diff --git a/prometheus/counter.go b/prometheus/counter.go
index 0e1b48c03..3f8fd790d 100644
--- a/prometheus/counter.go
+++ b/prometheus/counter.go
@@ -163,7 +163,7 @@ func (c *counter) updateExemplar(v float64, l Labels) {
 // (e.g. number of HTTP requests, partitioned by response code and
 // method). Create instances with NewCounterVec.
 type CounterVec struct {
-	*metricVec
+	*MetricVec
 }
 
 // NewCounterVec creates a new CounterVec based on the provided CounterOpts and
@@ -176,11 +176,11 @@ func NewCounterVec(opts CounterOpts, labelNames []string) *CounterVec {
 		opts.ConstLabels,
 	)
 	return &CounterVec{
-		metricVec: newMetricVec(desc, func(lvs ...string) Metric {
+		MetricVec: NewMetricVec(desc, func(lvs ...string) Metric {
 			if len(lvs) != len(desc.variableLabels) {
 				panic(makeInconsistentCardinalityError(desc.fqName, desc.variableLabels, lvs))
 			}
-			result := &counter{desc: desc, labelPairs: makeLabelPairs(desc, lvs), now: time.Now}
+			result := &counter{desc: desc, labelPairs: MakeLabelPairs(desc, lvs), now: time.Now}
 			result.init(result) // Init self-collection.
 			return result
 		}),
@@ -188,7 +188,7 @@ func NewCounterVec(opts CounterOpts, labelNames []string) *CounterVec {
 }
 
 // GetMetricWithLabelValues returns the Counter for the given slice of label
-// values (same order as the VariableLabels in Desc). If that combination of
+// values (same order as the variable labels in Desc). If that combination of
 // label values is accessed for the first time, a new Counter is created.
 //
 // It is possible to call this method without using the returned Counter to only
@@ -202,7 +202,7 @@ func NewCounterVec(opts CounterOpts, labelNames []string) *CounterVec {
 // Counter with the same label values is created later.
 //
 // An error is returned if the number of label values is not the same as the
-// number of VariableLabels in Desc (minus any curried labels).
+// number of variable labels in Desc (minus any curried labels).
 //
 // Note that for more than one label value, this method is prone to mistakes
 // caused by an incorrect order of arguments. Consider GetMetricWith(Labels) as
@@ -211,7 +211,7 @@ func NewCounterVec(opts CounterOpts, labelNames []string) *CounterVec {
 // with a performance overhead (for creating and processing the Labels map).
 // See also the GaugeVec example.
 func (v *CounterVec) GetMetricWithLabelValues(lvs ...string) (Counter, error) {
-	metric, err := v.metricVec.getMetricWithLabelValues(lvs...)
+	metric, err := v.MetricVec.GetMetricWithLabelValues(lvs...)
 	if metric != nil {
 		return metric.(Counter), err
 	}
@@ -219,19 +219,19 @@ func (v *CounterVec) GetMetricWithLabelValues(lvs ...string) (Counter, error) {
 }
 
