Understanding SQL Server Like Wildcard

Hello Dev, if you are working with SQL Server, you must have come across the term ‘Like Wildcard’. It is an essential operator that enables you to search for patterns in a column. In this article, we will dive deep into the concept of SQL Server Like Wildcard and how you can use it to your advantage.

What is SQL Server Like Wildcard?

Before we start exploring the concept of SQL Server Like Wildcard, let us first understand what it means. A wildcard character is a special symbol used to represent one or more characters when performing a search operation. In SQL Server, the Like operator is used to perform pattern matching searches, and the wildcard characters are used with it to represent any number of characters.

Types of SQL Server Like Wildcards

There are two types of wildcard characters used in SQL Server Like Wildcard.

Wildcard	Description
%	Represents zero or more characters
_	Represents a single character

Using SQL Server Like Wildcard

To use SQL Server Like Wildcard, you need to use the Like operator along with the wildcard characters. Let us explore this concept with an example.

Example

Suppose you have a table named ‘Employees’ with the following columns:

EmpID	EmpName	EmpCity
1	John Doe	New York
2	Jane Doe	Los Angeles
3	Bob Smith	Chicago
4	Alice Lee	Boston

To find all employees whose names start with ‘J’, you can use the following query:

SELECT * FROM Employees WHERE EmpName LIKE 'J%'

This query will return the following result:

EmpID	EmpName	EmpCity
1	John Doe	New York
2	Jane Doe	Los Angeles

In this example, we used the ‘%’ wildcard character to represent any number of characters after the letter ‘J’ to find all employees whose names start with ‘J’.

FAQ about SQL Server Like Wildcard

What is the difference between ‘%’ and ‘_’ wildcard characters?

The ‘%’ wildcard character represents any number of characters, whereas the ‘_’ wildcard character represents a single character.

Can we use multiple wildcard characters in a single search operation?

Yes, you can use multiple wildcard characters in a single search operation to create complex search patterns.

Is SQL Server Like Wildcard case-sensitive?

No, SQL Server Like Wildcard is not case-sensitive. It will return results regardless of the case of the search characters.

Can we use SQL Server Like Wildcard with numeric data types?

No, SQL Server Like Wildcard can only be used with character data types.

Can we use SQL Server Like Wildcard with multiple columns in a single search operation?

Yes, you can use SQL Server Like Wildcard with multiple columns in a single search operation to find patterns across different columns in a table.

Conclusion

SQL Server Like Wildcard is an essential operator that allows you to search for patterns in a column. By using the ‘%’ and ‘_’ wildcard characters, you can create complex search patterns to find matching data. Understanding the concept of SQL Server Like Wildcard is crucial for any SQL Server developer, and we hope this article has provided you with valuable insights on this topic.