Database Solutions: Raising The Bar For
Web Site Development

Why use a database? They can make the tedious, time consuming task of updating information on a web site easier and faster for you. Database technologies allow the graphics and layout of the web site design to be separated from the web site content. Separating the web site content from the design allows site owners to add or edit data once within the database, and have it instantly propagated to any or all web pages for which it is required. Using database technologies allow pages to become dynamic or fluid. Data can be added directly to a database or through the use of a content management system (cms).

Web Site Database Solutions And Content Management Systems

At Web Defined, we pride ourselves in creating custom content management systems for all of our client’s sites. By allowing our clients to dynamically add, edit, or delete content, and even full web pages from their web sites, we free them from the burden of either learning to hard-code web pages on their own or hiring a webmaster for every change they’d like to implement –saving them money and time. What’s more, our content management systems reside on the internet rather than downloading the software to a particular machine. This allows our clients to make changes from home, the office, or wherever they have access to the internet.

What Is Required To Implement A Database Solution?

In order to implement a database for use within your web site, the hosting package that you use must contain the ability to connect and utilize the host’s database servers. This may require that you upgrade your hosting package, or in some cases, you may need to move your site to a different hosting company that offers database technologies. The costs associated with upgrading to a database ready hosting package is usually minimal, a few dollars more than the basic package.

In addition, you will have to chose which type of server you wish to use, a UNIX server or a Windows server. The choice determines which programming language will be used to manipulate data within the database.

What Is PHP/MySQL?

MySQL is an open source database management application that was created specifically for the internet. MySQL is most commonly used for web applications and has become a popular alternative to proprietary database systems because of its speed and reliability. MySQL can run on UNIX, Windows, and Mac OS.

PHP is an open source programming language that was developed specifically to work with MySQL, and in fact, they are often referred to as the dynamic duo. They are slim, fast, and versatile –the perfect ingredients for web applications.

Although MySQL and PHP can be used on both UNIX and Windows servers, UNIX is preferred because it requires less overhead and thus processes requests faster then Windows. Also, hosting companies usually charge additional fees to use Windows servers.