SQL LIKE & Wildcards

Search for patterns in text.

✍️ 3 exercises + code challenge in this lesson

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The LIKE operator searches for a pattern in a column using wildcards:

%: any number of characters (including none).
_: exactly one character.

Examples

'A%': starts with A
'%shop': ends with "shop"
'%tech%': contains "tech"
'_a%': second letter is "a"

In SQLite and MySQL, LIKE is case-insensitive for English letters.

Key Takeaways: SQL LIKE & Wildcards

Mastering SQL LIKE & Wildcards helps you write clean and reliable SQL code. Follow standard conventions, test edge cases, and keep logic simple. Try running the code example below and complete the exercises to build confidence.

SQL LIKE & Wildcards Code Example

SQL

SELECT CustomerName FROM Customers WHERE CustomerName LIKE 'A%';

SELECT CustomerName FROM Customers WHERE CustomerName LIKE '%tech%';

SELECT City FROM Customers WHERE City LIKE '_a%';

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SQL LIKE & Wildcards Practice Exercises

Check what you learned in “SQL LIKE & Wildcards”.

/ 3 solved

Fill in the blank

Find names that start with "S".

WHERE CustomerName LIKE ''

✓ Correct! Not quite. Try again.

Multiple choice

Which wildcard matches exactly one character?

_ % * ?

✓ Correct! Not quite. Try again.

Code challenge

Select CustomerName of customers whose name contains 'Mart' or 'Books'.

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SQL LIKE & Wildcards

Examples

💡 Key Takeaways: SQL LIKE & Wildcards

SQL LIKE & Wildcards Code Example

SQL LIKE & Wildcards Practice Exercises

Key Takeaways: SQL LIKE & Wildcards