 // GetMetricWith returns the Counter for the given Labels map (the label names
-// must match those of the VariableLabels in Desc). If that label map is
+// must match those of the variable labels in Desc). If that label map is
 // accessed for the first time, a new Counter is created. Implications of
 // creating a Counter without using it and keeping the Counter for later use are
 // the same as for GetMetricWithLabelValues.
 //
 // An error is returned if the number and names of the Labels are inconsistent
-// with those of the VariableLabels in Desc (minus any curried labels).
+// with those of the variable labels in Desc (minus any curried labels).
 //
 // This method is used for the same purpose as
 // GetMetricWithLabelValues(...string). See there for pros and cons of the two
 // methods.
 func (v *CounterVec) GetMetricWith(labels Labels) (Counter, error) {
-	metric, err := v.metricVec.getMetricWith(labels)
+	metric, err := v.MetricVec.GetMetricWith(labels)
 	if metric != nil {
 		return metric.(Counter), err
 	}
@@ -275,7 +275,7 @@ func (v *CounterVec) With(labels Labels) Counter {
 // registered with a given registry (usually the uncurried version). The Reset
 // method deletes all metrics, even if called on a curried vector.
 func (v *CounterVec) CurryWith(labels Labels) (*CounterVec, error) {
-	vec, err := v.curryWith(labels)
+	vec, err := v.MetricVec.CurryWith(labels)
 	if vec != nil {
 		return &CounterVec{vec}, err
 	}
diff --git a/prometheus/desc.go b/prometheus/desc.go
index 2f19f5e1e..957d93a2d 100644
--- a/prometheus/desc.go
+++ b/prometheus/desc.go
@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@ type Desc struct {
 	// constLabelPairs contains precalculated DTO label pairs based on
 	// the constant labels.
 	constLabelPairs []*dto.LabelPair
-	// VariableLabels contains names of labels for which the metric
+	// variableLabels contains names of labels for which the metric
 	// maintains variable values.
 	variableLabels []string
 	// id is a hash of the values of the ConstLabels and fqName. This
diff --git a/prometheus/example_metricvec_test.go b/prometheus/example_metricvec_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..8e893e57a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/prometheus/example_metricvec_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,163 @@
+// Copyright 2020 The Prometheus Authors
+// Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+// you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+// You may obtain a copy of the License at
+//
+// http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+//
+// Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+// distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+// WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+// See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+// limitations under the License.
+
+package prometheus_test
+
+import (
+	//lint:ignore SA1019 Need to keep deprecated package for compatibility.
+	"fmt"
+
+	"github.com/golang/protobuf/proto"
+
+	dto "github.com/prometheus/client_model/go"
+
+	"github.com/prometheus/client_golang/prometheus"
+)
+
+// Info implements an info pseudo-metric, which is modeled as a Gauge that
+// always has a value of 1. In practice, you would just use a Gauge directly,
+// but for this example, we pretend it would be useful to have a “native”
+// implementation.
+type Info struct {
+	desc       *prometheus.Desc
+	labelPairs []*dto.LabelPair
+}
+
+func (i Info) Desc() *prometheus.Desc {
+	return i.desc
+}
+
+func (i Info) Write(out *dto.Metric) error {
+	out.Label = i.labelPairs
+	out.Gauge = &dto.Gauge{Value: proto.Float64(1)}
+	return nil
+}
+
+// InfoVec is the vector version for Info. As an info metric never changes, we
+// wouldn't really need to wrap GetMetricWithLabelValues and GetMetricWith
+// because Info has no additional methods compared to the vanilla Metric that
+// the unwrapped MetricVec methods return. However, to demonstrate all there is
+// to do to fully implement a vector for a custom Metric implementation, we do
+// it in this example anyway.
+type InfoVec struct {
+	*prometheus.MetricVec
+}
+
+func NewInfoVec(name, help string, labelNames []string) *InfoVec {
+	desc := prometheus.NewDesc(name, help, labelNames, nil)
+	return &InfoVec{
+		MetricVec: prometheus.NewMetricVec(desc, func(lvs ...string) prometheus.Metric {
+			if len(lvs) != len(labelNames) {
+				panic("inconsistent label cardinality")
+			}
+			return Info{desc: desc, labelPairs: prometheus.MakeLabelPairs(desc, lvs)}
+		}),
+	}
+}
+
+func (v *InfoVec) GetMetricWithLabelValues(lvs ...string) (Info, error) {
+	metric, err := v.MetricVec.GetMetricWithLabelValues(lvs...)
+	return metric.(Info), err
+}
+
+func (v *InfoVec) GetMetricWith(labels prometheus.Labels) (Info, error) {
+	metric, err := v.MetricVec.GetMetricWith(labels)
+	return metric.(Info), err
+}
+
+func (v *InfoVec) WithLabelValues(lvs ...string) Info {
+	i, err := v.GetMetricWithLabelValues(lvs...)
+	if err != nil {
+		panic(err)
+	}
+	return i
+}
+
+func (v *InfoVec) With(labels prometheus.Labels) Info {
+	i, err := v.GetMetricWith(labels)
+	if err != nil {
+		panic(err)
+	}
+	return i
+}
+
+func (v *InfoVec) CurryWith(labels prometheus.Labels) (*InfoVec, error) {
+	vec, err := v.MetricVec.CurryWith(labels)
+	if vec != nil {
+		return &InfoVec{vec}, err
+	}
+	return nil, err
+}
+
+func (v *InfoVec) MustCurryWith(labels prometheus.Labels) *InfoVec {
+	vec, err := v.CurryWith(labels)
+	if err != nil {
+		panic(err)
+	}
+	return vec
+}
+
+func ExampleMetricVec() {
+
+	infoVec := NewInfoVec(
+		"library_version_info",
+		"Versions of the libraries used in this binary.",
+		[]string{"library", "version"},
+	)
+
+	infoVec.WithLabelValues("prometheus/client_golang", "1.7.1")
+	infoVec.WithLabelValues("k8s.io/client-go", "0.18.8")
+
+	// Just for demonstration, let's check the state of the InfoVec by
+	// registering it with a custom registry and then let it collect the
+	// metrics.
+	reg := prometheus.NewRegistry()
+	reg.MustRegister(infoVec)
+
+	metricFamilies, err := reg.Gather()
+	if err != nil || len(metricFamilies) != 1 {
+		panic("unexpected behavior of custom test registry")
+	}
+	fmt.Println(proto.MarshalTextString(metricFamilies[0]))
+
+	// Output:
+	// name: "library_version_info"
+	// help: "Versions of the libraries used in this binary."
+	// type: GAUGE
+	// metric: <
+	//   label: <
+	//     name: "library"
+	//     value: "k8s.io/client-go"
+	//   >
+	//   label: <
+	//     name: "version"
+	//     value: "0.18.8"
+	//   >
+	//   gauge: <
+	//     value: 1
+	//   >
+	// >
+	// metric: <
+	//   label: <
+	//     name: "library"
+	//     value: "prometheus/client_golang"
+	//   >
+	//   label: <
+	//     name: "version"
+	//     value: "1.7.1"
+	//   >
+	//   gauge: <
+	//     value: 1
+	//   >
+	// >
+}
diff --git a/prometheus/gauge.go b/prometheus/gauge.go
index d67573f76..bd0733d6a 100644
--- a/prometheus/gauge.go
+++ b/prometheus/gauge.go
@@ -132,7 +132,7 @@ func (g *gauge) Write(out *dto.Metric) error {
 // (e.g. number of operations queued, partitioned by user and operation
 // type). Create instances with NewGaugeVec.
 type GaugeVec struct {
-	*metricVec
+	*MetricVec
 }
 
