<?php $array = array( 'Appt with my IFA: cxzcsdf Wed. 10:30', 'Transfer some cas\\zh to my SIPP ready to invest in R&M Global Opportunities on launch'."\n", 'Research and switch from my gilts fund to an emerging markets fund' ); $serialized = serialize($array); echo '<strong>Serialized</strong>: ' .$serialized .'<br/><br/>'; $urlencoded = urlencode($serialized); echo '<strong>Encoded:</strong> <a href="?encoded=' .$urlencoded .'">' .$urlencoded .'</a><br/><br/>'; if( isset($_GET['encoded']) ) { echo '<strong>Encoded from GET:</strong> ' . $_GET['encoded'] .'<br/><br/>'; $decoded = urldecode($_GET['encoded']); echo '<strong>Decoded from GET:</strong> ' . $decoded .'<br/><br/>'; $decoded_array = unserialize($decoded); echo '<strong>Decoded from GET:</strong> ' . print_r($decoded_array, TRUE) .'<br/><br/>'; } echo "<h2>Final verdict!</h2>"; var_dump($array === $decoded_array); echo "<h2>Whhhhhhhy?!</h2>"; var_export($array); echo "<br/><br/>"; var_export($decoded_array);