mysql_set_charset Sets the client character set &reftitle.description; boolmysql_set_charset stringcharset resourcelink_identifier Sets the default character set for the current connection. &reftitle.parameters; charset A valid character set name. &mysql.linkid.description; &reftitle.returnvalues; &return.success; &reftitle.notes; This function requires MySQL 5.0.7 or later. This is the preferred way to change the charset. Using mysql_query to execute SET NAMES .. is not recommended. &reftitle.seealso; mysql_client_encoding List of character sets that MySQL supports