note 57429 added to function.mysql-data-seek

In order to check if a row exists, what is the best function? I am currently using this: function row_exist($value,$table,$wherecol = 0,$whereval = 0,$dbc,$dbname) { mysql_select_db($dbname,$dbc) or die(__FILE__ . " - line: " . __LINE__ . " - mysql error"); $query = "SELECT $value from $table"; if ($wherecol and $whereval) { $query = "$query" . " where $wherecol='$whereval'"; } $numrows = mysql_num_rows(mysql_query("$query", $dbc)); if ($numrows) return 1; return 0; } This will do what i want, I am just wondering if anyone has simpler, more efficient method they use for checking for the existence of a row in a table. ---- Manual Page -- http://www.php.net/manual/en/function.mysql-data-seek.php Edit -- http://master.php.net/manage/user-notes.php?action=edit+57429 Delete: added to the manual -- http://master.php.net/manage/user-notes.php?action=delete+57429&report=yes&reason=added+to+the+manual Delete: bad code -- http://master.php.net/manage/user-notes.php?action=delete+57429&report=yes&reason=bad+code Delete: spam -- http://master.php.net/manage/user-notes.php?action=delete+57429&report=yes&reason=spam Delete: useless -- http://master.php.net/manage/user-notes.php?action=delete+57429&report=yes&reason=useless Delete: non-english -- http://master.php.net/manage/user-notes.php?action=delete+57429&report=yes&reason=non-english Delete: already in docs -- http://master.php.net/manage/user-notes.php?action=delete+57429&report=yes&reason=already+in+docs Delete: other reasons -- http://master.php.net/manage/user-notes.php?action=delete+57429&report=yes Reject -- http://master.php.net/manage/user-notes.php?action=reject+57429&report=yes Search -- http://master.php.net/manage/user-notes.php