diff --git a/lib/SearchDescription.php b/lib/SearchDescription.php
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..e46dc464
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lib/SearchDescription.php
@@ -0,0 +1,58 @@
+<?php
+
+namespace Nominatim;
+
+/**
+ * Operators describing special searches.
+ */
+abstract final class Operator
+{
+    /// No operator selected.
+    const NONE = -1;
+    /// Search for POIs near the given place.
+    const NEAR = 0;
+    /// Search for POIS in the given place.
+    const IN = 1;
+    /// Search for POIS named as given.
+    const NAME = 3;
+    /// Search for postcodes.
+    const POSTCODE = 4;
+}
+
+/**
+ * Description of a single interpretation of a search query.
+ */
+class SearchDescription
+{
+    /// Ranking how well the description fits the query.
+    private $iSearchRank = 0;
+    /// Country code of country the result must belong to.
+    private $sCountryCode = '';
+    /// List of word ids making up the name of the object.
+    private $aName = array();
+    /// List of word ids making up the address of the object.
+    private $aAddress = array();
+    /// Subset of word ids of full words making up the address.
+    private $aFullNameAddress = array();
+    /// List of word ids that appear in the name but should be ignored.
+    private $aNameNonSearch = array();
+    /// List of word ids that appear in the address but should be ignored.
+    private $aAddressNonSearch = array();
+    /// Kind of search for special searches, see Nominatim::Operator.
+    private $iOperator = Operator::NONE;
+    /// Class of special feature to search for.
+    private $sClass = '';
+    /// Type of special feature to search for.
+    private $sType = '';
+    /// Housenumber of the object.
+    private $sHouseNumber = '';
+    /// Postcode for the object.
+    private $sPostcode = '';
+    /// Geographic search area.
+    private $oNearPoint = false;
+
+    // Temporary values used while creating the search description.
+
+    /// Index of phrase currently processed
+    private $iNamePhrase = -1;
+};