How can proper error handling with mysql_error() improve debugging in PHP applications?

Proper error handling with mysql_error() in PHP applications can improve debugging by providing specific error messages when database queries fail. This can help developers quickly identify and fix issues in their code, leading to more efficient troubleshooting and problem-solving.

// Connect to MySQL database
$connection = mysqli_connect("localhost", "username", "password", "database");

// Check connection
if (!$connection) {
    die("Connection failed: " . mysqli_connect_error());
}

// Perform a query
$query = "SELECT * FROM users";
$result = mysqli_query($connection, $query);

// Check for errors
if (!$result) {
    die("Query failed: " . mysqli_error($connection));
}

// Process results
while ($row = mysqli_fetch_assoc($result)) {
    // Do something with the data
}

// Close connection
mysqli_close($connection);