MySQL LIKE Operator

The MySQL LIKE Operator

The LIKE operator is used in a WHERE clause to search for a specified pattern in a column.

There are two wildcards often used in conjunction with the LIKE operator:

  • The percent sign (%) represents zero, one, or multiple characters
  • The underscore sign (_) represents one, single character

The percent sign and the underscore can also be used in combinations!

LIKE Syntax

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

Tip: You can also combine any number of conditions using AND or OR operators.

Here are some examples showing different LIKE operators with '%' and '_' wildcards:

LIKE Operator

Description

WHERE CustomerName LIKE 'a%'

Finds any values that start with "a"

WHERE CustomerName LIKE '%a'

Finds any values that end with "a"

WHERE CustomerName LIKE '%or%'

Finds any values that have "or" in any position

WHERE CustomerName LIKE '_r%'

Finds any values that have "r" in the second position

WHERE CustomerName LIKE 'a_%'

Finds any values that start with "a" and are at least 2 characters in length

WHERE CustomerName LIKE 'a__%'

Finds any values that start with "a" and are at least 3 characters in length

WHERE ContactName LIKE 'a%o'

Finds any values that start with "a" and ends with "o"


Demo Database

The table below shows the complete "Customers" table from the Northwind sample database:

CustomerID

CustomerName

ContactName

Address

City

PostalCode

Country

1

Alfreds Futterkiste

Maria Anders

Obere Str. 57

Berlin

12209

Germany

2

Ana Trujillo Emparedados y helados

Ana Trujillo

Avda. de la Constitución 2222

México D.F.

05021

Mexico

3

Antonio Moreno Taquería

Antonio Moreno

Mataderos 2312

México D.F.

05023

Mexico

4

Around the Horn

Thomas Hardy

120 Hanover Sq.

London

WA1 1DP

UK

5

Berglunds snabbköp

Christina Berglund

Berguvsvägen 8

Luleå

S-958 22

Sweden

6

Blauer See Delikatessen

Hanna Moos

Forsterstr. 57

Mannheim

68306

Germany

7

Blondel père et fils

Frédérique Citeaux

24, place Kléber

Strasbourg

67000

France

8

Bólido Comidas preparadas

Martín Sommer

C/ Araquil, 67

Madrid

28023

Spain

9

Bon app'

Laurence Lebihans

12, rue des Bouchers

Marseille

13008

France

10

Bottom-Dollar Marketse

Elizabeth Lincoln

23 Tsawassen Blvd.

Tsawassen

T2F 8M4

Canada

11

B's Beverages

Victoria Ashworth

Fauntleroy Circus

London

EC2 5NT

UK

12

Cactus Comidas para llevar

Patricio Simpson

Cerrito 333

Buenos Aires

1010

Argentina

13

Centro comercial Moctezuma

Francisco Chang

Sierras de Granada 9993

México D.F.


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