Creating a database in Plesk takes just a few clicks: you navigate to your domain, open the Databases section, enter a name, and choose the type. Afterwards, you create a user with the right permissions, so your website or application can connect securely. In this article, you’ll learn how to do this step by step, how to keep security in order, and which tools you can use to maintain your databases.
Creating a Database in Plesk
Log in to your Plesk control panel and navigate to the domain for which you want to create a database. In the side menu, you’ll find the Databases option. Here you’ll see an overview of existing databases and can create a new one.
Log in to Plesk
Open the Plesk control panel with your login credentials and go to the relevant domain.
Open Databases
Click on Databases in the navigation menu to see the overview.
Create a New Database
Click Add Database, enter a clear name, and choose the desired type, such as MySQL or MariaDB.
Confirm Database
Click OK. The database is created immediately and is available for use right away.
Which database types are available depends on the server configuration. Not sure which type fits your application? Check your CMS documentation or contact us via the knowledge base.
User Permissions and Security
A database without a user cannot be accessed by your website. Go to Database Users and click Add User. Choose a unique username and a strong password; Plesk can generate this automatically for you.
Then link the user to the correct database and limit the permissions to what is truly necessary. For most websites, SELECT, INSERT, UPDATE, and DELETE are sufficient. Permissions such as CREATE, DROP, or ALTER should only be given to users who actually need to modify the structure of the database.
Database Management and Maintenance
Plesk offers built-in tools to check, repair, and optimize databases via the Tools & Settings section. For daily management, you use phpMyAdmin, accessible with one click from the database overview. Here you can run queries, edit tables, and export or import data.
Additionally, regularly make an export of your database as an extra checkpoint, even though automatic daily backups are already running in the background. This way, you’re always sure to have a recent version on hand, for example when you make manual changes.
Connecting Databases to Your Application
After the database and user have been created, you enter the details into your application’s configuration: database name, username, password, and hostname, usually localhost. For WordPress, this is done in the wp-config.php file; for other CMS systems, via a similar configuration screen.
Are you managing multiple websites or switching from another provider? Then it’s wise to first check whether your web hosting package supports enough databases and whether your domain name is correctly linked. If you’re unsure about switching yourself, read how switching to Tandata works.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I create multiple databases per domain?
Yes, you can create multiple databases per domain. This is useful if you run multiple applications on one domain.
Which database types does Plesk support?
Usually MySQL and MariaDB, depending on the server configuration. Check this in your control panel if in doubt.
How do I back up my database?
Open phpMyAdmin, select the database, and choose Export to download an SQL file. Daily backups also run automatically in the background.
What permissions does my website need?
For most websites, SELECT, INSERT, UPDATE, and DELETE are sufficient. Only give CREATE or ALTER to users who are allowed to modify the structure.
Can I also manage email and database on the same domain?
Yes, databases and business email are managed separately within the same Plesk domain, without affecting each other.
Conclusion
With Plesk, you can quickly create a database without any command-line knowledge, secure it with the right user permissions, and keep it healthy using phpMyAdmin and the built-in tools. Follow the steps, use strong passwords, and regularly check your backups for a stable website.