How can mysql_error() be used to troubleshoot MySQL queries in PHP?

When troubleshooting MySQL queries in PHP, the mysql_error() function can be used to retrieve the error message generated by the most recent MySQL operation. This can help identify the root cause of the issue, such as syntax errors or connection problems. By incorporating mysql_error() into the code, developers can easily debug and resolve MySQL query problems.

// Perform a MySQL query
$result = mysql_query("SELECT * FROM table_name");

// Check for errors
if (!$result) {
    echo "Error: " . mysql_error();
} else {
    // Process the query result
}