1.3

LIKE and REGEXP Operators

LIKE and REGEXP Operators

  • The LIKE keyword is used with the WHERE clause.
  • The LIKE keyword and can use two symbols as wildcards. The percent ( % ) symbol matches any number of characters and the underscore ( _ ) matches a single character
  • REGEXP keyword allows you to do more complex pattern matching than a LIKE keyword/
  • Some version of REGEXP exists in many computer languages. Refer to the “LIKE and REGEXP” handout for a full list of examples.

Table 2. LIKE Keyword

LIKE Symbol Description

%

Match any string of characters to the left of the symbol

_

Match a single character

Code Example:

USE world;
SELECT name
FROM country
WHERE name LIKE ‘A%’

Results:

LIKE.png

Table 3. REXEXP Keyword

REGEXP Characters Description

^

Match the pattern to the beginning of the value being tested.

$

Match the pattern to the end of the value being tested.

.

Matches any single character.

[charlist]

Matches any single character listed within the brackets.

[char1 – char2]

Matches any single character within the given range.

|

Separates two string patterns and matches either one

Code Example:

USE world;
SELECT name
FROM country
WHERE name REGEXP 'g[o,u]';

Results:

REGEXP.png

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