SQL LIKE Operator

 The LIKE operator in SQL is used in a WHERE clause to search for a specified pattern in a column. It is typically used with wildcard characters to filter records based on pattern matching.

Wildcard Characters in SQL:

1. %: Represents zero, one, or multiple characters.
2. _: Represents a single character.

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Syntax

SELECT column1, column2, ...
FROM table_name
WHERE column_name LIKE pattern;

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Examples

1. Match Strings Starting with a Specific Character

SELECT * 
FROM employees
WHERE name LIKE 'A%';

This query finds all names that start with "A."

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2. Match Strings Ending with a Specific Character

SELECT * 
FROM employees
WHERE name LIKE '%n';

This query finds all names that end with "n."

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3. Match Strings Containing a Specific Sequence

SELECT * 
FROM employees
WHERE name LIKE '%an%';

This query finds all names containing "an."

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4. Match Strings of a Specific Length

SELECT * 
FROM employees
WHERE name LIKE '___';

This query finds all names that are exactly three characters long.

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5. Case Sensitivity

• In most databases, the LIKE operator is case-insensitive (e.g., MySQL).
• To perform a case-sensitive match in databases like MySQL, use the BINARY keyword:

SELECT * 
FROM employees
WHERE name LIKE BINARY 'A%';

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Advanced Patterns

Escape Characters

To search for special characters like % or _, use an escape character:

SELECT * 
FROM employees
WHERE job_title LIKE '50\%%' ESCAPE '\';

This query finds job titles that include "50%".

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Combining with Other Conditions

SELECT * 
FROM employees
WHERE name LIKE 'A%' AND age > 30;

This query finds names starting with "A" where the age is greater than 30.