If you've ever had to search for something specific in a database, you know it can feel like looking for a needle in a haystack. That's where CONTAINS in SQL steps in. It's a feature that makes searching more intuitive and efficient, especially when you're dealing with text-heavy data. Instead of scanning line by line, CONTAINS helps you find exactly what you need without wasting time. Let's unpack how it works and why it’s such a handy tool.

Understanding How CONTAINS Works

Fundamentally, CONTAINS is utilized to carry out a full-text search for columns that have character-based data types, such as VARCHAR, NVARCHAR, or TEXT. It doesn't simply perform a straightforward match; it enables you to search for words, phrases, or even word fragments in a manner that feels more like you would search on the internet.

Unlike the vintage LIKE operator, which searches for plain patterns, CONTAINS searches within the text for more relevant matches. It's like a smarter approach to looking for something without spelling it out precisely.

Here’s a simple way to see it in action:

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SELECT * FROM Products

WHERE CONTAINS(ProductName, 'laptop');

This query pulls all products where the ProductName contains the word "laptop." Whether it's "Gaming Laptop," "Laptop Bag," or "Laptop Charger," they'll all show up.

And here's the best part: CONTAINS isn't just looking for a match; it understands words. So, you can search for multiple words and phrases or even use operators to refine your search.

When Should You Use CONTAINS?

You may ask yourself if LIKE works just right at times, why use CONTAINS at all? It's about precision and efficiency. CONTAINS excels when you are working with massive datasets and desire finer control of your search.

Suppose that you're handling a library's database. Traversing hundreds of book titles, descriptions, and author names using LIKE would be slow and cumbersome. CONTAINS does this job much easier by keeping the text indexed behind the scenes.

Here are some real-world moments when CONTAINS becomes your best friend:

• Searching customer reviews for specific feedback.
• Finding articles that mention a particular keyword.
• Tracking product descriptions containing certain features.
• Looking up blog posts with specific phrases.

And here's a fun little fact: CONTAINS doesn’t just help with speed—it lets you use search language that feels natural. For example, you can ask for exact phrases, use wildcards, and even mix different search terms with logical operators like AND, OR, and AND NOT.

Writing Better Searches with CONTAINS

Once you get the basics, you’ll want to level up and start writing smarter searches. CONTAINS offers a handful of neat tricks that make your life easier.

Searching for a Phrase

Instead of looking for a single word, you can search for an entire phrase by putting it inside double quotes:

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SELECT * FROM Articles

WHERE CONTAINS(Content, '"artificial intelligence"');

This search will only return rows where the phrase artificial intelligence appears exactly like that — not just "artificial" in one place and "intelligence" somewhere else.

Using Logical Operators

Need to find one word or another? Or maybe you want results with one word but not another? No problem. CONTAINS has you covered.

AND: both words must be present.

OR: either word can be present.

AND NOT: the first word must be present, but not the second.

Example:

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SELECT * FROM Products

WHERE CONTAINS(Description, 'laptop AND gaming');

This query finds products where both "laptop" and "gaming" appear together.

And if you want "laptop," make sure "used" isn't mentioned.

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SELECT * FROM Products

WHERE CONTAINS(Description, 'laptop AND NOT used');

Clean, right?

Using Wildcards

Sometimes, you might not know the full word you’re looking for. Maybe you want anything that starts with "tech," whether it’s "technology," "technical," or "techniques."

In that case, use a wildcard with an asterisk *:

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SELECT * FROM Blogs

WHERE CONTAINS(Content, 'tech*');

This will scoop up anything starting with "tech."

Near Searches

One cool trick with CONTAINS is using the NEAR operator. It helps find words that are close to each other in the text, not just anywhere in the document.

Example:

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SELECT * FROM Reviews

WHERE CONTAINS(Feedback, 'battery NEAR charger');

This would pull up reviews where "battery" and "charger" appear near each other, making the search more meaningful.

Setting Up Full-Text Search for CONTAINS

Before you jump into using CONTAINS, your database needs to have full-text indexing enabled. This isn’t done automatically, but it's a one-time setup that’s totally worth it if you plan to use CONTAINS regularly.

Here’s the general process:

1. Create a Full-Text Catalog
2. A storage space that keeps the full-text indexes.
3. Create a Full-Text Index on a Table
4. Apply the index to the table and columns where you plan to search.
5. Start Searching with CONTAINS
6. Once the index is in place, you can use CONTAINS like any other query.

Setting it up might sound technical, but most modern databases like SQL Server make it pretty straightforward with a few clicks or simple commands.

Here's a sneak peek of how you might create a full-text index:

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CREATE FULLTEXT INDEX ON Products(ProductName, Description)

KEY INDEX PK_Products

ON ftCatalog;

After that, you’re good to go!

Wrapping It Up

CONTAINS in SQL is like upgrading your basic search tool into something that thinks a little more like you do. Whether you’re pulling customer reviews, product listings, blog posts, or technical documents, it gives you the freedom to search smarter and faster without getting bogged down. Once full-text indexing is set up, CONTAINS becomes a reliable way to find exactly what you need, even in huge databases. You can search for full phrases, use wildcards, combine terms with logical operators, and even fine-tune your searches by looking for words near each other.