diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index f8f32e6..21ad9d6 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@
 	- [Diff](#diff)
 		- [Diff class API](#diff-class-api)
 		- [Diff object API](#diff-object-api)
+		- [Shorthands and functions](#shorthands-and-functions)
 		- [Supported JavaScript objects](#supported-javascript-objects)
 		- [Extended 'Text' object support](#extended-text-object-support)
 		- [Options](#options)
@@ -267,7 +268,10 @@ var diff = new Diff(A, B)
 `Diff.cmp(A, B) -> bool`  
 Deep compare `A` to `B`.
 
-`Diff.clone(<title>)`  
+`Diff.vars(pattern, A) -> obj`  
+Get variable values defined (via `VAR`/`LIKE`) in `pattern` matching corresponding values in `obj`.
+
+`Diff.clone(title)`  
 Clone the `Diff` constructor, useful for extending or tweaking the type handlers (see: [Extending](#extending-diff) below).
 
 `Diff.fromJSON(json) -> diff`  
@@ -313,6 +317,24 @@ Return the *parent diff* that was used to generate the current *child diff* or t
 Serialize the *diff* to JSON. Note that the output may or may not be JSON compatible depending on the inputs.
 
 
+### Shorthands and functions
+
+`cmp(A, B) -> bool`  
+Deep compare `A` and `B`.
+
+This is a shorthand to: `Diff.cmp(A, B) -> bool`
+
+`patch(diff, A) -> A'`  
+Apply changes in `diff` to `A` (*patch*).
+
+This is a shorthand to: `diff.patch(A) -> A'`
+
+`vars(pattern, A) -> obj`  
+Get variable values defined (via `VAR`/`LIKE`) in `pattern` matching corresponding values in `obj`.
+
+This is a shorthand to: `Diff.vars(pattern, B) -> obj`
+
+
 ### Supported JavaScript objects
 
 The object support can be split into two, basic objects that are stored as-is and containers that support item changes when their types match.
diff --git a/diff.js b/diff.js
index 01ba54f..50936dc 100644
--- a/diff.js
+++ b/diff.js
@@ -2347,6 +2347,11 @@ var DiffClassPrototype = {
 
 	// proxy generic stuff to .types...
 	cmp: proxy('types.cmp'),
+	vars: function(pattern, obj){
+		var o = {}
+		this.cmp(pattern, obj, null, o)
+		return o.ns || {}
+	},
 
 	// XXX do format/version conversion...
 	fromJSON: function(json){
@@ -2529,6 +2534,13 @@ function(diff, obj, options, types){
 		.patch(obj, options) }
 
 
+// Extract pattern VAR/LIKE matching values from obj...
+//
+var vars =
+module.vars =
+function(pattern, obj){
+	return Diff.vars(pattern, obj) }
+
 
 
 /**********************************************************************