Is using mysql_num_rows() to count returned data sets a reliable method for error handling in PHP?

Using `mysql_num_rows()` to count returned data sets is not a reliable method for error handling in PHP as it only counts the number of rows in a result set. It does not provide information about any potential errors that may have occurred during the query execution. To handle errors effectively, it is recommended to use proper error handling techniques such as checking for errors after executing a query using `mysql_query()` and handling them accordingly.

$result = mysql_query($query);

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

$num_rows = mysql_num_rows($result);
echo "Number of rows: " . $num_rows;