Weird UTF-8 MAMP issue

in further text, I'll refer to some characters as correct UTF characters, that's utf-8 encoded character in it's ok form (á) and incorrect UTF characters, that's the same, but messed up utf-8 character (e.g. showing as ý).

So, there's CMS running on MAMP – it's locally developed website for client. Now, in administration, I input correct utf-8 characters. When browsed on localhost, it shows up as correct utf-8 characters. In utf-8 encoded mysql, however, it shows as incorrectt utf-8 characters (in Sequel Pro/phpMyAdmin).

When the database was moved to staging/dev server, the very same DB that works on MAMP, stopped working and show up as incorrect – just as they are input on MAMP.

However, if I open administration (the very same code) on staging 开发者_JAVA百科server and input correct characters, not only they show up normal, but they are also saved in mysql as correct characters.

I'm actually shocked – the very same code, the very same db and it still behaves in a different way.

Have you ever noticed something like, i.e. can you spare me of the pain of looking thru millions of different entry points, where utf-8 can be messed up.

P.S.: I think this might be MAMP-related (weird utf-8 settings), not strictly app-related. P.S.: The app uses MySQLi, every file is UTF-8 encoded :/ The only thing that differs is that on mamp I use just host/user mysql connection, while on staging db socket is introduced.

Thank you.

I've actually experienced this a few times. I do the following to work around it.

As soon as I connect to the database:

mysql_query("SET NAMES 'utf8'", $db_con);

At the top of each page:

header('Content-Type: text/html; charset=utf-8');

If you want to be really pedantic, with any forms you use to post data:

<form accept-charset="utf-8"></form>