Package org.apache.commons.codec.language

Class Soundex

java.lang.Object
org.apache.commons.codec.language.Soundex
All Implemented Interfaces:
Encoder, StringEncoder
public class Soundex extends Object implements StringEncoder
Encodes a string into a Soundex value. Soundex is an encoding used to relate similar names, but can also be used as a general purpose scheme to find word with similar phonemes.

This class is thread-safe. Although not strictly immutable, the mutable fields are not actually used.

  • Field Summary

    Fields
    Modifier and Type
    Field
    Description
    static final char
    SILENT_MARKER
    The marker character used to indicate a silent (ignored) character.
    static final Soundex
    US_ENGLISH
    An instance of Soundex using the US_ENGLISH_MAPPING mapping.
    static final Soundex
    US_ENGLISH_GENEALOGY
    An instance of Soundex using the mapping as per the Genealogy site: http://www.genealogy.com/articles/research/00000060.html
    static final String
    US_ENGLISH_MAPPING_STRING
    This is a default mapping of the 26 letters used in US English.
    static final Soundex
    US_ENGLISH_SIMPLIFIED
    An instance of Soundex using the Simplified Soundex mapping, as described here: http://west-penwith.org.uk/misc/soundex.htm

  • Constructor Summary

    Constructors
    Constructor
    Description
    Soundex()
    Creates an instance using US_ENGLISH_MAPPING
    Soundex(char[] mapping)
    Creates a soundex instance using the given mapping.
    Soundex(String mapping)
    Creates a refined soundex instance using a custom mapping.
    Soundex(String mapping, boolean specialCaseHW)
    Creates a refined soundex instance using a custom mapping.

  • Method Summary

    Modifier and Type
    Method
    Description
    int
    difference(String s1, String s2)
    Encodes the Strings and returns the number of characters in the two encoded Strings that are the same.
    Object
    encode(Object obj)
    Encodes an Object using the soundex algorithm.
    String
    encode(String str)
    Encodes a String using the soundex algorithm.
    int
    getMaxLength()
    Deprecated.
    This feature is not needed since the encoding size must be constant.
    void
    setMaxLength(int maxLength)
    Deprecated.
    This feature is not needed since the encoding size must be constant.
    String
    soundex(String str)
    Retrieves the Soundex code for a given String object.

    Methods inherited from class java.lang.Object

    clone, equals, finalize, getClass, hashCode, notify, notifyAll, toString, wait, wait, wait

  • Field Details

    • SILENT_MARKER

      public static final char SILENT_MARKER
      The marker character used to indicate a silent (ignored) character. These are ignored except when they appear as the first character.

      Note: the US_ENGLISH_MAPPING_STRING does not use this mechanism because changing it might break existing code. Mappings that don't contain a silent marker code are treated as though H and W are silent.

      To override this, use the Soundex(String, boolean) constructor.

      Since:
      1.11
      See Also:

    • US_ENGLISH_MAPPING_STRING

      public static final String US_ENGLISH_MAPPING_STRING
      This is a default mapping of the 26 letters used in US English. A value of 0 for a letter position means do not encode, but treat as a separator when it occurs between consonants with the same code.

      (This constant is provided as both an implementation convenience and to allow Javadoc to pick up the value for the constant values page.)

      Note that letters H and W are treated specially. They are ignored (after the first letter) and don't act as separators between consonants with the same code.

      See Also:

    • US_ENGLISH

      public static final Soundex US_ENGLISH
      An instance of Soundex using the US_ENGLISH_MAPPING mapping. This treats H and W as silent letters. Apart from when they appear as the first letter, they are ignored. They don't act as separators between duplicate codes.
      See Also:

    • US_ENGLISH_SIMPLIFIED

      public static final Soundex US_ENGLISH_SIMPLIFIED
      An instance of Soundex using the Simplified Soundex mapping, as described here: http://west-penwith.org.uk/misc/soundex.htm

      This treats H and W the same as vowels (AEIOUY). Such letters aren't encoded (after the first), but they do act as separators when dropping duplicate codes. The mapping is otherwise the same as for US_ENGLISH

      Since:
      1.11

    • US_ENGLISH_GENEALOGY

      public static final Soundex US_ENGLISH_GENEALOGY
      An instance of Soundex using the mapping as per the Genealogy site: http://www.genealogy.com/articles/research/00000060.html

      This treats vowels (AEIOUY), H and W as silent letters. Such letters are ignored (after the first) and do not act as separators when dropping duplicate codes.

