diff --git a/_oasis b/_oasis
index b348e689..90e512cb 100644
--- a/_oasis
+++ b/_oasis
@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@ Flag "advanced"
 Library "containers"
   Path:             src/core
   Modules:          CCVector, CCPrint, CCError, CCHeap, CCList, CCOpt, CCPair,
-                    CCFun, CCHash, CCInt, CCBool, CCFloat, CCArray,
+                    CCFun, CCHash, CCInt, CCBool, CCFloat, CCArray, CCRef,
                     CCOrd, CCRandom, CCString, CCHashtbl, CCMap, CCFormat
   BuildDepends:     bytes
 
diff --git a/doc/intro.txt b/doc/intro.txt
index edbad184..400e2e7c 100644
--- a/doc/intro.txt
+++ b/doc/intro.txt
@@ -40,6 +40,7 @@ CCOrd
 CCPair
 CCPrint
 CCRandom
+CCRef
 CCString
 CCVector
 }
diff --git a/src/core/CCRef.ml b/src/core/CCRef.ml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..136d0cfe
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/core/CCRef.ml
@@ -0,0 +1,56 @@
+
+(*
+copyright (c) 2013-2014, simon cruanes
+all rights reserved.
+
+redistribution and use in source and binary forms, with or without
+modification, are permitted provided that the following conditions are met:
+
+redistributions of source code must retain the above copyright notice, this
+list of conditions and the following disclaimer.  redistributions in binary
+form must reproduce the above copyright notice, this list of conditions and the
+following disclaimer in the documentation and/or other materials provided with
+the distribution.
+
+THIS SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED BY THE COPYRIGHT HOLDERS AND CONTRIBUTORS "AS IS" AND
+ANY EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIED
+WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE ARE
+DISCLAIMED. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE COPYRIGHT HOLDER OR CONTRIBUTORS BE LIABLE
+FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, EXEMPLARY, OR CONSEQUENTIAL
+DAMAGES (INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, PROCUREMENT OF SUBSTITUTE GOODS OR
+SERVICES; LOSS OF USE, DATA, OR PROFITS; OR BUSINESS INTERRUPTION) HOWEVER
+CAUSED AND ON ANY THEORY OF LIABILITY, WHETHER IN CONTRACT, STRICT LIABILITY,
+OR TORT (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE OR OTHERWISE) ARISING IN ANY WAY OUT OF THE USE
+OF THIS SOFTWARE, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE.
+*)
+
+(** {1 References} *)
+
+type 'a print = Format.formatter -> 'a -> unit
+type 'a pp = Buffer.t -> 'a -> unit
+type 'a ord = 'a -> 'a -> int
+type 'a eq = 'a -> 'a -> bool
+type 'a sequence = ('a -> unit) -> unit
+
+type 'a t = 'a ref
+
+let create x = ref x
+
+let map f r = ref (f !r)
+
+let iter f r = f !r
+
+let update f r = r := (f !r)
+
+let compare f r1 r2 = f !r1 !r2
+
+let equal f r1 r2 = f !r1 !r2
+
+let to_list r = [!r]
+let to_seq r yield = yield !r
+
+let print pp_x fmt r = pp_x fmt !r
+
+let pp pp_x buf r = pp_x buf !r
+
+
diff --git a/src/core/CCRef.mli b/src/core/CCRef.mli
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..475c0d97
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/core/CCRef.mli
@@ -0,0 +1,59 @@
+
+(*
+copyright (c) 2013-2014, simon cruanes
+all rights reserved.
+
+redistribution and use in source and binary forms, with or without
+modification, are permitted provided that the following conditions are met:
+
+redistributions of source code must retain the above copyright notice, this
+list of conditions and the following disclaimer.  redistributions in binary
+form must reproduce the above copyright notice, this list of conditions and the
+following disclaimer in the documentation and/or other materials provided with
+the distribution.
+
+THIS SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED BY THE COPYRIGHT HOLDERS AND CONTRIBUTORS "AS IS" AND
+ANY EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIED
+WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE ARE
+DISCLAIMED. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE COPYRIGHT HOLDER OR CONTRIBUTORS BE LIABLE
+FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, EXEMPLARY, OR CONSEQUENTIAL
+DAMAGES (INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, PROCUREMENT OF SUBSTITUTE GOODS OR
+SERVICES; LOSS OF USE, DATA, OR PROFITS; OR BUSINESS INTERRUPTION) HOWEVER
+CAUSED AND ON ANY THEORY OF LIABILITY, WHETHER IN CONTRACT, STRICT LIABILITY,
+OR TORT (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE OR OTHERWISE) ARISING IN ANY WAY OUT OF THE USE
+OF THIS SOFTWARE, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE.
+*)
+
+(** {1 References} *)
+
+type 'a print = Format.formatter -> 'a -> unit
+type 'a pp = Buffer.t -> 'a -> unit
+type 'a ord = 'a -> 'a -> int
+type 'a eq = 'a -> 'a -> bool
+type 'a sequence = ('a -> unit) -> unit
+
+type 'a t = 'a ref
+
+val map : ('a -> 'b) -> 'a t -> 'b t
+(** Transform the value *)
+
+val create : 'a -> 'a t
+(** Alias to {!ref} *)
+
+val iter : ('a -> unit) -> 'a t -> unit
+(** Call the function on the content of the reference *)
+
+val update : ('a -> 'a) -> 'a t -> unit
+(** Update the reference's content with the given function *)
+
+val compare : 'a ord -> 'a t ord
+
+val equal : 'a eq -> 'a t eq
+
+val to_list : 'a t -> 'a list
+
+val to_seq : 'a t -> 'a sequence
+
+val print : 'a print -> 'a t print
+val pp : 'a pp -> 'a t pp
+