Which operation is automatically performed by the IS LIKE search operator?

The IS LIKE search operator is designed to facilitate pattern matching within text strings. This operator automatically incorporates leading and trailing wildcards in its functionality, allowing users to search for records that contain a specified pattern anywhere within the text. For example, if you use the IS LIKE operator to search for 'apple', the query would match strings like 'apple', 'red apple', or 'green apples', effectively treating the search term as if it contained wildcards at both the beginning and the end.

In contrast, a phrase search is focused on finding exact matches to whole phrases without the flexibility of wildcards. A specific keyword search hones in on exact keywords without interpretative allowances for variations or patterns. Lastly, a numeric search is limited to numerical values and does not pertain to string matching, as the IS LIKE operator specifically targets textual patterns. This distinction underscores why the leading and trailing wildcard search feature of the IS LIKE operator is significant in text-based queries.