diff --git a/application.py b/application.py
index 62472f5..ca6d349 100755
--- a/application.py
+++ b/application.py
@@ -514,9 +514,8 @@ class Application(object):
         return
 
     # highlighting
-    # each highlighted_range contains three things: [window, start_p, end_p]
-    def add_highlighted_range(self, w, p1, p2, fg='default', bg='default'):
-        self.highlighted_ranges.append([w, p1, p2, fg, bg])
+    def add_highlighted_range(self, hr):
+        self.highlighted_ranges.append(hr)
     def clear_highlighted_ranges(self):
         self.highlighted_ranges = []
 
@@ -655,7 +654,8 @@ class Application(object):
         self._draw_slot(i)
 
         # highlighted regions
-        for (high_w, p1, p2, fg, bg) in self.highlighted_ranges:
+        for hr in self.highlighted_ranges:
+            (high_w, p1, p2, fg, bg) = hr
             if w is high_w and p2 >= w.first and p1 <= w.last:
                 count = 0
                 x, y = w.first.xy()
diff --git a/method/introspect.py b/method/introspect.py
index 394a7b1..2605355 100644
--- a/method/introspect.py
+++ b/method/introspect.py
@@ -10,7 +10,8 @@ class DumpRegions(Method):
     '''debug region highlighting'''
     def _execute(self, w, **vargs):
         lines = []
-        for (w, p1, p2) in w.application.highlighted_ranges:
+        for hr in w.application.highlighted_ranges:
+            (w, p1, p2, fg, bg) = hr
             lines.append("%r %s %s" % (w, p1, p2))
         output = "\n".join(lines)
         w.application.data_buffer("region-dump", output, switch_to=True)
diff --git a/render.py b/render.py
index 28aa0e9..61e8b6a 100644
--- a/render.py
+++ b/render.py
@@ -1,8 +1,27 @@
 import color
 from point import Point
 
+class HighlightRegion(object):
+    def __init__(self, w, p1, p2, fg='default', bg='default', match=None, name='lit'):
+        self.window = w
+        self.p1     = p1
+        self.p2     = p2
+        self.fg     = fg
+        self.bg     = bg
+        self.match  = match
+        self.name   = name
+    def __len__(self):
+        return 5
+    def __getitem__(self, i):
+        if i == 0: return self.window
+        elif i == 1: return self.p1
+        elif i == 2: return self.p2
+        elif i == 3: return self.fg
+        elif i == 4: return self.bg
+        else: raise IndexError
+
 class RenderString(object):
-    def __init__(self, s, y=0, x=0, attrs=None, name=""):
+    def __init__(self, s, y=0, x=0, attrs=None):
         if attrs is None:
             attrs = color.build('default', 'default')
 
@@ -10,7 +29,6 @@ class RenderString(object):
         self.y      = y
         self.x      = x
         self.attrs  = attrs
-        self.name   = name
     def draw(self, cwin, y, x):
         try:
             cwin.addstr(self.y + y, self.x + x, self.string, self.attrs)
diff --git a/searchutil.py b/searchutil.py
index 147b7d9..79851bc 100644
--- a/searchutil.py
+++ b/searchutil.py
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 import re
 import regex
 from point import Point
+from render import HighlightRegion
 
 bg_color         = 'black'
 selected_color   = 'magenta'
@@ -54,8 +55,8 @@ def find(r, w, move=False, direction='next', start=None, end=None):
         limit = Point(x - 1 + offset, y)
     elif direction == 'previous':
         limit  = Point(x + 1 - offset, y)
-        for stuff in app.highlighted_ranges:
-            (wz, p1, p2, fg, bg) = stuff
+        for hr in app.highlighted_ranges:
+            (wz, p1, p2, fg, bg) = hr
             if p1 == c:
                 limit = Point(x + 1 + p2.x - p1.x - 2*offset + 1, y)
                 break
@@ -81,7 +82,7 @@ def find(r, w, move=False, direction='next', start=None, end=None):
             continue
         elif p2 > w.last:
             break
-        app.add_highlighted_range(w, p1, p2, fg, bg)
+        app.add_highlighted_range(HighlightRegion(w, p1, p2, fg, bg))
     return newc
 
 def find_previous(r, w, move=False, start=None, end=None):