Trying to make if statement with php

Hello i am trying to make a simple if else php statement this is my code but isnt working

$sql = "SELECT UserType from user where Username = '$email'";
        
            $result = mysqli_query($connection, $sql);
            if($sql == 'A'){
                echo 'Passed';
            }else{
                echo 'Error';
            }
            ?>

i also tried changin the if($sql == 'A') to if($result == 'A') but still nothing. Am i missing something?

>Solution :

This might help:

$sql = "SELECT UserType from user where Username = '$email'";      

if($result = mysqli_query($connection, $sql)){
    $row = mysqli_fetch_array($result, MYSQLI_ASSOC);
    if($row['UserType'] == 'A') {
        echo 'Passed';
    }
    else {
        echo 'Error';
    }
}