Simple ChatBox Using PHP/MYSQL and AJAX with Source Code

In this tutorial, we will create a very Simple ChatBox Using PHP/MYSQL andAJAX.

It has a very simple and easy to learn CSS design which could give more ideas to web dev beginners in developing their chatbox.

Project Information’s

Project Name:Simple ChatBox In PHP With Source Code
Language/s Used:PHP
PHP version (Recommended):Any
Database:None
Type:Web App
Developer:IT SOURCECODE
Updates:0
Simple ChatBox Using PHP/MYSQL And AJAX – Project Information

The Chat Box In PHP Source Code, also includes the downloadable Chat Box PHP Code Free Download.

What Is ChatBox?

Chatbox is a cloud-based messaging platform designed for businesses of all sizes. It enables users to manage SMS, Facebook Messenger and live chat communication channels.

Chatbox offers integration with different customer relationship management (CRM) solutions such as Salesforce and Oracle Service Cloud, which allows users to connect with their customers and prospects from within the solution itself.

Users can also personalize messages using customer data such as name, age and address fields in the message.

before we further proceed with our tutorial, let’s first watch the video here.

Let’s start now our tutorial.

So first, create a database then name it as any name you desire. In my case, I use the “chatbox” as the name of the database.

Then create a table, name it as “admin”,”msg” and “user”. Then put the following attributes.

The Code Given Below Is For The Table “admin”.

CREATE TABLE `admin` (
  `id` int(11) NOT NULL,
  `user` text NOT NULL,
  `pass` text NOT NULL
) ENGINE=InnoDB DEFAULT CHARSET=latin1;

This table is for the admin account.

The Code Given Below Is For The Table “msg”.

CREATE TABLE `msg` (
  `id` int(11) NOT NULL,
  `user` text NOT NULL,
  `user2` text NOT NULL,
  `msg` text NOT NULL
) ENGINE=InnoDB DEFAULT CHARSET=latin1;

This table which all the message of conversation stored in this table.

The Code Given Below Is For The Table “user”.

CREATE TABLE `user` (
  `id` int(11) NOT NULL,
  `name` text NOT NULL,
  `user` text NOT NULL,
  `pass` text NOT NULL,
  `rpass` text NOT NULL,
  `status` text NOT NULL
) ENGINE=InnoDB DEFAULT CHARSET=latin1;

This table is for the users account who register to this system.

Features of PHP project with Source Code.

  • Manage Admin – In this feature the only can manage the admin account is the admin only, The admin can Add, Update and Delete the accounts.
  • Manage Message – In this feature where the users can manage all the conversation.
  • Manage Users – In this feature the users can manage there accounts , can manage by updating only there information, and also the admin can manage the users account, the admin can see all the users who being registered in this system.

Log In Account

Admin

Username: admin

Password: admin

User

Username: jude

Password: judesuarez

Output Of The ChatBox Using PHP,AJAX and MYSQL

This Interface is the main menu of the system,where you can see the user log in and the admin.
This Interface is the log in page of the user.
This Interface is the log in page of the admin.
This Interface is the Dashboard of the admin.
This Interface is the Dashboard of the user.
This Interface is the conversation of the users.

Downloadable Source Code Here

Inquiries

If you have any questions or suggestion about Simple ChatBox Using PHP/MYSQL, please feel free to contact me at our contact page.

Technology stack and requirements

To run this PHP project, you need these tools on your development machine:

  • XAMPP or WAMP server. Bundles Apache, MySQL, and PHP so you can run PHP on Windows without individual installs. Free from apachefriends.org.
  • PHP 8.0 or higher. Included with XAMPP. Older versions (5.x, 7.x) may work but modern PHP features improve security and performance.
  • MySQL or MariaDB. Comes with XAMPP. phpMyAdmin manages the database through a browser UI.
  • VS Code or PhpStorm. Free code editor with PHP syntax highlighting, IntelliSense, and debugging support.
  • Web browser. Chrome, Firefox, or Edge for testing the running app.

Installing the source code

  1. Download the archive. Get the ZIP file from the download link on this page and extract it.
  2. Move to htdocs. Place the extracted folder inside C:\xampp\htdocs\ so Apache can serve it.
  3. Import the database. Open http://localhost/phpmyadmin, click Import, and select the .sql file included in the archive.
  4. Update database credentials. Open the config.php or connection.php file and set the correct database name, username, and password (default XAMPP: root / empty password).
  5. Run the project. Start Apache + MySQL in XAMPP, then visit http://localhost/your-project-folder/ in a browser.

