Why does mysql_num_rows return 1 for a SELECT on an empty table?

Why does mysql_num_rows return 1 for a SELECT on an empty table?

References

Reference NO 1

http://stackoverflow.com/questions/15192325/why-does-mysql-num-rows-return-1-for-a-select-on-an-empty-table

Reference NO 2

http://stackoverflow.com/questions/3772791/mysql-num-rows-always-returns-1

Reference NO 3

http://stackoverflow.com/questions/7767684/proper-way-to-ask-if-mysql-num-rows-in-php

Reference NO 4

http://php.net/manual/en/function.mysql-num-rows.php

Reference NO 5

http://www.daniweb.com/web-development/php/threads/178487/what-value-is-returned-from-an-empty-sql-query

Reference NO 6

http://www.sitepoint.com/forums/showthread.php?100342-How-to-check-if-table-is-empty

Reference NO 7

#EANF#

Reference NO 8

#EANF#