gistfile1.php

<?php

function encode($data) {
	global $format;
	array_unshift($data, $format);
	$raw = call_user_func_array("pack", $data);
	$encoded = bin2hex($raw);
	return $encoded;
}
function decode($encoded) {
	global $format;
	$raw = hex2bin($encoded);
	return unpack($format, $raw);
}



$format = "LLc*";

$enc = encode(array(
	42,
	1337,
	"woot"
));

$dec = decode($enc);
echo "<pre>";
echo "Encoded: $enc\n";
echo "Decoded: $dec[0]; $dec[3]; $dec[3] \n";