MySQL Wildcard for "=" - is there one

Question

So,

SELECT * FROM table WHERE col LIKE '%'

will return everything. Is there a wildcard for the query

SELECT * FROM table WHERE col = '*'

Clearly * doesn't work, I just put it there to indicate where I'd like a wildcard. The column I'm selecting from contains an integer between 1 and 12, and I want to be able to select either all records with a particular number, or all records with a wildcard.

Thanks,

Answer 1

LIKE is basically the same as =, except LIKE lets you use wildcards.

These two queries will return the same results:

SELECT * FROM table WHERE col LIKE 'xyz';
SELECT * FROM table WHERE col='xyz';

Without a '%' in the LIKE query, it is effectively the same as '='.

If you're doing a selection on an integer column, you should consider using the IN() or BETWEEN operators. It sounds like you have two separate conditions that should be handled in your code however, rather than in the query, as your conditions dictate that you need at least two different kinds of queries.

Edit: I should clarify that LIKE and = are similar only in normal, humdrum string comparison usage. You should check the MySQL Manual for specifics on how it works, as there are situations where it's not the same (such as language sets).

Answer 2

If you want to select everything, why are you attaching the WHERE clause at all? Just leave it off conditionally instead of putting a wildcard into it.