SOUNDEX

SOUNDEX returns a character string containing the phonetic representation of a text expression. This function lets you compare words that are spelled differently but sound alike.

The function is based on the algorithm described in Donald Knuth's The Art of Computer Programming. This algorithm was designed specifically for English. Its results for other languages other than English are unpredictable and typically unsatisfactory.

Return Value

VARCHAR2

Syntax

SOUNDEX (char)

Arguments

char can be any text expression.

Example

All of these examples return the value D500:

soundex('Donna')

soundex('Diane')

soundex('Dana')