Match Modes

Match modes determine the leniency used to make a match between your input and the data. Select a match mode based on the quality of your input and your desired output. For example, if you have an input database that is prone to errors, you may want to select the relaxed match mode.

Parameter Description

Option.MatchMode
Custom
Allows you to select the specific criteria to use when matching the input address to an address in the postal database.
Exact
Requires a very tight match. This is a restrictive mode that generates the fewest number of match candidates to search, which decreases the time to obtain a match. When using this mode, ensure that your input address list is very clean; free of misspellings and incomplete addresses.
Close
Requires a moderately confident match. Generates a moderate number of match candidates.
Relax
This is the loosest match mode and generates the most match candidates, which increases the processing time and results in more multiple matches. Use this mode if your address list may contain misspellings and incomplete addresses. This mode does not respect the street parity for an address match. Default.
Interactive
Available in single-line address matching only. This mode is designed to better handle the specific matching challenges presented by interactive matching. Interactive mode permits for more flexible matching patterns and may, in some cases, return additional possible matches than relaxed match mode. This mode recognizes and parses two unit numbers on the same address line, for example a building and unit number. This mode does not respect the range parity when making an address match.
CASS
Imposes additional rules to ensure compliance with the USPS regulations for CASS. The purpose of this mode is to create a list of mailable addresses. This mode generates a large number of match candidates. This mode deviates from the other modes in its processing. This mode does not perform intersection, building name, or spatial alias (street name alias) matches. It does not match to candidates from data sources that do not have USPS equivalent records. This mode recognizes and parses two unit numbers on the same address line, for example a building and unit number.

Interactive match mode

Interactive mode is designed for interactive mobile/web applications. In this use case, it is expected that users may enter single-line addresses that contain misspelled, inaccurate, and/or missing information, so this input is processed utilizing a looser set of criteria for matching than the other match modes. As a result, the matching output could include multiple match candidates. The list of matches would be presented to the user who could then select the desired match candidate. If an exact match is found, then that single match candidate is returned; a mix of accurate and inaccurate results are not presented.

Capabilities and restrictions:
  • Interactive match mode allows users to break the cardinal rule: If the user enters 123 S Main and there is only 123 N Main, a match is made and a match code is returned that reflects the modified directional.
  • Interactive match mode handles cases where users transpose pre-directionals with post-directionals without penalty.
  • Interactive match mode ignores the 'Prefer ZIP Code over city' setting. When the city and ZIP Code don't match correctly, the best geocoding result will be returned based on an analysis of all the input address elements.
  • When operating in interactive mode, in cases where a point address or interpolated street address result cannot be determined, ZIP-9 or ZIP-7 centroid(s) may be returned.

The following table shows a comparison of the match results when running in interactive vs. close or relaxed modes.

Single-line input address Interactive mode match candidates Close/Relaxed mode single match candidate

HIGHLAND VIEW WINCHESTER 01890

5 HIGHLAND VIEW AVE, WINCHESTER, MA 01890

5 HIGHLAND TER,
WINCHESTER, MA 01890

5 HIGHLAND AVE,
WINCHESTER, MA 01890

5 HIGHLAND VIEW AVE, WINCHESTER, MA 01890

414 PINE WILLIAMSFIELD 61489

414 N PINE ST, WILLIMAMSFIELD, IL 61849

414 PINE ST,
WILLIAMSFIELD, IL 61489

414 N PINE ST, WILLIMAMSFIELD, IL 61849

46 HORNBEAM ST CRANSTON RI

(conflict with street type)

46 HORNBEAM DR,
CRANSTON, RI

46 HORNBINE ST,
CRANSTON, RI

611 W 13TH JOPLIN MO 64801

(conflict between directional and ZIP Code)

611 E 13TH ST,
JOPLIN, MO 64801

611 W 13TH ST,
JOPLIN, MO 64804

611 W 13TH ST,
JOPLIN, MO 64804