Why is the variable surrounded by ' ' when I put it in to a string?

[the5thace]

'http://www.dictionaryapi.com/api/v1/references/collegiate/xml/'.$query.'?key='

$query is surrounded with ' ' when I try to echo. How do I avoid them?

[AbraCadaver]

You'll have to show more code, like $query, and the echo, and explain the problem a little better.

[the5thace]

<?php

if ($_POST['query'])



{

    $query = ("'{$_POST['query']}'");



$uri = "http://www.dictionaryapi.com/api/v1/references/collegiate/xml/".$query."?key=";

echo $uri;

echo (file_get_contents($uri).'horse');

}



?>

[the5thace]

Been messing around with both ' ' and " ". Neither let me insert a variable without ' ' surrounding it. Please explain how the context of variable can change this. 

[AbraCadaver]

Because you have single quotes here:

$query = ("'{$_POST['query']}'");

Whats wrong with just?

$query = $_POST['query'];

[the5thace]

I more or less copied 

$query = ("'{$_POST['query']}'");

from Bing api booklet and never thought to question how it could interfere.

Thanks for the answer.  

Edited July 15, 2013 by the5thace