1. phpMyAdmin (a server side utility usually included with an ftp client such as cPanel).
    1. Log into your hosting provider’s cPanel. (Such as GoDaddy or HostGator).
    2. Under the POPULAR LINKS section select phpMyAdmin.
    3. On the left menu bar select the database you wish to backup.
    4. You will be presented with a list of tables within the database.
    5. On the top menu bar select Export.
      1. From here you could just simply scroll all the way down and select Go to perform the backup; however, I always like to fine tune my backup file and verify how exactly my database will be backed up.
    6. Under Export method select Custom to display all the possible options that are available to you.
    7. Under Format select the type of format you want your database backup to be saved as. Usually SQL.
    8. Under Format select SQL.
    9. Under Tables verify that all the Tables and their Structure and Data check boxes are checked since you are wanting to backup your entire database and all of its contents.
    10. Under Output -> Save output to a file -> Compression select either None, zipped, gzipped.
      1. It’s always a good idea to save your database in as many file formats as possible, in the case with phpMyAdmin using all three compression methods that are available since not every platform will accept the same file format. The file format you are able to upload in the future will depend on the cms platform you use to import your database via phpMyAdmin. Not all file formats are created the same. And not all cms platforms accept the same database file formats.
        1. None – The database will be saved uncompressed/unzipped.
        2. zipped – The database will be saved as a .zip file.
        3. gzipped – The database will be saved as a .gz file.
    11. Scroll all the way down and select Go.
    12. Your database will be backed up with the options that you chose and the location on your computer or external storage device that you selected.
    13. Simply repeat the steps for each file format that you want your database to be saved as.

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