In the context of PHP database queries, what are the advantages and disadvantages of using mysql_fetch_assoc() compared to other fetch functions, as discussed in the forum thread?

When dealing with PHP database queries, the mysql_fetch_assoc() function is commonly used to fetch a result row as an associative array. However, there are some advantages and disadvantages to consider when using this function compared to other fetch functions like mysql_fetch_array() or mysql_fetch_row(). Advantages of mysql_fetch_assoc(): - It returns an associative array where the keys are column names, making it easier to access specific values. - It provides a cleaner and more readable way to retrieve data from the database result set. - It allows for more flexibility in handling the retrieved data. Disadvantages of mysql_fetch_assoc(): - It may consume more memory compared to other fetch functions, especially when dealing with large result sets. - It may be slower in performance due to the associative array structure. - It does not provide access to numerical indices, which can be limiting in certain scenarios.

// Example code snippet using mysql_fetch_assoc() to fetch data from a database query result

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

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

// Fetch data using mysql_fetch_assoc()
while ($row = mysqli_fetch_assoc($result)) {
    echo "User ID: " . $row['id'] . "<br>";
    echo "Username: " . $row['username'] . "<br>";
    echo "Email: " . $row['email'] . "<br>";
}

// Close the connection
mysqli_close($connection);