Discover how to access your database through the WordPress dashboard by utilising the WP Adminer plugin, especially useful when you do not have access to the database directly.
Table of Contents
What is WP Adminer?
The WP Adminer plugin is a tool designed for WordPress users who would like to manage their database from the WordPress dashboard. This plugin provides a user-friendly interface for executing SQL queries, viewing tables, and performing various database operations without needing to access external database management tools.
This can serve as a substitute for database management tools like phpMyAdmin. I consider this plugin highly beneficial when managing others’ websites, particularly in situations where you have access to the WordPress dashboard but lack database access through the hosting control panel.
Installation
- Download the plugin from WordPress.org
- Install and activate the plugin
- Go to Tools > WP Adminer
Usage
Use the following information to manage your database via WP Adminer.
Accessing WP Adminer
Go to Tools > WP Adminer, or use the link in the admin bar.
Then, click the following button to open the database management tool.
Tables overview
The first page is the tables overview, which displays a list of all the tables within your database. From this page, you can click into a particular table and examine details such as data and index lengths, auto-increment values, and the total number of rows. Additionally, there is a general search feature that enables you to search the entire database for specific data.
Table structure
By selecting a table from the overview, you will be presented with its structure, which includes details such as column names, data types, comments, indexes, and more.
Table data
To access the data in the table, click on the “Select data” link. This will display the rows contained within the table. By default, the view is limited to 50 rows per page, but you have the option to display all rows or adjust the number of rows shown per page.
Searching table data
In the “Select data” view, you have the option to search for particular table data by clicking on “Search.” From this interface, you can specify column names, operators, and the values you wish to search for.
Editing rows
In the “Select data” view, each row features an edit icon located in the left column. Click on this icon to modify the data for that specific row. Furthermore, you have the option to select multiple rows and perform bulk edits using the buttons located at the bottom of the page.
Running SQL commands
If you are proficient in SQL, you can execute SQL commands by clicking on the “SQL command” link located in the top left corner of any page.
This is merely a summary of the functionality I use most frequently, however, the tool provides an extensive array of features, including table creation, bulk row editing, and additional capabilities.
Note on Adminer/AdminerEvo
When this blog post was originally published, WP Adminer used AdminerEvo as the database management system, however the associated GitHub repository for AdminerEvo has been archived. The plugin has now switched to using Adminer.