What are the benefits of using error handling functions like mysql_error() in PHP database queries?

When executing database queries in PHP, errors can occur due to various reasons such as incorrect syntax, connection issues, or data validation problems. Using error handling functions like `mysql_error()` allows developers to easily identify and troubleshoot these issues by providing detailed error messages. This helps in debugging and improving the overall reliability of the database operations.

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

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

// Execute a query
$sql = "SELECT * FROM table";
$result = mysqli_query($conn, $sql);

// Check for errors
if (!$result) {
    die("Error: " . mysqli_error($conn));
}

// Process the results
while ($row = mysqli_fetch_assoc($result)) {
    // Process each row
}

// Close the connection
mysqli_close($conn);