How to do a LIKE query with linq?

Question

How can i perform an LIKE query within Linq?

I have the following query i would like to execute.

var results = from c in db.costumers
              where c.FullName LIKE "%"+FirstName+"%,"+LastName
              select c;

score 42 · Answer 1 · answered Oct 12 '10 at 10:36

42

Try using string.Contains () combined with EndsWith.

var results = from c in db.Customers
              where c.FullName.Contains (FirstName) && c.FullName.EndsWith (LastName)
              select c;

answered Oct 12 '10 at 10:36

Kieron

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I prefer this over the SqlMethods – Tom Stickel Oct 20 '15 at 17:29
2

In contrast to a `like` query, this is not case insensitive. – Protector one May 18 '16 at 11:56
1

This query is translated to an SQL LIKE statement if using Entity Framework, so its case sensitiveness depends on the collation of the column/table/db. – Marc Climent Sep 14 '17 at 09:54

score 42 · Accepted Answer · answered Oct 12 '10 at 10:36

42

You could use SqlMethods.Like(matchExpression,pattern)

var results = from c in db.costumers
              where SqlMethods.Like(c.FullName, "%"+FirstName+"%,"+LastName)
              select c;

The use of this method outside of LINQ to SQL will always throw a NotSupportedException exception.

answered Oct 12 '10 at 10:36

Julien Hoarau

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I didn't have time to monkey around with this : where SqlMethods.Like(s.Email, id + "%") that through an error (yes i have the using System.Data.Linq.SqlClient; , I changed to where s.Email.Contains(id) even though that is not the same, I can make it work with changing to EndsWith – Tom Stickel Oct 20 '15 at 17:29
5

For EF Core it's `Microsoft.EntityFrameworkCore.EF.Functions.Like(c.FullName, $"%{fullName}%")`. – Alternatex Aug 09 '18 at 12:02

Thorin Oakenshield · Answer 3 · 2013-12-16T09:58:03.340

18

Try like this

var results = db.costumers.Where(X=>X.FullName.Contains(FirstName)&&(X=>X.FullName.EndsWith(LastName))
                          .Select(X=>X);

edited Dec 16 '13 at 09:58

answered Oct 12 '10 at 10:43

Thorin Oakenshield

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3

Why not using the '&&' operator, instead of the double Where clause? – Max Dec 04 '13 at 13:33
@MaxMommersteeg : Thanks,Updated – Thorin Oakenshield Dec 16 '13 at 09:58
@max Why not 2 where clause? If each `where` clause are on its own line, it make the code more readable if there are many long conditions. – Phil1970 Aug 04 '16 at 16:28
This should be the answer. @Phil1970 Double Where would be a good choice if you have more than 3 conditions. It's my personal opinion though. – SouravOrii Jan 23 '22 at 12:14

score 5 · Answer 4 · answered Mar 12 '19 at 15:43

5

2019 is here:

Requires EF6

using System.Data.Entity;
string searchStr ="bla bla bla";
var result = _dbContext.SomeTable.Where(x=> DbFunctions.Like(x.NameAr, string.Format("%{0}%", searchStr ))).FirstOrDefault();

answered Mar 12 '19 at 15:43

Adel Mourad

1,123
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not only EF6, required EF 6.2.0 https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/dotnet/api/system.data.entity.dbfunctions.like?view=entity-framework-6.2.0 – Wangsu Apr 09 '20 at 13:44

score 4 · Answer 5 · answered Oct 31 '11 at 10:26

String [] obj = (from c in db.Contacts
                           where c.FirstName.StartsWith(prefixText)
                           select c.FirstName).ToArray();
            return obj;

StartsWith() and EndsWith() can help you a lot here. If you want to find data in between the field, then Contains() can be used.

score 3 · Answer 6 · answered Oct 12 '10 at 10:36

3

 where c.FullName.Contains("string")

answered Oct 12 '10 at 10:36

Praveen Prasad

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score 1 · Answer 7 · answered Oct 12 '10 at 10:42

1

You can use contains:

string[] example = { "sample1", "sample2" };
var result = (from c in example where c.Contains("2") select c);
// returns only sample2

answered Oct 12 '10 at 10:42

hwcverwe

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rohan mistry · Answer 8 · 2016-04-15T10:44:08.920

0

var StudentList = dbContext.Students.SqlQuery("Select * from Students where Email like '%gmail%'").ToList<Student>();

User can use this of like query in Linq and fill the student model.

edited Apr 15 '16 at 10:44

answered Apr 15 '16 at 10:34

rohan mistry

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1

How to do a LIKE query with linq?

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