How can the use of mysql_error() function help in debugging PHP code that involves database queries?

When debugging PHP code that involves database queries, using the mysql_error() function can help by providing detailed error messages from MySQL. This can help identify issues such as syntax errors, connection problems, or permission errors that may be causing the query to fail. By displaying the error message, developers can quickly pinpoint the problem and make necessary adjustments to the code.

$query = "SELECT * FROM users";
$result = mysql_query($query);

if (!$result) {
    die('Error: ' . mysql_error());
}

// Continue with processing the query results