Apache/PHP recognizing MySQL...

When compiling PHP, I was told that I have to have MySQL already installed on the system somewhere... I then would have to point PHP to this location when installing (--with-mysql=/usr/local/mysql, for instance)... My question is: If I wanted to re-install MySQL again, would I also have to re-compile PHP...??? Or was the (--with-mysql=) option in the compiliation of PHP just a link to the install directory of MySQL.... In other words, does PHP change, or do anything to the files in the /usr/local/mysql directory....... I'm thinking that the (--with-mysql=) option just tells PHP where to find MySQL, but I'm not sure... Thanks... Sincerely, Trevor...