diff --git a/c_src/encoder.c b/c_src/encoder.c
index afc3c14..fcacf81 100644
--- a/c_src/encoder.c
+++ b/c_src/encoder.c
@@ -568,6 +568,114 @@ enc_map_to_ejson(ErlNifEnv* env, ERL_NIF_TERM map, ERL_NIF_TERM* out)
 }
 #endif
 
+ERL_NIF_TERM
+enc_object_element(Encoder* e, int first, ERL_NIF_TERM curr, ERL_NIF_TERM* stackp)
+{
+    ErlNifEnv* env = e->env;
+    ERL_NIF_TERM stack = *stackp;
+    ERL_NIF_TERM item;
+    const ERL_NIF_TERM* tuple;
+    int arity;
+
+    if(first && !enc_start_object(e)) {
+        return enc_error(e, "internal_error");
+    }
+next_object_elt:
+    if(enif_is_empty_list(env, curr)) {
+        if(!enc_end_object(e)) {
+            return enc_error(e, "internal_error");
+        }
+        return 0;
+    }
+    if(!enif_get_list_cell(env, curr, &item, &curr)) {
+        return enc_error(e, "internal_error");
+    }
+    if(!enif_get_tuple(env, item, &arity, &tuple)) {
+        return enc_obj_error(e, "invalid_object_member", item);
+    }
+    if(arity != 2) {
+        return enc_obj_error(e, "invalid_object_member_arity", item);
+    }
+    if(enif_compare(tuple[0], e->atoms->atom_partial_object) == 0) {
+        ErlNifBinary bin;
+        if(!enif_inspect_binary(env, tuple[1], &bin)) {
+            return enc_error(e, "internal_error");
+        }
+        if(bin.size > 0) {
+            if(!first && !enc_comma(e)) {
+                return enc_error(e, "internal_error");
+            }
+            if(!enc_unknown(e, tuple[1])) {
+                return enc_error(e, "internal_error");
+            }
+            first = 0;
+        }
+        goto next_object_elt;
+    }
+    if(!first && !enc_comma(e)) {
+        return enc_error(e, "internal_error");
+    }
+    if(!enc_string(e, tuple[0])) {
+        return enc_obj_error(e, "invalid_object_member_key", tuple[0]);
+    }
+    if(!enc_colon(e)) {
+        return enc_error(e, "internal_error");
+    }
+    stack = enif_make_list_cell(env, curr, stack);
+    stack = enif_make_list_cell(env, e->atoms->ref_object, stack);
+    stack = enif_make_list_cell(env, tuple[1], stack);
+    *stackp = stack;
+    return 0;
+}
+
+ERL_NIF_TERM
+enc_array_element(Encoder* e, int first, ERL_NIF_TERM curr, ERL_NIF_TERM* stackp)
+{
+    ErlNifEnv* env = e->env;
+    ERL_NIF_TERM stack = *stackp;
+    ERL_NIF_TERM item;
+    const ERL_NIF_TERM* tuple;
+    int arity;
+    ErlNifBinary bin;
+
+    if(first && !enc_start_array(e)) {
+        return enc_error(e, "internal_error");
+    }
+next_array_elt:
+    if(enif_is_empty_list(env, curr)) {
+        if(!enc_end_array(e)) {
+            return enc_error(e, "internal_error");
+        }
+        return 0;
+    }
+    if(!enif_get_list_cell(env, curr, &item, &curr)) {
+        return enc_error(e, "internal_error");
+    }
+    if(enif_get_tuple(env, item, &arity, &tuple) &&
+       (arity == 2) &&
+       (enif_compare(tuple[0], e->atoms->atom_partial_array) == 0) &&
+       enif_inspect_binary(env, tuple[1], &bin)) {
+        if (bin.size > 0) {
+            if(!first && !enc_comma(e)) {
+                return enc_error(e, "internal_error");
+            }
+            if(!enc_unknown(e, tuple[1])) {
+                return enc_error(e, "internal_error");
+            }
+            first = 0;
+        }
+        goto next_array_elt;
+    }
+    if(!first && !enc_comma(e)) {
+        return enc_error(e, "internal_error");
+    }
+    stack = enif_make_list_cell(env, curr, stack);
+    stack = enif_make_list_cell(env, e->atoms->ref_array, stack);
+    stack = enif_make_list_cell(env, item, stack);
+    *stackp = stack;
+    return 0;
+}
+
 ERL_NIF_TERM
 encode_init(ErlNifEnv* env, int argc, const ERL_NIF_TERM argv[])
 {
