+@table @code
+@item ssize_t lbnd
+@itemx ssize_t ubnd
+The lower and upper bounds (both inclusive) of the permissible index
+range for the given dimension. Both values can be negative, but
+@var{lbnd} is always less than or equal to @var{ubnd}.
+
+@item ssize_t inc
+The distance from one element of this dimension to the next. Note, too,
+that this can be negative.
+@end table
+@end deftp
+
+@deftypefn {C Function} {const scm_t_array_dim *} scm_array_handle_dims (scm_t_array_handle *handle)
+Return a pointer to a C vector of information about the dimensions of
+the array represented by @var{handle}. This pointer is valid as long as
+the array remains reserved. As explained above, the
+@code{scm_t_array_dim} structures returned by this function can be used
+calculate the position of an element in the storage block of the array
+from its indices.
+
+This position can then be used as an index into the C array pointer
+returned by the various @code{scm_array_handle_<foo>_elements}
+functions, or with @code{scm_array_handle_ref} and
+@code{scm_array_handle_set}.
+
+Here is how one can compute the position @var{pos} of an element given
+its indices in the vector @var{indices}:
+
+@example
+ssize_t indices[RANK];
+scm_t_array_dim *dims;
+ssize_t pos;
+size_t i;
+
+pos = 0;
+for (i = 0; i < RANK; i++)
+ @{
+ if (indices[i] < dims[i].lbnd || indices[i] > dims[i].ubnd)
+ out_of_range ();
+ pos += (indices[i] - dims[i].lbnd) * dims[i].inc;
+ @}
+@end example
+@end deftypefn
+
+@deftypefn {C Function} ssize_t scm_array_handle_pos (scm_t_array_handle *handle, SCM indices)
+Compute the position corresponding to @var{indices}, a list of
+indices. The position is computed as described above for
+@code{scm_array_handle_dims}. The number of the indices and their
+range is checked and an approrpiate error is signalled for invalid
+indices.
+@end deftypefn
+
+@deftypefn {C Function} SCM scm_array_handle_ref (scm_t_array_handle *handle, ssize_t pos)
+Return the element at position @var{pos} in the storage block of the
+array represented by @var{handle}. Any kind of array is acceptable. No
+range checking is done on @var{pos}.
+@end deftypefn
+
+@deftypefn {C Function} void scm_array_handle_set (scm_t_array_handle *handle, ssize_t pos, SCM val)
+Set the element at position @var{pos} in the storage block of the array
+represented by @var{handle} to @var{val}. Any kind of array is
+acceptable. No range checking is done on @var{pos}. An error is
+signalled when the array can not store @var{val}.
+@end deftypefn
+
+@deftypefn {C Function} {const SCM *} scm_array_handle_elements (scm_t_array_handle *handle)
+Return a pointer to the elements of a ordinary array of general Scheme
+values (i.e., a non-uniform array) for reading. This pointer is valid
+as long as the array remains reserved.
+@end deftypefn
+
+@deftypefn {C Function} {SCM *} scm_array_handle_writable_elements (scm_t_array_handle *handle)
+Like @code{scm_array_handle_elements}, but the pointer is good for
+reading and writing.
+@end deftypefn
+
+@deftypefn {C Function} {const void *} scm_array_handle_uniform_elements (scm_t_array_handle *handle)
+Return a pointer to the elements of a uniform numeric array for reading.
+This pointer is valid as long as the array remains reserved. The size
+of each element is given by @code{scm_array_handle_uniform_element_size}.
+@end deftypefn
+
+@deftypefn {C Function} {void *} scm_array_handle_uniform_writable_elements (scm_t_array_handle *handle)
+Like @code{scm_array_handle_uniform_elements}, but the pointer is good
+reading and writing.
+@end deftypefn
+
+@deftypefn {C Function} size_t scm_array_handle_uniform_element_size (scm_t_array_handle *handle)
+Return the size of one element of the uniform numeric array represented
+by @var{handle}.
