PHP and MySQL Tutorial

PHP will work with virtually all database software, including Oracle and Sybase but most commonly
used is freely available MySQL database.

We have divided this lesson in the following book :

1. Connecting to MySQL database - Learn how to use PHP to open and close a MySQL
database connection.
2. Create MySQL Database Using PHP - This part explains how to create MySQL database
and tables using PHP.

3. Delete MySQL Database Using PHP - This part explains how to delete MySQL database
and tables using PHP.

4. Insert Data To MySQL Database - Once you have created your database and tables then
you would like to insert your data into created tables. This session will take you through
real example on data insert.

5. Retrevieng Data From MySQL Database - Learn how to fetch records from MySQL
database using PHP.

6. Using Paging through PHP - This one explains how to show your query result into
multiple pages and how to create the navigation link.

7. Updating Data Into MySQL Database - This part explains how to update existing records
into MySQL database using PHP.

8. Deleting Data From MySQL Database - This part explains how to delete or purge
existing records from MySQL database using PHP.

9. Using PHP To Backup MySQL Database - Learn different ways to take backup of your
MySQL database for safety purpose.
MySQL Database Connection

Opening Database Connection:

PHP provides mysql_connect function to open a database connection. This function takes five
parameters and returns a MySQL link identifier on success, or FALSE on failure.

Syntax:
connection mysql_connect(server,user,passwd,new_link,client_flag);

Parameter Description

Optional - The host name running database server. If not specified then
server
default value is localhost:3036.

Optional - The username accessing the database. If not specified then default
user
is the name of the user that owns the server process.

Optional - The password of the user accessing the database. If not specified
passwd
then default is an empty password.

Optional - If a second call is made to mysql_connect() with the same

new_link arguments, no new connection will be established; instead, the identifier of
the already opened connection will be returned.

Optional - A combination of the following constants:

← MYSQL_CLIENT_SSL - Use SSL encryption
← MYSQL_CLIENT_COMPRESS - Use compression protocol
client_flags ← MYSQL_CLIENT_IGNORE_SPACE - Allow space after function names

← MYSQL_CLIENT_INTERACTIVE - Allow interactive timeout seconds of

inactivity before closing the connection

NOTE: You can specify server, user, passwd in php.ini file instead of using them again and again in
your every PHP scripts. Check php.ini file configuration.

Closing Database Connection:

Its simplest function mysql_close PHP provides to close a database connection. This function takes
connection resource returned by mysql_connect function. It returns TRUE on success or FALSE on
failure.

Syntax:
bool mysql_close ( resource $link_identifier );

If a resource is not specified then last opend database is closed.

Example:

Try out following example to open and close a database connection:

<?php
$dbhost = 'localhost:3036';
$dbuser = 'guest';
$dbpass = 'guest123';
$conn = mysql_connect($dbhost, $dbuser, $dbpass);
if(! $conn )
{
die('Could not connect: ' . mysql_error());
}
echo 'Connected successfully';
mysql_close($conn);
?>
Create MySQL Database Using PHP

Creating a Database:

To create and delete a database you should have admin priviledge. Its very easy to create a new
MySQL database. PHP uses mysql_query function to create a MySQL database. This function takes
two parameters and returns TRUE on success or FALSE on failure.

Syntax:
bool mysql_query( sql, connection );

Parameter Description

sql Required - SQL query to create a database

Optional - if not specified then last opend connection by mysql_connect will be

connection
used.

Example:

Try out following example to create a database:

<?php
$dbhost = 'localhost:3036';
$dbuser = 'root';
$dbpass = 'rootpassword';
$conn = mysql_connect($dbhost, $dbuser, $dbpass);
if(! $conn )
{
die('Could not connect: ' . mysql_error());
}
echo 'Connected successfully';
$sql = 'CREATE Database test_db';
$retval = mysql_query( $sql, $conn );
if(! $retval )
{
die('Could not create database: ' . mysql_error());
}
echo "Database test_db created successfully\n";
mysql_close($conn);
?>

Selecting a Database:

Once you estblish a connection with a database server then it is required to select a particular
database where your all the tables are associated.

This is required because there may be multiple databases residing on a single server and you can
do work with a single database at a time.

PHP provides function mysql_select_db to select a database.It returns TRUE on success or FALSE
on failure.

