+/** Maximum size of string for naming the hlist table. */
+#define MLX5_HLIST_NAMESIZE 32
+
+/**
+ * Structure of the entry in the hash list, user should define its own struct
+ * that contains this in order to store the data. The 'key' is 64-bits right
+ * now and its user's responsibility to guarantee there is no collision.
+ */
+struct mlx5_hlist_entry {
+ LIST_ENTRY(mlx5_hlist_entry) next; /* entry pointers in the list. */
+ uint64_t key; /* user defined 'key', could be the hash signature. */
+};
+
+/** Structure for hash head. */
+LIST_HEAD(mlx5_hlist_head, mlx5_hlist_entry);
+
+/** Type of function that is used to handle the data before freeing. */
+typedef void (*mlx5_hlist_destroy_callback_fn)(void *p, void *ctx);
+
+/** hash list table structure */
+struct mlx5_hlist {
+ char name[MLX5_HLIST_NAMESIZE]; /**< Name of the hash list. */
+ /**< number of heads, need to be power of 2. */
+ uint32_t table_sz;
+ /**< mask to get the index of the list heads. */
+ uint32_t mask;
+ struct mlx5_hlist_head heads[]; /**< list head arrays. */
+};
+
+/**
+ * Create a hash list table, the user can specify the list heads array size
+ * of the table, now the size should be a power of 2 in order to get better
+ * distribution for the entries. Each entry is a part of the whole data element
+ * and the caller should be responsible for the data element's allocation and
+ * cleanup / free. Key of each entry will be calculated with CRC in order to
+ * generate a little fairer distribution.
+ *
+ * @param name
+ * Name of the hash list(optional).
+ * @param size
+ * Heads array size of the hash list.
+ *
+ * @return
+ * Pointer of the hash list table created, NULL on failure.
+ */
+struct mlx5_hlist *mlx5_hlist_create(const char *name, uint32_t size);
+
+/**
+ * Search an entry matching the key.
+ *
+ * @param h
+ * Pointer to the hast list table.
+ * @param key
+ * Key for the searching entry.
+ *
+ * @return
+ * Pointer of the hlist entry if found, NULL otherwise.
+ */
+struct mlx5_hlist_entry *mlx5_hlist_lookup(struct mlx5_hlist *h, uint64_t key);
+
+/**
+ * Insert an entry to the hash list table, the entry is only part of whole data
+ * element and a 64B key is used for matching. User should construct the key or
+ * give a calculated hash signature and guarantee there is no collision.
+ *
+ * @param h
+ * Pointer to the hast list table.
+ * @param entry
+ * Entry to be inserted into the hash list table.
+ *
+ * @return
+ * - zero for success.
+ * - -EEXIST if the entry is already inserted.
+ */
+int mlx5_hlist_insert(struct mlx5_hlist *h, struct mlx5_hlist_entry *entry);
+
+/**
+ * Remove an entry from the hash list table. User should guarantee the validity
+ * of the entry.
+ *
+ * @param h
+ * Pointer to the hast list table. (not used)
+ * @param entry
+ * Entry to be removed from the hash list table.
+ */
+void mlx5_hlist_remove(struct mlx5_hlist *h __rte_unused,
+ struct mlx5_hlist_entry *entry);
+
+/**
+ * Destroy the hash list table, all the entries already inserted into the lists
+ * will be handled by the callback function provided by the user (including
+ * free if needed) before the table is freed.
+ *
+ * @param h
+ * Pointer to the hast list table.
+ * @param cb
+ * Callback function for each inserted entry when destroying the hash list.
+ * @param ctx
+ * Common context parameter used by callback function for each entry.
+ */
+void mlx5_hlist_destroy(struct mlx5_hlist *h,
+ mlx5_hlist_destroy_callback_fn cb, void *ctx);
+