How to use Like in SQL query

SQL Like wildcard (%)

SQL Wildcards: SQL wildcards are used to display unknown values. Sometimes it is necessary to show the value, but the value may not know. In this situation, we can use wild cards.The SQL wildcard sign is used with the SQL Select Where command.

% Wildcard symbol in SQL Query: Indicate one or more characters

Like % Wildcard Syntax With Example:

Syntax:
 Select [ * | COLUMN_NAME,..] From TABLE_NAME Where COLUMN_NAME Like '....%.....'

Description:
             Select: SQL Keyword.
             * | COLUMN_NMME: All or specific column name.
             From: SQL Keyword.
             TABLE_NAME: Name of table.
             Where: SQL keyword.
             '.....%......' : Specify the start and end value. The middle any value.



Here is a Table ItemDetails

ItemCode	ItemName	ManufactureCompany	ItemSerialNo	ItemCategory	ItemQuantity	ItemPrice	ProductCountry
1	Samsung Mobile	Samsung	S12345	Mobile	500	240	Korea
2	Samsung Pro	Samsung	SP1234	Mobile	100	300	Korea
3	Samsung Headphone	Samsung	SH2345	Headphone	50	50	Korea
4	iPhone	iPone	iP12345	Mobile	1000	500	United Stat
5	Apple Mobile	Apple	A12345	Mobile	200	300	United Stat
6	Apple Computer	Apple	A12343	Computer	200	400	United Stat
7	Apple Macbook	Apple	AM2345	Macbook	50	600	United Stat
8	Dell Computer	DELL	D02345	Computer	200	240	United Stat
9	Dell Laptop	DELL	DL2345	Laptop	30	240	United Stat
10	Apple Laptop	Apple	AL2345	Laptop	500	100	United Stat
11	Apple Headphone	Apple	AH2345	Headphone	50	20	United Stat
12	Sony Camera	Sony	SN2345	Camera	200	240	Japan
13	Sony Headphone	Sony	SNH345	Headphone	500	50	Japan
14	Ascer Computer	Ascer	AC2345	Computer	100	600	China
16	Borother Printer	Brother	B12345	Printer	200	200	China
17	Ascer Printer	Ascer	AP2345	Printer	200	150	China
18	Brother Photocopy	Brother	BP2345	Printer	20	150	China
19	Brother Multi Printer	Brother	BM243	Photocopy	NULL	NULL	India

SQL Like % wildcard SQL query examples:

Now,
Select ItemCode,ItemName,ManufactureCompany from ItemDetails Where ItemName like 'Sam%'
Result:

ItemCode	ItemName	ManufactureCompany
1	Samsung Mobile	Samsung
2	Samsung Pro	Samsung
3	Samsung Headphone	Samsung

Select ItemCode,ItemName,ManufactureCompany from ItemDetails where ItemName like 'Apple%'
Result:

ItemCode	ItemName	ManufactureCompany
5	Apple Mobile	Apple
6	Apple Computer	Apple
7	Apple Macbook	Apple

Select ItemCode,ItemName,ManufactureCompany from ItemDetails where ItemName Like '%Printer'

Result:

ItemCode	ItemName	ManufactureCompany
16	Borother Printer	Brother
17	Ascer Printer	Ascer
19	Brother Multi Printer	Brother

Select ItemCode,ItemName,ManufactureCompany from ItemDetails Where ItemCategory like '%ra'

Result:

ItemCode	ItemName	ManufactureCompany
12	Sony Camera	Sony

Select ItemCode,ItemName,ManufactureCompany from ItemDetails Where ItemCategory like 'Lap%'

Result:

ItemCode	ItemName	ManufactureCompany
9	Dell Laptop	DELL
10	Apple Laptop	Apple

Select ItemCode,ItemName,ManufactureCompany,ItemQuantity,ProductCountry from ItemDetails Where ProductCountry like '%Stat'

Result:

ItemCode	ItemName	ManufactureCompany	ItemQuantity	ProductCountry
4	iPhone	iPone	1000	United Stat
5	Apple Mobile	Apple	200	United Stat
6	Apple Computer	Apple	200	United Stat
7	Apple Macbook	Apple	50	United Stat
8	Dell Computer	DELL	200	United Stat
9	Dell Laptop	DELL	30	United Stat
10	Apple Laptop	Apple	500	United Stat
11	Apple Headphone	Apple	50	United Stat

Select ItemCode,ItemName,ManufactureCompany from ItemDetails Where ItemCategory like '%dp%'

Result:

ItemCode	ItemName	ManufactureCompany
3	Samsung Headphone	Samsung
11	Apple Headphone	Apple
13	Sony Headphone	Sony

Select ItemCode,ItemName,ManufactureCompany,ItemSerialNo from ItemDetails Where ItemSerialNo like '%1%'

Result:

ItemCode	ItemName	ManufactureCompany	ItemSerialNo
1	Samsung Mobile	Samsung	S12345
2	Samsung Pro	Samsung	SP1234
4	iPhone	iPone	iP12345
5	Apple Mobile	Apple	A12345
6	Apple Computer	Apple	A12343

SQL Like Wildcard  (%) example in video

SQL Like Wildcard  (%) example in Image

[Note: We have created and inserted values into sql table in previous topic. For more details Click here.
OR
Execute the follow command in your sql query window for executing above sql select where statement]
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Create Table ItemDetails

(

ItemCode int,

ItemName varchar(30),

ManufactureCompany varchar(50),

ExpiredDate date,

ItemSearialNo varchar (30),

ItemCategory varchar(30),

ItemQuantity int,

ItemPrice float,

ProductCountry varchar(30),

ReceivedDate date,

ItemImage image

)

Insert into ItemDetails values('1','Samsung Mobile','Samsung','12-10-2024','12-01-2050','S12345','Mobile','500','240','Korea','12-10-2025')
Insert into ItemDetails values('2','Samsung Pro','Samsung','12-10-2024','12-01-2050','SP1234','Mobile','100','300','Korea','12-10-2025')
Insert into ItemDetails values('3','Samsung Headphone','Samsung','12-10-2023','12-01-2053','SH2345','Headphone','50','50','Korea','12-10-2025')
Insert into ItemDetails values('4','iPhone','iPone','12-01-2024','12-01-2049','iP12345','Mobile','1000','500','United Stat','12-10-2025')
Insert into ItemDetails values('5','Apple Mobile','Apple','12-11-2024','12-01-2049','A12345','Mobile','200','300','United Stat','12-10-2025')
Insert into ItemDetails values('6','Apple Computer','Apple','12-02-2024','12-01-2050','A12343','Computer','200','400','United Stat','12-10-2025')
Insert into ItemDetails values('7','Apple Macbook','Apple','12-11-2024','12-01-2050','AM2345','Macbook','50','600','United Stat','12-10-2025')
Insert into ItemDetails values('8','Dell Computer','DELL','12-09-2024','12-01-2050','D02345','Computer','200','240','United Stat','12-10-2025')
Insert into ItemDetails values('9','Dell Laptop','DELL','12-09-2024','12-01-2050','DL2345','Laptop','30','240','United Stat','12-10-2025')
Insert into ItemDetails values('10','Apple Laptop','Apple','12-08-2024','12-01-2050','AL2345','Laptop','500','100','United Stat','12-10-2025')
Insert into ItemDetails values('11','Apple Headphone','Apple','12-12-2024','12-01-2050','AH2345','Headphone','50','20','United Stat','12-10-2025')
Insert into ItemDetails values('12','Sony Camera','Sony','12-11-2024','12-11-2050','SN2345','Camera','200','240','Japan','12-11-2025')
Insert into ItemDetails values('13','Sony Headphone','Sony','12-09-2024','12-01-2050','SNH345','Headphone','500','50','Japan','12-11-2025')
Insert into ItemDetails values('14','Ascer Computer','Ascer','12-09-2024','12-07-2050','AC2345','Computer','100','600','China','12-10-2025')
Insert into ItemDetails values('16','Borother Printer','Brother','12-09-2024','12-01-2050','B12345','Printer','200','200','China','12-10-2025')

Insert into ItemDetails values('19','Brother Multi Printer','Brother',GETDATE(),'2050-10-10','BM243','Photocopy',null,null,'India',GETDATE())

Insert into ItemDetails (ItemCode,ItemName,ManufactureCompany,ProductDate,ExpiredDate,ItemSearialNo,ItemCategory,ItemQuantity,ItemPrice,ProductCountry,ReceivedDate) values('17','Ascer Printer','Ascer','12-09-2024','12-07-2050','AP2345','Printer','200','150','China','12-10-2025')
Insert into ItemDetails (ItemCode,ItemName,ManufactureCompany,ProductDate,ExpiredDate,ItemSearialNo,ItemCategory,ItemQuantity,ItemPrice,ProductCountry,ReceivedDate) values('18','Brother Photocopy','Brother','12-08-2024','12-07-2050','BP2345','Printer','20','150','China','12-10-2025')

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++