mysql_set_charset(3) [php man page]

MYSQL_SET_CHARSET(3)							 1						      MYSQL_SET_CHARSET(3)

mysql_set_charset - Sets the client character set

SYNOPSIS

       Warning

	      This  extension  is deprecated as of PHP 5.5.0, and will be removed in the future. Instead, the MySQLi or PDO_MySQL extension should
	      be used. See also MySQL: choosing an API guide and related FAQ for more information. Alternatives to this function include:

		     omysqli_set_charset(3)

		     oPDO: Add
		       charset to the connection string, such as charset=utf8

       bool mysql_set_charset (string  $charset, [resource  $link_identifier = NULL])

DESCRIPTION

	Sets the default character set for the current connection.

	      o $charset
		- A valid character set name.

	      o $
		link_identifier -The MySQL connection. If the link identifier is not specified,  the  last  link  opened  by  mysql_connect(3)	is
		assumed. If no such link is found, it will try to create one as if mysql_connect(3) was called with no arguments. If no connection
		is found or established, an E_WARNING level error is generated.

	Returns TRUE on success or FALSE on failure.

       Note

	       This function requires MySQL 5.0.7 or later.

       Note

	       This is the preferred way to change the charset. Using mysql_query(3) to set it (such as SET NAMES utf8) is  not  recommended.  See
	      the MySQL character set concepts section for more information.

       mysql_client_encoding(3), Setting character sets in MySQL, List of character sets that MySQL supports.

PHP Documentation Group 												      MYSQL_SET_CHARSET(3)