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SQL functionMySQLMariaDB

The LOCATE SQL Function in MySQL and MariaDB - Search in string from position

LOCATESyntax:LOCATE(Search string, String [, Position])
Return value:INTEGER
Function type:String function
Function Description

The LOCATE() function returns the position of the first occurrence of "Search string" in "String", depending on the specification of "Position".

If "Position" is specified, the function searches for the "Search string" from this position.

If "Search string" is not found or "Position" is negative, the function returns 0.

If "Search string" is empty, the result is 1.

If "String" or "Search string" contain numeric values, these are interpreted as character strings.

The LOCATE() function performs a case-sensitive search.

If either the "Search string" or "String" argument is NULL, the LOCATE() function returns NULL.

If the value of "Position" is NULL, the function returns NULL in MySQL, 0 in MariaDB.

SQL Examples for the LOCATE function

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select locate('e','Test');
select locate('st''Test');
select locate('T''Test');
select locate('t''Test');

select locate(4, 123456);

select locate('e','Test-Test', 4);
select locate('st''Test-Test', 4);
select locate('e','Test-Test', -4);

select locate('''Test');
select locate('x''Test');
select locate('''');

select locate(null'Test');
select locate('e'null);
select locate('e''Test'null);

locate('e','Test')
int(11)
2
locate('st', 'Test')
int(11)
3
locate('T', 'Test')
int(11)
1
locate('t', 'Test')
int(11)
4
locate(4, 123456)
int(11)
4
locate('e','Test-Test', 4)
int(11)
7
locate('st', 'Test-Test', 4)
int(11)
8
locate('e','Test-Test', -4)
int(11)
0
locate('', 'Test')
int(11)
1
locate('x', 'Test')
int(11)
0
locate('', '')
int(11)
1
locate(null, 'Test')
int(11)
NULL
locate('e', null)
int(11)
NULL
locate('e', 'Test', null)
int(11)
0
The examples were created with the MyWAY SQL manager: Download

How to use the LOCATE() function in MySQL and MariaDB databases

In MySQL and MariaDB the LOCATE() function is used to determine the position of a substring within a string found from a given position. The function returns the index of the first occurrence of the substring after the specified position within the string, or 0 if the substring was not found. LOCATE() can be used for various purposes, such as searching for specific patterns, extracting portions of a string, or performing conditional operations based on the presence or location of a substring.
LNLOCALTIMELOCALTIMESTAMPLOCATELOGLOG10LOG2

Further MySQL und MariaDB SQL String functions

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CHRCHR(Character code)
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CONCATCONCAT(Strings ('str1','str2', ...))
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CONCAT_WSCONCAT_WS(Separator, Strings ('str1','str2', ...))
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ELTELT(Index, Strings ('str1','str2', ...))
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EXPORT_SETEXPORT_SET(Bits, On, Off [, Separator] [, Number of bits])
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EXTRACTVALUEEXTRACTVALUE(XML, XPath)

FIELDFIELD(Search string, Strings ('str1','str2', ...))
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FORMATFORMAT(Number, Decimals [, Region])
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INSERTINSERT(String, Position, Length, String to insert)
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LCASELCASE(String)
More about LCASE Function

LEFTLEFT(String, Length)
More about LEFT Function

LOAD_FILELOAD_FILE(File name)

LOWERLOWER(String)
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LPADLPAD(String, Length, String to append)
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LPAD_ORACLELPAD_ORACLE(String, Length, String to append)
More about LPAD_ORACLE Function

LTRIMLTRIM(String)
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MAKE_SETMAKE_SET(Bits, Strings ('str1','str2', ...))
More about MAKE_SET Function

MIDMID(String, Position [, Length])
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QUOTEQUOTE(String)
More about QUOTE Function

REPEATREPEAT(String, Number)
More about REPEAT Function

REPLACEREPLACE(String, Search, Replace)
More about REPLACE Function

REVERSEREVERSE(String)
More about REVERSE Function

RIGHTRIGHT(String, Length)
More about RIGHT Function

RPADRPAD(String, Length, String to append)
More about RPAD Function

RPAD_ORACLERPAD_ORACLE(String, Length, String to append)
More about RPAD_ORACLE Function

RTRIMRTRIM(String)
More about RTRIM Function

SOUNDEXSOUNDEX(String)
More about SOUNDEX Function

SPACESPACE(Number)
More about SPACE Function

SUBSTRSUBSTR(String, Position, Length)
More about SUBSTR Function

SUBSTRINGSUBSTRING(String, Position, Length)
More about SUBSTRING Function

SUBSTRING_INDEXSUBSTRING_INDEX(String, Delimiter, Number)
More about SUBSTRING_INDEX Function

TRIMTRIM([Type] [, Delete character], , String)
More about TRIM Function

TRIM_ORACLETRIM_ORACLE([Type] [, Delete character], , String)
More about TRIM_ORACLE Function

UCASEUCASE(String)
More about UCASE Function

UPPERUPPER(String)
More about UPPER Function

WEIGHT_STRINGWEIGHT_STRING(String [AS Format] [LEVEL Level] [Sorting])
More about WEIGHT_STRING Function

ASCIIASCII(String)
More about ASCII Function

BIT_LENGTHBIT_LENGTH(String)
More about BIT_LENGTH Function

CHAR_LENGTHCHAR_LENGTH(String)
More about CHAR_LENGTH Function

CHARACTER_LENGTHCHARACTER_LENGTH(String)
More about CHARACTER_LENGTH Function

FIND_IN_SETFIND_IN_SET(Search string, Set of values)
More about FIND_IN_SET Function

INSTRINSTR(String, Search string)
More about INSTR Function

LENGTHLENGTH(String)
More about LENGTH Function

LENGTHBLENGTHB(String)
More about LENGTHB Function

OCTET_LENGTHOCTET_LENGTH(String)
More about OCTET_LENGTH Function

ORDORD(String)
More about ORD Function

POSITIONPOSITION(Search string IN String)
More about POSITION Function

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More information about the LOCATE SQL function: mysql.com and mariadb.com and w3schools.com
Updated: 2023-09-17ImprintContactTerms & conditionsPrivacy & CookiesUpdatesSitemapFacebookLinkedinTwitterStatistics©2020-2024 Heino Cunze-Fischer