test=# create table t1(a char(3)); CREATE TABLE test=# insert into t1(a) values ('xyz'), ('uv'); INSERT 0 2 test=# select * from t1 where d like 'uv'; a ---- (0 rows) test=# select * from t1 where d = 'uv'; a ---- uv (1 row) test=# select * from t1 where d like 'uv%'; a ---- uv (1 row)