_Added in 2.0_

*$hmatch(name|N,text,[N])*

Searches table for the Nth item name which matches text using a [[Scripting_Wildcards|wildcard]] pattern and returns the item name.

_See also [[/hsave]], [[/hload]], [[/hmake]], [[/hfree]], [[/hdel]], [[$hget]]._

_See also [[$hfind]], [[$hregex]]._

*Parameters*

table(ktable).
|*Parameter*|*Description*|
| name<notextile>|</notextile>N | Name of the hash table or the Nth hash table. |
| text | Text to search for. |
| [N] | If N = 0, number of matches, otherwise the Nth match. (optional) |

*Properties*

table(ktable).
|*Property*|*Description*|
| .data | Search for a matching data value instead of item name. |

*Example*

<pre>
; Searches the hash table 'Example' and prints the number of matches.
//echo -ag result: $hmatch(Example, *, 0)

; Searches the hash table 'Example' and prints the first matched item.
//echo -ag result: $hmatch(Example, *, 1)

; Searches the hash table 'Example' and prints the first matched data.
//echo -ag result: $hmatch(Example, *, 1).data
</pre>