MySQL + phpMyAdmin

beginner

MySQL database server with phpMyAdmin web interface for visual database management and administration.

Overview

MySQL is the world's most widely deployed open-source relational database management system, powering millions of web applications from small WordPress sites to massive enterprise platforms. Originally developed by MySQL AB in 1995, it has become the backbone of the modern web stack, particularly in LAMP (Linux, Apache, MySQL, PHP) environments. Its reputation for speed, reliability, and ease of use has made it the go-to choice for developers who need robust data storage without the complexity of enterprise database systems. This stack combines MySQL 8.0 with phpMyAdmin, creating a complete database solution with visual management capabilities. phpMyAdmin provides a web-based interface that transforms MySQL's command-line administration into an intuitive graphical experience, allowing users to create databases, manage tables, execute queries, and handle user permissions through a browser. The two containers communicate over a dedicated Docker network, with phpMyAdmin automatically connecting to the MySQL instance without additional configuration. This combination is perfect for web developers, small to medium businesses, and anyone who needs MySQL database functionality with easy visual management. Whether you're running WordPress sites, developing PHP applications, or need a development database with administrative tools, this stack provides immediate productivity. The setup is particularly valuable for teams where not all members are comfortable with command-line database administration, as phpMyAdmin makes complex database operations accessible through its web interface.

Key Features

MySQL 8.0 with InnoDB storage engine providing ACID compliance and foreign key constraints
phpMyAdmin web interface with full MySQL administration, SQL editor, and query bookmarks
JSON data type support with native indexing and path-based queries in MySQL 8.0
Import/export functionality supporting CSV, SQL, XML, and other database formats
Visual database designer in phpMyAdmin for creating relationships and ER diagrams
MySQL Group Replication support for high availability configurations
Full-text search capabilities with natural language and boolean mode searching
User privilege management through phpMyAdmin's intuitive interface

Common Use Cases

1WordPress and PHP application development with visual database management
2Small to medium business applications requiring relational data storage
3Web hosting environments where clients need database access without shell access
4Development and testing environments for MySQL-based applications
5Educational settings for teaching SQL and database administration concepts
6Legacy application migration where phpMyAdmin provides familiar MySQL tooling
7Multi-tenant applications where different teams need database access through web interface

Prerequisites

Minimum 512MB RAM available (256MB for MySQL + 128MB for phpMyAdmin)
Docker and Docker Compose installed on the host system
Ports 3306 and 8080 available on the host machine
Basic understanding of SQL and relational database concepts
Environment file (.env) with MySQL credentials configured

For development & testing. Review security settings, change default credentials, and test thoroughly before production use. See Terms

docker-compose.yml

1services: 
2  mysql: 
3    image: mysql:8.0
4    container_name: mysql
5    restart: unless-stopped
6    environment: 
7      MYSQL_ROOT_PASSWORD: ${MYSQL_ROOT_PASSWORD}
8      MYSQL_DATABASE: ${MYSQL_DATABASE}
9      MYSQL_USER: ${MYSQL_USER}
10      MYSQL_PASSWORD: ${MYSQL_PASSWORD}
11    volumes: 
12      - mysql_data:/var/lib/mysql
13    ports: 
14      - "3306:3306"
15    networks: 
16      - mysql-network
17
18  phpmyadmin: 
19    image: phpmyadmin:latest
20    container_name: phpmyadmin
21    restart: unless-stopped
22    environment: 
23      PMA_HOST: mysql
24      PMA_PORT: 3306
25    ports: 
26      - "8080:80"
27    depends_on: 
28      - mysql
29    networks: 
30      - mysql-network
31
32volumes: 
33  mysql_data: 
34
35networks: 
36  mysql-network: 
37    driver: bridge

.env Template

.env

1MYSQL_ROOT_PASSWORD=rootpassword
2MYSQL_DATABASE=myapp
3MYSQL_USER=appuser
4MYSQL_PASSWORD=changeme