Syntax:
bool mysql_select_db( db_name, connection );

Parameter Description

db_name Required - Database name to be selected

Optional - if not specified then last opend connection by mysql_connect will be

connection
used.

Example:

Here is the example showing you how to select a database.

<?php
$dbhost = 'localhost:3036';
$dbuser = 'guest';
$dbpass = 'guest123';
$conn = mysql_connect($dbhost, $dbuser, $dbpass);
if(! $conn )
{
die('Could not connect: ' . mysql_error());
}
echo 'Connected successfully';
mysql_select_db( 'test_db' );
mysql_close($conn);
?>

Creating Database Tables:

To create tables in the new database you need to do the same thing as creating the database. First
create the SQL query to create the tables then execute the query using mysql_query() function.
Example:

Try out following example to create a table:

<?php
$dbhost = 'localhost:3036';
$dbuser = 'root';
$dbpass = 'rootpassword';
$conn = mysql_connect($dbhost, $dbuser, $dbpass);
if(! $conn )
{
die('Could not connect: ' . mysql_error());
}
echo 'Connected successfully';
$sql = 'CREATE TABLE employee( '.
'emp_id INT NOT NULL AUTO_INCREMENT, '.
'emp_name VARCHAR(20) NOT NULL, '.
'emp_address VARCHAR(20) NOT NULL, '.
'emp_salary INT NOT NULL, '.
'join_date timestamp(14) NOT NULL, '.
'primary key ( emp_id ))';

mysql_select_db('test_db');
$retval = mysql_query( $sql, $conn );
if(! $retval )
{
die('Could not create table: ' . mysql_error());
}
echo "Table employee created successfully\n";
mysql_close($conn);
?>

In case you need to create many tables then its better to create a text file first and put all the SQL
commands in that text file and then load that file into $sql variable and excute those commands.

Consider the following content in sql_query.txt file

CREATE TABLE employee(

emp_id INT NOT NULL AUTO_INCREMENT,
emp_name VARCHAR(20) NOT NULL,
emp_address VARCHAR(20) NOT NULL,
emp_salary INT NOT NULL,
join_date timestamp(14) NOT NULL,
primary key ( emp_id ));

<?php
$dbhost = 'localhost:3036';
$dbuser = 'root';
$dbpass = 'rootpassword';
$conn = mysql_connect($dbhost, $dbuser, $dbpass);
if(! $conn )
{
die('Could not connect: ' . mysql_error());
}
$query_file = 'sql_query.txt';

$fp = fopen($query_file, 'r');

$sql = fread($fp, filesize($query_file));
fclose($fp);

mysql_select_db('test_db');
$retval = mysql_query( $sql, $conn );
if(! $retval )
{
die('Could not create table: ' . mysql_error());
}
echo "Table employee created successfully\n";
mysql_close($conn);
?>

Deleting MySQL Database Using PHP

Deleting a Database:

If a database is no longer required then it can be deleted forever. You can use pass an SQL
command to mysql_query to delete a database.

Example:

Try out following example to drop a database.

<?php
$dbhost = 'localhost:3036';
$dbuser = 'root';
$dbpass = 'rootpassword';
$conn = mysql_connect($dbhost, $dbuser, $dbpass);
if(! $conn )
{
die('Could not connect: ' . mysql_error());
}
$sql = 'DROP DATABASE test_db';
$retval = mysql_query( $sql, $conn );
if(! $retval )
{
die('Could not delete database db_test: ' . mysql_error());
}
echo "Database deleted successfully\n";
mysql_close($conn);
?>

WARNING: its very dangerous to delete a database and any table. So before deleting any table or
database you should make sure you are doing everything intentionally.

Deleting a Table:

Its again a matter of issuing one SQL command through mysql_query function to delete any
database table. But be very careful while using this command because by doing so you can delete
some important information you have in your table.

Example:

Try out following example to drop a table:

<?php
$dbhost = 'localhost:3036';
$dbuser = 'root';
$dbpass = 'rootpassword';
$conn = mysql_connect($dbhost, $dbuser, $dbpass);
if(! $conn )
{
die('Could not connect: ' . mysql_error());
}
$sql = 'DROP TABLE employee';
$retval = mysql_query( $sql, $conn );
if(! $retval )
{
die('Could not delete table employee: ' . mysql_error());
}
echo "Table deleted successfully\n";
mysql_close($conn);
?>
Insert Data into MySQL Database

Data can be entered into MySQL tables by executing SQL INSERT statement through PHP function
mysql_query. Below a simle example to insert a record into employee table.

