# Segments filtering with wildcards and 'like'

**URL:** <https://forum.mautic.org/t/segments-filtering-with-wildcards-and-like/7094>\
**Category:** General Discussion\
**Created:** [January 9, 2017, 2:19pm UTC](https://forum.mautic.org/t/segments-filtering-with-wildcards-and-like/7094 "2017-01-09T14:19:17Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![DutchAlfred](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aca169/32.png) [@DutchAlfred](https://forum.mautic.org/u/DutchAlfred)\
**Post date:** [January 9, 2017, 2:19pm UTC](https://forum.mautic.org/t/segments-filtering-with-wildcards-and-like/7094/1 "2017-01-09T14:19:17Z")

</div>

Can anyone explain how to make precise segments using filters with wildcards, for example to select all first names that start with an A? Can I use \* or % or ? What is the difference between ‘equals’ and ‘like’?

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![DutchAlfred](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aca169/32.png) [@DutchAlfred](https://forum.mautic.org/u/DutchAlfred)\
**Post date:** [January 9, 2017, 2:19pm UTC](https://forum.mautic.org/t/segments-filtering-with-wildcards-and-like/7094/2 "2017-01-09T14:19:17Z")

</div>

Can anyone explain how to make precise segments using filters with wildcards, for example to select all first names that start with an A? Can I use \* or % or ? What is the difference between ‘equals’ and ‘like’?

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![rorymadden](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/user_avatar/forum.mautic.org/rorymadden/32/130_2.png) [@rorymadden](https://forum.mautic.org/u/rorymadden)\
**Post date:** [August 18, 2017, 2:00pm UTC](https://forum.mautic.org/t/segments-filtering-with-wildcards-and-like/7094/3 "2017-08-18T14:00:39Z")

</div>

[https://mautic.com/help/using-wildcards-to-filter-results/](https://mautic.com/help/using-wildcards-to-filter-results/)