Abstract: A memory system for rapidly choosing a stored item which most closely matches a given input is having a unique memory architecture capable of returning the item stored which most closely correlates to the input. The architecture represents a departure from previous digital content-addressable memories (CAM's) in that it is capable of returning the stored data which most closley resembles the input data rapidly. In addition, a measure of the quality of the selected (best matching) memory is generated. The architecture is capable of significant data throughput rates due to pipelining, and is amenable to implementation using conventional digital VLSI fabrication processes.