title: getting variables from STRING url in php
body: <p>If I have a url that looks like this, what's the best way to read the value</p>
  
  <pre><code>http://www.domain.com/compute?value=2838
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>I tried <code>parse_url()</code> but it gives me <code>value=2838</code> not <code>2838</code></p>
  
  <p><strong>Edit:</strong> please note I'm talking about a string, not an actual url. I have the url stored in a string.</p>