What is a LIKE operator in SQL, and how does it work?

Short answer: The LIKE operator is used to search for a specified pattern in a column. % matches any sequence of characters. _ matches a single character.

Example code

SELECT * FROM employees WHERE name LIKE 'J%n'; -- Names that start with 'J' and end with 'n'

Real-world example (ShopNest)

ShopNest’s SQL Server database stores customers, products, and orders. Good indexes and clear foreign keys keep checkout queries fast and safe.

Say this in the interview

1. Define — one clear sentence (the short answer above).
2. Example — relate it to a project like ShopNest or your real work.
3. Trade-off — when you would not use it.