What is mySQL ? I've heard a lot of it, but don't know what it is... :rolleyes:

MySQL is a database structure used to save information in. It is generally used with PHP.

Not only is it a database, but it is one of the most common databases used for small to medium Internet sites (and some very major sites), and much of this has to do with the fact that it is free. The other main databases used on the Internet are Microsoft SQL 2000 and Oracle SQL (both of which are pretty expensive), although if you order these from a web host you can get ok prices monthly, but nothing compares to FREE!

You can get it free here:

www.mysql.com

There are a bunch of definitions on Google:

http://www.google.com/search?sourceid=navclient&ie=UTF-8&q=define%3AMysql

Hope that helps

Thanks for your reply!! mySQL can back up a hacked forum, and I'd like to know how it does that. Can someone teach me, please? :)

You don't learn about databases overnight :)

I'd suggest googling for some tutorials and / or reading the on-line manuals on the www.mysql.com

Try downloading a copy of the database engine and the GUI tools from www.mysql.com as these will give you a "nice" frontend to hide some of the technical bits while you learn.

Originally posted by Soul Tester
Thanks for your reply!! mySQL can back up a hacked forum, and I'd like to know how it does that. Can someone teach me, please? :)

The forum has a built in script that can take all the information in a database, and allow it to be saved to someones local computer (or remote if need be). If a forum is "hacked" or has some type of bug and all the information is lost, the last backup saved to a harddrive is loaded back up and it will show everthing that was there since the last backup.