utf8_encodePHP ManualPrevNextutf8_encodeutf8_encode -- encodes an ISO-8859-1 string to UTF-8Descriptionstring utf8_encode(string data); This function encodes the string data to UTF-8, and returns the encoded version. UTF-8 is a standard mechanism used by Unicodefor encoding wide character values into a byte stream. UTF-8 is transparent to plain ASCII characters, is self-synchronized (meaning it is possible for a program to figure out where in the bytestream characters start) and can be used with normal string comparison functions for sorting and such. PHP encodes UTF-8 characters in up to four bytes, like this: Table 1. UTF-8 encodingbytesbitsrepresentation170bbbbbbb211110bbbbb 10bbbbbb3161110bbbb 10bbbbbb 10bbbbbb42111110bbb 10bbbbbb 10bbbbbb 10bbbbbb Each b represents a bit that can be used to store character data. PrevHomeNextutf8_decodeUpAppendixes