Fuzzy matching (FM), also known as fuzzy logic, approximate string matching, fuzzy name matching, or fuzzy string matching is an artificial intelligence and machine learning technology that identifies similar, but not identical elements in data table sets.

Approximate string matching assists in finding approximate matches, even when certain words are misspelt, abbreviated, or omitted, a function heavily used in search queries. In the end, approximate string matching provides a match score and since it is used to identify words, phrases, and strings that are not a perfect fuzzy match, the match score will not be 100%.