A 3D search engine receives searches for application to word lines of a nonvolatile memory array. The engine uses two word lines per bit of information of the searches and two memory devices per bit of stored feature to search against, optionally enabling don't care and/or wildcard encoding. The engine uses respective bit lines of the nonvolatile memory array as respective matching lines for searching. Respective memory strings (e.g., NAND memory strings) of the nonvolatile memory array are usable to store respective data words, e.g., corresponding to features to search for. Respective pluralities of the memory strings are coupled in parallel to respective shared bit lines. Various encodings of features and searches enable exact, approximate, and range matching. The engine has applicability to comparing and sorting, in addition to searching in application areas such as artificial intelligence (AI) and big data.