fuzzy-ish search algorithm on model.

gistfile1.rb

 # This algorithm is incomplete 
 # It is a fuzzy search for first_name, last_name, and user_name
 
 
 def self.search(params)
    params.downcase!
    query = params.split

    results = []

    query.each do |f|
      search_condition = "%#{f}%"

      raw_result = where('lower(first_name) LIKE ? OR lower(last_name) LIKE ?' \
        'OR lower(user_name) LIKE ?',
        search_condition,
        search_condition,
        search_condition
      )

      results << raw_result
    end

    sanitize_results(results)

    if results.count > 1 && query.count > 1
      check_for_exact_match(results, params) || results.uniq
    else
      results || []
    end
  end

  private

  def self.sanitize_results(results)
    results.flatten!
    results.uniq
  end

  def self.check_for_exact_match(sanitized_results, params)
    sanitized_results.each do |user|
      full_name = "#{user.first_name} #{user.last_name}"
      @exact_match = user if full_name.downcase === params
    end

    @exact_match
  end