      The codes for consonants are otherwise the same as for US_ENGLISH_MAPPING_STRING and US_ENGLISH_SIMPLIFIED

      Since:
      1.11

  • Constructor Details

    • Soundex

      public Soundex()
      Creates an instance using US_ENGLISH_MAPPING
      See Also:

    • Soundex

      public Soundex(char[] mapping)
      Creates a soundex instance using the given mapping. This constructor can be used to provide an internationalized mapping for a non-Western character set.

      Every letter of the alphabet is "mapped" to a numerical value. This char array holds the values to which each letter is mapped. This implementation contains a default map for US_ENGLISH

      If the mapping contains an instance of SILENT_MARKER then H and W are not given special treatment

      Parameters:
      mapping - Mapping array to use when finding the corresponding code for a given character

    • Soundex

      public Soundex(String mapping)
      Creates a refined soundex instance using a custom mapping. This constructor can be used to customize the mapping, and/or possibly provide an internationalized mapping for a non-Western character set.

      If the mapping contains an instance of SILENT_MARKER then H and W are not given special treatment

      Parameters:
      mapping - Mapping string to use when finding the corresponding code for a given character
      Since:
      1.4

    • Soundex

      public Soundex(String mapping, boolean specialCaseHW)
      Creates a refined soundex instance using a custom mapping. This constructor can be used to customize the mapping, and/or possibly provide an internationalized mapping for a non-Western character set.
      Parameters:
      mapping - Mapping string to use when finding the corresponding code for a given character
      specialCaseHW - if true, then
      Since:
      1.11

  • Method Details

    • difference

      public int difference(String s1, String s2) throws EncoderException
      Encodes the Strings and returns the number of characters in the two encoded Strings that are the same. This return value ranges from 0 through 4: 0 indicates little or no similarity, and 4 indicates strong similarity or identical values.
      Parameters:
      s1 - A String that will be encoded and compared.
      s2 - A String that will be encoded and compared.
      Returns:
      The number of characters in the two encoded Strings that are the same from 0 to 4.
      Throws:
      EncoderException - if an error occurs encoding one of the strings
      Since:
      1.3
      See Also:

    • encode

      public Object encode(Object obj) throws EncoderException
      Encodes an Object using the soundex algorithm. This method is provided in order to satisfy the requirements of the Encoder interface, and will throw an EncoderException if the supplied object is not of type String.
      Specified by:
      encode in interface Encoder
      Parameters:
      obj - Object to encode
      Returns:
      An object (or type String) containing the soundex code which corresponds to the String supplied.
      Throws:
      EncoderException - if the parameter supplied is not of type String
      IllegalArgumentException - if a character is not mapped

    • encode

      public String encode(String str)
      Encodes a String using the soundex algorithm.
      Specified by:
      encode in interface StringEncoder
      Parameters:
      str - A String object to encode
      Returns:
      A Soundex code corresponding to the String supplied
      Throws:
      IllegalArgumentException - if a character is not mapped

    • getMaxLength

      @Deprecated public int getMaxLength()
      Deprecated.
      This feature is not needed since the encoding size must be constant. Will be removed in 2.0.
      Returns the maxLength. Standard Soundex
      Returns:
      int

    • setMaxLength

      @Deprecated public void setMaxLength(int maxLength)
      Deprecated.
      This feature is not needed since the encoding size must be constant. Will be removed in 2.0.
      Sets the maxLength.
      Parameters:
      maxLength - The maxLength to set

    • soundex

      public String soundex(String str)
      Retrieves the Soundex code for a given String object.
      Parameters:
      str - String to encode using the Soundex algorithm
      Returns:
      A soundex code for the String supplied
      Throws:
      IllegalArgumentException - if a character is not mapped