 // NewGaugeVec creates a new GaugeVec based on the provided GaugeOpts and
@@ -145,11 +145,11 @@ func NewGaugeVec(opts GaugeOpts, labelNames []string) *GaugeVec {
 		opts.ConstLabels,
 	)
 	return &GaugeVec{
-		metricVec: newMetricVec(desc, func(lvs ...string) Metric {
+		MetricVec: NewMetricVec(desc, func(lvs ...string) Metric {
 			if len(lvs) != len(desc.variableLabels) {
 				panic(makeInconsistentCardinalityError(desc.fqName, desc.variableLabels, lvs))
 			}
-			result := &gauge{desc: desc, labelPairs: makeLabelPairs(desc, lvs)}
+			result := &gauge{desc: desc, labelPairs: MakeLabelPairs(desc, lvs)}
 			result.init(result) // Init self-collection.
 			return result
 		}),
@@ -157,7 +157,7 @@ func NewGaugeVec(opts GaugeOpts, labelNames []string) *GaugeVec {
 }
 
 // GetMetricWithLabelValues returns the Gauge for the given slice of label
-// values (same order as the VariableLabels in Desc). If that combination of
+// values (same order as the variable labels in Desc). If that combination of
 // label values is accessed for the first time, a new Gauge is created.
 //
 // It is possible to call this method without using the returned Gauge to only
@@ -172,7 +172,7 @@ func NewGaugeVec(opts GaugeOpts, labelNames []string) *GaugeVec {
 // example.
 //
 // An error is returned if the number of label values is not the same as the
-// number of VariableLabels in Desc (minus any curried labels).
+// number of variable labels in Desc (minus any curried labels).
 //
 // Note that for more than one label value, this method is prone to mistakes
 // caused by an incorrect order of arguments. Consider GetMetricWith(Labels) as
@@ -180,7 +180,7 @@ func NewGaugeVec(opts GaugeOpts, labelNames []string) *GaugeVec {
 // latter has a much more readable (albeit more verbose) syntax, but it comes
 // with a performance overhead (for creating and processing the Labels map).
 func (v *GaugeVec) GetMetricWithLabelValues(lvs ...string) (Gauge, error) {
-	metric, err := v.metricVec.getMetricWithLabelValues(lvs...)
+	metric, err := v.MetricVec.GetMetricWithLabelValues(lvs...)
 	if metric != nil {
 		return metric.(Gauge), err
 	}
@@ -188,19 +188,19 @@ func (v *GaugeVec) GetMetricWithLabelValues(lvs ...string) (Gauge, error) {
 }
 
