only return results beginning with A

[etoast]

Hi
I have a name field in mysql and I want people to be able to search so that they get back just the record names beginning with the letter that they choose. How do I do this? I don't just want to sort alphabetically, I want it to only bring back records beginning with 'A', or 'B'.

I know how to build a query in terms of select * from table where name = whatever.

What I am trying to avoid is having to add a new column to the table and putting A next to all the names that begin with A. B next to all the B's, etc.

Many thanks

[justsomeone]

mysql allows wildcard searching.

select * from table where name LIKE 'J%'
will return all names beginning with J.

select * from table where name LIKE '%J'
will return all names ending with J.

select * from table where name LIKE '%J%'
will return all names containing a J.

$query = "select * from table where name like '". $firstLetter . "%'";

[mrhappiness]

The = have to be replaced by LIKE

[etoast]

fantastic, thank you both

[justsomeone]

mrhappiness wrote:

The = have to be replaced by LIKE

Of course, thanks, wasn't quite awake when typing that. Will go back and edit the post now.