.. efun:: int db_connect(string database)
  int db_connect(string database, string user)
  int db_connect(string database, string user, string password)
  :optional:

  Connect to the database :arg:`database` on the local mySQL-server. The return-value is the handle for this connection. Automatic reconnects are enabled for this connection; see :concept:`mysql` for implications. If the database does not exist or the server is *not* started, a runtime-error is raised.

  If specified, the connection is made for :arg:`user` with :arg:`password`.

  The function is available only if the driver is compiled with mySQL support. In that case, :macro:`__MYSQL__` is defined.

  The efun triggers a privilege violation ("mysql", "db_connect").

  :history 3.2.9 introduced:
  :history 3.2.11 changed: adds the privilege violation.

  .. seealso:: :efun:`db_affected_rows`, :efun:`db_conv_string`, :efun:`db_close`, :efun:`db_coldefs`, :efun:`db_exec`, :efun:`db_error`, :efun:`db_fetch`, :efun:`db_handles`, :efun:`db_insert_id`, :concept:`mysql`, :master:`privilege_violation`