title: PHP SQL get SELECT COUNT(user) to variable
body: <p>How do I get the outcome of</p>
  
  <pre><code>SELECT COUNT(user) FROM game_paths WHERE user = '$user'
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>to a PHP variable </p>
  
  <p>I tried</p>
  
  <pre><code>mysql_num_rows
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>but it returns nothing.</p>