SQL Syntax Error

I'm getting an error here somewhere

    $username = $_SESSION['username'];
    
    //Get Mail
    $mail = mysql_query("SELECT * FROM messages WHERE to = '".$username."'") or die(mysql_error());
    $countMail = mysql_num_rows($mail);

PHP:

However if I change the text messages to users and "to" to username it'll work fine

Thanks

 

The error message I'am getting is

You have an error in your SQL syntax; check the manual that corresponds to your MySQL server version for the right syntax to use near 'to='Admin'' at line 1

Code (markup):

 

'to' is a reserved word in SQL. Surround it with quotes in your query and the error should be gone.

 

That worked! thanks for the help!

 

@clockedout7, thanks you helped me out too, i had similar problem

 

i am agree with this answer

 

As a general rule, I always wrap my field names in ` characters. eg, `field_name` - that way you never get that kind of issue, and I find it helps me read my mySQL syntax a bit better.