I have search on my site where user can search in titles, description and select categories.

I wont to save the search into database but only if user wonts to save it.

This is my link which save into database.
domain.com/save/?action=save&reference=SEARCH\_QUERY.

but because i have title&description&cat.

It stop at & save the first part of the query.

How can i save this in to database including the & as i need to get this back so user can go back to save search query later on.

I have used htmlentities and htmlspecial but still it turns into & but first char is &.