> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://vikram-bajaj.gitbook.io/cs-gy-6083-principles-of-database-systems/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://vikram-bajaj.gitbook.io/cs-gy-6083-principles-of-database-systems/main-1/sql/advanced-sql/text-operations/like.md).

# Like

**like** is used for pattern matching. It is char-oriented.

\_ is used to match characters while % is used to match substrings.

For example,

```
SELECT * FROM Table WHERE name LIKE 'Ca%l';
```

This can match both Carl and Carol.

```
SELECT * FROM Table WHERE name LIKE 'Ca_l';
```

will only match Carl.