Entry

Does MySQL have a full text search capability?

Feb 11th, 2003 17:00
Philip Olson, Nathan Wallace,

Yes.  MySQL 3 has limited FULLTEXT capability while MySQL 4 will allow 
much more flexability, such as boolean searches and the ability to 
limit minimum word length (default is four).
The MySQL manual explains it's use:
  http://www.mysql.com/doc/en/Fulltext_Search.html
As well as a few tutorials:
  http://www.zend.com/zend/tut/tutorial-ferrara1.php
  http://www.devarticles.com/art/1/195
  http://www.databasejournal.com/features/mysql/article.php/1578331
The basic syntax is:
  SELECT *
  FROM tablefoo 
  WHERE MATCH(columnbar) AGAINST ('somevalue')
As I write this, MySQL is in beta.  Not sure when it'll be ready for 
production use but the FULLTEXT will be greatly improved!