How can one ensure that the correct data is retrieved from a database when using the LIKE operator in a WHERE clause in PHP?

When using the LIKE operator in a WHERE clause in PHP to retrieve data from a database, it is important to properly format the search string to ensure the correct data is retrieved. One common issue is not enclosing the search string in quotes, which can lead to unexpected results. To solve this, always enclose the search string in single quotes within the SQL query to ensure that the LIKE operator works correctly. 

// Example of retrieving data from a database using the LIKE operator in a WHERE clause
$searchTerm = "example"; // Search term provided by user

// Enclose the search term in single quotes to ensure correct formatting
$sql = "SELECT * FROM table_name WHERE column_name LIKE '%$searchTerm%'";

// Execute the SQL query and fetch data from the database
$result = mysqli_query($connection, $sql);

// Process the retrieved data
while ($row = mysqli_fetch_assoc($result)) {
    // Output or process the data as needed
}

Keywords

PHP LIKE operator WHERE clause database data retrieval

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