin boards, polls, and many other things will require databases on your host. So before you try to install any software you will need to create a database first.

As a newbie, the easiest way to create a new database is to click on the MySQLdatabase icon in cpanel. Inside enter a name into the “create database” box. After you create it, they will show you the name of your database. The database name may be a little different than you originally typed.

The next thing you do on this page is to create a user name with a password. To make it easy to remember, use the same password as your hosting account. After that, you will need to add the user to your newly created database. Make sure “ALL” privileges is checked when adding the user. After that your database is now fully created and functional.

Now when installing forum software for example, somewhere there will be some kind of config.php file or settings.php file (or something with similiar names). You will need to edit this file before you can install the software properly.

The format of the file will have this part you need to edit.

define(’DB_NAME’, ‘XXXX’);
define(’DB_USER’, ‘XXXX’);
define(’DB_PASSWORD’, ‘XXXX’);
define(’DB_HOST’, ‘localhost’);

The XXXX parts is where you will edit. This allows your software to “connect” to the database. DB Name will be the database name you created. DB user and password will be the user and password you created. Localhost should not edited.

Now to finish installing the software, find out where the install page is on your software by reading the read me file. Then you will go to it by typing in http://www.domainname.com/software/install.php (or where it is located). On that page should be a automated process for installation and you just simply follow the instructions.