# use or operator within like regex expression

**URL:** <https://forum.kx.com/t/use-or-operator-within-like-regex-expression/11528>\
**Category:** Community Support\
**Tags:** kdb-and-q\
**Created:** [April 24, 2017, 6:42pm UTC](https://forum.kx.com/t/use-or-operator-within-like-regex-expression/11528 "2017-04-24T18:42:00Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Sam11](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Sam11](https://forum.kx.com/u/Sam11)\
**Post date:** [April 24, 2017, 6:42pm UTC](https://forum.kx.com/t/use-or-operator-within-like-regex-expression/11528/1 "2017-04-24T18:42:00Z")

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I need to match a string that includes either of two strings in pattern - \*STR1\* or \*STR2\*.  
e,g  
select from t where c like “\*((STR1)|(STR2))\*”

I cannot do select from t where c like “\*STR1\*” or c like “\*STR2\*”&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;  
due to way UI flows these filters in to backend  
.

Any suggestions?

Thanks!

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**Author:** ![rathore\_ajay1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9de0a6/32.png) [@rathore\_ajay1](https://forum.kx.com/u/rathore_ajay1)\
**Post date:** [April 24, 2017, 7:32pm UTC](https://forum.kx.com/t/use-or-operator-within-like-regex-expression/11528/2 "2017-04-24T19:32:00Z")

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Looking at the string pattern, there is another way

q)select from t where c like “\*STR[1-2]\*”

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**Author:** ![Connor\_Gervin1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/958977/32.png) [@Connor\_Gervin1](https://forum.kx.com/u/Connor_Gervin1)\
**Post date:** [April 24, 2017, 7:44pm UTC](https://forum.kx.com/t/use-or-operator-within-like-regex-expression/11528/3 "2017-04-24T19:44:00Z")

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Spot on for this example :)