Porites cylindrica is a branching scleractinian coral (family Poritidae) found across the Indo-Pacific, forming colonies of upright cylindrical branches with the characteristically small, densely packed corallites of the genus Porites. It inhabits reef flats, lagoons, and sheltered reef environments where it can form extensive thickets providing important habitat for reef fish and invertebrates. The species is susceptible to bleaching and tissue loss disease and is studied in the context of Indo-Pacific reef degradation. Genomic data have been generated for this species and are available in public databases, enabling comparative studies of cnidarian evolution and ecology.