what does the @ sign do?

[pouncer]

for e.g whats the difference between

 

@mysql_insert and

mysql_insert

and for e.g

 

	if (!$rss_data = @file_get_contents($link)) {
        	echo "Sorry, no RSS feed was found at <b>$link</b>";
    	}

 

when i removed the @ from t@file_get_contents the page threw an error. but when i remove the @ from mysql_insert - no error?

[Maq]

It suppresses error messages.