In the context of PHP and MySQL, what are some alternative approaches to handling search queries that involve searching for partial matches or combinations of values in different columns of a database table?

When dealing with search queries that involve searching for partial matches or combinations of values in different columns of a database table, one alternative approach is to use the SQL `LIKE` operator along with wildcard characters such as `%` to match partial strings. Another approach is to use the `CONCAT` function to combine multiple columns into a single string for searching. Additionally, you can use full-text search capabilities provided by MySQL for more advanced search functionality.

// Example of using the SQL LIKE operator for partial matches
$searchTerm = 'example';
$query = "SELECT * FROM table_name WHERE column_name LIKE '%$searchTerm%'";

// Example of using CONCAT function for searching in multiple columns
$searchTerm1 = 'value1';
$searchTerm2 = 'value2';
$query = "SELECT * FROM table_name WHERE CONCAT(column1, column2) LIKE '%$searchTerm1%' AND column3 LIKE '%$searchTerm2%'";

// Example of using full-text search capabilities in MySQL
$searchTerm = 'example';
$query = "SELECT * FROM table_name WHERE MATCH(column_name) AGAINST ('$searchTerm' IN BOOLEAN MODE)";