# How does the Duplicate scoring work

## How Is the Duplicate Score Calculated in Delpha?

Understanding how Delpha computes the **Total Weighted Score** helps you fine-tune duplicate detection accuracy and control what records are flagged as potential matches.

## Formula

The total score is a **weighted average** of all matched fields:

```
Total Weighted Score = (Score₁ * Weight₁ + Score₂ * Weight₂ + ... + Scoreₙ * Weightₙ) / Total Weight
```

This score determines the similarity percentage between two records.

### Score Impact Factors

#### **Mandatory Checkbox**

Each field can be marked as **Mandatory** for evaluation:

* **Not Mandatory** (default):\
  If either record has an empty value, that field is excluded from the score.
* **Mandatory**:\
  Field is always used, even if one or both records have missing data. This can **lower the overall score** due to the missing information.

#### Example Scenarios

**Scenario 1**:\
**Field**: `LinkedIn URL`\
**Mandatory**: ✅\
**Both Records**: Empty\
➡ Score is penalized due to missing data.

**Scenario 2**:\
**Field**: `LinkedIn URL`\
**Mandatory**: ✅\
**Both Records**: Not empty\
➡ Score calculated normally using fuzzy or exact logic.

{% hint style="warning" %}
Use the **mandatory setting** for high-impact fields to strengthen matching accuracy, especially for strategic identifiers like email, LinkedIn URL, or phone.
{% endhint %}

###

<figure><img src="https://2667079222-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FYmkiQxbgPV34P1O0Qsq9%2Fuploads%2FF1k35u3Agw75ti69rQMd%2FScreenshot%20from%202025-04-22%2014-44-41.png?alt=media&#x26;token=c71521b8-0a43-4d55-9361-231200eb312a" alt=""><figcaption><p>Dulicate Scoring Fields</p></figcaption></figure>

### **Example**&#x20;

<table data-header-hidden><thead><tr><th width="135"></th><th></th><th></th><th width="135"></th><th></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>Record</td><td><p>Name </p><p>[Weight = 100]</p></td><td><p>Email</p><p>[Weight = 100]</p></td><td><p>Account.Name</p><p>[Weight = 200]</p></td><td><p>LinkedIn URL</p><p>[Weight = 100]</p></td></tr><tr><td>A</td><td>Samantha</td><td><a href="mailto:samantha@cogicog.com">samantha@cogicog.com</a></td><td>Cogicog</td><td> </td></tr><tr><td>B</td><td>Sama<mark style="color:orange;">m</mark>tha</td><td>-</td><td>Cogicog</td><td> </td></tr><tr><td>Matching %</td><td>90%</td><td>0%</td><td>100%</td><td>0%</td></tr><tr><td>Partial Score</td><td><mark style="color:green;"><strong>Optional</strong></mark><strong>: 0.9*100</strong></td><td><p><mark style="color:red;"><strong>Mandatory</strong></mark><strong>: 0*100</strong></p><p><mark style="color:green;"><strong>Optional</strong></mark> </p><p><strong>Ignored</strong></p></td><td><mark style="color:green;"><strong>Optional:</strong></mark><strong> 1*200</strong></td><td><p><mark style="color:red;"><strong>Mandatory</strong></mark><strong>: 0*100</strong></p><p><mark style="color:green;"><strong>Optional</strong></mark><strong>: Ignored</strong></p></td></tr></tbody></table>

* With Email & LinkedIn = Optional \
  -> (0.9\**100* + 1\*200) / (100 + 200) = 96.7%
* With Email & LinkedIn = Mandatory \
  -> (0.9\**100 + <mark style="color:red;">0\*</mark>*<mark style="color:red;">100</mark> + 1\*200 + *<mark style="color:red;">0\*</mark>*<mark style="color:red;">100</mark>) / (100 + <mark style="color:red;">100</mark> + 200 + <mark style="color:red;">100</mark>) = 58%

{% hint style="info" %}
[More on the models used by Delpha for Duplicate scoring](https://help.delpha.io/delpha-for-salesforce/how-to-faq/delpha-duplicate/what-algorithms-are-used-by-delpha)
{% endhint %}

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