diff --git a/src/addressList.cpp b/src/addressList.cpp
index b10bfe1a..2ac24776 100644
--- a/src/addressList.cpp
+++ b/src/addressList.cpp
@@ -248,6 +248,14 @@ const std::vector <address*> addressList::getAddressList()
 }
 
 
+const std::vector <const component*> addressList::getChildComponents() const
+{
+	std::vector <const component*> list;
+
+	copy_vector(m_list, list);
+
+	return (list);
+}
 
 
 } // vmime
diff --git a/src/addressList.hpp b/src/addressList.hpp
index 6048936a..5d7ef18d 100644
--- a/src/addressList.hpp
+++ b/src/addressList.hpp
@@ -52,6 +52,8 @@ public:
 	addressList& operator=(const addressList& other);
 	addressList& operator=(const mailboxList& other);
 
+	const std::vector <const component*> getChildComponents() const;
+
 
 	/** Add a address at the end of the list.
 	  *
diff --git a/src/base.hpp b/src/base.hpp
index 735b8893..9e06bba6 100644
--- a/src/base.hpp
+++ b/src/base.hpp
@@ -90,6 +90,19 @@ namespace vmime
 		c.clear();
 	}
 
+	// Copy one vector to another, with type conversion
+
+	template <class T1, class T2>
+	void copy_vector(T1& v1, T2& v2)
+	{
+		const typename T1::size_type count = v1.size();
+
+		v2.resize(count);
+
+		for (typename T1::size_type i = 0 ; i < count ; ++i)
+			v2[i] = v1[i];
+	}
+
 
 	/*
 
diff --git a/src/body.cpp b/src/body.cpp
index 5e369d4b..dca3409a 100644
--- a/src/body.cpp
+++ b/src/body.cpp
@@ -706,4 +706,14 @@ const std::vector <bodyPart*> body::getPartList()
 }
 
 
+const std::vector <const component*> body::getChildComponents() const
+{
+	std::vector <const component*> list;
+
+	copy_vector(m_parts, list);
+
+	return (list);
+}
+
+
 } // vmime
diff --git a/src/body.hpp b/src/body.hpp
index b12ebcc7..9008fea9 100644
--- a/src/body.hpp
+++ b/src/body.hpp
@@ -231,6 +231,8 @@ public:
 	void copyFrom(const component& other);
 	body& operator=(const body& other);
 
+	const std::vector <const component*> getChildComponents() const;
+
 private:
 
 	string m_prologText;
diff --git a/src/bodyPart.cpp b/src/bodyPart.cpp
index 90962c7c..45998aea 100644
--- a/src/bodyPart.cpp
+++ b/src/bodyPart.cpp
@@ -120,5 +120,16 @@ bodyPart* bodyPart::getParentPart() const
 }
 
 
+const std::vector <const component*> bodyPart::getChildComponents() const
+{
+	std::vector <const component*> list;
+
+	list.push_back(&m_header);
+	list.push_back(&m_body);
+
+	return (list);
+}
+
+
 } // vmime
 
diff --git a/src/bodyPart.hpp b/src/bodyPart.hpp
index bf52b248..222b8db9 100644
--- a/src/bodyPart.hpp
+++ b/src/bodyPart.hpp
@@ -77,6 +77,8 @@ public:
 	void copyFrom(const component& other);
 	bodyPart& operator=(const bodyPart& other);
 
+	const std::vector <const component*> getChildComponents() const;
+
 private:
 
 	header m_header;
diff --git a/src/charset.cpp b/src/charset.cpp
index 5a06722c..793ea1f7 100644
--- a/src/charset.cpp
+++ b/src/charset.cpp
@@ -274,4 +274,10 @@ void charset::copyFrom(const component& other)
 }
 
 
+const std::vector <const component*> charset::getChildComponents() const
+{
+	return std::vector <const component*>();
+}
+
+
 } // vmime
diff --git a/src/charset.hpp b/src/charset.hpp
index 1a42afbb..8de75329 100644
--- a/src/charset.hpp
+++ b/src/charset.hpp
@@ -53,6 +53,8 @@ public:
 	const bool operator==(const charset& value) const;
 	const bool operator!=(const charset& value) const;
 
