How many characters does the wildcard "*" replace in a selector?

The wildcard "*" in a selector is designed to match zero or more characters. This means that it can represent any string, including an empty string, as well as strings of varying lengths. For example, if used within a file search context, the wildcard could match files with any characters in their names, such as "file.txt," "file123.doc," or even just "file." This broad matching capability makes it a powerful tool when creating selectors, particularly when the exact content or length of the target string is unknown or variable.

The concept behind this functionality is rooted in pattern matching, which is a common aspect of programming and data retrieval. Because "*" can substitute for any number of characters or none at all, it can be used flexibly to ensure that a selector captures all relevant data that meets the criteria, thereby maximizing the effectiveness of the query or search operation.