Practical Guide to SQL CONTAINS Function

SQL Server’s CONTAINS function enables advanced full-text searching within text columns, providing a powerful alternative to traditional search methods. This guide briefly introduces its usage and showcases practical examples.

Single Term Search

SELECT Id, Name, Description
FROM Product
WHERE ListPrice > 20 AND CONTAINS(Description, 'powerful');

Retrieves products with "powerful" in the description and a price above 20.

Phrase Search

SELECT Id, Name, Description
FROM Product
WHERE CONTAINS(Description, '"with high-"');

Finds products containing the phrase "with high-".

Word Prefix Search

SELECT Id, Name, Description
FROM Product
WHERE CONTAINS(Description, '"W*"');

Fetches products where any word in the description starts with "W".

Proximity Search

SELECT Id, Name, Description
FROM Product
WHERE CONTAINS(Description, 'NEAR((headphones, technology), 5)');

Locates products with "headphones" near "technology" within five words.

FAQ Section

LIKE vs. CONTAINS in SQL Server?

LIKE is for basic pattern matching, whereas CONTAINS is for advanced full-text searches, needing a full-text index.

Can CONTAINS search multiple columns?

Yes, by listing them in the search condition, separated by commas.

Is a full-text index necessary for CONTAINS?

Yes, CONTAINS only works on columns with a full-text index.

How to find if a string contains a substring in SQL?

Use CHARINDEX to search for substrings within a column.

Conclusion

SQL Server’s CONTAINS function provides sophisticated full-text search capabilities, allowing precise data querying. Explore more detailed examples here SQL CONTAINS Function: SQL Server Guide With Examples.

A Practical Guide to SQL Server's CONTAINS Function

FAQ Section

Conclusion