auto increment single field

Log from IRC server Freenode (IPv6) channel #SQL.

<me> I have a table which only has an auto incremented ID, usually I'd have a second field in which I'd insert some content then fetch the new ID with PHP mysql_insert_id() and use that but in this case I really don't need to have that second field to get the new ID ; is there a way to do the same without another field or without fetching the max ID ?
<||cw> me: try INSERT xx VALUES ( NULL )
<me> ||cw: xx is a made up field right ?
<||cw> me: table name
<||cw> field list is optional
<||cw> though might have to give it in this case
<||cw> also, MSSQL has a DEFAULT keyword, maybe mysql has same or similar
<me> ||cw: so I might have to create a bogus field ?
<||cw> no
<||cw> INSERT mytable ( counrerfield ) VALUES ( NULL )
<||cw> or INSERT mytable ( counrerfield ) VALUES ( DEFAULT )
<me> ||cw: counrerfield is the auto incremented right ?
<||cw> yeah
<me> ||cw: thank :)
<||cw> not sure I see the point though
<me> ||cw: it's referenced by another table
<||cw> do you need some form of globaly unique ID?
<||cw> well, put the autonumber in that table and be done with it
<me> ||cw: it have different languages
<||cw> still don't get it, seems over-normalized
<me> ||cw: I've retaken a system which normally has informations attached to the table with now only has the ID
<me> sorry for the delay I wasn't notified without my nick
<||cw> so obsolete the table
<me> ||cw: it's quicker for cleanup
<me> it deletes the referenced tables