Standard Address Match Codes

These match codes help you understand how an address was standardized.

The first character, an alphabet element, describes the type of match found.

The two- or three-digit numeric (or hexadecimal) element of the code provides detailed information about the match.

Match Codes When a Match Is Found

When a match is found, the codes returned contain the following:

  • The first character, an alphabet element, describes the type of match found.
  • The two- or three-digit numeric (or hexadecimal) element of the code provides detailed information about the match.
Code Description
Shh Indicates a match found in United States Postal Service (USPS) data. This is considered the best address match because it was matched directly against the USPS list of addresses. See the Hexadecimal Digits table for the interpretation of the hex digits.
Ahh Same as Shh, but indicates match to an alias name record or an alternate record.
D00 Match is a small town with PO Box and/or General Delivery only.
Uhh Indicates match found in USPS data but the ZIP+4 code cannot be resolved without the firm name or other information.See the Hexadecimal Digits table for the interpretation of the hex digits. In CASS mode, an E023 (multiple match) error code will be returned.
Qhh Residential PO Box; Z6 assignment
Thh Indicates a match to a street segment record. Street segment records do not contain ZIP Code information. If an input ZIP is entered, the input ZIP is returned. If the input city and state has only one ZIP Code, that ZIP Code is returned.
Xhhh Match found was for an intersection of two streets, for example, Clay St & Michigan Ave. Please note that the USPS does not allow intersections as a valid deliverable address. The first hex digit refers to the last line information, the second hex digit refers to the first street in the intersection, and the third hex digit refers    to the second street in the intersection. To decode the hex digits, see the Hexadecimal Digits table.
Yhhh Same as Xhhh, but indicates that an alias name record for one or both streets was used. The first hex digit refers to the last line information, the second hex digit refers to the first street in the intersection, and the third hex digit refers to the second street in the intersection. To decode the hex digits, see the Hexadecimal Digits table.
Z No address was given, but the ZIP Code was verified as valid.
Code In First Hex Position Means...
0 No change in last line.
1 ZIP Code was changed.
2 City was changed.
3 City and ZIP Code were changed.
4 State was changed.
5 State and ZIP Code were changed.
6 State and City were changed.
7 State, City, and ZIP Code were changed.
8 ZIP+4 was changed.
9 ZIP and ZIP+4 were changed.
A City and ZIP+4 were changed.
B City, ZIP, and ZIP+4 were changed.
C State and ZIP+4 were changed.
D State, ZIP, and ZIP+4 were changed.
E State, City, and ZIP+4 were changed.
F  State, City, ZIP, and ZIP+4 were changed.

 

Code In Second and Third Hex Position Means...
0 No change in last line.
1 Street type was changed.
2 Pre-directional was changed.
3 Street type and Pre-directional were changed.
4 Post-directional was changed.
5 Street type and Post-directional were changed.
6 Pre-directional and Post-directional were changed.
7 Street type, Pre-directional, and Post-directional were changed.
8 Street name was changed.
9 Street name and Street type were changed.
A Street name and Pre-directional were changed.
B Street name, Street type, and Pre-directional were changed.
C Street name and Post-directional were changed.
D Street name, Street type, and Post-directional were changed.
E Street name, Pre-directional, and Post-directional were changed.
F Street name, Street type, Pre-directional, and Post-directional were changed.

 

Match Codes When No Match Is Found

The Ennn code indicates an error or no match. This code is returned when the address entered either did not exist in the GeoStan Directory, or the address was malformed and could not be parsed correctly. The last three digits of an error code (i.e., nnn) indicate which parts of an address did not find a match in the GeoStan Directory.

Code Description
000 No address found.
001 Low-level error. Use by GsErrorGet to query.
002 Could not find GeoStan Directory (GSD) file.
003 Incorrect GSD file signature or version ID.
004 GSD file out of date. Can only occur when CASS mode is on.
010 No City + State or ZIP Code was found.
011 Input ZIP was not in the directory.
012 Input City was not in the directory.
013 Input City was not unique in the directory.
014 Out of licensed area; Can only occur if using Group 1 licensing technology.
015 GeoStan record count has been depleted and license has expired.
020 No matching streets found in the directory.
021 No matching cross streets for an intersection match.
022 No matching ranges.
023 Match is unresolved.
024 No matching ranges (same as 022).
025 Too many possible cross streets for an intersection match.
026 No address found when attempting a multi-line match.
027 Invalid directional attempted.
028 Record also matches Early Warning System (EWS) data; therefore, the match is denied.