[PHP] counting records in db

[afan]

hi!

what would be better solution to count records in table (e.g., how many
customers have last name 'Smith'):

$query = mysql_query("
                SELECT COUNT(*) as NoOfRecords
                FROM customers
                WHERE last_name = 'Smith'");
$result = mysql_fetch_array($query);
$NoOfRecords = $result['NoOfRecords'];

OR

$query = mysql_query("
                SELECT cust_id
                FROM customers
                WHERE last_name = 'Smith'");
$NoOfRecords = mysql_num_rows($query);

OR something else?

Thanks.

-afan

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