+	const std::vector <const component*> getChildComponents() const;
+
 	/** Returns the default charset used on the system.
 	  *
 	  * This function simply calls <code>platformDependantHandler::getLocaleCharset()</code>
diff --git a/src/component.cpp b/src/component.cpp
index 35ff3dc0..cbedac63 100644
--- a/src/component.cpp
+++ b/src/component.cpp
@@ -75,4 +75,22 @@ void component::setParsedBounds(const string::size_type start, const string::siz
 }
 
 
+const std::vector <component*> component::getChildComponents()
+{
+	const std::vector <const component*> constList =
+		const_cast <const component*>(this)->getChildComponents();
+
+	std::vector <component*> list;
+
+	const std::vector <const component*>::size_type count = constList.size();
+
+	list.resize(count);
+
+	for (std::vector <const component*>::size_type i = 0 ; i < count ; ++i)
+		list[i] = const_cast <component*>(constList[i]);
+
+	return (list);
+}
+
+
 }
diff --git a/src/component.hpp b/src/component.hpp
index b09d78bf..af5386b2 100644
--- a/src/component.hpp
+++ b/src/component.hpp
@@ -104,6 +104,18 @@ public:
 	  */
 	const string::size_type getParsedLength() const;
 
+	/** Return the list of children of this component.
+	  *
+	  * @return list of child components
+	  */
+	const std::vector <component*> getChildComponents();
+
+	/** Return the list of children of this component (const version).
+	  *
+	  * @return list of child components
+	  */
+	virtual const std::vector <const component*> getChildComponents() const = 0;
+
 protected:
 
 	void setParsedBounds(const string::size_type start, const string::size_type end);
diff --git a/src/dateTime.cpp b/src/dateTime.cpp
index 7760d651..08ad89e9 100644
--- a/src/dateTime.cpp
+++ b/src/dateTime.cpp
@@ -709,6 +709,12 @@ datetime* datetime::clone() const
 }
 
 
+const std::vector <const component*> datetime::getChildComponents() const
+{
+	return std::vector <const component*>();
+}
+
+
 const int datetime::getYear() const { return (m_year); }
 const int datetime::getMonth() const { return (m_month); }
 const int datetime::getDay() const { return (m_day); }
diff --git a/src/dateTime.hpp b/src/dateTime.hpp
index 7d1157e4..40ff90fc 100644
--- a/src/dateTime.hpp
+++ b/src/dateTime.hpp
@@ -220,6 +220,8 @@ public:
 	// Current date and time
 	static const datetime now();
 
+	const std::vector <const component*> getChildComponents() const;
+
 private:
 
 	static const int dayOfWeek(const int year, const int month, const int day);
diff --git a/src/disposition.cpp b/src/disposition.cpp
index 9ac862c1..17dba56d 100644
--- a/src/disposition.cpp
+++ b/src/disposition.cpp
@@ -117,4 +117,10 @@ void disposition::setName(const string& name)
 }
 
 
+const std::vector <const component*> disposition::getChildComponents() const
+{
+	return std::vector <const component*>();
+}
+
+
 } // vmime
diff --git a/src/disposition.hpp b/src/disposition.hpp
index 4ca2fe92..15ab4980 100644
--- a/src/disposition.hpp
+++ b/src/disposition.hpp
@@ -59,6 +59,8 @@ public:
 	void copyFrom(const component& other);
 	disposition& operator=(const disposition& other);
 
+	const std::vector <const component*> getChildComponents() const;
+
 
 	disposition& operator=(const string& name);
 
diff --git a/src/encoding.cpp b/src/encoding.cpp
index de7e3287..4b270c8d 100644
--- a/src/encoding.cpp
+++ b/src/encoding.cpp
@@ -187,4 +187,10 @@ void encoding::setName(const string& name)
 }
 
 
+const std::vector <const component*> encoding::getChildComponents() const
+{
+	return std::vector <const component*>();
+}
+
+
 } // vmime
diff --git a/src/encoding.hpp b/src/encoding.hpp
index 52e48bd5..e8d358ac 100644
--- a/src/encoding.hpp
+++ b/src/encoding.hpp
@@ -66,6 +66,8 @@ public:
 	const bool operator==(const encoding& value) const;
 	const bool operator!=(const encoding& value) const;
 
+	const std::vector <const component*> getChildComponents() const;
+
 	/** Decide which encoding to use based on the specified data.
 	  *
 	  * \deprecated Use the new decide() method which takes a contentHandler parameter.
diff --git a/src/header.cpp b/src/header.cpp
index fbe6921f..492b4576 100644
--- a/src/header.cpp
+++ b/src/header.cpp
@@ -510,4 +510,14 @@ const std::vector <headerField*> header::getFieldList()
 }
 
