<form action="insert.php" method="post">
First Name: <input type="text" name="first"><br>
<input type="Submit">
</form>
<?
<?
$first=$_POST["first"]:
$username="username";
$password="password";
$database="your_database";
mysql_connect(localhost,$username,$password);
@mysql_select_db("database name"

or die( "Unable to select database"

;
$query = "INSERT INTO contacts VALUES ('$first')";
mysql_query($query);
mysql_close();
?>