What effect does using the IS LIKE search operator have on database performance?

The use of the IS LIKE search operator has an impact on database performance, particularly in terms of efficiency. When the IS LIKE command is used, it generally applies a pattern matching process that can be resource-intensive. This operator requires the database to examine each record to determine if it matches the specified pattern, which often leads to increased processing time, especially if there are a large number of records to search through.

Due to the nature of pattern matching—particularly if wildcards are used—it can significantly strain the database, resulting in slower query performance. This slow performance can be particularly evident in larger datasets where the number of records that need to be checked increases. Therefore, the statement regarding it straining the database and potentially slowing down the search process accurately reflects the performance implications of using the IS LIKE operator in such scenarios.