---
title: "Why is the SQL Wildcard (LIKE) Operator in the query?"  
description: "Why is the SQL Wildcard (LIKE) Operator in the query?"  
author: "Ashutosh Patel"  
published: 2024-07-18  
updated: 2024-07-18  
canonical: https://www.mindstick.com/interview/33955/why-is-the-sql-wildcard-like-operator-in-the-query  
category: "mssql server"  
tags: ["mssql server", "sql server", "sql"]  
reading_time: 2 minutes  

---

# Why is the SQL Wildcard (LIKE) Operator in the query?

#### SQL LIKE Operator

The SQL LIKE function, with its wildcards, is used to match patterns in queries. Allows you to search for values ​​that match a specific pattern in a column. This is useful when you want to see a partial similarity between data or records in a particular sample.

## Wildcards used are ‘LIKE’

‘`%`’- Represents zero or more characters. For example, LIKE 'A%' matches any value starting with 'A'.

‘`%%`’- Represents zero or more characters. e.g. LIKE ‘%A%’ matches all values that contain ‘A’ \
`‘_’` - Represents a single character. For example, LIKE '`A_ _`' matches any three-character value beginning with '**A**'.

‘`[]`’- Represents any single character within the brackets.

‘`^`’- Represents any character not within the brackets.

## Example-

This query retrieves all the rows from the `People` table that contains ‘A’ in the column `FirstName`

![Why is the SQL Wildcard (LIKE) Operator in the query?](https://www.mindstick.com/interviewquestion/0847fbfe-e8f1-4544-b043-5a80e9c05d9b/images/4fdc5573-760a-42bc-a5f5-d7e3f4b1aa44.jpg)

**Also, Read:** [What are SQL Clauses and Operators?](https://www.mindstick.com/interview/33954/what-are-sql-clauses-and-operators)

## Answers

### Answer by Ashutosh Patel

#### SQL LIKE Operator

The SQL LIKE function, with its wildcards, is used to match patterns in queries. Allows you to search for values ​​that match a specific pattern in a column. This is useful when you want to see a partial similarity between data or records in a particular sample.

## Wildcards used are ‘LIKE’

‘`%`’- Represents zero or more characters. For example, LIKE 'A%' matches any value starting with 'A'.

‘`%%`’- Represents zero or more characters. e.g. LIKE ‘%A%’ matches all values that contain ‘A’ \
`‘_’` - Represents a single character. For example, LIKE '`A_ _`' matches any three-character value beginning with '**A**'.

‘`[]`’- Represents any single character within the brackets.

‘`^`’- Represents any character not within the brackets.

## Example-

This query retrieves all the rows from the `People` table that contains ‘A’ in the column `FirstName`

![Why is the SQL Wildcard (LIKE) Operator in the query?](https://www.mindstick.com/interviewquestion/0847fbfe-e8f1-4544-b043-5a80e9c05d9b/images/4fdc5573-760a-42bc-a5f5-d7e3f4b1aa44.jpg)

**Also, Read:** [What are SQL Clauses and Operators?](https://www.mindstick.com/interview/33954/what-are-sql-clauses-and-operators)


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