sharepoint $filter query to check duplicate before insert

Question

hi ,

 

I am using sharepoint rest api, i want to check for duplicate record before insert to list.

below is my query

 

app url/_api/web/lists/GetByTitle('ListName')/items?@$select=Title,Id,IsActive

&$filter=Title eq 'data1 & data2'

 

special character '&' is not supported in url ,this causing error