# Database and phpMyAdmin

In cPanel MySQL Databases, create a new database and database user, add the user with all privileges to that database, then copy the prefixed names to `.env` as `DB_DATABASE`, `DB_USERNAME`, and `DB_PASSWORD`. Keep `DB_CONNECTION=mysql`, normally `DB_HOST=localhost`, and `DB_PORT=3306`.

Run `php artisan migrate --force` over SSH. phpMyAdmin is for inspecting data and exports/backups, not for hand-maintained schema changes. If it must import a bootstrap schema, use a generated migration export and immediately record future structure changes as migrations. Export a backup before imports; restore into a maintenance-tested database first. Never commit real credentials or database exports.