Here are a few question-based titles that capture the essence of your article, focusing on the challenges and solutions related to `LIKE` queries with trailing wildcards in InnoDB: * **How to Optimiz

Optimizing MySQL LIKE Queries in InnoDB

When querying InnoDB tables using the LIKE operator with a trailing wildcard ('%...'), it's important to understand its indexing limitations.

Understanding the Index Limitations

Indexes in InnoDB are typically constructed from the beginning of the string. While queries like LIKE 'whatever%' can utilize these start-based indexes for efficient lookups, LIKE '%whatever%' queries can't.

This is because the trailing wildcard removes the anchor at the start of the search term, making it "floating" in the string. As a result, the entire field must be searched, rendering start-based indexes ineffective.

Solution: Using Fulltext Indexes

For 'floating' searches like LIKE '%... queries, fulltext indexes are recommended. Fulltext indexes are optimized for this type of usage, allowing efficient searches regardless of the wildcard position in the string.

InnoDB and Fulltext Indexes

Historically, InnoDB didn't support fulltext indexes. However, as of version 5.6.4, InnoDB fully supports fulltext indexing. This allows you to utilize both InnoDB's transaction and consistency benefits while enjoying efficient fulltext searching.

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