The reason for using PHP as an interface to MySQL is to format the results of SQL queries in a form visible in a web page. As long as you can log into your MySQL installation using your username and password, you can also do so from PHP.
However, instead of using MySQLs command line to enter instructions and view output, you will create query strings that are passed to MySQL. When MySQL returns its response, it will come as a data structure that PHP can recognize instead of the formatted output you see when you work on the command line. Further PHP commands can retrieve the data and format it for the web page.

The process of using MySQL with PHP is as follows:

• Connect to MySQL and select the database to use.
• Prepare a query string.
• Perform the query.
• Retrieve the results and output them to a web page.
• Repeat steps 2 to 4 until all desired data has been retrieved.
• Disconnect from MySQL.

Well work through these steps in turn, but first its important to set up your login details in a secure manner so people snooping around on your system have trouble getting access to your database.