How to write a regular expression to match a string if at least 3 characters from the start are matching?
Here is how my MySQL query looks right now -
SELECT * FROM tableName WHERE columnName REGEXP "^[a-zA-Z]{3}someString";
-
Do you want a PHP expression or a MySQL expression?wallyk– wallyk2012-06-29 16:02:49 +00:00Commented Jun 29, 2012 at 16:02
-
I need MySQL expression.imhere– imhere2012-06-29 16:06:45 +00:00Commented Jun 29, 2012 at 16:06
-
why would you not substr the required letters with php and do the "Select * From Table Where coloumn LIKE '$string%'" ??TigerTiger– TigerTiger2012-06-29 16:18:48 +00:00Commented Jun 29, 2012 at 16:18
-
Why substring when you could LEFT(string, 3)?Mike Mackintosh– Mike Mackintosh2012-06-29 16:19:45 +00:00Commented Jun 29, 2012 at 16:19
-
yeah Left is fine - use whichever is faster if that matters :) - I just gave another idea without using regular expressionTigerTiger– TigerTiger2012-06-29 16:21:06 +00:00Commented Jun 29, 2012 at 16:21
Add a comment
|
2 Answers
You cannot use CONCAT or alike with REGEX, it will fail. Easiest way to do it, is:
$query = 'SELECT * FROM Test WHERE colb REGEXP "^'.substr($mystring,0,3).'"');
Another is:
SELECT * FROM Test WHERE LEFT(colb, 3) LIKE "{$mystring}%"
Comments
Please use jQuery and jqSQL plugin. Note that symbol $ must be escaped in SQL query with this plugin.
