http_build_query() without url encoding

Question

Is there a way to use http_build_query() without having it URL encode according to some RFC standard?

Why I don't want to URL encode everything: I'm querying the Ebay API.. They honestly insist on parameter names not being URL encoded, as far as commas in parentheses. E.g. DomainName(0) is a parameter, and the query fails if those parens are encoded.

Answer 1

You can use urldecode() function on a result string which you get from http_build_query()

Answer 2

PHP 5.3.1 (Buggy Behavior) http_build_query DOES escape the '&' ampersand character that joins the parameters. Example: user_id=1&setting_id=2.

PHP 5.4+ http_build_query DOES NOT escape the '&' ampersand character that joins the parameters. Example: user_id=1&setting_id=2

Example:

$params = array(
    'user_id' => '1', 
    'setting_id' => '2'
);
echo http_build_query($params);

// Output for PHP 5.3.1:
user_id=1&setting_id=2   // NOTICE THAT: '&' character is escaped

// Output for PHP 5.4.0+:
user_id=1&setting_id=2       // NOTICE THAT: '&' character is NOT escaped

Solution when targeting multiple version

Option #1: Write a wrapper function:

/** 
 * This will work consistently and will never escape the '&' character
 */
function buildQuery($params) {
    return http_build_query($params, '', '&');
}

Option #2: Ditch the http_build_query function and write your own.