check for connection

[chiprivers]

Is there a way of checking for a open connection to database that I can put in an if statement?

ie  if ( ! is there a connection ) {
    // no connection so must connect
    mysql_connect();
    }

[.josh]

I usually assign connections to variables. If you do that, then you can check if the variable is set.
[code]
$conn = mysql_connect('host','user','pass') or die(mysql_error());
.
.
.
if (!$conn) {
// ...
}
[/code]

[Jessica]

"Opens or reuses a connection to a MySQL server."
This makes me think if there is already a connection open, it will use that one. So you don't really need to check...

I always assign to a variable also. I wrap my database connection in a function for error handling, etc, and use pconnect.

[chiprivers]

The reason I am asking is that I am creating a group of functions that will extract and display information from my database.  I though it would be a good idea to check at the beginning of the function if there was an exisiting connection, else open a connection.

[.josh]

building on jesirose's interpretation: From the manual:
[quote]
If a second call is made to mysql_connect()  with the same arguments, no new link will be established, but instead, the link identifier of the already opened link will be returned.
[/quote]

so if you were to just do mysql_connect() in every one of your functions (or call a connection function with error handling, as jesirose suggested (which is what i do too)) , it will do what you want it to: open a new connection, or do nothing if it already exists