What is localhost and root in mysql?

Hello.

I'm trying to set up a very basic mySQL database. I'm having some problems with the terminology, specifically what "local host" and "root" refers to in the line "$link = mysqli_connect['localhost', 'root', 'password'];"? One of them I guess is the file path of the mySQL directory file [which I assume would be stored in my web host's files]. But which of the two is it, and what does the other term refer to?

Thanks in advance for any help.

This post has been edited by JRBobDobbs: Apr 18 2010, 08:33 PM

The parameters are the hostname ['localhost' is the same machine], the username ['root' is the superuser account for UNIX/Linux systems], and the password [the password for the username specified].

Note that it is better not to use root.

QUOTE[Darin McGrew @ Apr 18 2010, 10:03 PM]

The parameters are the hostname ['localhost' is the same machine], the username ['root' is the superuser account for UNIX/Linux systems], and the password [the password for the username specified].

Note that it is better not to use root.

Thanks for the reply.

I still don't know what you mean by "hostname", though. Are you referring to the URL of my web service provider?

That is useful information about the root, I didn't realize the root was optional [I don't know anything about UNIX/Linux systems so I assume it doesn't apply to me].

I stumbled across my hostname, that's OK now.

Thanks again for the help.