Usage Notes

1Docs: https://dev.mysql.com/doc/ | phpMyAdmin: https://www.phpmyadmin.net/docs/
2Access phpMyAdmin at http://localhost:8080
3Login with root/MYSQL_ROOT_PASSWORD or MYSQL_USER/MYSQL_PASSWORD
4Backup: docker exec mysql mysqldump -u root -p --all-databases > backup.sql
5For production, set MYSQL_ROOT_HOST to restrict root access
6Data persisted in mysql_data volume - backup /var/lib/mysql regularly

Individual Services(2 services)

Copy individual services to mix and match with your existing compose files.

mysql

mysql:
  image: mysql:8.0
  container_name: mysql
  restart: unless-stopped
  environment:
    MYSQL_ROOT_PASSWORD: ${MYSQL_ROOT_PASSWORD}
    MYSQL_DATABASE: ${MYSQL_DATABASE}
    MYSQL_USER: ${MYSQL_USER}
    MYSQL_PASSWORD: ${MYSQL_PASSWORD}
  volumes:
    - mysql_data:/var/lib/mysql
  ports:
    - "3306:3306"
  networks:
    - mysql-network

phpmyadmin

phpmyadmin:
  image: phpmyadmin:latest
  container_name: phpmyadmin
  restart: unless-stopped
  environment:
    PMA_HOST: mysql
    PMA_PORT: 3306
  ports:
    - "8080:80"
  depends_on:
    - mysql
  networks:
    - mysql-network

Quick Start

terminal

1# 1. Create the compose file
2cat > docker-compose.yml << 'EOF'
3services:
4  mysql:
5    image: mysql:8.0
6    container_name: mysql
7    restart: unless-stopped
8    environment:
9      MYSQL_ROOT_PASSWORD: ${MYSQL_ROOT_PASSWORD}
10      MYSQL_DATABASE: ${MYSQL_DATABASE}
11      MYSQL_USER: ${MYSQL_USER}
12      MYSQL_PASSWORD: ${MYSQL_PASSWORD}
13    volumes:
14      - mysql_data:/var/lib/mysql
15    ports:
16      - "3306:3306"
17    networks:
18      - mysql-network
19
20  phpmyadmin:
21    image: phpmyadmin:latest
22    container_name: phpmyadmin
23    restart: unless-stopped
24    environment:
25      PMA_HOST: mysql
26      PMA_PORT: 3306
27    ports:
28      - "8080:80"
29    depends_on:
30      - mysql
31    networks:
32      - mysql-network
33
34volumes:
35  mysql_data:
36
37networks:
38  mysql-network:
39    driver: bridge
40EOF
41
42# 2. Create the .env file
43cat > .env << 'EOF'
44MYSQL_ROOT_PASSWORD=rootpassword
45MYSQL_DATABASE=myapp
46MYSQL_USER=appuser
47MYSQL_PASSWORD=changeme
48EOF
49
50# 3. Start the services
51docker compose up -d
52
53# 4. View logs
54docker compose logs -f

One-Liner

Run this command to download and set up the recipe in one step:

terminal

1curl -fsSL https://docker.recipes/api/recipes/mysql-phpmyadmin/run | bash

Troubleshooting

Connection refused on port 3306: Check if MySQL container started successfully and MYSQL_ROOT_PASSWORD is set in environment variables
phpMyAdmin shows 'mysqli_real_connect(): (HY000/2002)': Ensure both containers are on the same network and MySQL container is fully initialized before phpMyAdmin starts
Access denied for user 'root'@'%': Verify MYSQL_ROOT_PASSWORD matches between containers, or use MYSQL_USER/MYSQL_PASSWORD for non-root access
Import file size exceeded in phpMyAdmin: Increase PHP upload limits by mounting custom PHP configuration or use mysql command line for large imports
MySQL data lost after container restart: Confirm mysql_data volume is properly mounted and not using anonymous volumes

Community Notes

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