Store literal strings in the DB, get them back out

[LLLLLLL]

I have an input textbox on a form. If the user enters ' into the field, how can I store that exact string in the database? And then, how can I read that string back out?

 

As it is now, the text is being converted to an apostrophe. I assume that similar strings would also be translated. I need to store the string exactly as entered, because later that text will be used on a webpage (where the browser will translate it appropriately).

 

Ideas?

 

On MySQL 5.1.47, PHP 5.2.14

[LLLLLLL]

This may not be a my_sql question after all, but rather one about the input field and post messages. HTML Special Chars might be what I need:

http://www.php.net/manual/en/function.htmlspecialchars.php

 

But I don't necessarily want to convert it, I want to be sure it is not converted!