Google Sheets is a powerful tool for data manipulation and analysis, and one of its most useful features is the ability to use queries to extract specific data from a sheet. One of the most common queries used in Google Sheets is the “SELECT WHERE” query, which allows you to select specific data based on certain conditions. In this blog post, we’ll explore the “SELECT WHERE” query in more detail, and specifically look at how to use the “CONTAINS” keyword to select data that contains a specific value.
The “SELECT WHERE” query is used to select specific data from a sheet based on certain conditions. It’s a powerful tool for data analysis, and can be used to extract specific data from large datasets. The basic syntax of the “SELECT WHERE” query is as follows:
SELECT column1, column2, ... FROM table_name WHERE condition
In this syntax, “column1”, “column2”, etc. are the columns you want to select, “table_name” is the name of the table you want to select from, and “condition” is the condition you want to apply to the data. The “WHERE” keyword is used to specify the condition.
One of the most useful keywords you can use in the “WHERE” clause is “CONTAINS”. The “CONTAINS” keyword is used to select data that contains a specific value. For example, if you have a column called “Description” that contains text descriptions of products, you can use the following query to select all rows where the description contains the word “apple”:
SELECT * FROM Products WHERE Description CONTAINS "apple"
This query will return all rows from the “Products” table where the “Description” column contains the word “apple”.
Using the CONTAINS Keyword
The “CONTAINS” keyword is a powerful tool for selecting data that contains a specific value. It can be used to select data that contains a specific word, phrase, or pattern. For example, if you have a column called “Name” that contains names of people, you can use the following query to select all rows where the name contains the word “John”:
SELECT * FROM People WHERE Name CONTAINS "John"
This query will return all rows from the “People” table where the “Name” column contains the word “John”. (See Also: How Do I Use Countif in Google Sheets? Mastering Formula Fundamentals)
Wildcards
The “CONTAINS” keyword can also be used with wildcards to select data that contains a specific pattern. For example, if you have a column called “Description” that contains text descriptions of products, you can use the following query to select all rows where the description contains the word “apple” or “banana”:
SELECT * FROM Products WHERE Description CONTAINS "*apple*"
This query will return all rows from the “Products” table where the “Description” column contains the word “apple” or “banana”. The “*” wildcard is used to match any characters before or after the word “apple”.
Regular Expressions
The “CONTAINS” keyword can also be used with regular expressions to select data that matches a specific pattern. For example, if you have a column called “Email” that contains email addresses, you can use the following query to select all rows where the email address contains the domain “@gmail.com”:
SELECT * FROM Customers WHERE Email CONTAINS "@gmail.com"
This query will return all rows from the “Customers” table where the “Email” column contains the domain “@gmail.com”. The regular expression “@gmail.com” is used to match the domain.
Best Practices
When using the “CONTAINS” keyword, there are a few best practices to keep in mind:
- Use the correct syntax: Make sure to use the correct syntax for the “CONTAINS” keyword, including the correct use of wildcards and regular expressions.
- Use quotes: Make sure to use quotes around the value you’re searching for, unless you’re using a regular expression.
- Use the correct data type: Make sure the data type of the column you’re searching is correct, and that the value you’re searching for is in the correct format.
- Test your query: Make sure to test your query before running it, to ensure it returns the correct results.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the “SELECT WHERE” query is a powerful tool for data analysis in Google Sheets, and the “CONTAINS” keyword is a useful keyword to use in the “WHERE” clause. By using the “CONTAINS” keyword, you can select data that contains a specific value, and use wildcards and regular expressions to select data that matches a specific pattern. By following the best practices outlined in this article, you can ensure that your queries return the correct results and are efficient to run. (See Also: How to Enter in Same Cell Google Sheets? Mastering the Technique)
Recap
Here is a recap of the key points discussed in this article:
- The “SELECT WHERE” query is used to select specific data from a sheet based on certain conditions.
- The “CONTAINS” keyword is used to select data that contains a specific value.
- The “CONTAINS” keyword can be used with wildcards to select data that contains a specific pattern.
- The “CONTAINS” keyword can be used with regular expressions to select data that matches a specific pattern.
- Best practices for using the “CONTAINS” keyword include using the correct syntax, using quotes, using the correct data type, and testing your query.
FAQs
What is the difference between the CONTAINS and LIKE keywords?
The “CONTAINS” keyword is used to select data that contains a specific value, while the “LIKE” keyword is used to select data that matches a specific pattern. The “LIKE” keyword is more flexible than the “CONTAINS” keyword, and can be used to select data that contains a specific pattern, such as a word or phrase.
Can I use the CONTAINS keyword with multiple values?
Yes, you can use the “CONTAINS” keyword with multiple values by using the “OR” operator. For example:
SELECT * FROM Products WHERE Description CONTAINS "apple" OR Description CONTAINS "banana"
This query will return all rows from the “Products” table where the “Description” column contains either the word “apple” or the word “banana”.
Can I use the CONTAINS keyword with regular expressions?
Yes, you can use the “CONTAINS” keyword with regular expressions by using the “REGEXP” function. For example:
SELECT * FROM Customers WHERE Email REGEXP "@gmail.com"
This query will return all rows from the “Customers” table where the “Email” column matches the regular expression “@gmail.com”.
What is the performance impact of using the CONTAINS keyword?
The performance impact of using the “CONTAINS” keyword depends on the size of the dataset and the complexity of the query. In general, the “CONTAINS” keyword can be slower than other query keywords, such as the “EQ” keyword, because it requires the query engine to scan the entire dataset to find matching rows. However, the performance impact can be minimized by using indexes and optimizing the query.
Can I use the CONTAINS keyword with aggregate functions?
Yes, you can use the “CONTAINS” keyword with aggregate functions, such as the “SUM” and “COUNT” functions. For example:
SELECT SUM(Price) FROM Products WHERE Description CONTAINS "apple"
This query will return the sum of the “Price” column for all rows from the “Products” table where the “Description” column contains the word “apple”.