 // GetMetricWith returns the Gauge for the given Labels map (the label names
-// must match those of the VariableLabels in Desc). If that label map is
+// must match those of the variable labels in Desc). If that label map is
 // accessed for the first time, a new Gauge is created. Implications of
 // creating a Gauge without using it and keeping the Gauge for later use are
 // the same as for GetMetricWithLabelValues.
 //
 // An error is returned if the number and names of the Labels are inconsistent
-// with those of the VariableLabels in Desc (minus any curried labels).
+// with those of the variable labels in Desc (minus any curried labels).
 //
 // This method is used for the same purpose as
 // GetMetricWithLabelValues(...string). See there for pros and cons of the two
 // methods.
 func (v *GaugeVec) GetMetricWith(labels Labels) (Gauge, error) {
-	metric, err := v.metricVec.getMetricWith(labels)
+	metric, err := v.MetricVec.GetMetricWith(labels)
 	if metric != nil {
 		return metric.(Gauge), err
 	}
@@ -244,7 +244,7 @@ func (v *GaugeVec) With(labels Labels) Gauge {
 // registered with a given registry (usually the uncurried version). The Reset
 // method deletes all metrics, even if called on a curried vector.
 func (v *GaugeVec) CurryWith(labels Labels) (*GaugeVec, error) {
-	vec, err := v.curryWith(labels)
+	vec, err := v.MetricVec.CurryWith(labels)
 	if vec != nil {
 		return &GaugeVec{vec}, err
 	}
diff --git a/prometheus/histogram.go b/prometheus/histogram.go
index d4ea301a3..f71e286be 100644
--- a/prometheus/histogram.go
+++ b/prometheus/histogram.go
@@ -192,7 +192,7 @@ func newHistogram(desc *Desc, opts HistogramOpts, labelValues ...string) Histogr
 	h := &histogram{
 		desc:        desc,
 		upperBounds: opts.Buckets,
-		labelPairs:  makeLabelPairs(desc, labelValues),
+		labelPairs:  MakeLabelPairs(desc, labelValues),
 		counts:      [2]*histogramCounts{{}, {}},
 		now:         time.Now,
 	}
@@ -409,7 +409,7 @@ func (h *histogram) updateExemplar(v float64, bucket int, l Labels) {
 // (e.g. HTTP request latencies, partitioned by status code and method). Create
 // instances with NewHistogramVec.
 type HistogramVec struct {
-	*metricVec
+	*MetricVec
 }
 
 // NewHistogramVec creates a new HistogramVec based on the provided HistogramOpts and
@@ -422,14 +422,14 @@ func NewHistogramVec(opts HistogramOpts, labelNames []string) *HistogramVec {
 		opts.ConstLabels,
 	)
 	return &HistogramVec{
-		metricVec: newMetricVec(desc, func(lvs ...string) Metric {
+		MetricVec: NewMetricVec(desc, func(lvs ...string) Metric {
 			return newHistogram(desc, opts, lvs...)
 		}),
 	}
 }
 
 // GetMetricWithLabelValues returns the Histogram for the given slice of label
-// values (same order as the VariableLabels in Desc). If that combination of
+// values (same order as the variable labels in Desc). If that combination of
 // label values is accessed for the first time, a new Histogram is created.
 //
 // It is possible to call this method without using the returned Histogram to only
@@ -444,7 +444,7 @@ func NewHistogramVec(opts HistogramOpts, labelNames []string) *HistogramVec {
 // example.
 //
 // An error is returned if the number of label values is not the same as the
-// number of VariableLabels in Desc (minus any curried labels).
+// number of variable labels in Desc (minus any curried labels).
 //
 // Note that for more than one label value, this method is prone to mistakes
 // caused by an incorrect order of arguments. Consider GetMetricWith(Labels) as
@@ -453,7 +453,7 @@ func NewHistogramVec(opts HistogramOpts, labelNames []string) *HistogramVec {
 // with a performance overhead (for creating and processing the Labels map).
 // See also the GaugeVec example.
 func (v *HistogramVec) GetMetricWithLabelValues(lvs ...string) (Observer, error) {
-	metric, err := v.metricVec.getMetricWithLabelValues(lvs...)
+	metric, err := v.MetricVec.GetMetricWithLabelValues(lvs...)
 	if metric != nil {
 		return metric.(Observer), err
 	}
@@ -461,19 +461,19 @@ func (v *HistogramVec) GetMetricWithLabelValues(lvs ...string) (Observer, error)
 }
 
