Some low-cost hosting options offer you one or a limited amount of MySQL databases. But do you know that you can run multiple websites in one database, and all websites will work independently without affecting the content and logins of other websites running on the same database.
You can also install different CMS or applications on the same database. For instance, WordPress and MediaWiki can run on a single database without affecting each other.
Running multiple websites in a single database is possible by using table prefixes or customizing your database structure. Here’s how you can set it up, especially if you are using a CMS like WordPress.
While installing WordPress manually on your hosting account, a step asks you to enter the database name, database username, database user password, and host and the last field asks for the table prefix which by default is wp_. This wp_ is the table prefix.
So all you have to do instead of using wp_ you have to use a different table prefix for every new website on your database.
For example,
When you install a CMS like WordPress, you can specify a table prefix during installation. If you want to run multiple websites in one database, use different table prefixes for each website. For example:
- Website 1:
wp1_
- Website 2:
wp2_
This way, the tables for each website will be separated within the same database.
For easy remembrance you can use wp1_ , wp2_, wp3_, wp4_ and so on. Not only WordPress but you can install any CMS by using a different unique for each website you install on your database.
For non-CMS-based websites, you can manually create separate tables for each website within the same database.
For example, you can create tables for:
website1_userswebsite2_userswebsite1_postswebsite2_posts
Alternatively, installing a WordPress multisite network is an advanced way of making multiple WordPress sites on the same database. Its main advantage is that you don’t have to install WordPress separately for every new website you create.
Simply add the following line to your wp-config.php file:
define( ‘WP_ALLOW_MULTISITE’, true );
Now log in to your WordPress dashboard and navigate to Tools -> Network Setup to configure it.
By implementing these methods, you can efficiently run multiple websites in one database without needing separate databases for each.
