A class to match strings based on a specified method and options.

StringMatcher.cs

// If you think it's brilliant, then this is completely intentional.
// If you think it's dumb, then this is intended ironically because I'm just _that_ smart.

StringMatcher.IsMatch("Deane Barker", "deane    ", StringMatchMethod.Starts, StringMatchOptions.IgnoreCase | StringMatchOptions.Trim); // True
StringMatcher.IsMatch("Deane Barker", "Barker", StringMatchMethod.Ends); // True
StringMatcher.IsMatch("Deane Barker", "ARK", StringMatchMethod.Contains, StringMatchOptions.IgnoreCase); // True
// etc.

// In reality, this is intended for use with a particular CMS, so that the editing interface can be dynamically generated
// based on the code. A dropdown will generate for the values in StringMatchMethod, and checkboxes will generate for the 
// flags in StringMatchOptions. Then this code will execute based on that input, directly translated into the enums.
// (So, you see, it has an actual purpose and you should feel badly for making fun of it.)

public static class StringMatcher
{
    public static bool IsMatch(string input, string pattern, StringMatchMethod method = StringMatchMethod.Exact, StringMatchOptions options = StringMatchOptions.None)
    {
        if (options.HasFlag(StringMatchOptions.IgnoreCase))
        {
            input = input.ToLower();
            pattern = pattern.ToLower();
        }

        if (options.HasFlag(StringMatchOptions.Trim))
        {
            input = input.Trim();
            pattern = pattern.Trim();
        }

        switch (method)
        {
            case StringMatchMethod.Starts:
                return input.StartsWith(pattern);

            case StringMatchMethod.Ends:
                return input.EndsWith(pattern);

            case StringMatchMethod.Contains:
                return input.Contains(pattern);

            case StringMatchMethod.Regex:
                return Regex.IsMatch(input, pattern);

            // Default is "Exact"
            default:
                return input == pattern;
        }
    }
}

public enum StringMatchMethod
{
    Exact,
    Starts,
    Ends,
    Contains,
    Regex
}

[Flags]
public enum StringMatchOptions : short
{
    None = 0,
    IgnoreCase = 1,
    Trim = 2
};

Just FYI (you may already know this) - you need multiple of 2 values for a [Flags] enum, otherwise the bits in the auto values will overlap. Given that you only have three values in the StringMatchOptions enum it'll still work for now, but if you add a fourth value and forget to use multiples of 2 the flag checks may not work as expected. I'd consider making the values explicit just in case you expand the options later:

[Flags]
public enum StringMatchOptions : short
{
    None = 0,
    IgnoreCase = 1,
    Trim = 2
    // Next value = 4
};

I like the idea in the case where you need a single API to cover all the cases - sounds like it's perfect for an auto-generated UI.

@daveaglick If I was a developer, I would have known this.