"@" before method

Question

I’m running some tests with the function ldap_bind() and came across something I don’t know and didn’t find in research.

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Considering the line of the script:

$bind = ldap_bind($ldap_conn, $auth_user.$domain, $auth_pass) or die("Erro em bind");

If my authentication fails, it will be printed:

Warning: ldap_bind(): Unable to bind to server: Invalid credentials in C: xxx ldap.php on line 17 Error in bind

But if I use a "@" before the method:

$bind = @ldap_bind($ldap_conn, $auth_user.$domain, $auth_pass) or die("Erro em bind");

It does not print the Warning:

Error in bind

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I would like to know the usefulness of this "@", if it would just not print returns, etc!?