How important is it to include error handling, such as mysql_error, when executing PHP MySQL queries like INSERT INTO?

It is crucial to include error handling when executing PHP MySQL queries like INSERT INTO to catch and handle any potential issues that may arise during the query execution. This helps in identifying and resolving errors quickly, ensuring the smooth functioning of the application.

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

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

// Execute the INSERT INTO query
$query = "INSERT INTO table_name (column1, column2) VALUES ('value1', 'value2')";
$result = mysqli_query($connection, $query);

// Check if the query was successful
if (!$result) {
    die("Error executing query: " . mysqli_error($connection));
}

// Close the connection
mysqli_close($connection);