Title: Multiple Databases
Last modified: October 27, 2020

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# Multiple Databases

 *  Resolved [WanderingOn](https://wordpress.org/support/users/wanderingon/)
 * (@wanderingon)
 * [5 years, 7 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/multiple-databases-19/)
 * Hi,
 * I have discovered that 2 separate databases exist for my website. After consulting
   with my hosting provider, they said that one of these databases may have been
   created during troubleshooting by a support team.
 * Is there any harm in having two databases? Is this more resource-intensive? (
   I have been experiencing slow site speeds for quite some time now)
 * Also, can I safely remove one of these databases? If so, is there a way to determine
   which is database is in use and which one can be deleted?
 * Thanks

Viewing 4 replies - 1 through 4 (of 4 total)

 *  Moderator [Steven Stern (sterndata)](https://wordpress.org/support/users/sterndata/)
 * (@sterndata)
 * Volunteer Forum Moderator
 * [5 years, 7 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/multiple-databases-19/#post-13587500)
 * >> If so, is there a way to determine which is database is in use and which one
   can be deleted? <<
 * Look at wp-config.php. It will tell you which database is in use and, if there
   are multiple sets of WP tables, the $table_prefix variable tells you which is
   the active set.
 *  Thread Starter [WanderingOn](https://wordpress.org/support/users/wanderingon/)
 * (@wanderingon)
 * [5 years, 7 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/multiple-databases-19/#post-13587806)
 * I was able to identify the database that is in use using the wp-config.php file
   as you suggested, thank you.
 * I can also see also a $table_prefix variable has been set.
 * I notice that in the database, there seem to be two versions of each table. One
   with the same prefix as is listed in the wp-config.php file and another set of(
   what seems to be) the same tables prefixed by a bunch of letters/numbers.
 * Is this typical?
    Should I delete the second set of tables that are prefixed 
   by the letters/numbers?
 * I am assuming this would leave the active tables only? Could this potentially
   improve performance/speed?
 * Thanks again for your help with this. I am not very familiar with databases so
   just want to be sure I am not going to make any major errors.
 *  Moderator [Steven Stern (sterndata)](https://wordpress.org/support/users/sterndata/)
 * (@sterndata)
 * Volunteer Forum Moderator
 * [5 years, 7 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/multiple-databases-19/#post-13587855)
 * >> Should I delete the second set of tables that are prefixed by the letters/
   numbers? <<
 * Yes, but back them up first. (Select them and export them via PHPMYADMIN.)
 * It’s unlikely this will result in any noticeable difference in performance.
 *  Thread Starter [WanderingOn](https://wordpress.org/support/users/wanderingon/)
 * (@wanderingon)
 * [5 years, 7 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/multiple-databases-19/#post-13587978)
 * That’s great, thank you for confirming.

Viewing 4 replies - 1 through 4 (of 4 total)

The topic ‘Multiple Databases’ is closed to new replies.

 * In: [Everything else WordPress](https://wordpress.org/support/forum/miscellaneous/)
 * 4 replies
 * 2 participants
 * Last reply from: [WanderingOn](https://wordpress.org/support/users/wanderingon/)
 * Last activity: [5 years, 7 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/multiple-databases-19/#post-13587978)
 * Status: resolved

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