 // GetMetricWith returns the Histogram for the given Labels map (the label names
-// must match those of the VariableLabels in Desc). If that label map is
+// must match those of the variable labels in Desc). If that label map is
 // accessed for the first time, a new Histogram is created. Implications of
 // creating a Histogram without using it and keeping the Histogram for later use
 // are the same as for GetMetricWithLabelValues.
 //
 // An error is returned if the number and names of the Labels are inconsistent
-// with those of the VariableLabels in Desc (minus any curried labels).
+// with those of the variable labels in Desc (minus any curried labels).
 //
 // This method is used for the same purpose as
 // GetMetricWithLabelValues(...string). See there for pros and cons of the two
 // methods.
 func (v *HistogramVec) GetMetricWith(labels Labels) (Observer, error) {
-	metric, err := v.metricVec.getMetricWith(labels)
+	metric, err := v.MetricVec.GetMetricWith(labels)
 	if metric != nil {
 		return metric.(Observer), err
 	}
@@ -517,7 +517,7 @@ func (v *HistogramVec) With(labels Labels) Observer {
 // registered with a given registry (usually the uncurried version). The Reset
 // method deletes all metrics, even if called on a curried vector.
 func (v *HistogramVec) CurryWith(labels Labels) (ObserverVec, error) {
-	vec, err := v.curryWith(labels)
+	vec, err := v.MetricVec.CurryWith(labels)
 	if vec != nil {
 		return &HistogramVec{vec}, err
 	}
@@ -602,7 +602,7 @@ func NewConstHistogram(
 		count:      count,
 		sum:        sum,
 		buckets:    buckets,
-		labelPairs: makeLabelPairs(desc, labelValues),
+		labelPairs: MakeLabelPairs(desc, labelValues),
 	}, nil
 }
 
diff --git a/prometheus/summary.go b/prometheus/summary.go
index e8f3f152d..cf7007149 100644
--- a/prometheus/summary.go
+++ b/prometheus/summary.go
@@ -208,7 +208,7 @@ func newSummary(desc *Desc, opts SummaryOpts, labelValues ...string) Summary {
 		// Use the lock-free implementation of a Summary without objectives.
 		s := &noObjectivesSummary{
 			desc:       desc,
-			labelPairs: makeLabelPairs(desc, labelValues),
+			labelPairs: MakeLabelPairs(desc, labelValues),
 			counts:     [2]*summaryCounts{{}, {}},
 		}
 		s.init(s) // Init self-collection.
@@ -221,7 +221,7 @@ func newSummary(desc *Desc, opts SummaryOpts, labelValues ...string) Summary {
 		objectives:       opts.Objectives,
 		sortedObjectives: make([]float64, 0, len(opts.Objectives)),
 
-		labelPairs: makeLabelPairs(desc, labelValues),
+		labelPairs: MakeLabelPairs(desc, labelValues),
 
 		hotBuf:         make([]float64, 0, opts.BufCap),
 		coldBuf:        make([]float64, 0, opts.BufCap),
@@ -513,7 +513,7 @@ func (s quantSort) Less(i, j int) bool {
 // (e.g. HTTP request latencies, partitioned by status code and method). Create
 // instances with NewSummaryVec.
 type SummaryVec struct {
-	*metricVec
+	*MetricVec
 }
 
 // NewSummaryVec creates a new SummaryVec based on the provided SummaryOpts and
@@ -535,14 +535,14 @@ func NewSummaryVec(opts SummaryOpts, labelNames []string) *SummaryVec {
 		opts.ConstLabels,
 	)
 	return &SummaryVec{
-		metricVec: newMetricVec(desc, func(lvs ...string) Metric {
+		MetricVec: NewMetricVec(desc, func(lvs ...string) Metric {
 			return newSummary(desc, opts, lvs...)
 		}),
 	}
 }
 
 // GetMetricWithLabelValues returns the Summary for the given slice of label
-// values (same order as the VariableLabels in Desc). If that combination of
+// values (same order as the variable labels in Desc). If that combination of
 // label values is accessed for the first time, a new Summary is created.
 //
 // It is possible to call this method without using the returned Summary to only
@@ -557,7 +557,7 @@ func NewSummaryVec(opts SummaryOpts, labelNames []string) *SummaryVec {
 // example.
 //
 // An error is returned if the number of label values is not the same as the
-// number of VariableLabels in Desc (minus any curried labels).
+// number of variable labels in Desc (minus any curried labels).
 //
 // Note that for more than one label value, this method is prone to mistakes
 // caused by an incorrect order of arguments. Consider GetMetricWith(Labels) as
@@ -566,7 +566,7 @@ func NewSummaryVec(opts SummaryOpts, labelNames []string) *SummaryVec {
 // with a performance overhead (for creating and processing the Labels map).
 // See also the GaugeVec example.
 func (v *SummaryVec) GetMetricWithLabelValues(lvs ...string) (Observer, error) {
-	metric, err := v.metricVec.getMetricWithLabelValues(lvs...)
+	metric, err := v.MetricVec.GetMetricWithLabelValues(lvs...)
 	if metric != nil {
 		return metric.(Observer), err
 	}
@@ -574,19 +574,19 @@ func (v *SummaryVec) GetMetricWithLabelValues(lvs ...string) (Observer, error) {
 }
 
