proper use of MySQL Resource

[niche]

This works, but is it a proper use of a MySQL Resource?

include_once "connect_to_mysql.php";$result = mysql_query("SELECT * FROM location ORDER BY locname") or die(mysql_error()); $var = (mysql_num_rows($result ));

[Synook]

Yes - Mysql result resources are used by other Mysql functions for operations specific to that particular query. Why did you think it may have been am improper use?

[niche]

I thought that I should have tried to use mysql_fetch_array() in some way to get what I needed though I got what I needed without it. I just needed to make sure that I wasn't invoking unintended consequences. Thanks Synook,Niche

[justsomeguy]

If the only thing you're trying to get is the count, it's more efficient to have MySQL do the counting instead of returning all of the rows:

$result = mysql_query("SELECT COUNT(*) AS num FROM location") or die(mysql_error()); $row = mysql_fetch_assoc($result);$count = $row['num'];

[niche]

I learn something new here everyday. Thanks justsomeguy.