Wordpress and a search to the database inside the code

Hi

Here's a couple of tips when starting out with a bit of Wordpress development.  What I need to do is add a check within a plugin.  Take a look here How to connect to the database from inside Wordpress for the code you need.

Here's a couple of tips that I've had to find out. 

* firstly you may  need to declare the $wpdb; object above your call to the database

Secondly

why cant i use % in wpdb prepare statement

why cant i use percentage sign in wpdb prepare statement

 in a LIKE statement just double up the %% 

ie

$tweet_count = $wpdb->get_var( $wpdb->prepare( "SELECT COUNT(*) FROM $wpdb->options WHERE option_name LIKE '%_transient_twp_%' ;" ) );


will be

$tweet_count = $wpdb->get_var( $wpdb->prepare( "SELECT COUNT(*) FROM $wpdb->options WHERE option_name LIKE '%%_transient_twp_%%' ;" ) );