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Message-ID: <46571825.30707@archonet.com>
Date: Fri, 25 May 2007 18:08:53 +0100
From: Richard Huxton <dev@archonet.com>
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To: PFC <lists@peufeu.com>
Cc: mark@mark.mielke.cc, Mark Lewis <mark.lewis@mir3.com>,
	James Mansion <james@mansionfamily.plus.com>,
	Magnus Hagander <magnus@hagander.net>,
	Alexander Staubo <alex@purefiction.net>, Andy <frum@ar-sd.net>,
	pgsql-performance@postgresql.org
Subject: Re: LIKE search and performance
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PFC wrote:
> 
>> OK - any application that allows user-built queries: <choose column: 
>> foo> <choose filter: contains> <choose target: "bar">
>>
>> Want another? Any application that has a "search by name" box - users 
>> can (and do) put one letter in and hit enter.
>>
>> Unfortunately you don't always have control over the selectivity of 
>> queries issued.
> 
>     -*- HOW TO MAKE A SEARCH FORM -*-
> 
>     Imagine you have to code the search on IMDB.
> 
>     This is what a smart developer would do

All good domain-specific tips to provide users with a satisfying 
search-experience.

None of which address the question of what plan PG should produce for: 
SELECT * FROM bigtable WHERE foo LIKE 's%'

-- 
   Richard Huxton
   Archonet Ltd