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mysqlsqlstringwhere-clausesql-like

How to search for multiple words with one query?

I am trying to make a simple php search using the following query. This works perfectly however the query only gives results for the first word. Would there be a way to get a combined result for all three words using a single query?

$stmt = $pdo->prepare("SELECT * FROM walldb WHERE (wallname LIKE :searchq1 OR :searchq2 OR :searchq3) LIMIT :stat, :limt");
Solution

  • You need to repeat the expr like val pattern:

    WHERE wallname LIKE :searchq1 OR wallname LIKE :searchq2 OR wallname LIKE :searchq3

    What happends with your original code is that it is interpreted as:

    WHERE 
    (wallname LIKE :searchq1)
    OR (:searchq2)
    OR (:searchq3)

    So basically the last two search terms are evaluated in boolean context, as if they were conditions. If one of the search terms starts with 1, it is evaluated as true (and all rows in the table will be returned); else if neither starts with 1, the conditions are false, hence only the first condition comes into play (which is what you are seeing).