The Postal Matcher process validates address data by matching your data to country-specific Global Address Verification (GAV) tables. It then standardizes address components to the correct format based on the requirements of the local postal authority.
It performs these functions:
- Uses postal matching rules that correspond to the postal rules for a given country.
- Collects lists of possible streets in a city as potential matches for the parsed data.
- Compares address components of the parsed data to the list of potential matches.
- Weights the results of the comparisons.
- Populates the parsed output area with the appropriate result.
- Generates the standard output attributes (TS attributes).
For example, the United States (US) Postal Matcher compares your address data with the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) ZIP +4 database, verifies and corrects data and appends ZIP +4, 5-digit ZIP, and Carrier Route codes. The United Kingdom (GB) Postal Matcher compares the address data with the Royal Mail Postcode Address File and returns database matches.
Generally, the Postal Matchers complete their processes in the following steps: