title: Wildcards in column name for MySQL
body: <p>I am trying to select multiple columns, but not all of the columns, from the database. All of the columns I want to select are going to start with "word".</p>
  
  <p>So in pseudocode I'd like to do this:</p>
  
  <pre><code>SELECT "word%" from searchterms where onstate = 1;
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>More or less. I am not finding any documentation on how to do this - is it possible in MySQL? Basically, I am trying to store a list of words in a single row, with an identifier, and I want to associate all of the words with that identifier when I pull the records. All of the words are going to be joined as a string and passed to another function in an array/dictionary with their identifier.</p>
  
  <p>I am trying to make as FEW database calls as possible to keep speedy code.</p>
  
  <p><strong>Ok, here's another question for you guys:</strong></p>
  
  <p>There are going to be a variable number of columns with the name "word" in them. Would it be faster to do a separate database call for each row, with a generated Python query per row, or would it be faster to simply SELECT *, and only use the columns I needed? Is it possible to say SELECT * NOT XYZ?</p>