# Understand SVE2 MATCH for multi-key search

## In this learning path

- [Introduction](https://learn.arm.com/learning-paths/servers-and-cloud-computing/sve2-match/)
- [Understand SVE2 MATCH for multi-key search](https://learn.arm.com/learning-paths/servers-and-cloud-computing/sve2-match/sve2-match-search/)
- [Implement scalar and SVE2 MATCH search](https://learn.arm.com/learning-paths/servers-and-cloud-computing/sve2-match/implement-search/)
- [Benchmark scalar and SVE2 MATCH search](https://learn.arm.com/learning-paths/servers-and-cloud-computing/sve2-match/benchmark-search/)
- [Next Steps](https://learn.arm.com/learning-paths/servers-and-cloud-computing/sve2-match/_next-steps/)

## Understand the search task

Searching an array for any of several keys is common in data-processing workloads. The same multi-key search pattern appears in the following workflows:

- Database value checks
- Character searches for text processing
- Byte pattern searches for network packet inspection
- Pixel value searches for image processing

You’ll implement scalar and Scalable Vector Extension 2 (SVE2) MATCH functions to search for any occurrence of a set of keys in an array. The functions should return true if any element in the array matches any of the keys, and false otherwise.

You’ll then benchmark the functions using 8-bit and 16-bit array elements on an Arm server that supports SVE2.

## What SVE2 MATCH is

SVE2 is an extension to the Arm architecture that provides vector processing capabilities with a length-agnostic programming model. The MATCH instruction is a specialized SVE2 instruction that efficiently searches for elements in a vector that match any element in another vector.

## What you’ve learned and what’s next

You’ve learned what SVE2 MATCH is and the common multi-key search pattern that you’ll implement.

Next, you’ll implement scalar and SVE2 versions of the search function before measuring their performance.