 // GetMetricWith returns the Summary for the given Labels map (the label names
-// must match those of the VariableLabels in Desc). If that label map is
+// must match those of the variable labels in Desc). If that label map is
 // accessed for the first time, a new Summary is created. Implications of
 // creating a Summary without using it and keeping the Summary for later use are
 // the same as for GetMetricWithLabelValues.
 //
 // An error is returned if the number and names of the Labels are inconsistent
-// with those of the VariableLabels in Desc (minus any curried labels).
+// with those of the variable labels in Desc (minus any curried labels).
 //
 // This method is used for the same purpose as
 // GetMetricWithLabelValues(...string). See there for pros and cons of the two
 // methods.
 func (v *SummaryVec) GetMetricWith(labels Labels) (Observer, error) {
-	metric, err := v.metricVec.getMetricWith(labels)
+	metric, err := v.MetricVec.GetMetricWith(labels)
 	if metric != nil {
 		return metric.(Observer), err
 	}
@@ -630,7 +630,7 @@ func (v *SummaryVec) With(labels Labels) Observer {
 // registered with a given registry (usually the uncurried version). The Reset
 // method deletes all metrics, even if called on a curried vector.
 func (v *SummaryVec) CurryWith(labels Labels) (ObserverVec, error) {
-	vec, err := v.curryWith(labels)
+	vec, err := v.MetricVec.CurryWith(labels)
 	if vec != nil {
 		return &SummaryVec{vec}, err
 	}
@@ -716,7 +716,7 @@ func NewConstSummary(
 		count:      count,
 		sum:        sum,
 		quantiles:  quantiles,
-		labelPairs: makeLabelPairs(desc, labelValues),
+		labelPairs: MakeLabelPairs(desc, labelValues),
 	}, nil
 }
 
diff --git a/prometheus/value.go b/prometheus/value.go
index 6206928cc..8304de477 100644
--- a/prometheus/value.go
+++ b/prometheus/value.go
@@ -63,7 +63,7 @@ func newValueFunc(desc *Desc, valueType ValueType, function func() float64) *val
 		desc:       desc,
 		valType:    valueType,
 		function:   function,
-		labelPairs: makeLabelPairs(desc, nil),
+		labelPairs: MakeLabelPairs(desc, nil),
 	}
 	result.init(result)
 	return result
@@ -95,7 +95,7 @@ func NewConstMetric(desc *Desc, valueType ValueType, value float64, labelValues
 		desc:       desc,
 		valType:    valueType,
 		val:        value,
-		labelPairs: makeLabelPairs(desc, labelValues),
+		labelPairs: MakeLabelPairs(desc, labelValues),
 	}, nil
 }
 
@@ -145,7 +145,14 @@ func populateMetric(
 	return nil
 }
 
-func makeLabelPairs(desc *Desc, labelValues []string) []*dto.LabelPair {
+// MakeLabelPairs is a helper function to create protobuf LabelPairs from the
+// variable and constant labels in the provided Desc. The values for the
+// variable labels are defined by the labelValues slice, which must be in the
+// same order as the corresponding variable labels in the Desc.
+//
+// This function is only needed for custom Metric implementations. See MetricVec
+// example.
+func MakeLabelPairs(desc *Desc, labelValues []string) []*dto.LabelPair {
 	totalLen := len(desc.variableLabels) + len(desc.constLabelPairs)
 	if totalLen == 0 {
 		// Super fast path.
diff --git a/prometheus/vec.go b/prometheus/vec.go
index abe91638e..6ba49d85b 100644
--- a/prometheus/vec.go
+++ b/prometheus/vec.go
@@ -20,12 +20,20 @@ import (
 	"github.com/prometheus/common/model"
 )
 
