Where Are WordPress Pages Stored in Database? [SQL Lookup]

You must be curious to know where WordPress pages get saved in the database, right? WordPress is a top CMS, made with PHP and MySQL. It’s running more than 38% of websites globally, with a 63% share in the CMS market.

A lot of you like to use WordPress for your websites. You’ll find countless new as well as highly advanced websites using WordPress. Even this blog you’re reading right now, TheWPX, is on WordPress CMS. I’ve worked with WordPress a lot, so I can share this expertise with you!

In WordPress, which is a dynamic CMS made with PHP and MySQL, all of your posts and pages are saved in a SQL table called “wp_posts”. This is a smart way to manage content because, instead of having separate HTML files for every page, WordPress keeps everything neatly in this table.

One great thing about WordPress is that it doesn’t create individual HTML files for each page on your website. This is really convenient and makes managing your site much simpler.

When you’re new to WordPress, understanding it can be a bit tricky. I remember when I began my own website in 2015, figuring out WordPress was quite a challenge. If you’re facing the same situation, don’t stress. I’m here to guide you through it all.

Make sure you read this article to the end to get a clear picture of how WordPress functions and where it keeps all your pages and posts.

So, let’s get started…

Understanding How WordPress Works

The first thing you need to understand is that your website is built using PHP and MySQL. Because of this, your site doesn’t keep separate HTML pages for each post and page you create.

Instead, whenever someone visits a page on your site, the content is pulled from the SQL database and displayed on the web page using PHP.

I want you to know that everything on your WordPress site is made on-the-fly and kept in the database. Take the header menus, footer content, sidebars, and your posts, for instance; all these elements are stored in the database and are fetched through PHP scripts as needed.

Let me simplify this for you:

  • The visitor requests a specific page on your website built on WordPress.
  • WordPress loads the PHP function, starting with index.php.
  • It queries the database and requests the specific post or page your browser requested.
  • WordPress compiles the data along with the plugins and theme and generates an HTML page for it.
  • Then, the dynamically generated HTML page is sent to your browser for rendering.

This way, WordPress doesn’t have to store any individual page for every page or post on your server, and it uses MySQL to dynamically generate the HTML pages for your visitors.

Where Are WordPress Pages Stored in SQL?

So, where are the pages you created stored in WordPress?

As we told you above, WordPress stores content or the pages you created in the database. All the pages you created on your website are stored in a table named “wp_posts“. 

If you want to modify the file manually or replace words using SQL, you can either use MySQL commands through SSH or utilize tools like phpMyAdmin to access your server’s SQL database. It is a powerful tool used for managing the database and the files within it.

You will likely find phpMyAdmin on your hosting provider’s control panel. I use cPanel, so I log in to my cPanel account and search for phpMyAdmin in the database section, as shown in the image below.

phpMyAdmin in cPanel

When you click on “phpMyAdmin“, it will take you to a control panel. From there, you can handle your database and change it as you want. I’ll guide you through this process, so you can manage everything smoothly.

I wouldn’t suggest you mess around with the “phpMyAdmin” panel, especially if you’re not too familiar with it. If something goes wrong, it could mess up your website big time, and there’s no easy undo button for that.

Trust me, I’ve seen it happen, and it’s not pretty.

Find the table named “wp_posts” in SQL

When you click on your WordPress website’s database, it shows the tables that your website uses. Generally, WordPress starts with 12 default tables, but this number can go up depending on the theme or plugins you’ve added to your site.

In the “wp_posts” table, you’ll find all the stuff related to posts, pages, and even the special content types. You might be wondering how this single table manages to keep different kinds of data for pages and other unique items, right?

Column named “post_type” inside “wp_posts” in WordPress

In the “wp_posts” section, there’s a part called “post_type,” and this is where you’ll see different kinds of content like articles, pages, or special types that WordPress and its extra tools use. Basically, this spot tells you what sort of item you’re looking at – whether it’s a regular post, a page, or something unique.

In the picture you’re looking at, WordPress keeps various details in each column given there, from who wrote it to how many comments there are.

That’s how WordPress uses SQL to store pages and other important data.

How to Backup SQL Database of WordPress

Backing up your WordPress database is not at all tough. You can do it via phpMyAdmin or by using WordPress backup plugins like Updraft or All in One Migration.

Let me tell you how you can back up your database with phpMyAdmin, step by step. Trust me, I’ve done this many times, and I know the ins and outs.

First, you need to log into your server’s control panel or cPanel. Once in, find and click on the phpMyAdmin option. It’ll take you to a page where you can see all your databases listed.

Now, pick the database you want to save. To explain here, I’m using my “thewpx_wpx” database as an example – that’s where I keep my dummy site’s data while I write these guides.

Exporting Database Using phpMyAdmin

Once you’re inside your database, click on the “Export” option displayed above your database files. It will open the export page, from which you can easily download a backup of your WordPress server.

Exporting Database of Dummy Website

Once you get inside, you’ll see two ways to take your database out and the kind of file you want it to be in.

I’ve gone for the “Quick” way to pull out my database because it’s easy and covers everything. And I’ve chosen the “SQL” file type because it’s good for keeping SQL databases.

Now, just hit the “Go” button after the file options, and your database will start to download on your own computer.

So go ahead and follow these steps, and you’ll have your backup ready in no time!

Important Files in WordPress & Directory Structure

In WordPress, there are some important files that help your website run without any problems. These include files for plugins you’ve added and themes you’re using.

Let me share more about the WordPress files and how they’re arranged. This will give you a better idea of how WordPress functions.

When you go to your website’s control panel or cPanel, click on “File Manager.” This will take you to where your website’s files are kept.

Inside, click on the “public_html” folder. This is where all the WordPress files that power your website live, just like you can see in the image.

Files & Structure of WordPress

The “wp-content” folder in WordPress is like a cupboard where you keep your media files, themes, and plugins. This is where all your website’s uploaded pictures, the design theme you’ve chosen, and the extra features you add through plugins are stored.

Now, depending on the extra features (plugins) you use, there might be some more folders in there. But remember, the “wp-content” along with the “wp-config.php” file are like the heart and brain of your WordPress site.

Just a heads-up, don’t ever think of deleting any files or folders that you saw in that image, okay? Even a small mistake with these can mess up your website big time, making it totally unreachable.

Wrapping Up!

In short, WordPress stores your pages in a database table called “wp_posts,” and all other files, like templates and plugins, are stored in the “wp-content” folder. Usually, there’s no need to manually edit pages in the database or WordPress system files unless you’re confident in your abilities.

However, if you want to make changes or customize anything, you can use the theme customizer option to personalize your theme. You can also edit your WordPress pages using Gutenberg Editor, Classic Editor, or a WordPress page builder.

That’s all for now. I hope you found this information helpful. If you liked it, please share it with your friends, family, and followers. If you still have questions about WordPress, its database, or file structure, feel free to leave a comment below, and I’ll be happy to help you out.

Sunny Kumar

Number of posts: 161

Hi, I'm Sunny Kumar, a passionate tech enthusiast and a blogger from New Delhi, India. With a degree in IT from IIT-D and expertise in SEO, Cloud Computing, Telecom & Networking, and CEH, I specialize in various technical fields, including SEO, WordPress Development, and PC Building. And being a proficient WordPress user, I’m dedicated to delivering quality content and a remarkable user experience.

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