Search the Whole Database in phpMyAdmin

Why search the whole database?

A database is a place where your website keeps its data. It is split into tables. A table is like a spreadsheet page. Sometimes you know a word is stored somewhere, but you do not know which table holds it. For example, you may want to find an old web address after moving a site.

phpMyAdmin is a web tool for working with databases. It can search all the tables in one go.

Steps

1. Log in to your hosting control panel. Open phpMyAdmin.
2. Click your database name in the left list.
3. Click the Search tab at the top of the page.
4. In the Words or values to search for box, type what you want to find.
5. Choose how to match. Options include "at least one of the words", "all words", "the exact phrase" and "as regular expression".
6. Under Inside tables, tick the tables to search. Use Select all to pick every table.
7. Click Go.

phpMyAdmin lists each table and how many matches it found. Click Browse next to a table to see the rows.

Understanding the match choices

• At least one of the words: finds rows with any of your words.
• All words: finds rows that contain every word.
• The exact phrase: finds the words together, in order.
• Regular expression: a pattern search for advanced users. You can skip it.

Change what you find

Once you click Browse, you can click Edit on a row. Change the value and click Go to save it.

Warning: Edits and deletes change your live website. Export a backup of the database first. Use the Export tab.

Quick recap

• Open phpMyAdmin and click your database name.
• Use the Search tab, not the one inside a table.
• Type the word, pick a match type and tick the tables.
• Click Go, then Browse to see rows.
• Always take a backup before you change anything.