-// metricVec is a Collector to bundle metrics of the same name that differ in
-// their label values. metricVec is not used directly (and therefore
-// unexported). It is used as a building block for implementations of vectors of
-// a given metric type, like GaugeVec, CounterVec, SummaryVec, and HistogramVec.
-// It also handles label currying.
-type metricVec struct {
+// MetricVec is a Collector to bundle metrics of the same name that differ in
+// their label values. MetricVec is not used directly but as a building block
+// for implementations of vectors of a given metric type, like GaugeVec,
+// CounterVec, SummaryVec, and HistogramVec. It is exported so that it can be
+// used for custom Metric implementations.
+//
+// To create a FooVec for custom Metric Foo, embed a pointer to MetricVec in
+// FooVec and initialize it with NewMetricVec. Implement wrappers for
+// GetMetricWithLabelValues and GetMetricWith that return (Foo, error) rather
+// than (Metric, error). Similarly, create a wrapper for CurryWith that returns
+// (*FooVec, error) rather than (*MetricVec, error). It is recommended to also
+// add the convenience methods WithLabelValues, With, and MustCurryWith, which
+// panic instead of returning errors. See also the MetricVec example.
+type MetricVec struct {
 	*metricMap
 
 	curry []curriedLabelValue
@@ -35,9 +43,9 @@ type metricVec struct {
 	hashAddByte func(h uint64, b byte) uint64
 }
 
-// newMetricVec returns an initialized metricVec.
-func newMetricVec(desc *Desc, newMetric func(lvs ...string) Metric) *metricVec {
-	return &metricVec{
+// NewMetricVec returns an initialized metricVec.
+func NewMetricVec(desc *Desc, newMetric func(lvs ...string) Metric) *MetricVec {
+	return &MetricVec{
 		metricMap: &metricMap{
 			metrics:   map[uint64][]metricWithLabelValues{},
 			desc:      desc,
@@ -63,7 +71,7 @@ func newMetricVec(desc *Desc, newMetric func(lvs ...string) Metric) *metricVec {
 // latter has a much more readable (albeit more verbose) syntax, but it comes
 // with a performance overhead (for creating and processing the Labels map).
 // See also the CounterVec example.
-func (m *metricVec) DeleteLabelValues(lvs ...string) bool {
+func (m *MetricVec) DeleteLabelValues(lvs ...string) bool {
 	h, err := m.hashLabelValues(lvs)
 	if err != nil {
 		return false
@@ -82,7 +90,7 @@ func (m *metricVec) DeleteLabelValues(lvs ...string) bool {
 //
 // This method is used for the same purpose as DeleteLabelValues(...string). See
 // there for pros and cons of the two methods.
-func (m *metricVec) Delete(labels Labels) bool {
+func (m *MetricVec) Delete(labels Labels) bool {
 	h, err := m.hashLabels(labels)
 	if err != nil {
 		return false
@@ -95,15 +103,32 @@ func (m *metricVec) Delete(labels Labels) bool {
 // show up in GoDoc.
 
 // Describe implements Collector.
-func (m *metricVec) Describe(ch chan<- *Desc) { m.metricMap.Describe(ch) }
+func (m *MetricVec) Describe(ch chan<- *Desc) { m.metricMap.Describe(ch) }
 
 // Collect implements Collector.
-func (m *metricVec) Collect(ch chan<- Metric) { m.metricMap.Collect(ch) }
+func (m *MetricVec) Collect(ch chan<- Metric) { m.metricMap.Collect(ch) }
 
 // Reset deletes all metrics in this vector.
-func (m *metricVec) Reset() { m.metricMap.Reset() }
-
-func (m *metricVec) curryWith(labels Labels) (*metricVec, error) {
+func (m *MetricVec) Reset() { m.metricMap.Reset() }
+
+// CurryWith returns a vector curried with the provided labels, i.e. the
+// returned vector has those labels pre-set for all labeled operations performed
+// on it. The cardinality of the curried vector is reduced accordingly. The
+// order of the remaining labels stays the same (just with the curried labels
+// taken out of the sequence – which is relevant for the
+// (GetMetric)WithLabelValues methods). It is possible to curry a curried
+// vector, but only with labels not yet used for currying before.
+//
+// The metrics contained in the MetricVec are shared between the curried and
+// uncurried vectors. They are just accessed differently. Curried and uncurried
+// vectors behave identically in terms of collection. Only one must be
+// registered with a given registry (usually the uncurried version). The Reset
+// method deletes all metrics, even if called on a curried vector.
+//
+// Note that CurryWith is usually not called directly but through a wrapper
+// around MetricVec, implementing a vector for a specific Metric
+// implementation, for example GaugeVec.
+func (m *MetricVec) CurryWith(labels Labels) (*MetricVec, error) {
 	var (
 		newCurry []curriedLabelValue
 		oldCurry = m.curry
@@ -128,7 +153,7 @@ func (m *metricVec) curryWith(labels Labels) (*metricVec, error) {
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("%d unknown label(s) found during currying", l)
 	}
 