Using this project for your BSIT capstone

This PHP project maps cleanly to standard BSIT capstone documentation. Suggested chapter alignment:

  • Chapter 1 (Introduction). Discuss the problem the system solves in real-world context. Cite Philippine business or academic use cases where a manual process could be replaced.
  • Chapter 2 (Review of Related Literature). Compare this system’s features against 5-10 similar published projects. Cite journals like IJERT or IEEE Access for academic-standard sources.
  • Chapter 3 (Methodology). Include Use Case Diagram, Data Flow Diagram, Entity Relationship Diagram, and Activity Diagram covering all major workflows.
  • Chapter 4 (Results and Discussion). Screenshot each module of the running system with a caption explaining what data it processes and which user role interacts with it.
  • Chapter 5 (Conclusion and Recommendations). Identify features that could be added in a Version 2, such as mobile app, REST API export, or AI-powered analytics.

Modules typical of Simple ChatBox Using PHP/MYSQL and AJAX

  • Master data. CRUD forms for the primary entities with search and filter.
  • Transaction processing. Data entry forms for day-to-day operations the system automates.
  • Reports. Formatted printable output summarizing activity per day, user, or category.
  • User management. Login with role-based permissions (Admin, Encoder, Viewer).
  • Backup and restore. Export database to a .sql file and restore when needed.

Common enhancements for capstone review

  • Modernize the UI. Add Bootstrap 5 or Tailwind CSS for a polished appearance.
  • Add printable receipts. Use TCPDF or FPDF to generate PDF reports.
  • Multi-user concurrency. Ensure database handles simultaneous writes without lost-update errors.
  • Rewrite in Laravel. Migrate to Laravel for maintainability and modern development patterns.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does this PHP chat or chatbox system work?

User auth via PHP sessions, messages stored in MySQL with sender, recipient, content, timestamp. Frontend polls every 2-5 seconds via AJAX (or uses WebSocket via Ratchet for real-time). Read/unread tracked per message.

What PHP and MySQL versions does this project require?

Most projects in this batch run on PHP 7.4 to PHP 8.2 with MySQL 5.7+ or MariaDB 10+. A few older projects need PHP 5.6 (deprecated, use XAMPP 7.x). To run: install XAMPP / WAMP / Laragon, extract project to htdocs, import the included .sql file via phpMyAdmin, edit the connection file (usually config.php or db_connect.php) with your DB credentials, browse to the project URL in your browser.

How do I set up the database for this PHP project?

Open phpMyAdmin (http://localhost/phpmyadmin/ on XAMPP), create a new empty database with the name specified in the project’s config.php. Click the Import tab, choose the included .sql file, click Go. Then edit config.php (or includes/connection.php) with: ‘localhost’, your MySQL username (usually ‘root’), your MySQL password (usually blank for XAMPP), and the database name.

Can I use this PHP project for a BSIT capstone or thesis?

Yes, but extend it. A bare CRUD app is too narrow for full capstone scope. Add: user roles via session checks, reports/dashboards (Chart.js + AJAX), PDF exports (TCPDF library), email notifications (PHPMailer), real domain extension (analytics, audit log, multi-branch support). Pair with Chapter 1-5 documentation matching your panel’s rubric.

Why am I getting ‘connection error’ or ‘undefined function mysqli_connect’?

Three common PHP issues: (1) Connection error: Apache + MySQL services not running in XAMPP control panel, OR database name in config.php does not match what you created in phpMyAdmin. (2) ‘undefined function mysqli_connect’: MySQL extension not enabled, in php.ini uncomment extension=mysqli (then restart Apache). (3) ‘No such file or directory’: MySQL socket path wrong, use 127.0.0.1 instead of localhost in the connection string.

Where can I find more PHP projects with source code?

Browse the PHP Projects hub for the full library (300+ vanilla PHP systems). For modern PHP MVC alternatives see Laravel Projects (74 systems) or CodeIgniter Projects (32 systems). For BSIT-focused capstone idea lists see 150 Best Capstone Project Ideas.

Related PHP Projects

Conclusion

This Simple ChatBox Using PHP/MYSQL And AJAX, Is designed using PHP,CSS,AJAX and MYSQL.

Chatbox is a cloud-based messaging platform designed for businesses of all sizes. It enables users to manage SMS, Facebook Messenger and live chat communication channels.

Angel Jude Suarez


Full-Stack Developer at PIES IT Solution

Focuses on Python development, machine learning, and AI integration. Has built production AI systems including OpenAI Whisper integration for medical transcription and GPT-4o-powered diagnosis assistance. Strong background in pandas, scikit-learn, and TensorFlow.

Expertise: Python · PHP · Java · VB.NET · ASP.NET · Machine Learning · AI Integration · OpenCV · Django · CodeIgniter
 · View all posts by Angel Jude Suarez →

3 thoughts on “Simple ChatBox Using PHP/MYSQL and AJAX with Source Code”

  1. where should i insert these?
    CREATE TABLE `user` (
    `id` int(11) NOT NULL,
    `name` text NOT NULL,
    `user` text NOT NULL,
    `pass` text NOT NULL,
    `rpass` text NOT NULL,
    `status` text NOT NULL
    ) ENGINE=InnoDB DEFAULT CHARSET=latin1;

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