How do I extract a URL that is itself passed as URL parameter without translating the percent characters?
<p>I'm passing a URL as a URL parameter, like this:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>save_deal.php?url=http://my.angieslist.com/thebigdeal/default.aspx?itemid=%2bTZi%2bk0M5%2b8%3d&amp;user=1965</p>
</blockquote>

<p>In <code>save_deal.php</code>, I access the <code>url</code> parameter quite simply like this:</p>

<pre><code>$url = $_GET["url"]; 
</code></pre>

<p>But the value of <code>$url</code> is then</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>&#104;ttp://my.angieslist.com/thebigdeal/default.aspx?itemid= TZi k0M5 8=</p>
</blockquote>

<p>That is, the weird %2b and other such percent characters have been converted into something else. How can I get the exact same string instead of this translated version (which has converted the percent characters into something else)?</p>
