# The "like" operator
The like operator allows you to check if a value matches a pattern. It can be used with the operator not to check if a value does not match the pattern specified. The expression is structured as follows:
```
value like pattern
```
You can use the following wildcards in the pattern:
| Symbol | Description | Example |
| --- | --- | --- |
| % | Matches zero or more characters. | Pattern: "bl%"
- Matches: "black", "blue"
- Does not match: "able"
|
| \_ | Matches a single character. | Pattern: "h\_t"
- Matches: "hit", "hat"
- Does not match: "heat"
|
| [] | Matches any single character within the brackets. | Pattern: "b[ae]t"
- Matches: "bat", "bet"
- Does not match: "beat"
|
| [start-end] | Matches any single character within the specified range. | Pattern: "[b-d]at"
- Matches: "bat", "cat", "dat"
- Does not match: "data"
|
| [^characters] | Matches any character not in the brackets. | Pattern: "h[^oa]t"
- Matches: "hit", "hut"
- Does not match: "hot", "hat"
|
## Examples
| Clause | Result |
| --- | --- |
| ```
WHERE name LIKE "a%"
``` | Returns any element where the value of name starts with
a. |
| ```
WHERE name LIKE "%a"
``` | Returns any element where the value of name ends with
a. |
| ```
WHERE name LIKE "%bir%"
``` | Returns any element where the value of name contains
bir. |
| ```
WHERE name LIKE "_r%"
``` | Returns any element where the second character of the value of
nameis r. |
| ```
WHERE name LIKE "a__%"
``` | Returns any element where value of name starts with
a, followed by at least two characters. |
| ```
WHERE name LIKE "a%o"
``` | Returns any element where value of name starts with
a and ends with o. |
| ```
WHERE name NOT LIKE "%[A-Z]"
``` | Returns any element where value of name does not end with a
capital letter. |
| ```
WHERE name NOT LIKE "%[^0-9]%"
``` | Returns any element where value of name only contains
numbers. |