MySQL LOCATE() Function
Example
Search for "3" in string "W3Schools.com", and return position:
SELECT LOCATE("3", "W3Schools.com") AS MatchPosition;
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Definition and Usage
The LOCATE() function returns the position of the first occurrence of a substring in a string.
Note: The POSITION() function is a synonym for the LOCATE() function.
Syntax
LOCATE(substring, string, start)Parameter Values
| Parameter | Description |
|---|---|
| substring | Required. The substring to search for in string |
| string | Required. The string that will be searched |
| start | Optional. The starting position for the search. Position 1 is default |
Note
- LOCATE() performs a case-insensitive search
- The first position in string is 1
- If substring is not found within string, the LOCATE() function will return 0
Technical Details
| Works in: | MySQL 5.7, MySQL 5.6, MySQL 5.5, MySQL 5.1, MySQL 5.0, MySQL 4.1, MySQL 4.0, MySQL 3.23 |
|---|
More Examples
Example
Search for "com" in string "W3Schools.com" (start at position 3), and return position:
SELECT LOCATE("com", "W3Schools.com", 3) AS MatchPosition;
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Example
Search for "a" in CustomerName column, and return position:
SELECT LOCATE("a", CustomerName)
FROM Customers;
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