SQL - CHARINDEX

This function searches for one character expression inside a second character expression, returning the starting position of the first expression if found.

CHARINDEX ( expression_to_find , expression_to_search [ , start_location  ] )

Example 1: Search a character position in a string

SELECT CHARINDEX('Server', 'SQL Server CHARINDEX') As Position;

Result: 5

Example 2: Use of optional parameter Start_position in SQL CHARINDEX

SELECT CHARINDEX('Server','SQL Server CHARINDEX',3) as 'Position'

Result: 5

Example 3: Search a substring position in a specified string in SQL CHARINDEX

DECLARE @ExpressionToSearch varchar(100)

SET @ExpressionToSearch = 'Understanding the GUID data type in SQL Server'

SELECT CHARINDEX ('SQL', @ExpressionToSearch) AS 'CharacterPosition'

Result: 37