REPLACE in MySQL - Examples & AI Generator

The REPLACE function in MySQL is powerful, but keeping syntax details straight—especially when switching databases—can slow you down. MySQL's REPLACE() lets you substitute occurrences of a substring within text, which is useful for cleaning and transforming data. But why wrestle with exact syntax when AI2sql can generate production-ready REPLACE queries from plain English—no coding required?

REPLACE Syntax in MySQL

Standard Syntax

REPLACE(str, from_str, to_str)

• str: Original string.

• from_str: Substring to replace.

• to_str: Substring to insert in place.

The REPLACE function in MySQL is case-sensitive and differs from some other databases—so copying code between systems may not always work as expected.

REPLACE Examples You Can Generate Instantly

1. Update Product Names

UPDATE products 
SET name = REPLACE(name, 'Old', 'New')
WHERE name LIKE '%Old%';

Use case: Change all product names from 'Old' to 'New'.

2. Mask Customer Email Domains

SELECT REPLACE(email, '@gmail.com', '@example.com') AS masked_email
FROM customers
WHERE email LIKE '%@gmail.com';

Use case: Standardize or anonymize customer email addresses for privacy.

3. Clean Up Order Notes

UPDATE orders
SET notes = REPLACE(notes, 'urgent', 'high priority')
WHERE notes LIKE '%urgent%';

Use case: Normalize order note terminology before reporting.

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Why Use AI2sql Instead of Manual REPLACE Coding

• No memorizing syntax: Cut down on errors between databases (like MySQL vs. others).

• Instant SQL generation: Get ready-to-run REPLACE MySQL examples in seconds.

• Business-ready queries: Just describe your update—AI2sql does the rest.

• Loved globally: Trusted by 50,000+ users across 80+ countries for SQL automation.

Try the AI2sql Generator or Learn REPLACE for more details.

FAQ: REPLACE in MySQL

Does REPLACE in MySQL replace all occurrences?

Yes, REPLACE swaps every instance of the target substring within each string.

Is REPLACE case-sensitive in MySQL?

By default, yes. For case-insensitive replacements, use LOWER() or COLLATE tricks.

What’s different vs. REPLACE in other databases?

MySQL syntax is REPLACE(str, from_str, to_str). Other systems (like SQL Server) can have different order of arguments.

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