@@ -682,63 +790,15 @@ encode_iter(ErlNifEnv* env, int argc, const ERL_NIF_TERM argv[])
                 ret = enc_error(e, "internal_error");
                 goto done;
             }
-            if(enif_is_empty_list(env, curr)) {
-                if(!enc_end_object(e)) {
-                    ret = enc_error(e, "internal_error");
-                    goto done;
-                }
-                continue;
-            }
-            if(!enif_get_list_cell(env, curr, &item, &curr)) {
-                ret = enc_error(e, "internal_error");
-                goto done;
-            }
-            if(!enif_get_tuple(env, item, &arity, &tuple)) {
-                ret = enc_obj_error(e, "invalid_object_member", item);
-                goto done;
-            }
-            if(arity != 2) {
-                ret = enc_obj_error(e, "invalid_object_member_arity", item);
-                goto done;
-            }
-            if(!enc_comma(e)) {
-                ret = enc_error(e, "internal_error");
-                goto done;
-            }
-            if(!enc_string(e, tuple[0])) {
-                ret = enc_obj_error(e, "invalid_object_member_key", tuple[0]);
-                goto done;
-            }
-            if(!enc_colon(e)) {
-                ret = enc_error(e, "internal_error");
-                goto done;
-            }
-            stack = enif_make_list_cell(env, curr, stack);
-            stack = enif_make_list_cell(env, e->atoms->ref_object, stack);
-            stack = enif_make_list_cell(env, tuple[1], stack);
+            ret = enc_object_element(e, 0, curr, &stack);
+            if(ret) { goto done; }
         } else if(enif_is_identical(curr, e->atoms->ref_array)) {
             if(!enif_get_list_cell(env, stack, &curr, &stack)) {
                 ret = enc_error(e, "internal_error");
                 goto done;
             }
-            if(enif_is_empty_list(env, curr)) {
-                if(!enc_end_array(e)) {
-                    ret = enc_error(e, "internal_error");
-                    goto done;
-                }
-                continue;
-            }
-            if(!enc_comma(e)) {
-                ret = enc_error(e, "internal_error");
-                goto done;
-            }
-            if(!enif_get_list_cell(env, curr, &item, &curr)) {
-                ret = enc_error(e, "internal_error");
-                goto done;
-            }
-            stack = enif_make_list_cell(env, curr, stack);
-            stack = enif_make_list_cell(env, e->atoms->ref_array, stack);
-            stack = enif_make_list_cell(env, item, stack);
+            ret = enc_array_element(e, 0, curr, &stack);
+            if(ret) { goto done; }
         } else if(enif_compare(curr, e->atoms->atom_null) == 0) {
             if(!enc_literal(e, "null", 4)) {
                 ret = enc_error(e, "null");
@@ -781,47 +841,18 @@ encode_iter(ErlNifEnv* env, int argc, const ERL_NIF_TERM argv[])
             }
         } else if(enif_get_tuple(env, curr, &arity, &tuple)) {
             if(arity != 1) {
-                ret = enc_obj_error(e, "invalid_ejson", curr);
-                goto done;
-            }
-            if(!enif_is_list(env, tuple[0])) {
-                ret = enc_obj_error(e, "invalid_object", curr);
-                goto done;
-            }
-            if(!enc_start_object(e)) {
-                ret = enc_error(e, "internal_error");
-                goto done;
-            }
-            if(enif_is_empty_list(env, tuple[0])) {
-                if(!enc_end_object(e)) {
+                if(!enc_unknown(e, curr)) {
                     ret = enc_error(e, "internal_error");
                     goto done;
                 }
                 continue;
             }
