diff --git a/git-refspec/src/lib.rs b/git-refspec/src/lib.rs
index ff723740fa..af645881f1 100644
--- a/git-refspec/src/lib.rs
+++ b/git-refspec/src/lib.rs
@@ -1,3 +1,57 @@
 //! Parse [ref specs]() and represent them.
 #![forbid(unsafe_code, rust_2018_idioms)]
-#![deny(missing_docs)]
+#![allow(missing_docs)]
+
+use bstr::{BStr, BString};
+
+/// The way to interpret a refspec.
+#[derive(PartialEq, Eq, Copy, Clone, Hash, Debug)]
+pub enum Mode {
+    /// Even though according to normal rules a non-fastforward would be denied, override this and reset a ref forcefully in the destination.
+    Force,
+    /// Instead of considering matching refs included, we consider them excluded. This applies only to the source side of a refspec.
+    Negative,
+}
+
+/// What operation to perform with the refspec.
+#[derive(PartialEq, Eq, Copy, Clone, Hash, Debug)]
+pub enum Operation {
+    /// The `src` side is local and the `dst` side is remote.
+    Push,
+    /// The `src` side is remote and the `dst` side is local.
+    Fetch,
+}
+
+/// A refspec with references to the memory it was parsed from.
+#[derive(PartialEq, Eq, Copy, Clone, Hash, Debug)]
+pub struct RefSpecRef<'a> {
+    mode: Mode,
+    op: Operation,
+    src: Option<&'a BStr>,
+    dest: Option<&'a BStr>,
+}
+
+/// An owned refspec.
+#[derive(PartialEq, Eq, Clone, Hash, Debug)]
+pub struct RefSpec {
+    mode: Mode,
+    op: Operation,
+    src: Option<BString>,
+    dest: Option<BString>,
+}
+
+mod spec {
+    use crate::{RefSpec, RefSpecRef};
+
+    impl RefSpecRef<'_> {
+        /// Convert this ref into a standalone, owned copy.
+        pub fn to_owned(&self) -> RefSpec {
+            RefSpec {
+                mode: self.mode,
+                op: self.op,
+                src: self.src.map(ToOwned::to_owned),
+                dest: self.dest.map(ToOwned::to_owned),
+            }
+        }
+    }
+}