 
+const std::vector <const component*> header::getChildComponents() const
+{
+	std::vector <const component*> list;
+
+	copy_vector(m_fields, list);
+
+	return (list);
+}
+
+
 } // vmime
diff --git a/src/header.hpp b/src/header.hpp
index bf0b74e9..d191e776 100644
--- a/src/header.hpp
+++ b/src/header.hpp
@@ -214,6 +214,8 @@ public:
 	void copyFrom(const component& other);
 	header& operator=(const header& other);
 
+	const std::vector <const component*> getChildComponents() const;
+
 private:
 
 	std::vector <headerField*> m_fields;
diff --git a/src/headerField.cpp b/src/headerField.cpp
index 791b6891..0efcd0a3 100644
--- a/src/headerField.cpp
+++ b/src/headerField.cpp
@@ -97,4 +97,14 @@ const bool headerField::isCustom() const
 }
 
 
+const std::vector <const component*> headerField::getChildComponents() const
+{
+	std::vector <const component*> list;
+
+	list.push_back(&getValue());
+
+	return (list);
+}
+
+
 } // vmime
diff --git a/src/headerField.hpp b/src/headerField.hpp
index 3bdc3116..081c809a 100644
--- a/src/headerField.hpp
+++ b/src/headerField.hpp
@@ -49,6 +49,8 @@ public:
 	void copyFrom(const component& other);
 	headerField& operator=(const headerField& other);
 
+	const std::vector <const component*> getChildComponents() const;
+
 	/** Return the name of this field.
 	  *
 	  * @return field name
diff --git a/src/mailbox.cpp b/src/mailbox.cpp
index 89ede107..65031064 100644
--- a/src/mailbox.cpp
+++ b/src/mailbox.cpp
@@ -504,4 +504,10 @@ void mailbox::setEmail(const string& email)
 }
 
 
+const std::vector <const component*> mailbox::getChildComponents() const
+{
+	return std::vector <const component*>();
+}
+
+
 } // vmime
diff --git a/src/mailbox.hpp b/src/mailbox.hpp
index e3f458e0..0acc2cc8 100644
--- a/src/mailbox.hpp
+++ b/src/mailbox.hpp
@@ -81,6 +81,8 @@ public:
 
 	void clear();
 
+	const std::vector <const component*> getChildComponents() const;
+
 
 	const bool isGroup() const;
 
diff --git a/src/mailboxGroup.cpp b/src/mailboxGroup.cpp
index eac2a125..7b830030 100644
--- a/src/mailboxGroup.cpp
+++ b/src/mailboxGroup.cpp
@@ -350,4 +350,15 @@ const std::vector <mailbox*> mailboxGroup::getMailboxList()
 }
 
 
+const std::vector <const component*> mailboxGroup::getChildComponents() const
+{
+	std::vector <const component*> list;
+
+	copy_vector(m_list, list);
+
+	return (list);
+
+}
+
+
 } // vmime
diff --git a/src/mailboxGroup.hpp b/src/mailboxGroup.hpp
index 3cf1266c..d0d7fd93 100644
--- a/src/mailboxGroup.hpp
+++ b/src/mailboxGroup.hpp
@@ -48,6 +48,8 @@ public:
 	mailboxGroup* clone() const;
 	mailboxGroup& operator=(const component& other);
 
+	const std::vector <const component*> getChildComponents() const;
+
 	/** Return the name of the group.
 	  *
 	  * @return group name
diff --git a/src/mediaType.cpp b/src/mediaType.cpp
index c16c316f..0bf74c95 100644
--- a/src/mediaType.cpp
+++ b/src/mediaType.cpp
@@ -169,4 +169,10 @@ void mediaType::setFromString(const string& type)
 }
 
 
+const std::vector <const component*> mediaType::getChildComponents() const
+{
+	return std::vector <const component*>();
+}
+
+
 } // vmime
diff --git a/src/mediaType.hpp b/src/mediaType.hpp
index a5bf1a09..7f88c965 100644
--- a/src/mediaType.hpp
+++ b/src/mediaType.hpp
@@ -51,6 +51,8 @@ public:
 	void copyFrom(const component& other);
 	mediaType& operator=(const mediaType& other);
 
