Is there a PHP function that can decode a string containing &= : <p>I know this is a basic question but I can't find it or even thing what it might be called.</p>

<p>But is there a function to easily decode strings with multiple vars like this?</p>

<pre><code>$vars = 'status=true&amp;stackoverflow=great&amp;apple=red&amp;orange=orange';
</code></pre>

<p>How would I get the value of "apple" with a function?</p>

<p>Something like <code>echo '$vars.apple';</code> etc...</p>
