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# Enabling and disabling the PHP magic quotes directive

> Learn to enable or disable magic quotes in php.ini with this concise guide, featuring instructions and related links.

This article describes how to enable and disable the magic quotes directive in a custom *php.ini* file.

<Warning>
  **Important**

  The information in this article only applies to certain types of hosting accounts. To determine whether or not the information below applies to your account, please see [this article](/docs/changing-php-settings-and-versions).

  📘 Note

  This article assumes that you have already set up a custom *php.ini* file on your web site. If you have not already set up a custom *php.ini* file, please read [this article](/docs/custom-php-ini-files) first.

  🚧 Important

  This article only applies to PHP 5.3 and earlier versions. The magic quotes directive was removed in PHP 5.4.
</Warning>

## Using PHP magic quotes directive

When the magic quotes directive is enabled, PHP automatically escapes data from HTTP GET and POST requests and cookie data. For example, if a user types **"hello"** (with the quotation marks) in a form, PHP automatically escapes the quotation marks and stores the value as **"hello"**. To enable this functionality, use a text editor to modify the **magic\_quotes\_gpc** directive in the *php.ini* file as follows:

```
magic_quotes_gpc = on
```

To disable this functionality, modify the **magic\_quotes\_gpc** directive in the *php.ini* file as follows:

```
magic_quotes_gpc = off
```

<Tip>
  To verify the current value of the magic quotes directive and other directives, you can use the **phpinfo()** function. For more information, please see [this article](/docs/view-php-settings).
</Tip>

## More information

* To view a complete list of *php.ini* directives, please visit [http://www.php.net/manual/en/ini.list.php](http://www.php.net/manual/en/ini.list.php).

* For more information about the magic quotes directive, please visit [http://www.php.net/manual/en/info.configuration.php#ini.magic-quotes-gpc](http://www.php.net/manual/en/info.configuration.php#ini.magic-quotes-gpc).

## Related articles

* [Custom php.ini files](/docs/custom-php-ini-files)

* [Using php.ini directives](/docs/using-php-ini-directives)