Interesting. Thanks for the results. There probably is another route we could test. We could right a function in C, compile it , and add it to mysql. I've never done it myself but I did read that it may make your query faster. I think I also I read that it might slow it down.
BTW according to the mysql explain, the real reason why the LIKE wins in this case is when you start to join other tables. In my example the DB server will execute against every row with the LEFT statement while the execution plan for the LIKE will try execute against 40% of the rows in the db with another table. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~| Order the Adobe Coldfusion Anthology now! http://www.amazon.com/Adobe-Coldfusion-Anthology-Michael-Dinowitz/dp/1430272155/?tag=houseoffusion Archive: http://www.houseoffusion.com/groups/cf-talk/message.cfm/messageid:337036 Subscription: http://www.houseoffusion.com/groups/cf-talk/subscribe.cfm Unsubscribe: http://www.houseoffusion.com/groups/cf-talk/unsubscribe.cfm
