LIKE Operator

The LIKE operator is integral for performing pattern matching within SQL queries, especially useful for searching textual data. It allows users to search for a specified pattern in a column and can be combined with wildcard characters to enhance its functionality. The two primary wildcard characters used with LIKE are:

• %: Represents zero or more characters.
• _: Represents a single character.

For example, the following query retrieves all customers whose names start with the letter ‘A’:

sqlCopy codeSELECT * FROM customers WHERE name LIKE 'A%';

This effectively filters results to include any names beginning with ‘A’, followed by any sequence of characters. The LIKE operator is particularly useful in scenarios where partial matches are required, such as searching for email addresses or product descriptions. However, it’s important to note that using LIKE can sometimes lead to performance issues on large datasets, especially if the leading wildcard is used. Thus, while it provides flexibility in querying, users should also consider the impact on query performance and data retrieval efficiency.