is SET NAMES still common practice

[durangod]

Is it still common practice to use this

PHP Code:

mysql_query("SET NAMES 'utf8'"); 


This is the first i have seen this and from what i understand it is not widely used that much.

I plan to convert it to

PHP Code:

mysqli_query($dbconnect, "SET NAMES 'utf8'"); 


Thanks

Update I do see where it has to be set prior to mysqli_real_escape_string