For LIKE fuzzy search, you can use the wildcard "%" and "_": %: to indicate any character, including zero; _: to indicate any character; SQL code Connected to Oracle Database 11g Enterprise Edition Release 11.2.0.1.0 Connected as scott SQL> select * from dept; deptno dname loc ------ ------------ ------------- 10 accounting new york 20 research dallas 30 sales chicago 40 operations boston "%" and "_" Demo: SQL code SQL> select * from dept where DNAME like '_ A %'; deptno dname loc ------ ------------ --------------- 30 sales chicago escape Demo: SQL code SQL> insert into dept values (50, 'beijing', 'jiang % Xi'); 1 row inserted www.2cto.com SQL> select * from dept; deptno dname loc ------ ------------ ------------- 10 accounting new york 20 research dallas 30 sales chicago 40 operations boston 50 beijing jiang % xi SQL> select * from dept where loc like '% \ %' escape '\'; deptno dname loc ------ -------------- ------------- 50 beijing jiang % xi SQL> select * from dept where loc like '% e % 'escape 'E '; deptno dname loc ------ -------------- ------------- 50 beijing jiang % XI from Ear's blog