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SQL Wildcard Characters

Wildcard characters can be used in SQL queries with the LIKE operator to match patterns in database values. The document describes several wildcard characters (%, _, [, ], -) and their uses in Microsoft Access and SQL Server. It provides examples of queries using wildcards to search names, cities, and other fields in a sample "Customers" database table.

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Harihara Subramanian
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120 views4 pages

SQL Wildcard Characters

Wildcard characters can be used in SQL queries with the LIKE operator to match patterns in database values. The document describes several wildcard characters (%, _, [, ], -) and their uses in Microsoft Access and SQL Server. It provides examples of queries using wildcards to search names, cities, and other fields in a sample "Customers" database table.

Uploaded by

Harihara Subramanian
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
Download as docx, pdf, or txt
Download as docx, pdf, or txt
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SQL Wildcard Characters

A wildcard character is used to substitute one or more characters in a string.

Wildcard characters are used with the SQL LIKE operator. The LIKE operator is used in a
WHERE clause to search for a specified pattern in a column.

Wildcard Characters in MS Access


Symbol Description Example

* Represents zero or more characters bl* finds bl, black, blue, and blob

? Represents a single character h?t finds hot, hat, and hit

Represents any single character within


[] h[oa]t finds hot and hat, but not hit
the brackets

Represents any character not in the


! h[!oa]t finds hit, but not hot and hat
brackets

- Represents a range of characters c[a-b]t finds cat and cbt

2#5 finds 205, 215, 225, 235, 245, 255, 265, 275,
# Represents any single numeric character
285, and 295

Wildcard Characters in SQL Server


Symbol Description Example

% Represents zero or more characters bl% finds bl, black, blue, and blob

_ Represents a single character h_t finds hot, hat, and hit

[] Represents any single character within the brackets h[oa]t finds hot and hat, but not hit

^ Represents any character not in the brackets h[^oa]t finds hit, but not hot and hat

- Represents a range of characters c[a-b]t finds cat and cbt

All the wildcards can also be used in combinations!

Here are some examples showing different LIKE operators with '%' and '_' wildcards:

LIKE Operator Description

WHERE CustomerName LIKE 'a%' Finds any values that starts with "a"

WHERE CustomerName LIKE '%a' Finds any values that ends with "a"
WHERE CustomerName LIKE
Finds any values that have "or" in any position
'%or%'

WHERE CustomerName LIKE '_r%' Finds any values that have "r" in the second position

WHERE CustomerName LIKE Finds any values that starts with "a" and are at least 3 characters
'a_%_%' in length

WHERE ContactName LIKE 'a%o' Finds any values that starts with "a" and ends with "o"

Demo Database

Below is a selection from the "Customers" table in the Northwind sample database:

CustomerID CustomerName ContactName Address City PostalCode Country

1 Maria Anders Obere Str. 57 Berlin 12209 Germany


Alfreds Futterkiste

Ana Trujillo Avda. de la


México
2 Emparedados y Ana Trujillo Constitución 05021 Mexico
D.F.
helados 2222

Antonio Moreno Antonio México


3 Mataderos 2312 05023 Mexico
Taquería Moreno D.F.

4 Thomas Hardy 120 Hanover Sq. London WA1 1DP UK


Around the Horn

Christina
5 Berglunds snabbköp Berguvsvägen 8 Luleå S-958 22 Sweden
Berglund

Using the % Wildcard

The following SQL statement selects all customers with a City starting with "ber":

Example
SELECT * FROM Customers
WHERE City LIKE 'ber%';

The following SQL statement selects all customers with a City containing the pattern "es":

Example
SELECT * FROM Customers
WHERE City LIKE '%es%';
Using the _ Wildcard

The following SQL statement selects all customers with a City starting with any character,
followed by "ondon":

Example
SELECT * FROM Customers
WHERE City LIKE '_ondon';

The following SQL statement selects all customers with a City starting with "L", followed by
any character, followed by "n", followed by any character, followed by "on":

Example
SELECT * FROM Customers
WHERE City LIKE 'L_n_on';

Using the [charlist] Wildcard

The following SQL statement selects all customers with a City starting with "b", "s", or "p":

Example
SELECT * FROM Customers
WHERE City LIKE '[bsp]%';

The following SQL statement selects all customers with a City starting with "a", "b", or "c":

Example
SELECT * FROM Customers
WHERE City LIKE '[a-c]%';

Using the [!charlist] Wildcard

The two following SQL statements select all customers with a City NOT starting with "b",
"s", or "p":

Example
SELECT * FROM Customers
WHERE City LIKE '[!bsp]%';

Or:

Example
SELECT * FROM Customers
WHERE City NOT LIKE '[bsp]%';
Test Yourself With Exercises
Exercise:

Select all records where the second letter of the City is an "a".

SELECT * FROM Customers

WHERE City LIKE ' %';

Start the Exercise

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