title: utf8_encode function purpose
body: <p>Supposed that im encoding my files with UTF-8.</p>
  
  <p>Within PHP script, a string will be compared:</p>
  
  <pre><code>$string="ぁ";
  $string = utf8_encode($string); //Do i need this step?
  if(preg_match('/ぁ/u',$string))
  //Do if match...
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>Its that <strong>string</strong> really UTF-8 without the utf8_encode() function?
  If you encode your files with UTF-8 dont need this function?</p>