Last updated: Jan 17, 2024
SoundEx is a method used to find strings when the sound is known but the precise spelling isn't known.
Developed in 1918, the method searches out words with similar sounds based on
phonetic assumptions about how certain letters are pronounced. SoundEx can be used to search names
in a database (for example, where spellings and pronunciations for similar names may vary). The
basic SoundEx algorithm is documented in a number of sources and, despite known limitations (for
example, leading letter combinations such as ph and f won't match
even though they sound the same), is supported in some form by most databases.
| Function | Result | Description |
|---|---|---|
soundex(STRING)
|
Integer | Returns the four-character SoundEx code for the specified STRING. |
soundex_difference(STRING1, STRING2)
|
Integer | Returns an integer between 0 and 4 that indicates the number of characters that are the same in the SoundEx encoding for the two strings, where 0 indicates no similarity and 4 indicates strong similarity or identical strings. |