mysqli_real_escape_string not escaping anything

Question

I am using mysqli_real_escape_string to escape single and double quotes etc. but it is not escaping anything. My code is as follows

$con = mysqli_connect("ip","db","pw","db");
$formtext = $_POST['formtext'];
$formtext = mysqli_real_escape_string($con, $formtext);
mysqli_query($con, "INSERT into table (formtext) VALUES ('$formtext')")
    or die();

After inserting into the table the 'formtext' field contains no escapes (backslashes). What are the possible reasons for this to be happening?

Answer 1

The data saved to the database will not contain "escapes" or escape sequences or extraneous slashes.

The database will contain the actual data supplied , which is the point of the function: to escape the input for use as SQL string content in an SQL statement.

mysqli_real_escape_string escapes special characters in a string for use in an SQL statement [as string literal content], taking into account the current charset of the connection.

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If the point is to change data (and if so, be precise on what the change should be) - noting that "real_escape" or (better) parameterized queries should still be used anyway - then use the appropriate function for the task.