The LIKE operator is used in a WHERE clause to search for a specified pattern in a column.
You use LIKE in cases where you are unable to match an exact word or phrase. SQL wildcards can substitute for one or more characters
when searching for data in a database.
Wildcards
% - substitute for zero or more characters
_ - subsitute exactly one character
[charlist] - subsitute any single character in charlist
[^charlist] - subsitute any single character not in the charlist
[!charlist] - subsitute any single character not in the charlist
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Syntax
SELECT column_name(s)
FROM table_name
WHERE column_name LIKE '%pattern%'
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Examples
Search for names that begin with 'Jo', such as 'John' or 'Joseph'.
SELECT * FROM Customers where firstName LIKE 'Jo%'
Search for names that end in 'm' such as Tim or Sam.
SELECT * FROM Customers where firstName LIKE '%m'
Search for names that contain 'il' such as Jill, William, and Phillip.
SELECT * FROM Customers where firstName LIKE '%il%'
Search for names that contain '_e_' such as 'Ted'.
SELECT * FROM Customers where firstName LIKE '_e_'
Search for names that contain the letters 'abc' such as 'Aldo, Bill, Cathy'.
SELECT * FROM Customers where firstName LIKE '[abc]%'
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