diff --git a/lib/librte_eal/common/eal_common_options.c b/lib/librte_eal/common/eal_common_options.c
index 5920233..aa59f8b 100644
--- a/lib/librte_eal/common/eal_common_options.c
+++ b/lib/librte_eal/common/eal_common_options.c
@@ -571,33 +571,36 @@ eal_parse_service_corelist(const char *corelist)
 	return 0;
 }
 
-static int
-eal_parse_corelist(const char *corelist, int *cores)
+int
+eal_parse_optionlist(const char *list, int *values, int maxsize)
 {
 	unsigned count = 0;
 	char *end = NULL;
 	int min, max;
 	int idx;
 
-	for (idx = 0; idx < RTE_MAX_LCORE; idx++)
-		cores[idx] = -1;
+	if (list == NULL || values == NULL || maxsize < 0)
+		return -1;
+
+	for (idx = 0; idx < maxsize; idx++)
+		values[idx] = -1;
 
 	/* Remove all blank characters ahead */
-	while (isblank(*corelist))
-		corelist++;
+	while (isblank(*list))
+		list++;
+
+	min = maxsize;
 
-	/* Get list of cores */
-	min = RTE_MAX_LCORE;
 	do {
-		while (isblank(*corelist))
-			corelist++;
-		if (*corelist == '\0')
+		while (isblank(*list))
+			list++;
+		if (*list == '\0')
 			return -1;
 		errno = 0;
-		idx = strtol(corelist, &end, 10);
+		idx = strtol(list, &end, 10);
 		if (errno || end == NULL)
 			return -1;
-		if (idx < 0 || idx >= RTE_MAX_LCORE)
+		if (idx < 0 || idx >= maxsize)
 			return -1;
 		while (isblank(*end))
 			end++;
@@ -605,18 +608,18 @@ eal_parse_corelist(const char *corelist, int *cores)
 			min = idx;
 		} else if ((*end == ',') || (*end == '\0')) {
 			max = idx;
-			if (min == RTE_MAX_LCORE)
+			if (min == maxsize)
 				min = idx;
 			for (idx = min; idx <= max; idx++) {
-				if (cores[idx] == -1) {
-					cores[idx] = count;
+				if (values[idx] == -1) {
+					values[idx] = count;
 					count++;
 				}
 			}
-			min = RTE_MAX_LCORE;
+			min = maxsize;
 		} else
 			return -1;
-		corelist = end + 1;
+		list = end + 1;
 	} while (*end != '\0');
 
 	if (count == 0)
@@ -624,6 +627,12 @@ eal_parse_corelist(const char *corelist, int *cores)
 	return 0;
 }
 
+static int
+eal_parse_corelist(const char *corelist, int *cores)
+{
+	return eal_parse_optionlist(corelist, cores, RTE_MAX_LCORE);
+}
+
 /* Changes the lcore id of the master thread */
 static int
 eal_parse_master_lcore(const char *arg)
diff --git a/lib/librte_eal/common/include/rte_eal.h b/lib/librte_eal/common/include/rte_eal.h
index 2f9ed29..567b754 100644
--- a/lib/librte_eal/common/include/rte_eal.h
+++ b/lib/librte_eal/common/include/rte_eal.h
@@ -71,6 +71,40 @@ enum rte_proc_type_t rte_eal_process_type(void);
 int rte_eal_iopl_init(void);
 
 /**
+ * Parse the user input
+ *
+ * This function can be used to read and parse the user input
+ * from the command line. For example, when the user specifies
+ * corelist or port list this function will read the input
+ * and set the forwarding cores or ports
+ *
+ * @param[in] list
+ *   String containing the user input. User can specify
+ *   in these formats 1,3,5 or 1-3 or 1-2,5 or 3,5-6.
+ *   For example, if the user wants to use all the available
+ *   4 ports in his system, then the input can be 0-3 or 0,1,2,3.
+ *   If the user wants to use only the ports 1,2 then the input
+ *   is 1,2.
+ *   valid characters are '-' and ','
+ *   invalid chars like '.' or '#' will result in
+ *   EAL: Error - exiting with code: 1
+ *     Cause: Invalid fwd port list
+ * @param[in] values
+ *   An array pointer, used by this function to set the
+ *   array contents to a positive value if they are listed
+ *   in the input
+ *   else sets it to -1
+ * @param[in] maxsize
+ *   This is the maximum value the list string can contain
+ * @return
+ *   -On success, returns 0.
+ *   -On failure, returns -1.
+ */
+__rte_experimental
+int
+eal_parse_optionlist(const char *list, int *values, int maxsize);
+
+/**
  * Initialize the Environment Abstraction Layer (EAL).
  *
  * This function is to be executed on the MASTER lcore only, as soon
diff --git a/lib/librte_eal/rte_eal_version.map b/lib/librte_eal/rte_eal_version.map
index e38d025..3d72df8 100644
--- a/lib/librte_eal/rte_eal_version.map
+++ b/lib/librte_eal/rte_eal_version.map
@@ -332,4 +332,5 @@ EXPERIMENTAL {
 	# added in 19.11
 	rte_log_get_stream;
 	rte_mcfg_get_single_file_segments;
+	eal_parse_optionlist;
 };