-	return &metricVec{
+	return &MetricVec{
 		metricMap:   m.metricMap,
 		curry:       newCurry,
 		hashAdd:     m.hashAdd,
@@ -136,7 +161,34 @@ func (m *metricVec) curryWith(labels Labels) (*metricVec, error) {
 	}, nil
 }
 
-func (m *metricVec) getMetricWithLabelValues(lvs ...string) (Metric, error) {
+// GetMetricWithLabelValues returns the Metric for the given slice of label
+// values (same order as the variable labels in Desc). If that combination of
+// label values is accessed for the first time, a new Metric is created (by
+// calling the newMetric function provided during construction of the
+// MetricVec).
+//
+// It is possible to call this method without using the returned Metry to only
+// create the new Metric but leave it in its intitial state.
+//
+// Keeping the Metric for later use is possible (and should be considered if
+// performance is critical), but keep in mind that Reset, DeleteLabelValues and
+// Delete can be used to delete the Metric from the MetricVec. In that case, the
+// Metric will still exist, but it will not be exported anymore, even if a
+// Metric with the same label values is created later.
+//
+// An error is returned if the number of label values is not the same as the
+// number of variable labels in Desc (minus any curried labels).
+//
+// Note that for more than one label value, this method is prone to mistakes
+// caused by an incorrect order of arguments. Consider GetMetricWith(Labels) as
+// an alternative to avoid that type of mistake. For higher label numbers, the
+// latter has a much more readable (albeit more verbose) syntax, but it comes
+// with a performance overhead (for creating and processing the Labels map).
+//
+// Note that GetMetricWithLabelValues is usually not called directly but through
+// a wrapper around MetricVec, implementing a vector for a specific Metric
+// implementation, for example GaugeVec.
+func (m *MetricVec) GetMetricWithLabelValues(lvs ...string) (Metric, error) {
 	h, err := m.hashLabelValues(lvs)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
@@ -145,7 +197,23 @@ func (m *metricVec) getMetricWithLabelValues(lvs ...string) (Metric, error) {
 	return m.metricMap.getOrCreateMetricWithLabelValues(h, lvs, m.curry), nil
 }
 
-func (m *metricVec) getMetricWith(labels Labels) (Metric, error) {
+// GetMetricWith returns the Metric for the given Labels map (the label names
+// must match those of the variable labels in Desc). If that label map is
+// accessed for the first time, a new Metric is created. Implications of
+// creating a Metric without using it and keeping the Metric for later use
+// are the same as for GetMetricWithLabelValues.
+//
+// An error is returned if the number and names of the Labels are inconsistent
+// with those of the variable labels in Desc (minus any curried labels).
+//
+// This method is used for the same purpose as
+// GetMetricWithLabelValues(...string). See there for pros and cons of the two
+// methods.
+//
+// Note that GetMetricWith is usually not called directly but through a wrapper
+// around MetricVec, implementing a vector for a specific Metric implementation,
+// for example GaugeVec.
+func (m *MetricVec) GetMetricWith(labels Labels) (Metric, error) {
 	h, err := m.hashLabels(labels)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
@@ -154,7 +222,7 @@ func (m *metricVec) getMetricWith(labels Labels) (Metric, error) {
 	return m.metricMap.getOrCreateMetricWithLabels(h, labels, m.curry), nil
 }
 
-func (m *metricVec) hashLabelValues(vals []string) (uint64, error) {
+func (m *MetricVec) hashLabelValues(vals []string) (uint64, error) {
 	if err := validateLabelValues(vals, len(m.desc.variableLabels)-len(m.curry)); err != nil {
 		return 0, err
 	}
@@ -177,7 +245,7 @@ func (m *metricVec) hashLabelValues(vals []string) (uint64, error) {
 	return h, nil
 }
 
-func (m *metricVec) hashLabels(labels Labels) (uint64, error) {
+func (m *MetricVec) hashLabels(labels Labels) (uint64, error) {
 	if err := validateValuesInLabels(labels, len(m.desc.variableLabels)-len(m.curry)); err != nil {
 		return 0, err
 	}