Mysql searching

SQL, matching characters

[HeadBut]

trying to match the first 5 characters in a string is there function for this?

SELECT *
From TheTable
WHERE FirstFiveCahracters(TheTable.LookingAt) = Lookingfor

[HeadBut]

LIKE doesn't seem to work cause sometimes the strings LookingAt is missing the first character "0"

[Chris_Mohr]

have you looked at SUBSTRING?

[HeadBut]

The sometimes missing first character "0" messes things up. Not sure how to get a match with SUBSTRING. It's kinda like a zip code 07654. I need to match with three conditions like:

07654
7654
076541122

thanks for your help

[Chris_Mohr]

Something like this should work.

select * from table where LookingAt REGEXP '^0?7654'