Question

Search for: ‘chemist’

Problem: query which will match a string like ‘onechemist’ but not ‘chemist’.

SELECT id,name FROM `records` 
WHERE name LIKE '%". mysql_real_escape_string($q) ."%' 

This alternate try won’t work:

SELECT id,name FROM `records` 
WHERE name LIKE '%". mysql_real_escape_string($q) ."%'  
OR name LIKE '". mysql_real_escape_string($q) ."%' 
OR name LIKE '%". mysql_real_escape_string($q) ."'

How could I compile the above into one single query that will match any field which has the string or optimize the query into a better expression?

Answer 1

If $q is holding ‘chemist’, it will match a name that is also ‘chemist`. In that case, your first query should work. Try double checking your values.

$sql = "SELECT `id`, `name` FROM `records` 
WHERE `name` LIKE '%".mysql_real_escape_string($q)."%'";

PS – Your 2nd query will pull the same results as your 1st.