Example:

Try out following example to insert record into employee table.

<?php
$dbhost = 'localhost:3036';
$dbuser = 'root';
$dbpass = 'rootpassword';
$conn = mysql_connect($dbhost, $dbuser, $dbpass);
if(! $conn )
{
die('Could not connect: ' . mysql_error());
}
$sql = 'INSERT INTO employee '.
'(emp_name,emp_address, emp_salary, join_date) '.
'VALUES ( "guest", "XYZ", 2000, NOW() )';
mysql_select_db('test_db');
$retval = mysql_query( $sql, $conn );
if(! $retval )
{
die('Could not enter data: ' . mysql_error());
}
echo "Entered data successfully\n";
mysql_close($conn);
?>

In real application, all the values will be taken using HTML form and then those values will be
captured using PHP script and finally they will be inserted into MySQL tables.

While doing data insert its best practice to use function get_magic_quotes_gpc() to check if
current configuration for magic quote is set or not. If this function returns false then use function
addslashes() to add slashes before quotes.

Example:

Try out this example by putting this code into add_employee.php, this
will take input using HTML Form and then it will create records into
database.

<html>
<head>
<title>Add New Record in MySQL Database</title>
</head>
<body>
<?php
if(isset($_POST['add']))
{
$dbhost = 'localhost:3036';
$dbuser = 'root';
$dbpass = 'rootpassword';
$conn = mysql_connect($dbhost, $dbuser, $dbpass);
if(! $conn )
{
die('Could not connect: ' . mysql_error());
}

if(! get_magic_quotes_gpc() )
{
$emp_name = addslashes ($_POST['emp_name']);
$emp_address = addslashes ($_POST['emp_address']);
}
else
{
$emp_name = $_POST['emp_name'];
$emp_address = $_POST['emp_address'];
}
$emp_salary = $_POST['emp_salary'];

$sql = "INSERT INTO employee ".

"(emp_name,emp_address, emp_salary, join_date) ".
 "VALUES('$emp_name','$emp_address',$emp_salary, NOW())";
mysql_select_db('test_db');
$retval = mysql_query( $sql, $conn );
if(! $retval )
{
die('Could not enter data: ' . mysql_error());
}
echo "Entered data successfully\n";
mysql_close($conn);
}
else
{
?>
<form method="post" action="<?php $_PHP_SELF ?>">
<table width="400" border="0" cellspacing="1" cellpadding="2">
<tr>
<td width="100">Employee Name</td>
<td><input name="emp_name" type="text" id="emp_name"></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="100">Employee Address</td>
<td><input name="emp_address" type="text" id="emp_address"></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="100">Employee Salary</td>
<td><input name="emp_salary" type="text" id="emp_salary"></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="100"> </td>
<td> </td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="100"> </td>
<td>
<input name="add" type="submit" id="add" value="Add Employee">
</td>
</tr>
</table>
</form>
<?php
}
?>
</body>
</html>
Getting Data From MySQL Database

Data can be fetched from MySQL tables by executing SQL SELECT statement through PHP function
mysql_query. You have several options to fetch data from MySQL.

The most frequently used option is to use function mysql_fetch_array(). This function returns row
as an associative array, a numeric array, or both. This function returns FALSE if there are no more
rows.

Below is a simple example to fetch records from employee table.

Example:
Try out following example to display all the records from employee
table.

<?php
$dbhost = 'localhost:3036';
$dbuser = 'root';
$dbpass = 'rootpassword';
$conn = mysql_connect($dbhost, $dbuser, $dbpass);
if(! $conn )
{
die('Could not connect: ' . mysql_error());
}
$sql = 'SELECT emp_id, emp_name, emp_salary FROM employee';

mysql_select_db('test_db');
$retval = mysql_query( $sql, $conn );
if(! $retval )
{
die('Could not get data: ' . mysql_error());
}
while($row = mysql_fetch_array($retval, MYSQL_ASSOC))
{
echo "EMP ID :{$row['emp_id']} <br> ".
"EMP NAME : {$row['emp_name']} <br> ".
"EMP SALARY : {$row['emp_salary']} <br> ".
"--------------------------------<br>";
}
echo "Fetched data successfully\n";
mysql_close($conn);
?>

The content of the rows are assigned to the variable $row and the values in row are then printed.

