What are the advantages and disadvantages of using "LIKE" versus "==" for string comparisons in PHP when querying a database?

When querying a database in PHP, using "LIKE" for string comparisons allows for pattern matching and wildcard searches, which can be useful for more flexible searches. However, using "==" for exact string comparisons is faster and more efficient when you know the exact value you are looking for. It is important to choose the appropriate comparison operator based on the specific requirements of your query. 

// Using "LIKE" for pattern matching
$query = "SELECT * FROM table WHERE column LIKE '%search_term%'";
$result = mysqli_query($connection, $query);

// Using "==" for exact string comparison
$query = "SELECT * FROM table WHERE column = 'exact_value'";
$result = mysqli_query($connection, $query);

Keywords

LIKE == string comparisons advantages disadvantages

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