How can you use square brackets [ ] in REGEXP patterns to match a range of characters?

Q: How can you use square brackets [ ] in REGEXP patterns to match a range of characters?

In MySQL REGEXP patterns, square brackets `[ ]` are used to define a **character class**, which matches any **one character** from a specified set or range. **Basic Usage:** `[abc]` matches any single character 'a', 'b', or 'c'. **Character Ranges:** `[a-z]` matches any lowercase letter from 'a' to 'z'; `[0-9]` matches any digit from 0 to 9. **Combining Ranges and Characters:** `[A-Za-z0-9]` matches any uppercase letter, lowercase letter, or digit. **Negation:** `[^a-z]` matches any character **not** in the range 'a' to 'z'. **Single Character Match:** The character class matches exactly one character at that position in the string. Using square brackets allows you to define flexible patterns that can match multiple possible characters at a specific position in the string. SELECT name FROM employees WHERE name REGEXP '^[ABC]'; SELECT code FROM products WHERE code REGEXP '^[A-Z][0-9]'; SELECT username FROM users WHERE username REGEXP '^[^0-9]';

Difficulty: 5/10

REGEXP syntax, character classes, MySQL pattern matching

Using Square Brackets [ ] in MySQL REGEXP Patterns

In MySQL REGEXP patterns, square brackets [ ] are used to define a character class, which matches any one character from a specified set or range.

Key Points About Square Brackets [ ]

1
Basic Usage: [abc] matches any single character 'a', 'b', or 'c'.
2
Character Ranges: [a-z] matches any lowercase letter from 'a' to 'z'; [0-9] matches any digit from 0 to 9.
3
Combining Ranges and Characters: matches any uppercase letter, lowercase letter, or digit.

Using square brackets allows you to define flexible patterns that can match multiple possible characters at a specific position in the string.

Example: Match Names Starting with A, B, or C

Example: Match Codes with a Letter Followed by a Digit

Example: Match Strings Not Starting with a Digit

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