SQL LIKE Operator

The SQL LIKE operator is a pattern-matching operator used in SQL queries to search for a specified pattern in a column. It allows for flexible string matching using wildcard characters, such as '%' for any sequence of characters and '_' for a single character. This operator is essential for filtering data based on partial or fuzzy matches in text fields.

Also known as: LIKE clause, SQL pattern matching, wildcard search, string pattern operator, fuzzy match operator

Why learn SQL LIKE Operator?

Developers should learn the SQL LIKE operator when building applications that require search functionality, data filtering, or text analysis in databases, such as in e-commerce sites for product searches or in content management systems for article retrieval. It is particularly useful for handling user input where exact matches are not guaranteed, enabling queries like finding names starting with 'A' or emails containing a specific domain.

Learning Resources

• tutorial: W3Schools SQL LIKE Tutorial
• docs: PostgreSQL Documentation on Pattern Matching
• tutorial: SQL LIKE Operator - GeeksforGeeks
• video: YouTube: SQL LIKE Operator Explained
• tutorial: SQLZoo LIKE Tutorial