-            if(!enif_get_list_cell(env, tuple[0], &item, &curr)) {
-                ret = enc_error(e, "internal_error");
-                goto done;
-            }
-            if(!enif_get_tuple(env, item, &arity, &tuple)) {
-                ret = enc_obj_error(e, "invalid_object_member", item);
-                goto done;
-            }
-            if(arity != 2) {
-                ret = enc_obj_error(e, "invalid_object_member_arity", item);
-                goto done;
-            }
-            if(!enc_string(e, tuple[0])) {
-                ret = enc_obj_error(e, "invalid_object_member_key", tuple[0]);
-                goto done;
-            }
-            if(!enc_colon(e)) {
-                ret = enc_error(e, "internal_error");
+            if(!enif_is_list(env, tuple[0])) {
+                ret = enc_obj_error(e, "invalid_object", curr);
                 goto done;
             }
-            stack = enif_make_list_cell(env, curr, stack);
-            stack = enif_make_list_cell(env, e->atoms->ref_object, stack);
-            stack = enif_make_list_cell(env, tuple[1], stack);
+            ret = enc_object_element(e, 1, tuple[0], &stack);
+            if (ret) { goto done; }
 #if MAP_TYPE_PRESENT
         } else if(enif_is_map(env, curr)) {
             if(!enc_map_to_ejson(env, curr, &curr)) {
@@ -831,24 +862,8 @@ encode_iter(ErlNifEnv* env, int argc, const ERL_NIF_TERM argv[])
             stack = enif_make_list_cell(env, curr, stack);
 #endif
         } else if(enif_is_list(env, curr)) {
-            if(!enc_start_array(e)) {
-                ret = enc_error(e, "internal_error");
-                goto done;
-            }
-            if(enif_is_empty_list(env, curr)) {
-                if(!enc_end_array(e)) {
-                    ret = enc_error(e, "internal_error");
-                    goto done;
-                }
-                continue;
-            }
-            if(!enif_get_list_cell(env, curr, &item, &curr)) {
-                ret = enc_error(e, "internal_error");
-                goto done;
-            }
-            stack = enif_make_list_cell(env, curr, stack);
-            stack = enif_make_list_cell(env, e->atoms->ref_array, stack);
-            stack = enif_make_list_cell(env, item, stack);
+            ret = enc_array_element(e, 1, curr, &stack);
+            if(ret) { goto done; }
         } else {
             if(!enc_unknown(e, curr)) {
                 ret = enc_error(e, "internal_error");
diff --git a/c_src/jiffy.c b/c_src/jiffy.c
index 03ded3e..1178aaf 100644
--- a/c_src/jiffy.c
+++ b/c_src/jiffy.c
@@ -16,6 +16,8 @@ load(ErlNifEnv* env, void** priv, ERL_NIF_TERM info)
     st->atom_null = make_atom(env, "null");
     st->atom_true = make_atom(env, "true");
     st->atom_false = make_atom(env, "false");
+    st->atom_partial_object = make_atom(env, "$partial_object$");
+    st->atom_partial_array = make_atom(env, "$partial_array$");
     st->atom_bignum = make_atom(env, "bignum");
     st->atom_bignum_e = make_atom(env, "bignum_e");
     st->atom_bigdbl = make_atom(env, "bigdbl");
diff --git a/c_src/jiffy.h b/c_src/jiffy.h
index ef03a06..d78a7ff 100644
--- a/c_src/jiffy.h
+++ b/c_src/jiffy.h
@@ -19,6 +19,8 @@ typedef struct {
     ERL_NIF_TERM    atom_null;
     ERL_NIF_TERM    atom_true;
     ERL_NIF_TERM    atom_false;
+    ERL_NIF_TERM    atom_partial_object;
+    ERL_NIF_TERM    atom_partial_array;
     ERL_NIF_TERM    atom_bignum;
     ERL_NIF_TERM    atom_bignum_e;
     ERL_NIF_TERM    atom_bigdbl;
diff --git a/src/jiffy.erl b/src/jiffy.erl
index c82eba4..a0e81b5 100644
--- a/src/jiffy.erl
+++ b/src/jiffy.erl
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 % See the LICENSE file for more information.
 
