---
name: "mkesdb"
section: "1"
platform: "freebsd"
package: "base"
version: "16.0-CURRENT-20261027-61c70dc16a79"
release: "FreeBSD 16.0-CURRENT (2026-10-27)"
platforms: ["linux", "freebsd"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/mkesdb"
---

# mkesdb(1)

generates conversion catalog for iconv(3)

## NAME

**mkesdb** – generates conversion catalog for [iconv(3)](/iconv/3.md)

## SYNOPSIS

**mkesdb** \[**-md**\] **-o** *outfile* *infile*

## DESCRIPTION

The **mkesdb** utility generates conversion catalog for the [iconv(3)](/iconv/3.md) library. The generated data includes a list of supported encodings and their most important characteristics, like the pluggable module to use

The following options are available:

- **-d**

  Turns on debug mode.

- **-m**

  Process directory catalog or alias file. If not specified, the input file is treated as an encoding description.

- **-o** *outfile*

  Put generated binary data to *outfile*.

## EXIT STATUS

The **mkesdb** utility exits 0 on success, and \>0 if an error occurs.

## SEE ALSO

[iconv(1)](/iconv/1.md), [mkcsmapper(1)](/mkcsmapper/1.md), [iconv(3)](/iconv/3.md)

## HISTORY

**mkesdb** first appeared in NetBSD 2.0, FreeBSD 9.0.

## AUTHORS

This manual page was written by Gabor Kovesdan ⟨*gabor@FreeBSD.org*⟩.