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Learn how to use Sequelize's `iLike` operator to perform `case insensitive` substring searches in your PostgreSQL database.
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Searching Substrings in Sequelize with Case Insensitivity

When working with Sequelize, a popular Node.js ORM for PostgreSQL, you may run into situations where you need to search for a substring in a string without worrying about case sensitivity. This is particularly important when you're dealing with names or other text fields where users might enter data in various uppercase and lowercase formats. In this guide, we will explore how to achieve a case insensitive substring search using Sequelize's powerful querying capabilities.

The Initial Problem

Imagine you have a web application where you need to retrieve data based on user input. Let's say you have a database with names, and you want to search for those names based on partial matches. The initial logic you have written looks like this:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

The issue with this approach is that it is case sensitive. For instance, if your table contains the names "Ementas" and "Eu", searching for 'e' only returns "Ementas", while searching for 'E' retrieves both names. This inconsistency can lead to a poor user experience.

Your Table Records

To illustrate this scenario, consider the following records in your PostgreSQL table:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

When searching with different cases, the returned results don't align with user expectations. So, how can we remedy this problem?

The Solution: Using iLike Operator

To address the case sensitivity issue in substring searches, we can leverage Sequelize's iLike operator instead of using substring. The iLike operator enables case-insensitive pattern matching, which perfectly suits our needs.

Implementation Steps

Here’s how you can implement the iLike operator in your search condition:

Modify Your Search Condition: Update the where clause to use iLike and wildcards to capture substrings.

Use Wildcards: Using % as wildcards allows you to search for any occurrence of the substring within the string.

Here’s the modified code snippet:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

Example Usage

With the above code in place, searching for either 'e' or 'E' will now return both "Ementas" and "Eu", thereby ensuring a consistent and user-friendly experience.

Conclusion

Incorporating the iLike operator in your Sequelize queries lets you effectively handle case insensitivity when searching for substrings in your database. As a result, your application can provide users with a seamless experience, regardless of how they choose to input their queries.

This small but powerful change can significantly enhance the usability of your application and ensure that users find what they are looking for—every time. Happy coding!