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> Reference material for ILIKE function

# ILIKE

Allows matching of strings based on comparison to a pattern. `ILIKE` is normally used as part of a `WHERE` clause. `ILIKE` is case-insensitive; use [LIKE](/reference-sql/functions-reference/string/like) for case-sensitive pattern matching. Note that Firebolt uses the `POSIX` locale, which means that it only classifies the ASCII letters “A” through “Z” and “a” through “z” as letters.

## Syntax

```sql theme={"theme":{"light":"github-light","dark":"github-dark"}}
<expression> ILIKE '<pattern>'
```

## Parameters

| Parameter      | Description                                        | Supported input types                                                                                                                                                                                                |
| :------------- | :------------------------------------------------- | :------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| `<expression>` | Any expression that evaluates to `TEXT`            | `TEXT`                                                                                                                                                                                                               |
| `<pattern>`    | Specifies the pattern to match (case-insensitive). | `TEXT` constant. SQL wildcards are supported: <br /> <br />\* Use an underscore (`_`) to match any single character<br />\* Use a percent sign (`%`) to match any number of any characters, including no characters. |

## Return Type

`BOOLEAN`

## Example

Find nicknames from the `players` table that partially match the string "Joe" and any following characters as follows:

```sql theme={"theme":{"light":"github-light","dark":"github-dark"}}
SELECT
	playerid, nickname, email
FROM
	players
WHERE
	nickname ILIKE 'Joe%';
```

**Returns**:

| playerid | nickname | email                                                     |
| :------- | :------- | :-------------------------------------------------------- |
| 160      | joedavis | [cgarcia@example.org](mailto:cgarcia@example.org)         |
| 519      | joe79    | [jennifer10@example.net](mailto:jennifer10@example.net)   |
| 3692     | joeli    | [cperez@example.net](mailto:cperez@example.net)           |
| 3891     | joel11   | [joanncain@example.net](mailto:joanncain@example.net)     |
| 4233     | joellong | [millerholly@example.net](mailto:millerholly@example.net) |
| 4627     | joebowen | [amandalewis@example.net](mailto:amandalewis@example.net) |

## Unicode Behavior

Firebolt uses the `POSIX` locale, therefore `ILIKE` case insensitivity is limited to ASCII characters. The uppercase and lowercase versions of non-ASCII characters are not matched:

```sql theme={"theme":{"light":"github-light","dark":"github-dark"}}
SELECT 'ENCYCLOPÆDIA' ILIKE 'encyclopædia'; -- returns false
SELECT 'ENCYCLOPÆDIA' ILIKE 'encyclopÆdia'; -- returns true
SELECT 'MÜNCHEN' ILIKE 'München'; -- returns false
SELECT 'MÜNCHEN' ILIKE 'mÜnchen'; -- returns true
SELECT 'Πσρ⋈' ILIKE 'πΣΡ%'; -- returns false
```