Use of like this - this way

[Eagle]

Hello. I'm spanish speaker and I have a question about the use of like this and this way
Could you please tell me in what cases can they be used?

They seem to have the same function to me.

Thank you very much.

[Mister Micawber]

Yes, they seem to be synonymous. At the informal level (they are both rather informal phrases), they seem to function all but identically:

Do it this way.
Do it like this.
This way is the best way.
Like this is the best way.
This way makes me happy.
Like this makes me happy.

Like this is a prepositional phrase, and we would expect it to function somewhat differently than the noun phrase this way. Perhaps the reason lies in the probability that this way is actually a shortening of in this way, another prepositional phrase.
_________________
Canadian-American native speaker
who teaches English for a living at Mister Micawber's
ESL cafe: Interview with Mister Micawber

[Eagle]

Thank you very much, Mister Micawber.