soundex

Returns a four-character soundex code for character strings that are composed of a contiguous sequence of valid single- or double-byte Roman letters.

Syntax

soundex(char_expr | uchar_expr)

Parameters

char_expr – is a character-type column name, variable, or constant expression of char, varchar, nchar, or nvarchar type.
uchar_expr – is a character-type column name, variable, or constant expression of unichar or univarchar type.

Examples

Example 1 – Returns the four-character soundex codes for "smith" and "smythe":
```
select soundex ("smith"), soundex ("smythe")
```
```
----- -----  
S530  S530
```

Usage

soundex, a string function, returns a four-character soundex code for character strings that are composed of a contiguous sequence of valid single- or double-byte roman letters.
The soundex function converts an alphabetic string to a four-digit code for use in locating similar-sounding words or names. All vowels are ignored unless they constitute the first letter of the string.
If char_expr or uchar_expr is NULL, returns NULL.

See also Transact-SQL Users Guide.

Standards

ANSI SQL – Compliance level: Transact-SQL extension.

Permissions

Any user can execute soundex.

Parent topic: Transact-SQL Functions

Related reference

Created May 28, 2014. Send feedback on this help topic to Technical Publications: pubs@sap.com