php - mysql_query() returning false when searching database for a string of text -

my php code executes following query:

$userid = mysql_query("select id users username = '%".$username."%'");

the query being returned false. know because $userid contains boolean value after query executed.

i tried perform query in phpmyadmin , noticed query works if encapsulate string in quotations, don't think can in php code.

is syntax wrong? can give...

update: when echo $userid after query executed following output:

resource id #5resource id #6

which tells me query executing successfully, not processing results correctly.

you need use like operator:

$userid = mysql_query("select id users username '%".$username."%'");

for completeness sake here link official documentation

if want exact match should use = operator then.

$userid = mysql_query("select id users username = '".$username."'");

do know if value being passed in $username variable valid?

Brande