like_escape() — PostgreSQL formatting function

like_escape(): convert LIKE pattern to use backslash escapes. PostgreSQL type conversion functions — signature, volatility, version applicability and an illustrative example.

The Sev-1 Admin
The Sev-1 Admin  ·  2 min read

Summary

like_escape is a PostgreSQL built-in function in the Type Conversion Functions group. PostgreSQL’s system catalog (pg_proc) describes it as: “convert LIKE pattern to use backslash escapes”.

Signature

like_escape has 2 documented overloaded forms:

like_escape(text, text) → text
like_escape(bytea, bytea) → bytea

Argument and return types are taken from the pg_proc catalog; internal type names are shown using their readable SQL spellings (for example int4 is shown as integer). (Derived from the catalog — see the linked reference for the canonical documentation.)

Classification

  • Category: Type Conversion Functions
  • Kind: Function
  • Volatility: IMMUTABLE — Marked IMMUTABLE — it always returns the same result for the same arguments and can be used in indexes and other contexts that require immutability.
  • Returns: bytea, text

Example

Illustrative form (replace placeholder values with your own data):

SELECT like_escape('abc', 'abc');

The example above is illustrative and is meant to show calling syntax only; consult the linked PostgreSQL documentation for exact semantics, edge cases and accepted argument combinations.

Version applicability

like_escape is present across the surveyed releases (PostgreSQL 15, 16, 17, 18, 19). On older major versions, behaviour may differ in detail — always check the documentation for the version you run.

Related & references

Reference: PostgreSQL documentation — Type Conversion Functions.