MySQL string selecting commands

Question

How can I select a row specific by string values

SELECT * FROM my_table WHERE name=
   -- then some function to test what string it starts with

Its a bit hard to explain so i will explain an example with JavaScript

if(mystring.indexOf('targetstring') != -1){
// if that variable contains this string

}

if(mystring.indexOf('targetstring') == 0){
// if that variable starts with this string

}

So all in all, I want to select rows, when their name(a string column) starts with or contains a specific string.

Pekka · Accepted Answer · 2011-09-10 16:43:16Z

4

You can use LIKE and the wildcard %:

SELECT * FROM my_table WHERE name LIKE 'john%'; /* name starts with john*/ 

SELECT * FROM my_table WHERE name LIKE '%john%'; /* name contains john*/

edited Sep 10, 2011 at 16:43

Pekka

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answered Sep 10, 2011 at 16:38

bfavaretto

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1 Comment

cwallenpoole Over a year ago

I was basically going to say just that and add this: techonthenet.com/sql/like.php

ennuikiller · Accepted Answer · 2011-09-10 16:37:56Z

2

SELECT * FROM my_table WHERE name like "%string%"

answered Sep 10, 2011 at 16:37

ennuikiller

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1 Comment

Pekka Over a year ago

This selects more than it should. The % should be at the end only

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