Checking for entries in mySQL

[gte806e]

I'm creating a user login and want to check upon registration that the user name being used isn't already in use.

If the userId is unique and I try to add the same on to the database it does not. When this action happens is a mySQL error code thrown? Or do i need to before I try to insert the user account first do a query to see if the user name already exists?

Or is there a faster way to do this using some other SQL code?

Thanks

Jesse

[DigitalExpl0it]

$goconnect = mysql_connect($db_connetion, $db_username, $db_password) or die ("Couldnt connect");
$godb = mysql_select_db($db_databse, $goconnect) or die ("Couldnt open Database");
$gosql = "SELECT COUNT(*) FROM Lusers WHERE Uusername = '$username' or Uemail = '$email'";
$goresult = mysql_query($gosql);

if (!$goresult) { 
	echo "<center>A database error occurred in processing your submission.\nIf this error persists, please contact [email][e-mail][/email]</center>";
} 
if (@mysql_result($goresult,0,0)>0) {
	echo "<center>A <b>user</b> already exists with your chosen <b>username</b> and or <b>email</b>.\n Please try another. If you keep getting this error please contact the maker of the game at <a href='mailto:$masteremail'>$masteremail</a></center>";
} else {

that should give you a idea

[gte806e]

great thanks,

thats how I figured i had to do it but your code really clears things up thanks so much.

Jesse