Simple function to help you sanitizing the php string. This function will remove any non alphanumeric character. [cc_php] function sanitize($string) { return preg_replace(“/[^[:alnum:]]/ui”, ”, $string); } [/cc_php] example: [cc_php] echo sanitize(‘café’); /* => café / echo sanitize(‘|c/(!=)a f é’); / => café */ [/cc_php]