What are common pitfalls when using mysql_insert_id in PHP and how can they be avoided?

Common pitfalls when using mysql_insert_id in PHP include not checking for errors after the query execution, not using the correct connection resource, and not considering the possibility of multiple insertions happening simultaneously. To avoid these pitfalls, always check for errors, ensure you are using the correct connection resource, and consider using transactions to handle multiple insertions.

// Correct way to use mysql_insert_id in PHP
$query = "INSERT INTO table_name (column1, column2) VALUES ('value1', 'value2')";
$result = mysqli_query($connection, $query);

if($result) {
    $last_insert_id = mysqli_insert_id($connection);
    echo "Last inserted ID: " . $last_insert_id;
} else {
    echo "Error: " . mysqli_error($connection);
}