--- title: "LINQ to SQL LIKE operator with C#" description: "here you will learn about like operator in linq to sql that is Contains, StartsWith, EndsWith functions." author: "Ashutosh Patel" published: 2025-02-14 updated: 2025-02-14 canonical: https://www.mindstick.com/articles/338538/linq-to-sql-like-operator-with-c-sharp category: "linq" tags: ["linq", "linq to sql", "linq function"] reading_time: 5 minutes --- # LINQ to SQL LIKE operator with C# In SQL, the **LIKE** operator is used for [pattern matching](https://www.mindstick.com/articles/1865/pattern-matching-in-erlang) with wildcards `(%, _)`. In LINQ to SQL, we use `Contains()`, `StartsWith()`, and `EndsWith()` to achieve the same functionality. **Let's connect the SQL Sever database to our [Console Application](https://answers.mindstick.com/qa/49661/how-to-create-a-small-game-program-in-c-sharp-console-application)** **[Entity Framework](https://www.mindstick.com/forum/12875/how-to-use-object-query-with-a-where-and-to-retrieve-entity-record-entity-framework) Core** is the modern and preferred way to use LINQ with SQL Server. **Step 1: Install Required [NuGet Packages](https://answers.mindstick.com/qa/31181/some-nuget-packages-were-installed-using-a-target-framework-different-from-the-current-target-framework-and-may-need-to-be-reinstalled)** install the below NuGet packages, Right click on your Project name from **Solution Explorer →** click on **Manage NuGet Packages..** → select **Browse** → search and install below all packages ```plaintext Microsoft.EntityFrameworkCore Microsoft.EntityFrameworkCore.SqlServer Microsoft.EntityFrameworkCore.Tools ``` Step 2: Add SQL [Server Database](https://www.mindstick.com/forum/155643/how-to-create-sql-server-database-in-google-cloud) to your Project Click on **Server Explorer** → choose the **Connect to Database** option. A new popup will open like below image, ![LINQ to SQL LIKE operator with C#](https://www.mindstick.com/MindStickArticle/b634d08b-fabc-49d5-b8e3-6274dbad46d6/images/902ce52f-229e-432e-a12b-cf4fe731627e.png) Click on **Test Connection** button, if connection is successful then click on **OK** button. **Step 3: Create a [Database Context](https://www.mindstick.com/forum/12899/how-can-i-extend-an-api-controller-to-hold-a-variable-for-my-database-context)** Now, create a **DbContext** class (`MyDbContext.cs`) to manage the [database connection](https://answers.mindstick.com/qa/93693/what-is-connection-string-in-database-connection) and communicate with the database. ```cs using System; using System.Linq; using Microsoft.EntityFrameworkCore; using MyConsoleApplication.Models; namespace MyConsoleApplication { class MyDbContext: DbContext { public DbSet Employees { get; set; } protected override void OnConfiguring(DbContextOptionsBuilder optionsBuilder) { optionsBuilder.UseSqlServer("Server=YOUR_SERVER_NAME; Database=DATABASE_NAME; User ID=USER_ID;Password= YOUR_PASSWORD;"); } protected override void OnModelCreating(ModelBuilder modelBuilder) { modelBuilder.Entity() .HasKey(e => e.EmpId); // Define the primary key } } } ``` **Note:** Replace `YOUR_SERVER_NAME`**,** `YourDatabase`**,** `User ID`**,** and `Password`with actual values in the [connection string](https://www.mindstick.com/forum/160447/how-to-configure-connection-string-in-dot-net-core-6). Here the database connection will be established successfully. **Step 4: Define a Model Class** `Employees.cs` ```cs using System; using System.Collections.Generic; using System.ComponentModel.DataAnnotations; using System.Linq; using System.Text; using System.Threading.Tasks; namespace MyConsoleApplication.Models { class Employees { [Key] public int EmpId { get; set; } public string EmpName { get; set; } public string Gender { get; set; } public DateTime CreationDate { get; set; } public Nullable ModificationDate { get; set; } public decimal Salary { get; set; } public int DepartmentId { get; set; } } } ``` ## Now, Perform the different LIKE operators in LINQ to SQL Create a custom class in [your