phpMyAdmin is a free and open-source web-based tool written in PHP, designed to simplify the management of MySQL and MariaDB databases. It provides a user-friendly graphical interface that enables users to perform a wide range of database operations such as creating, modifying, and deleting databases, tables, fields, and indexes, running SQL queries, managing users and permissions, and importing or exporting data in various formats. phpMyAdmin supports most MySQL features, making database administration accessible even to those without extensive command-line experience.
Widely adopted for its ease of use and rich functionality, phpMyAdmin is highly customizable and extensible through plugins and themes. It supports multiple languages and offers features like syntax highlighting, bookmarking SQL queries, and comprehensive export options. Its cross-platform nature allows it to be hosted on any server with PHP and MySQL/MariaDB support, making it a popular choice for both personal projects and enterprise environments.