use DBI;

$dbh=DBI->connect(qq(DBI:mysql:database=sample_db;user=root;password=)) or die "Can't connect";

$sth=$dbh->prepare("SELECT name FROM employee") ;

$sth->execute();
$count=0;

while(  my $row = $sth->fetchrow_hashref()){
    print "Name:    $row->{name}\n";
    $count++;
}

print "There are $count rows in the sample database.\n";
$sth->finish();
$dbh->disconnect();