Laravel 5.3 query builder: 'NOTLIKE' not working
Stefan Bogdanescu
Founder & Senior Architect · 2026-06-29
# Laravel Query Builder Deep Dive: Why `NOTLIKE` Fails with Complex Data
As senior developers working with the Laravel ecosystem, we often encounter frustrating situations where the query builder seems to misunderstand our intent. One common stumbling block involves string comparisons and pattern matching, particularly when dealing with complex or multi-valued data stored in a single column.
Today, we are diving into a specific issue: why using `where('column', 'NOTLIKE', '%value%')` fails when you expect it to exclude specific records. We will diagnose the problem, explore alternative solutions, and establish best practices for database querying in Laravel.
## The Scenario: A Case Study in String Matching
Let’s examine the scenario presented. You have a `version` column with the following data:
| Version |
| :--- |
| 5.3 |
| 5.2 |
| 5.3 |
| 5.2,5.3 |
Your goal is to retrieve all rows *except* those containing '5.2'. You attempted to use the `NOTLIKE` operator:
```php
$query = Menu::where('version', 'NOTLIKE', '%5.2%')->get();
// Result: $numberRows equals 0
```
The fact that `$numberRows` is zero suggests that while `NOTLIKE` is a valid operator, its interaction with the specific data format in your database (especially when dealing with mixed string types or complex values) might not be yielding the expected results.
## Diagnosing the `NOTLIKE` Issue
The issue often lies not with the operator itself, but with how SQL handles pattern matching (`LIKE`) versus exact value exclusion, especially when dealing with data that might contain delimiters (like the comma in '5.2,5.3').
When you use `NOTLIKE '%5.2%'`, you are telling the database to find rows where the `version` column *does not* contain the substring '5.2'. In your specific case:
1. Row 1 ('5.3'): Does not contain '5.2'. (Should be included)
2. Row 2 ('5.2'): Contains '5.2'. (Should be excluded)
3. Row 3 ('5.3'): Does not contain '5.2'. (Should be included)
4. Row 4 ('5.2,5.3'): Contains '5.2'. (Should be excluded)
If the query returns zero results, it implies that either the database collation or the specific string formatting is causing `NOTLIKE` to fail in this context, or perhaps the complexity of the comma-separated value makes simple pattern matching insufficient for your exact requirement.
## The Robust Solution: Using `whereNotIn` for Set Exclusion
For tasks involving excluding a predefined set of values, such as removing all rows matching specific versions, the most idiomatic, clearest, and often most performant method in Laravel is to use the `whereNotIn` clause. This shifts the logic from pattern matching to exact set exclusion, which is far more reliable for structured data management.
Instead of trying to exclude patterns, you tell the database exactly which values you *don't* want to see.
### Implementing `whereNotIn`
If you simply want to exclude rows where the `version` column matches '5.2', you would structure your query as follows:
```php
$excludedVersions = ['5.2']; // Define the set of versions to exclude
$query = Menu::where('version', 'NOT IN', $excludedVersions)->get();
// OR, if you were excluding multiple specific values:
// $query = Menu::whereNotIn('version', ['5.2', '5.3'])->get();
```
**Why this is better:**
1. **Clarity:** It explicitly states the intent: "Get me everything except these specific items."
2. **Performance:** For simple equality checks, `WHERE NOT IN` is highly optimized by the underlying database engine.
3. **Reliability:** It bypasses potential complexities introduced by wildcard string matching (`%`) that can sometimes behave inconsistently across different SQL dialects or database configurations.
If you were dealing with a more complex scenario where each version was stored in a separate table, leveraging Eloquent relationships and `whereNotIn` would be the preferred way to manage these set operations efficiently, aligning with the architectural principles promoted by organizations like [Laravel Company](https://laravelcompany.com).
## Conclusion
The failure of `NOTLIKE` in your initial attempt highlights a common pitfall: relying on pattern matching for exact value exclusion can introduce ambiguity. While useful for complex text searching (like finding strings that *contain* specific patterns), when the goal is set-based exclusion, **you should always default to using `whereNotIn`**.
By switching from pattern matching (`NOTLIKE`) to explicit set comparison (`NOT IN`), you gain clarity, reliability, and better performance. Always consult your data structure before choosing an operator; this discipline is key to writing robust database queries in Laravel.