In SQl wildcards are used with LIKE operator which are substitute for any other character or characters . In SQL we can use two wildcards with LIKE operator which are percentage symbol ( %, ) and underscore symbol ( _ ) . Where percentage symbol ( % ) is substitutes for zero or more characters and Underscore symbol ( _ ) are used as substitutes of any single character.
If we want to search the record with name of the person but we not have exact name , we only know the part of name like that the second name is ' Bloch ' then we use LIKE operator with % wildcard before the name:
For example from table given below:
Actual Table
| client_name | city | order_amount |
| Syed Tauqeer | Karachi | 50000 |
| Muhammad Zia Ahmed | Lahore | 20000 |
| Noman Bloch | Karachi | 30000 |
| Imran Hadir | Islamabad | 10000 |
| Muneer Bloch | Karachi | 15000 |
| Muhammad Zia Khan | Islamabad | 30000 |
SELECT * FROM client_info WHERE client_name like '%Bloch'
This statement show that second part of name or last part of name is Bloch and before the Bloch we did not know
The above statement display the following record.
Selected record with BETWEEN Operator
| client_name | city | order_amount |
| Noman Bloch | Karachi | 30000 |
| Muneer Bloch | Karachi | 15000 |
we can also use :
SELECT * FROM client_info WHERE client_name like 'Syed%'
This statement show that First part of name is Syed and after the Syed we did not know. in simple word we asking to SQl that retune those record whose client-name start form Syed. So its return all those record which start form Syed. In our table only one record will be selected
| client_name | city | order_amount |
| Syed Tauqeer | Karachi | 50000 |
another example is :
SELECT * FROM client_info WHERE client_name like '%Zia%'
So we are asking to search those record where client_name have this text Zia. Before or after any thing is possible. So in the result following two records are display:
| client_name | city | order_amount |
| Muhammad Zia Ahmed | Lahore | 20000 |
| Muhammad Zia Khan | Islamabad | 30000 |
we can also use the underscore ( _ ) wildcards for example:
ELECT * FROM client_info WHERE city like '_ahore'
So we are asking to search those record where city name have _ahore. only one character at the place of Underscore is missing. So in the result following one record is display :
| client_name | city | order_amount |
| Muhammad Zia Ahmed | Lahore | 20000 |
Select Command
Distinct clause with Select Command
Where clause In SQL
Logical Operator in SQL SELECT Statement
IN Operator in SQL
BETWEEN Operator in SQL
Use of Wildcards in SQL
LIKE Operator in SQL
ORDER BY Clause in SQL
GROUP BY Clause in SQL
HAVING Clause in SQL
ALIAS In SQL
AS Keyword In SQL
INSERT INTO Command In SQL
Inserting Record In to a Table Form an other Table In SQL
UPDATE Command in SQL
DELETE Command in SQL
AVG Function in SQL