Features
The `LIKE` operator in SQL allows you to search for patterns within strings. The `CONTAINS` function, while not standard SQL, is available in some database systems. This helps find substrings within text fields.
The `LIKE` operator is a fundamental tool for pattern matching in SQL. It's used to filter rows based on whether a column's value matches a specified pattern. Crucially, `LIKE` allows you to search for substrings. For example, you might want to find all customers whose names contain the substring 'Smith'. The `LIKE` operator uses wildcards, such as the percentage sign (%) to represent any sequence of characters and the underscore (_) to represent a single character. While the `CONTAINS` function is available in some database systems, it's not a standard SQL function. Its use is often system-specific, so you should consult your database system's documentation for details. The `LIKE` operator is a more portable and widely supported solution for substring searches.
The ability to search for substrings within text data is crucial for many data analysis and retrieval tasks. It allows you to quickly find specific information within large datasets, such as filtering customer records or locating products with particular keywords in their descriptions.
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