title: Get the single value of a sql result set
body: <p>Consider this SQL query</p>
  
  <pre><code>$sql = "select count(*) as count from table where value='this'";
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>This query is going to return only one value in the field <code>count</code>.</p>
  
  <p>Is there a way to get that value without using a <code>fetch_array</code> and pointing the first value of the returned array instead?</p>