Using PHP/MySQLi with error checking

<?php
    // define a variable to switch on/off error messages
    $mysqliDebug = true;
    
    // connect to your database
    // if you use a single database, passing it will simplify your queries
    $mysqli = @new mysqli('localhost', 'myuser', 'mypassword', 'mydatabase');
    
    // mysqli->connect_errno will return zero if successful
    if ($mysqli->connect_errno) {
        echo '<p>There was an error connecting to the database!</p>';
        if ($mysqliDebug) {
            // mysqli->connect_error returns the latest error message,
            // hopefully clarifying the problem
            // NOTE: supported as of PHP 5.2.9
            echo $mysqli->connect_error;
        }

        // since there is no database connection your queries will fail,
        // quit processing
        die();
    }
    
    // create a query that should return a single record
    // the backticks around the table and column names are optional
    // they are required only when a name matches a reserved word (e.g. `date`)
    $query = 'SELECT * FROM `mytable` ORDER BY `mycolumn` LIMIT 1';
    
    // execute the query
    // passing the connection link as a parameter is optional
    // but useful if you are accessing more than one database
    // mysqli->query returns FALSE on error, and a result object or TRUE on success
    // the result (object or TRUE) depends on the query you execute
    $result = $mysqli->query($query);
    if (!$result and $mysqliDebug) {
        // the query failed and debugging is enabled
        echo "<p>There was an error in query: $query</p>";
        echo $mysqli->error;
    }
    if ($result) {
        // the query was successful
        // get the result (if any)
        // result->fetch_object returns NULL if there is no record
        if ($recordObj = $result->fetch_object()) {
            // we have a record so now we can use it
            // the columns are properties of the object
            echo $recordObj->mycolumn;
        }
        else {
            echo '<p>No record found.</p>';
        }

        // when you are done with the result, free it
        $result->close();
    }
    
    // now get multiple records
    $query = 'SELECT * FROM `mytable` ORDER BY `mycolumn` LIMIT 10';
    
    $result = $mysqli->query($query);
    if (!$result and $mysqliDebug) {
        echo "<p>There was an error in query: $query</p>";
        echo $mysqli->error;
    }
    if ($result) {
        // perhaps you want to check if there are any rows available
        if ($result->num_rows == 0) {
            echo '<p>No records found.</p>';
        }
        else {
            while ($recordObj = $result->fetch_object()) {
                echo $recordObj->mycolumn;
            }
        }
        $result->close();
    }
    
    // close the database connection (preferred)
    // closing is optional, but not closing the link
    // will keep the connection lingering until it times out
    $mysqli->close();
?>