How to connect to a MySQL database using PHP

How to connect to a MySQL database using PHP

Before you start

Create a database and a user in cPanel (see How to create a MySQL database in cPanel) and note:

  • The database name and username – cPanel adds your account username as a prefix, e.g. cpuser_shop and cpuser_shopuser
  • The user's password
  • The host, which is localhost for scripts running on your hosting

Example using mysqli

<?php
$conn = mysqli_connect('localhost', 'cpuser_shopuser', 'your-password', 'cpuser_shop');

if (!$conn) {
    die('Connection failed: ' . mysqli_connect_error());
}

echo 'Connected successfully';
mysqli_close($conn);

Example using PDO

<?php
try {
    $pdo = new PDO('mysql:host=localhost;dbname=cpuser_shop;charset=utf8mb4',
                   'cpuser_shopuser', 'your-password');
    $pdo->setAttribute(PDO::ATTR_ERRMODE, PDO::ERRMODE_EXCEPTION);
    echo 'Connected successfully';
} catch (PDOException $e) {
    echo 'Connection failed: ' . $e->getMessage();
}

Common errors

  • Access denied for user – the username or password is wrong, the prefix is missing, or the user hasn't been added to the database. Check MySQL Databases in cPanel.
  • Unknown database – the database name is wrong or missing its prefix.

Keep credentials out of public folders where possible, and never commit them to a public code repository.

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