 -module(jiffy).
--export([decode/1, decode/2, encode/1, encode/2]).
+-export([decode/1, decode/2, encode/1, encode/2, partial_encode/2]).
 -define(NOT_LOADED, not_loaded(?LINE)).
 
 -compile([no_native]).
@@ -16,23 +16,29 @@
                     | json_string()
                     | json_number()
                     | json_object()
-                    | json_array().
+                    | json_array()
+                    | json_preencoded().
 
--type json_array()  :: [json_value()].
+-type json_array()  :: [json_value()|json_partial_array()].
 -type json_string() :: atom() | binary().
 -type json_number() :: integer() | float().
 
+-type json_partial_array() :: {'$partial_array$', iodata()}.
+-type json_partial_object() :: {'$partial_object$', iodata()}.
+
 -ifdef(JIFFY_NO_MAPS).
 
--type json_object() :: {[{json_string(),json_value()}]}.
+-type json_object() :: {[({json_string(),json_value()})|json_partial_object()]}.
 
 -else.
 
--type json_object() :: {[{json_string(),json_value()}]}
+-type json_object() :: {[({json_string(),json_value()})|json_partial_object()]}
                         | #{json_string() => json_value()}.
 
 -endif.
 
+-type json_preencoded() :: {json, Json::iodata()}.
+
 -type jiffy_decode_result() :: json_value()
                         | {has_trailer, json_value(), binary()}.
 
@@ -106,6 +112,16 @@ encode(Data, Options) ->
     end.
 