NOTE: Always remember to put curly brackets when you want to insert an array value directly into
a string.

In above example the constant MYSQL_ASSOC is used as the second argument to

mysql_fetch_array(), so that it returns the row as an associative array. With an associative array
you can access the field by using their name instead of using the index.

PHP provides another function called mysql_fetch_assoc() which also returns the row as an
associative array.

Example:

Try out following example to display all the records from employee
table using mysql_fetch_assoc() function.

<?php
$dbhost = 'localhost:3036';
$dbuser = 'root';
$dbpass = 'rootpassword';
$conn = mysql_connect($dbhost, $dbuser, $dbpass);
if(! $conn )
{
die('Could not connect: ' . mysql_error());
}
$sql = 'SELECT emp_id, emp_name, emp_salary FROM employee';

mysql_select_db('test_db');
$retval = mysql_query( $sql, $conn );
if(! $retval )
{
die('Could not get data: ' . mysql_error());
}
while($row = mysql_fetch_assoc($retval))
{
echo "EMP ID :{$row['emp_id']} <br> ".
"EMP NAME : {$row['emp_name']} <br> ".
"EMP SALARY : {$row['emp_salary']} <br> ".
"--------------------------------<br>";
}
echo "Fetched data successfully\n";
mysql_close($conn);
?>

You can also use the constant MYSQL_NUM, as the second argument to mysql_fetch_array(). This
will cause the function to return an array with numeric index.

Example:

Try out following example to display all the records from employee
table using MYSQL_NUM argument.

<?php
$dbhost = 'localhost:3036';
$dbuser = 'root';
$dbpass = 'rootpassword';
$conn = mysql_connect($dbhost, $dbuser, $dbpass);
if(! $conn )
{
die('Could not connect: ' . mysql_error());
}
$sql = 'SELECT emp_id, emp_name, emp_salary FROM employee';

mysql_select_db('test_db');
$retval = mysql_query( $sql, $conn );
if(! $retval )
{
die('Could not get data: ' . mysql_error());
}
while($row = mysql_fetch_array($retval, MYSQL_NUM))
{
echo "EMP ID :{$row[0]} <br> ".
"EMP NAME : {$row[1]} <br> ".
"EMP SALARY : {$row[2]} <br> ".
"--------------------------------<br>";
}
echo "Fetched data successfully\n";
mysql_close($conn);
?>

All the above three examples will produce same result.

Releasing Memory:

Its a good dpractice to release cursor memory at the end of each SELECT statement. This can be
done by using PHP function mysql_free_result(). Below is the example to show how it has to be
used.

Example:

Try out following example

<?php
$dbhost = 'localhost:3036';
$dbuser = 'root';
$dbpass = 'rootpassword';
$conn = mysql_connect($dbhost, $dbuser, $dbpass);
if(! $conn )
{
die('Could not connect: ' . mysql_error());
}
$sql = 'SELECT emp_id, emp_name, emp_salary FROM employee';

mysql_select_db('test_db');
$retval = mysql_query( $sql, $conn );
if(! $retval )
{
die('Could not get data: ' . mysql_error());
}
while($row = mysql_fetch_array($retval, MYSQL_NUM))
{
echo "EMP ID :{$row[0]} <br> ".
"EMP NAME : {$row[1]} <br> ".
"EMP SALARY : {$row[2]} <br> ".
"--------------------------------<br>";
}
mysql_free_result($retval);
echo "Fetched data successfully\n";
mysql_close($conn);
?>

While fetching data you can write as complex SQL as you like. Procedure will remain same as
mentioned above.

Using Paging through PHP

Its always possible that your SQL SELECT statement query may result into thausand of records. But
its is not good idea to display all the results on one page. So we can divide this result into many
pages as per requirement.

Paging means showing your query result in multiple pages instead of just put them all in one long
page.

MySQL helps to generate paging by using LIMIT clause which will take two arguments. First
argument as OFFSET and second argument how many records should be returned from the
database.

