Before even starting to write your first MySQL command, it is very important to know how to backup your database.
Backing databases is like teleporting: you change matter (the database) into energy (the code). The process is reversible.
If you use a web hosting service, you will not have direct access to your database’s files. Instead, your web host usually offers a program for manipulating your database (like phpMyAdmin).
phpMyAdmin, although has many advantages, have one big disadvantage. You cannot install a copy of phpMyAdmin on your home computer and access the remote database (the one you have on your hosting account). The solution for this, at least for Windows users, is to install a freeware program, called MySQL Manager Lite. You can find it
here
To establish a remote connection, using MySQL Manager Lite, you have to copy the emsproxy.php file, using ftp, in the root folder of your account. After that, the emsproxy.php file will be the interface between your local program (MySQL Manager Lite) and the remote database. The emsproxy.php file is in the folder where you installed MySQL Manager Lite.
To backup a (remote) database means to export all its content into a text file, with a sql extension.
To restore a (remote) database means to import into the database the content of a text file, previously saved, which has MySQL instructions.