title: PHP execute a external url without redirect (background)
body: <p>I have a API url for sending SMS and I have to execute this url once i create a new user. Using PHP how can i call the url in background?
  I have tried <code>file_get_contents()</code>
  My url is like this</p>
  
  <blockquote>
    <p><a href="http://bulksms.mysmsmantra.com/WebSMS/SMSAPI.php?username=hidden&amp;password=hidden&amp;sendername=iZycon&amp;mobileno=8443223" rel="noreferrer">http://bulksms.mysmsmantra.com/WebSMS/SMSAPI.php?username=hidden&amp;password=hidden&amp;sendername=iZycon&amp;mobileno=8443223</a></p>
  </blockquote>
  
  <p>While using <code>file_get_contents()</code> im getting a 'Bad request' due to the change in url where all the '<strong>&amp;</strong>' got replaced using '<strong><code>&amp;amp;</code></strong>'. this replaces the username and password which passed to the url.</p>
  
  <p>And also tried some other functions like <code>fopen()</code> <code>curl()</code> . unfortunately for all this function im facing the same issue.</p>
  
  <p>So which is the proper method for calling this kinda URL.?
  thanks in advance.</p>