[SOLVED] Equivalent to phps substr()='value' for mysql?

[blackcell]

I am trying to perform a mysql search based upon the first letter of the users choice. I need to tell mysql to to look only at the first letter of the value in table_field. I have 2 years of experience with mysql but I haven't really cracked into using mysql's advanced usage and want to start. I thought maybe substring(string,len) from mysql's website was what I wanted but either that isn't it or I am not using it right.

 

Thanks guys.

[asmith]

QUERY...WHERE SUBSTRING(FIELD, 1, 1) = 'a'

 

Notice substring is like SUBSTRING(FIELD, 1, 1)  (For the first character)

while PHP substr is like substr($text, 0, 1)

[corbin]

LIKE '%a' (a being a random letter) would probably be faster since it would use indexes.

[blackcell]

Can you explain the like '%a' and use it in an example? I think I know where your going but I am still fuzzy on it.

[asmith]

AFAIK

corbin is offering a 'faster' way.

 

An example of like:

SELECT FIELD FROM TABLE WHERE FIELD LIKE 'a%'

Gives you all the fields starting with the letter a

 

WHERE FIELD LIKE '%a%'

Gives you all the fields that has the letter a in them

 

WHERE FIELD LIKE '%a'

Gives you all the fields that ENDS with the letter a

 

[blackcell]

Awesome, thank you much.