+@end deftypefn
+
+@deftypefn {C Function} {const scm_t_uint8 *} scm_array_handle_u8_elements (scm_t_array_handle *handle)
+@deftypefnx {C Function} {const scm_t_int8 *} scm_array_handle_s8_elements (scm_t_array_handle *handle)
+@deftypefnx {C Function} {const scm_t_uint16 *} scm_array_handle_u16_elements (scm_t_array_handle *handle)
+@deftypefnx {C Function} {const scm_t_int16 *} scm_array_handle_s16_elements (scm_t_array_handle *handle)
+@deftypefnx {C Function} {const scm_t_uint32 *} scm_array_handle_u32_elements (scm_t_array_handle *handle)
+@deftypefnx {C Function} {const scm_t_int32 *} scm_array_handle_s32_elements (scm_t_array_handle *handle)
+@deftypefnx {C Function} {const scm_t_uint64 *} scm_array_handle_u64_elements (scm_t_array_handle *handle)
+@deftypefnx {C Function} {const scm_t_int64 *} scm_array_handle_s64_elements (scm_t_array_handle *handle)
+@deftypefnx {C Function} {const float *} scm_array_handle_f32_elements (scm_t_array_handle *handle)
+@deftypefnx {C Function} {const double *} scm_array_handle_f64_elements (scm_t_array_handle *handle)
+@deftypefnx {C Function} {const float *} scm_array_handle_c32_elements (scm_t_array_handle *handle)
+@deftypefnx {C Function} {const double *} scm_array_handle_c64_elements (scm_t_array_handle *handle)
+Return a pointer to the elements of a uniform numeric array of the
+indicated kind for reading. This pointer is valid as long as the array
+remains reserved.
+
+The pointers for @code{c32} and @code{c64} uniform numeric arrays point
+to pairs of floating point numbers. The even index holds the real part,
+the odd index the imaginary part of the complex number.
+@end deftypefn
+
+@deftypefn {C Function} {scm_t_uint8 *} scm_array_handle_u8_writable_elements (scm_t_array_handle *handle)
+@deftypefnx {C Function} {scm_t_int8 *} scm_array_handle_s8_writable_elements (scm_t_array_handle *handle)
+@deftypefnx {C Function} {scm_t_uint16 *} scm_array_handle_u16_writable_elements (scm_t_array_handle *handle)
+@deftypefnx {C Function} {scm_t_int16 *} scm_array_handle_s16_writable_elements (scm_t_array_handle *handle)
+@deftypefnx {C Function} {scm_t_uint32 *} scm_array_handle_u32_writable_elements (scm_t_array_handle *handle)
+@deftypefnx {C Function} {scm_t_int32 *} scm_array_handle_s32_writable_elements (scm_t_array_handle *handle)
+@deftypefnx {C Function} {scm_t_uint64 *} scm_array_handle_u64_writable_elements (scm_t_array_handle *handle)
+@deftypefnx {C Function} {scm_t_int64 *} scm_array_handle_s64_writable_elements (scm_t_array_handle *handle)
+@deftypefnx {C Function} {float *} scm_array_handle_f32_writable_elements (scm_t_array_handle *handle)
+@deftypefnx {C Function} {double *} scm_array_handle_f64_writable_elements (scm_t_array_handle *handle)
+@deftypefnx {C Function} {float *} scm_array_handle_c32_writable_elements (scm_t_array_handle *handle)
+@deftypefnx {C Function} {double *} scm_array_handle_c64_writable_elements (scm_t_array_handle *handle)
+Like @code{scm_array_handle_<kind>_elements}, but the pointer is good
+for reading and writing.
+@end deftypefn
+
+@deftypefn {C Function} {const scm_t_uint32 *} scm_array_handle_bit_elements (scm_t_array_handle *handle)
+Return a pointer to the words that store the bits of the represented
+array, which must be a bit array.
+
+Unlike other arrays, bit arrays have an additional offset that must be
+figured into index calculations. That offset is returned by
+@code{scm_array_handle_bit_elements_offset}.
+
+To find a certain bit you first need to calculate its position as
+explained above for @code{scm_array_handle_dims} and then add the
+offset. This gives the absolute position of the bit, which is always a
+non-negative integer.
+
+Each word of the bit array storage block contains exactly 32 bits, with
+the least significant bit in that word having the lowest absolute
+position number. The next word contains the next 32 bits.
+
+Thus, the following code can be used to access a bit whose position
+according to @code{scm_array_handle_dims} is given in @var{pos}:
+
+@example
+SCM bit_array;
+scm_t_array_handle handle;
+scm_t_uint32 *bits;
+ssize_t pos;
+size_t abs_pos;
+size_t word_pos, mask;
+
+scm_array_get_handle (&bit_array, &handle);
+bits = scm_array_handle_bit_elements (&handle);
+
+pos = ...
+abs_pos = pos + scm_array_handle_bit_elements_offset (&handle);
+word_pos = abs_pos / 32;
+mask = 1L << (abs_pos % 32);
+
+if (bits[word_pos] & mask)
+ /* bit is set. */
+
+scm_array_handle_release (&handle);
+@end example
+
+@end deftypefn
+
+@deftypefn {C Function} {scm_t_uint32 *} scm_array_handle_bit_writable_elements (scm_t_array_handle *handle)
+Like @code{scm_array_handle_bit_elements} but the pointer is good for
+reading and writing. You must take care not to modify bits outside of
+the allowed index range of the array, even for contiguous arrays.
+@end deftypefn