A database table turns application records into named columns with rules for identity, text, numbers, dates, and missing values. phpMyAdmin provides the database server's table editor in a browser, which is useful when a small schema needs to be created without writing a CREATE TABLE statement.

The signed-in MySQL or MariaDB account must be allowed to create tables in the selected database. Inserting and browsing the test row also requires INSERT and SELECT privileges, so a restricted account may complete only part of the flow.

An auto-incrementing primary key gives each row a distinct identifier, while InnoDB supports transactions and foreign keys. Column lengths and nullability should still follow the application's data requirements rather than being copied unchanged from a sample schema.

Steps to create a table in phpMyAdmin:

  1. Select inventory_app from the left navigation.

    The selected account needs CREATE, INSERT, and SELECT privileges for the complete walkthrough.
    Related: Create a database in phpMyAdmin
    Related: Grant database privileges in phpMyAdmin

  2. Enter inventory_items in the Table name field.
  3. Enter 2 in the Number of columns field.
  4. Click Create to open the column definition form.
  5. Enter item_id as the first column name.
  6. Select INT as the item_id data type.
  7. Select PRIMARY from the Index list for item_id.
  8. Click Go in the Add index dialog.
  9. Enable A_I for item_id.

    A_I applies AUTO_INCREMENT, so the database assigns the next identifier when a row is inserted without an item_id value.

  10. Enter item_name as the second column name.
  11. Select VARCHAR as the item_name data type.
  12. Enter 100 in the Length/Values field for item_name.
  13. Select InnoDB from the Storage Engine list.
  14. Click Save to create inventory_items.
  15. Open Structure for inventory_items.
  16. Confirm the structure lists item_id as an INT primary AUTO_INCREMENT column and item_name as VARCHAR(100).
  17. Open the Insert tab for inventory_items.
  18. Enter USB-C cable in the item_name value field.
  19. Click Go to insert the row.
  20. Open the Browse tab for inventory_items.
  21. Confirm the result row shows 1 under item_id and USB-C cable under item_name.