php - assigning date variables

$query = "" mysql_query("SELECT * FROM table WHERE date LIKE '%". $query ."%'"); // returns all items in database $query = "2001-01-01" mysql_query("SELECT * FROM table WHERE date LIKE '%". $query ."%'"); // returns all rows that have 2001-01-01 as the date What is proper way to define a variable to include all dates newer than 1995-01-01? $query = "???" What is proper way to define a variable to include all dates older than 1995-01-01? $query = "???" What is proper way to define a variable to include all dates between 1995-01-01 and 1998-12-31? $query = "???" Everything I tried gives me a error. This has to be simple, but I must be overlooking something. Where would I find the answer? Thanks Craig ><> westerman@chanuteks.com