---
name: "port-search-helper"
section: "1"
platform: "openbsd"
package: "man"
version: "8.0-current-20261101"
release: "OpenBSD 8.0-current (2026-11-01)"
platforms: ["openbsd"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/port-search-helper"
---

# port-search-helper(1)

find index entry in ports index according to selected criteria

## NAME

**port-search-helper** – find index entry in ports index according to selected criteria

## SYNOPSIS

**port-search-helper** **index**=*file* \[**category**=*cat*\] \[**maintainer**=*person*\] \[**key**=*value*\]

## DESCRIPTION

**port-search-helper** scans index file *file* for index entry (or entries) according to selected criteria, such as category, maintainer name or actual name.

Matching is done using perl regular expressions, and corresponding entries get printed as a list on a single line on standard output. **port-search-helper** is a helper script used by *${PORTSDIR}/Makefile* for searches.

It relies on *${LOCALBASE}/share/ports-INDEX* being accurate. Note the portslist package must be installed.

## SEE ALSO

[perlre(1)](/perlre/1.md), [ports(7)](/ports/7.md)