DIFFERENCE function [String]

Compares two strings, evaluates the similarity between them, and returns a value from 0 to 4. The best match is 4.

DIFFERENCE ( string-expression1, string-expression2 )

Example 1

The following statement returns the value 4.

SELECT DIFFERENCE( 'Smith', 'Smith' ) FROM iq_dummy

Example 2

The following statement returns the value 4.

SELECT DIFFERENCE( 'Smith', 'Smyth' ) FROM iq_dummy

Example 3

The following statement returns the value 3.

SELECT DIFFERENCE( 'Smith', 'Sweeney' ) FROM iq_dummy

Example 4

The following statement returns the value 2.

SELECT DIFFERENCE( 'Smith', 'Jones' ) FROM iq_dummy

Example 5

The following statement returns the value 1.

SELECT DIFFERENCE( 'Smith', 'Rubin' ) FROM iq_dummy

Example 6

The following statement returns the value 0.

SELECT DIFFERENCE( 'Smith', 'Wilkins' ) FROM iq_dummy