application](https://answers.mindstick.com/qa/97584/how-do-you-choose-the-correct-camera-for-your-application) to perform the different LIKE operators, Let's see the result of `Employees` table ```cs using System; using System.Collections.Generic; using System.Linq; using MyConsoleApplication.Models; namespace MyConsoleApplication { class MindStickSoft { static void Main() { using (var db = new MyCollegeDbContext()) { var employee = db.Employees.ToList(); foreach (var Emp in employee) { Console.WriteLine("Name: {0} \t Gender: {1} \t Salary: {2}", Emp.EmpName, Emp.Gender, Emp.Salary); } } } } } ``` ## Output: ```plaintext Name: Ashu Gender: Male Salary: 12410.0000 Name: Priya Shukla Gender: Female Salary: 70788.0000 Name: Ashutosh Verma Gender: Male Salary: 50066.0000 Name: Rani Sharma Gender: Female Salary: 57722.0000 Name: Amit Tiwari Gender: Male Salary: 81391.0000 Name: Ashu Patel Gender: Male Salary: 57659.0000 Name: Samiksha Mishra Gender: Female Salary: 15000.0000 Name: Akanksha Singh Gender: Female Salary: 15000.0000 Name: Shinu Gender: Male Salary: 21450.0000 Name: Tejasvi Raj Gender: Male Salary: 32145.0000 ``` **Using** `Contains()` **(Equivalent to** `LIKE '%value%'`**)** ```cs using (var db = new MyCollegeDbContext()) { var employee = db.Employees.Where(x => x.EmpName.Contains("As")).ToList(); foreach (var Emp in employee) { Console.WriteLine("Name: {0} \t Gender: {1} \t Salary: {2}", Emp.EmpName, Emp.Gender, Emp.Salary); } } ``` ## Output: ```plaintext Name: Ashu Gender: Male Salary: 12410.0000 Name: Ashutosh Verma Gender: Male Salary: 50066.0000 Name: Ashu Patel Gender: Male Salary: 57659.0000 Name: Tejasvi Raj Gender: Male Salary: 32145.0000 ``` **Using** `StartsWith()` **(Equivalent to** `LIKE 'value%'`**)** ```cs using (var db = new MyCollegeDbContext()) { var employee = db.Employees.Where(x => x.EmpName.StartsWith("As")).ToList(); foreach (var Emp in employee) { Console.WriteLine("Name: {0} \t Gender: {1} \t Salary: {2}", Emp.EmpName, Emp.Gender, Emp.Salary); } } ``` ## Output: ```plaintext Name: Ashu Gender: Male Salary: 12410.0000 Name: Ashutosh Verma Gender: Male Salary: 50066.0000 Name: Ashu Patel Gender: Male Salary: 57659.0000 ``` **Using** `EndsWith()` **(Equivalent to** `LIKE '%value'`**)** ```cs using (var db = new MyCollegeDbContext()) { var employee = db.Employees.Where(x => x.EmpName.EndsWith("a")).ToList(); foreach (var Emp in employee) { Console.WriteLine("Name: {0} \t Gender: {1} \t Salary: {2}", Emp.EmpName, Emp.Gender, Emp.Salary); } } ``` ## Output: ```plaintext Name: Priya Shukla Gender: Female Salary: 70788.0000 Name: Ashutosh Verma Gender: Male Salary: 50066.0000 Name: Rani Sharma Gender: Female Salary: 57722.0000 Name: Samiksha Mishra Gender: Female Salary: 15000.0000 ``` **Using Different** `LIKE` **Queries in One Code** Here, you will perform multiple like operators simultaneously. ```cs using (var db = new MyCollegeDbContext()) { var employee = db.Employees.Where(x => x.EmpName.StartsWith("As") || x.EmpName.Contains("As") || x.EmpName.EndsWith("a")).ToList(); foreach (var Emp in employee) { Console.WriteLine("Name: {0} \t Gender: {1} \t Salary: {2}", Emp.EmpName, Emp.Gender, Emp.Salary); } } ``` ## Output: ```plaintext Name: Ashu Gender: Male Salary: 12410.0000 Name: Priya Shukla Gender: Female Salary: 70788.0000 Name: Ashutosh Verma Gender: Male Salary: 50066.0000 Name: Rani Sharma Gender: Female Salary: 57722.0000 Name: Ashu Patel Gender: Male Salary: 57659.0000 Name: Samiksha Mishra Gender: Female Salary: 15000.0000 Name: Tejasvi Raj Gender: Male Salary: 32145.0000 ``` **Best practice:** Use `Contains()`, `StartsWith()`, and `EndsWith()` for pattern matching. Hope you understand clearly. Thanks. **Also, read:** [How to use LINQ to SQL Select Query using C#](https://www.mindstick.com/articles/338528/how-to-use-linq-to-sql-select-query-using-c-sharp) --- Original Source: https://www.mindstick.com/articles/338538/linq-to-sql-like-operator-with-c-sharp Copyright © MindStick Software Pvt. Ltd. This Markdown version is provided for developers, AI systems, and offline reading.