This article discusses human bearers of burdens. For other senses of "porter" see porter. Porter - a person who carries objects Porter - the alcoholic drink Porter - one of the minor orders of the Roman Catholic ministry / a doorkeeper or gatekeeper Porter - the railroad occupation. ...

A porter carries objects. Human adaptability and flexibility early led to the use of humans for transporting gear. Uneven terrain (such as in mountains, alleyways and markets) and a lack of formed roads (such as in jungle) makes the use of porters (or bearers) economic where one can obtain relatively cheap labour..

Porters appeared extensively in the ancient world as "beasts of burden". Ancient Sumerians enslaved women to carry wool and flax. Porters still carry things in many third-world countries, especially where animals (camels, oxen, horses, dogs) or machines (carts, lorries, ships, trains, aircraft) have not taken over their traditional functions. The Sherpa people of Nepal have established a reputation as specialist porters. (Non-human) animal-powered transport is a broad category of the human use of non-human animals (also known as beasts of burden) for the movement of people and goods. ... Sumer (or Shumer, Sumeria, Shinar, native ki-en-gir) formed the southern part of Mesopotamia from the time of settlement by the Sumerians until the time of Babylonia. ... For the Jamaican reggae band, see Third World (band). ... The word Sherpa originally referred to an ethnic group from the most mountainous region of Nepal, high into the Himalayas. ... The Kingdom of Nepal, situated in the Himalayas, is the worlds only Hindu kingdom. ...

The term "porter" sometimes refers to airport or hotel employees, but generally refers to relatively menial labor.

Porters who work at railway stations in India are called coolies.