mysql query “SHOW COLUMNS FROM table like 'colmunname'”:questions

Question

I have a question about SHOW COLUMNS FROM table like \'column name\'\". I have already tried some tests for some times, it seems be similar like \"where colu

Answer 1

Where is used to get an exact match where as like is used to get a wider range of columns using wildcards.

SHOW COLUMNS FROM table like 'my%";

The above will find all columns that begin with my.

Where as with a where clause you cannot use wildcards and will only get returned exact matches. Obviously you could use where with between,> or < etc in other cases which would give you a wider range but still not allow you to use any wildcards.