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
