Search Query and mysql_real_escape_string

[limitphp]

I'm wanting to add a search bar on my website that searches through bands, songs, or both.

For doing searches would you just do a normal query like:

select * where band = $string

 

It seems like most searches on websites are really bad at getting relevant results.  I'm just wondering if there is more too it? 

Like if they typed in two different words, how do I make sure I only return results that contain both words?

 

And if they type in two or more words and search for either band or song, how do I make sure I only return results where band contains both words, and/or song contains both words. 

In other words, don't return a result where band only contains one of the words.

 

Also, I check the input they type in with:

function check_input($value)
{
// Stripslashes
if (get_magic_quotes_gpc())
  {
  $value = stripslashes($value);
  }
$value = mysql_real_escape_string($value);		  
return $value;
}

 

This check-input function doesn't seem to get rid of <> or question marks.

Should I get rid of those as well? 

 

I'm using wamp server 5.2.6

 

Thanks

[fenway]

You're talking about a bunch of different things here... escape_string() doesn't do anything of the sort.