[jQuery] Prevent ampersand from splitting up data string during ajax query

[webmas...@stiu]

Hi,
   I'm using ajax to store values from a form into MySQL. The form
contains a text field named "title" and the method I'm using to fetch
and pass on the data to the backend is shown below:
===============================================
                                _data =  "title=" + $( '#title' ).val();

                                $.ajax({
                                                        async:  true,
                                                        type:           "POST",
                                                        url:            
"backend.php",
                                                        dataType:       "json",
                                                        data:           _data,
                                                        success:        
function( json ) { .... }
                                                        } // success
                                });
===============================================
The method works fine for normal text, say "This is a sample text".

However, if an ampersand is used in the title text (example: "This &
That"), the post value is being truncated at it. In effect, the & in
the is causing the string to be split up into two segments and the
part after the & is being treated as a variable,

i.e. instead of passing

title = This & That

what is being passed is,

title = This
That =

Any suggestions on how to fix this?

Thanks,
Sourjya