@mysql_connect and mysql_connect

Question

I have no problem connecting to a database using PHP however in some scripts I have tested, I have seen a small difference in the connect command.

What is the difference between @mysql_connect and mysql_connect ?

I have never used the @ symbol when writing my own script so was just wondering if it served a purpose.

Thanks in advance

Answer 1

The @ symbol in front of a function silences it. Meaning, you won't get any types of error messages when executing it, even if it fails. So I suggest: don't use it

In addition as @AlexanderLarikov said, don't use mysql_* anymore, the community has started to depreciate that function.

Answer 2

It is the/an error control operator. It simply allow you to suppress the error.

I would suggest that you omit it in your code.

From documentation:

Currently the "@" error-control operator prefix will even disable error reporting for critical errors that will terminate script execution. Among other things, this means that if you use "@" to suppress errors from a certain function and either it isn't available or has been mistyped, the script will die right there with no indication as to why.