Compression of sorted value indexes using common prefixes

A method, information processing system, and computer program storage product to compress sorted values. At least a first prefix and a second prefix in a plurality of prefixes are compared. Each prefix comprises at least a portion of a plurality of sorted values. A respective prefix comprises a set of consecutive characters including at least a first character of a respective sorted value. The respective sorted value further comprising a respective suffix comprising consecutive characters of the respective sorted value that are after the respective prefix. At least a respective first character of the first prefix and a respective first character of the second prefix are determined to be substantially identical. The first prefix is merged with the second prefix into a single prefix comprising the first character. A set of suffixes associated with the first prefix is updated to reflect an association with the second prefix.