# mysql_escape_string

(PHP 4 >= 4.0.3, PHP 5, PECL mysql:1.0)

mysql_escape_string — Escapes a string for use in a mysql_query

### Description

string mysql_escape_string ( string `$unescaped_string` )

This function will escape the `unescaped_string` , so that it is safe to place it in a mysql_query(). This function is deprecated.

This function is identical to mysql_real_escape_string() except that mysql_real_escape_string() takes a connection handler and escapes the string according to the current character set. mysql_escape_string() does not take a connection argument and does not respect the current charset setting.

### Parameters

`unescaped_string`

  The string that is to be escaped.

### Return Values

Returns the escaped string.

### ChangeLog

Version | Description
--- | ---
4.3.0 | This function became deprecated, do not use this function. Instead, use mysql_real_escape_string().

### Examples

Example#1 mysql_escape_string() example

`<?php
$item = "Zak's Laptop";
$escaped_item = mysql_escape_string($item);
printf("Escaped string: %s\n", $escaped_item);
?>`

The above example will output:

    Escaped string: Zak\'s Laptop

### Notes

> Note: mysql_escape_string() does not escape % and _.

### See Also

- mysql_real_escape_string()
- addslashes()
- The magic_quotes_gpc directive.