+	const std::vector <const component*> getChildComponents() const;
+
 	/** Return the media type.
 	  * See the constants in vmime::mediaTypes.
 	  *
diff --git a/src/messageId.cpp b/src/messageId.cpp
index 42ac7cb6..35ab76b6 100644
--- a/src/messageId.cpp
+++ b/src/messageId.cpp
@@ -227,4 +227,10 @@ void messageId::setRight(const string& right)
 }
 
 
+const std::vector <const component*> messageId::getChildComponents() const
+{
+	return std::vector <const component*>();
+}
+
+
 } // vmime
diff --git a/src/messageId.hpp b/src/messageId.hpp
index 85b9fd2f..467b554b 100644
--- a/src/messageId.hpp
+++ b/src/messageId.hpp
@@ -91,6 +91,8 @@ public:
 	void copyFrom(const component& other);
 	messageId& operator=(const messageId& other);
 
+	const std::vector <const component*> getChildComponents() const;
+
 private:
 
 	string m_left;
diff --git a/src/parameter.cpp b/src/parameter.cpp
index 9feff1cc..a47a5a1a 100644
--- a/src/parameter.cpp
+++ b/src/parameter.cpp
@@ -149,4 +149,14 @@ void parameter::generateValue(utility::outputStream& os, const string::size_type
 }
 
 
+const std::vector <const component*> parameter::getChildComponents() const
+{
+	std::vector <const component*> list;
+
+	list.push_back(&getValue());
+
+	return (list);
+}
+
+
 } // vmime
diff --git a/src/parameter.hpp b/src/parameter.hpp
index 6c08722e..8e718a26 100644
--- a/src/parameter.hpp
+++ b/src/parameter.hpp
@@ -39,6 +39,8 @@ public:
 	void copyFrom(const component& other);
 	parameter& operator=(const parameter& other);
 
+	const std::vector <const component*> getChildComponents() const;
+
 	/** Return the name of the parameter.
 	  *
 	  * @return name of the parameter
diff --git a/src/relay.cpp b/src/relay.cpp
index 32cc99d8..b2a4d102 100644
--- a/src/relay.cpp
+++ b/src/relay.cpp
@@ -334,4 +334,11 @@ std::vector <string>& relay::getWithList()
 }
 
 
+const std::vector <const component*> relay::getChildComponents() const
+{
+	// TODO: should fields inherit from 'component'? (using typeAdapter)
+	return std::vector <const component*>();
+}
+
+
 } // vmime
diff --git a/src/relay.hpp b/src/relay.hpp
index 8559bccd..aac9d2bc 100644
--- a/src/relay.hpp
+++ b/src/relay.hpp
@@ -47,6 +47,8 @@ public:
 	void copyFrom(const component& other);
 	relay& operator=(const relay& other);
 
+	const std::vector <const component*> getChildComponents() const;
+
 	const string& getFrom() const;
 	void setFrom(const string& from);
 
diff --git a/src/text.cpp b/src/text.cpp
index b2f29966..cfbbea7a 100644
--- a/src/text.cpp
+++ b/src/text.cpp
@@ -840,4 +840,11 @@ void text::decodeAndUnfold(const string::const_iterator& inStart, const string::
 }
 
 
+const std::vector <const component*> text::getChildComponents() const
+{
+	// TODO: 'word' should inherit from 'component'
+	return std::vector <const component*>();
+}
+
+
 } // vmime
diff --git a/src/text.hpp b/src/text.hpp
index e7971f01..8af0c78d 100644
--- a/src/text.hpp
+++ b/src/text.hpp
@@ -53,6 +53,8 @@ public:
 	text& operator=(const component& other);
 	text& operator=(const text& other);
 
+	const std::vector <const component*> getChildComponents() const;
+
 	/** Add a word at the end of the list.
 	  *
 	  * @param w word to append
diff --git a/src/typeAdapter.hpp b/src/typeAdapter.hpp
index 6405b108..7ae04a6b 100644
--- a/src/typeAdapter.hpp
+++ b/src/typeAdapter.hpp
@@ -107,6 +107,11 @@ public:
 			*newLinePos = curLinePos + oss.str().length();
 	}
 
+	const std::vector <const component*> getChildComponents() const
+	{
+		return std::vector <const component*>();
+	}
+
 private:
 
 	TYPE m_value;