Below is a simple example to fetch records using LIMIT clause to generate paging.

Example:

Try out following example to display 10 records per page.

<html>
<head>
<title>Paging Using PHP</title>
</head>
<body>
<?php
$dbhost = 'localhost:3036';
$dbuser = 'root';
$dbpass = 'rootpassword';
$rec_limit = 10;

$conn = mysql_connect($dbhost, $dbuser, $dbpass);

if(! $conn )
{
die('Could not connect: ' . mysql_error());
}
mysql_select_db('test_db');
/* Get total number of records */
$sql = "SELECT count(emp_id) FROM employee ";
$retval = mysql_query( $sql, $conn );
if(! $retval )
{
die('Could not get data: ' . mysql_error());
}
$row = mysql_fetch_array($retval, MYSQL_NUM );
$rec_count = $row[0];

if( isset($_GET{'page'} ) )
{
$page = $_GET{'page'} + 1;
$offset = $rec_limit * $page ;
}
else
{
$page = 0;
$offset = 0;
}
$left_rec = $rec_count - ($page * $rec_limit);
$sql = "SELECT emp_id, emp_name, emp_salary ".
"FROM employee ".
"LIMIT $offset, $rec_limit";

$retval = mysql_query( $sql, $conn );

if(! $retval )
{
die('Could not get data: ' . mysql_error());
}
while($row = mysql_fetch_array($retval, MYSQL_ASSOC))
{
echo "EMP ID :{$row['emp_id']} <br> ".
"EMP NAME : {$row['emp_name']} <br> ".
"EMP SALARY : {$row['emp_salary']} <br> ".
"--------------------------------<br>";
}

if( $page > 0 )

{
$last = $page - 2;
echo "<a href=\"$_PHP_SELF?page=$last\">Last 10 Records</a> |";
echo "<a href=\"$_PHP_SELF?page=$page\">Next 10 Records</a>";
}
else if( $page == 0 )
{
echo "<a href=\"$_PHP_SELF?page=$page\">Next 10 Records</a>";
}
else if( $left_rec < $rec_limit )
{
$last = $page - 2;
echo "<a href=\"$_PHP_SELF?page=$last\">Last 10 Records</a>";
}
mysql_close($conn);
?>

Updating Data into MySQL Database

Data can be updated into MySQL tables by executing SQL UPDATE statement through PHP function
mysql_query.

Below is a simple example to update records into employee table. To update a record in any table
it is required to locate that record by using a conditional clause. Below example uses primary key to
match a record in employee table.

Example:

Try out following example to understand update operation. You need

to provide an employee ID to update an employee salary.

<html>
<head>
<title>Update a Record in MySQL Database</title>
</head>
<body>

<?php
if(isset($_POST['update']))
{
$dbhost = 'localhost:3036';
$dbuser = 'root';
$dbpass = 'rootpassword';
$conn = mysql_connect($dbhost, $dbuser, $dbpass);
if(! $conn )
{
die('Could not connect: ' . mysql_error());
}

$emp_id = $_POST['emp_id'];
$emp_salary = $_POST['emp_salary'];

$sql = "UPDATE employee ".

"SET emp_salary = $emp_salary ".
"WHERE emp_id = $emp_id" ;

mysql_select_db('test_db');
$retval = mysql_query( $sql, $conn );
if(! $retval )
{
die('Could not update data: ' . mysql_error());
}
echo "Updated data successfully\n";
mysql_close($conn);
}
else
{
?>
<form method="post" action="<?php $_PHP_SELF ?>">
<table width="400" border="0" cellspacing="1" cellpadding="2">
<tr>
<td width="100">Employee ID</td>
<td><input name="emp_id" type="text" id="emp_id"></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="100">Employee Salary</td>
<td><input name="emp_salary" type="text" id="emp_salary"></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="100"> </td>
<td> </td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="100"> </td>
<td>
<input name="update" type="submit" id="update" value="Update">
</td>
</tr>
</table>
</form>
<?php
}
?>
</body>
</html>
Deleting Data from MySQL Database

Data can be deleted from MySQL tables by executing SQL DELETE statement through PHP function
mysql_query.