 
+-spec partial_encode(json_array(), encode_options()) -> json_partial_array();
+                    (json_object(), encode_options()) -> json_partial_object().
+partial_encode(Data, Options) when is_list(Data) ->
+    Json = iolist_to_binary(encode(Data, Options)),
+    {'$partial_array$', binary_part(Json, 1, byte_size(Json) - 2)};
+partial_encode(Data, Options) when is_tuple(Data) ->
+    Json = iolist_to_binary(encode(Data, Options)),
+    {'$partial_object$', binary_part(Json, 1, byte_size(Json) - 2)}.
+
+
 finish_decode({bignum, Value}) ->
     list_to_integer(binary_to_list(Value));
 finish_decode({bignum_e, Value}) ->
@@ -160,6 +176,8 @@ finish_encode([<<_/binary>>=B | Rest], Acc) ->
 finish_encode([Val | Rest], Acc) when is_integer(Val) ->
     Bin = list_to_binary(integer_to_list(Val)),
     finish_encode(Rest, [Bin | Acc]);
+finish_encode([{json, Json} | Rest], Acc) ->
+    finish_encode(Rest, [Json | Acc]);
 finish_encode([InvalidEjson | _], _) ->
     error({invalid_ejson, InvalidEjson});
 finish_encode(_, _) ->
diff --git a/test/jiffy_18_preencode_tests.erl b/test/jiffy_18_preencode_tests.erl
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..950c726
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/jiffy_18_preencode_tests.erl
@@ -0,0 +1,97 @@
+-module(jiffy_18_preencode_tests).
+
+
+-include_lib("eunit/include/eunit.hrl").
+-include("jiffy_util.hrl").
+
+
+preencode_success_test_() ->
+    [gen(ok, Case) || Case <- cases(ok)].
+
+
+%% preencode_failure_test_() ->
+%%     [gen(error, Case) || Case <- cases(error)].
+
+
+gen(ok, {E1, J, E2}) ->
+    {msg("~p", [E1]), [
+        {"Encode", ?_assertEqual(J, enc(E1))},
+        {"Decode", ?_assertEqual(E2, dec(J))}
+    ]};
+
+gen(ok, {E, J}) ->
+    {msg("~p", [E]), [
+        {"Encode", ?_assertEqual(J, enc(E))}
+    ]}.
+
+%% gen(error, E) ->
+%%     {msg("Error: ~p", [E]), [
+%%         ?_assertThrow({error, _}, enc(E))
+%%     ]}.
+
+
+cases(ok) ->
+    TopTests =
+        lists:map(
+          fun (EJSON) ->
+                  JSON = enc(EJSON),
+                  {{json, JSON}, JSON, EJSON}
+          end, [ 123
+               , <<"hello world">>
+               , true
+               , false
+               , {[ {<<"a">>, <<"apple">>}, {<<"b">>, <<"banana">>} ]}
+               ]),
+    EJSON = [ 1, <<"a">> ],
+    JSON = enc(EJSON),
+    BuriedTests =
+        [ { [ {json, JSON} ], <<"[[1,\"a\"]]">>, [ EJSON ]}
+        , { [ 1, {json, JSON}, 3 ], <<"[1,[1,\"a\"],3]">>, [ 1, EJSON, 3 ]}
+        , { [ {json, JSON}, {json, JSON} ], <<"[[1,\"a\"],[1,\"a\"]]">>, [ EJSON, EJSON ]}
+        , { {[ {<<"a">>, {json, JSON}} ]}, <<"{\"a\":[1,\"a\"]}">>, {[ {<<"a">>, EJSON} ]}}
+        ],
+
+    PartialArray1 = jiffy:partial_encode([ 2, 3 ], []),
+    PartialArray2 = jiffy:partial_encode([], []),
+    PartialArray3 = jiffy:partial_encode([ 5 ], []),
+    PartialArrayTests =
+        [ {[ PartialArray1 ], <<"[2,3]">>}
+        , {[ 1, PartialArray1 ], <<"[1,2,3]">>}
+        , {[ PartialArray1, 4 ], <<"[2,3,4]">>}
+        , {[ 1, PartialArray1, 4 ], <<"[1,2,3,4]">>}
+        , {[ PartialArray2 ], <<"[]">>}
+        , {[ 1, PartialArray2 ], <<"[1]">>}
+        , {[ PartialArray2, 4 ], <<"[4]">>}
+        , {[ 1, PartialArray2, 4 ], <<"[1,4]">>}
+        , {[ PartialArray1, PartialArray2 ], <<"[2,3]">>}
+        , {[ PartialArray2, PartialArray1 ], <<"[2,3]">>}
+        , {[ PartialArray1, PartialArray1 ], <<"[2,3,2,3]">>}
+        , {[ PartialArray2, PartialArray2 ], <<"[]">>}
+        , {[ PartialArray1, PartialArray3 ], <<"[2,3,5]">>}
+        , {[ 1, PartialArray1, 4, PartialArray3, 6 ], <<"[1,2,3,4,5,6]">>}
+        ],
+
+    PartialObject1 = jiffy:partial_encode({[ {<<"ii">>, <<"two">>}, {<<"iii">>, 3} ]}, []),
+    PartialObject2 = jiffy:partial_encode({[]}, []),
+    PartialObject3 = jiffy:partial_encode({[ {<<"v">>, [ 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 ]} ]}, []),
+    PartialObjectTests =
+        [ {{[ PartialObject1 ]}, <<"{\"ii\":\"two\",\"iii\":3}">>}
+        , {{[ {<<"i">>, 1}, PartialObject1 ]}, <<"{\"i\":1,\"ii\":\"two\",\"iii\":3}">>}
+        , {{[ PartialObject1, {<<"iv">>, 4} ]}, <<"{\"ii\":\"two\",\"iii\":3,\"iv\":4}">>}
+        , {{[ {<<"i">>, 1}, PartialObject1, {<<"iv">>, 4} ]}, <<"{\"i\":1,\"ii\":\"two\",\"iii\":3,\"iv\":4}">>}
+        , {{[ PartialObject2 ]}, <<"{}">>}
+        , {{[ {<<"i">>, 1}, PartialObject2 ]}, <<"{\"i\":1}">>}
+        , {{[ PartialObject2, {<<"iv">>, 4} ]}, <<"{\"iv\":4}">>}
+        , {{[ {<<"i">>, 1}, PartialObject2, {<<"iv">>, 4} ]}, <<"{\"i\":1,\"iv\":4}">>}
+        , {{[ PartialObject1, PartialObject2 ]}, <<"{\"ii\":\"two\",\"iii\":3}">>}
+        , {{[ PartialObject2, PartialObject1 ]}, <<"{\"ii\":\"two\",\"iii\":3}">>}
+        , {{[ PartialObject2, PartialObject2 ]}, <<"{}">>}
+        , {{[ PartialObject1, PartialObject3 ]}, <<"{\"ii\":\"two\",\"iii\":3,\"v\":[1,2,3,4,5]}">>}
+        ],
+
+    TopTests ++ BuriedTests ++ PartialArrayTests ++ PartialObjectTests.
+
+%% cases(error) ->
+%%     [ {json, true}
+%%     , {json, "true"}
+%%     ].