Working with LIKE clauses - PHP

By using an approach similar to the one for performing conditional SELECT statements, it’s also possible to dynamically construct SQL queries that include a typical LIKE clause. In this case, to demonstrate this concept more clearly, I’m going to add a new method to the previous “MySQL” class. This will let you see how it can be used to execute LIKE statements in a concrete situation.

That being explained, please pay attention to the enhanced signature of this sample class, which now looks like this:

class MySQL{

private $result;

public function __construct($host='localhost',$user='user',$password='password',$database='database'){

// connect to MySQL and select database

if(!$conId=mysql_connect($host,$user,$password)){

throw new Exception('Error connecting to the server');

}

if(!mysql_select_db($database,$conId)){

throw new Exception('Error selecting database');

}

}

// run SQL query

public function query($query){

if(!$this->result=mysql_query($query)){

throw new Exception('Error performing query '.$query);

}

}

// fetch one row

public function fetchRow(){

while($row=mysql_fetch_array($this->result)){

return $row;

}

return false;

}

// fetch all rows

public function fetchAll($table='default_table'){

$this->query('SELECT * FROM '.$table);

$rows=array();

while($row=$this->fetchRow()){

$rows[]=$row;

}

return $rows;

}

// fetch rows using 'WHERE' clause

public function fetchWhere($where,$table='default_table'){

$this->query('SELECT * FROM '.$table.' WHERE '.$where);

$rows=array();

while($row=$this->fetchRow()){

$rows[]=$row;

}

return $rows;

}

// fetch rows using 'LIKE' clause

public function fetchLike($field,$like,$table='default_table'){

$this->query('SELECT * FROM '.$table.' WHERE '.$field.' LIKE '.$like);

$rows=array();

while($row=$this->fetchRow()){

$rows[]=$row;

}

return $rows;

}

// insert row

public function insert($params=array(),$table='default_table'){

$sql='INSERT INTO '.$table.' ('.implode(',',array_keys($params)).') VALUES (''.implode("','",array_values($params)).'')';

$this->query($sql);

}

// update row

public function update($params=array(),$where,$table='default_table'){

$args=array();

foreach($params as $field=>$value){

$args[]=$field.'=''.$value.''';

}

$sql='UPDATE '.$table.' SET '.implode(',',$args).' WHERE '.$where;

$this->query($sql);

}

// delete one or multiple rows

public function delete($where='',$table='default_table'){

$sql=!$where?'DELETE FROM '.$table:'DELETE FROM '.$table.' WHERE '.$where;

$this->query($sql);

}

}

As shown above, the “MySQL” class now implements a brand new method, called “fetchLike().” It is used for performing SELECT statements using the “LIKE” clause. The implementation of this method is included below:

// fetch rows using 'LIKE' clause

public function fetchLike($field,$like,$table='default_table'){

$this->query('SELECT * FROM '.$table.' WHERE '.$field.' LIKE '.$like);

$rows=array();

while($row=$this->fetchRow()){

$rows[]=$row;

}

return $rows;

}

In this case, the method permits you to run queries without having to directly write any SQL commands, thus abstracting the process considerably. Naturally, there’s plenty of room to improve the logic of the “fetchLike()” method since it’s  pretty simplistic, but the most important thing here is that you grasp how it functions.

So far, so good. At this point, you've hopefully learned how to use the active record approach (or a modified version of it, to be fair) to work with LIKE clauses. However, if you’re like me, you want to see a practical example where the method can be tested.

Therefore, in the following section I’ll be setting up this example for you, so please jump forward and read the next segment. It’s only one click away.