Below is a simple example to delete records into employee table. To delete a record in any table it
is required to locate that record by using a conditional clause. Below example uses primary key to
match a record in employee table.

Example:

Try out following example to understand delete operation. You need to

provide an employee ID to delete an employee record from employee
table.

<html>
<head>
<title>Delete a Record from MySQL Database</title>
</head>
<body>

<?php
if(isset($_POST['delete']))
{
$dbhost = 'localhost:3036';
$dbuser = 'root';
$dbpass = 'rootpassword';
$conn = mysql_connect($dbhost, $dbuser, $dbpass);
if(! $conn )
{
die('Could not connect: ' . mysql_error());
}

$emp_id = $_POST['emp_id'];

$sql = "DELETE employee ".

"WHERE emp_id = $emp_id" ;

mysql_select_db('test_db');
$retval = mysql_query( $sql, $conn );
if(! $retval )
{
die('Could not delete data: ' . mysql_error());
}
echo "Deleted data successfully\n";
mysql_close($conn);
}
else
{
?>
<form method="post" action="<?php $_PHP_SELF ?>">
<table width="400" border="0" cellspacing="1" cellpadding="2">
<tr>
<td width="100">Employee ID</td>
<td><input name="emp_id" type="text" id="emp_id"></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="100"> </td>
<td> </td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="100"> </td>
<td>
<input name="delete" type="submit" id="delete" value="Delete">
</td>
</tr>
</table>
</form>
<?php
}
?>
</body>
</html>
Perform MySQL backup using PHP

It is always good practice to take a regular backup of your database. There are three ways you can
use to take backup of your MySQL database.

← Using SQL Command through PHP.

← Using MySQL binary mysqldump through PHP.

← Using phpMyAdmin user interface.

Using SQL Command through PHP

You can execute SQL SELECT command to take a backup of any table. To take a complete database
dump you will need to write separate query for separate table. Each table will be stored into
separate text file.

Example:

Try out following example of using SELECT INTO OUTFILE query for
creating table backup :

<?php
$dbhost = 'localhost:3036';
$dbuser = 'root';
$dbpass = 'rootpassword';
$conn = mysql_connect($dbhost, $dbuser, $dbpass);
if(! $conn )
{
die('Could not connect: ' . mysql_error());
}
$table_name = "employee";
$backup_file = "/tmp/employee.sql";
$sql = "SELECT * INTO OUTFILE '$backup_file' FROM $table_name";

mysql_select_db('test_db');
$retval = mysql_query( $sql, $conn );
if(! $retval )
{
die('Could not take data backup: ' . mysql_error());
}
echo "Backedup data successfully\n";
mysql_close($conn);
?>

There may be instances when you would need to restore data which
you have backed up some time ago. To restore the backup you just
need to run LOAD DATA INFILE query like this :

<?php
$dbhost = 'localhost:3036';
$dbuser = 'root';
$dbpass = 'rootpassword';
$conn = mysql_connect($dbhost, $dbuser, $dbpass);
if(! $conn )
{
die('Could not connect: ' . mysql_error());
}
$table_name = "employee";
$backup_file = "/tmp/employee.sql";
$sql = "LOAD DATA INFILE '$backup_file' INTO TABLE $table_name";

mysql_select_db('test_db');
$retval = mysql_query( $sql, $conn );
if(! $retval )
{
die('Could not load data : ' . mysql_error());
}
echo "Loaded data successfully\n";
mysql_close($conn);
?>

Using MySQL binary mysqldump through PHP:

MySQL provides one utility mysqldump to perform database backup. Using this binary you can
take complete database dump in a single command.

Example:

Try out following example to take your complete database dump:

<?php
$dbhost = 'localhost:3036';
$dbuser = 'root';
$dbpass = 'rootpassword';

$backup_file = $dbname . date("Y-m-d-H-i-s") . '.gz';

$command = "mysqldump --opt -h $dbhost -u $dbuser -p $dbpass ".
"test_db | gzip > $backup_file";

system($command);
?>

Using phpMyAdmin user interface:

If you have phpMyAdmin user interface available then its very easy for your to take backup of
your database.

To backup your MySQL database using phpMyAdmin click on the "export" link on phpMyAdmin main
page. Choose the database you wish to backup, check the appropriate SQL options and enter the
name for the backup file.