Why does PHP add back-slashes to input?

[Anon]

Does anyone know why PHP automatically adds back-slashes to input? It is somewhat annoying having to strip them out since I never wanted them there in the first place. Are they good for anything aside from creating extra steps in programs?

[Anon]

Oh yeah... I was referring to apostrophes. PHP automatically converts something like this...

Billy's Bait Shop

... to something like this:

Billy\'s Bait Shop

Does anyone know why?

[Anon]

When using Apache as your webserver, add a file called '.htaccess' to your directory containing the following line:
php_flag magic_quotes_gpc off

Oh, and of course don't forget to tell your webserver to look in the .htaccess files:
Alter in httpd.conf

AllowOverride None
change into
AllowOverride All

With regards,

Roald Hendriks