Merge branch 'bw/ref-prefix-for-configured-refspec'

"git fetch $there $refspec" that talks over protocol v2 can take
advantage of server-side ref filtering; the code has been extended
so that this mechanism triggers also when fetching with configured
refspec.

* bw/ref-prefix-for-configured-refspec: (38 commits)
  fetch: generate ref-prefixes when using a configured refspec
  refspec: consolidate ref-prefix generation logic
  submodule: convert push_unpushed_submodules to take a struct refspec
  remote: convert check_push_refs to take a struct refspec
  remote: convert match_push_refs to take a struct refspec
  http-push: store refspecs in a struct refspec
  transport: remove transport_verify_remote_names
  send-pack: store refspecs in a struct refspec
  transport: convert transport_push to take a struct refspec
  push: convert to use struct refspec
  push: check for errors earlier
  remote: convert match_explicit_refs to take a struct refspec
  remote: convert get_ref_match to take a struct refspec
  remote: convert query_refspecs to take a struct refspec
  remote: convert apply_refspecs to take a struct refspec
  remote: convert get_stale_heads to take a struct refspec
  fetch: convert prune_refs to take a struct refspec
  fetch: convert get_ref_map to take a struct refspec
  fetch: convert do_fetch to take a struct refspec
  refspec: remove the deprecated functions
  ...

23 files changed, 570 insertions, 613 deletions

diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index ad880d1fc5..4bca65383a 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -928,6 +928,7 @@ LIB_OBJS += refs/files-backend.o
 LIB_OBJS += refs/iterator.o
 LIB_OBJS += refs/packed-backend.o
 LIB_OBJS += refs/ref-cache.o
+LIB_OBJS += refspec.o
 LIB_OBJS += ref-filter.o
 LIB_OBJS += remote.o
 LIB_OBJS += replace-object.o
diff --git a/branch.c b/branch.c
index 2672054f0b..f967c98f63 100644
--- a/branch.c
+++ b/branch.c
@@ -3,12 +3,13 @@
 #include "config.h"
 #include "branch.h"
 #include "refs.h"
+#include "refspec.h"
 #include "remote.h"
 #include "commit.h"
 #include "worktree.h"
 
 struct tracking {
-	struct refspec spec;
+	struct refspec_item spec;
 	char *src;
 	const char *remote;
 	int matches;
@@ -218,8 +219,8 @@ int validate_new_branchname(const char *name, struct strbuf *ref, int force)
 static int check_tracking_branch(struct remote *remote, void *cb_data)
 {
 	char *tracking_branch = cb_data;
-	struct refspec query;
-	memset(&query, 0, sizeof(struct refspec));
+	struct refspec_item query;
+	memset(&query, 0, sizeof(struct refspec_item));
 	query.dst = tracking_branch;
 	return !remote_find_tracking(remote, &query);
 }
diff --git a/builtin/clone.c b/builtin/clone.c
index ecd8495dab..99e73dae85 100644
--- a/builtin/clone.c
+++ b/builtin/clone.c
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@
 #include "parse-options.h"
 #include "fetch-pack.h"
 #include "refs.h"
+#include "refspec.h"
 #include "tree.h"
 #include "tree-walk.h"
 #include "unpack-trees.h"
@@ -546,7 +547,7 @@ static struct ref *find_remote_branch(const struct ref *refs, const char *branch
 }
 
 static struct ref *wanted_peer_refs(const struct ref *refs,
-		struct refspec *refspec)
+		struct refspec_item *refspec)
 {
 	struct ref *head = copy_ref(find_ref_by_name(refs, "HEAD"));
 	struct ref *local_refs = head;
@@ -894,8 +895,7 @@ int cmd_clone(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix)
 	int err = 0, complete_refs_before_fetch = 1;
 	int submodule_progress;
 
-	struct refspec *refspec;
-	const char *fetch_pattern;
+	struct refspec_item refspec;
 
 	fetch_if_missing = 0;
 
@@ -1077,8 +1077,7 @@ int cmd_clone(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix)
 	if (option_required_reference.nr || option_optional_reference.nr)
 		setup_reference();
 
-	fetch_pattern = value.buf;
-	refspec = parse_fetch_refspec(1, &fetch_pattern);
+	refspec_item_init(&refspec, value.buf, REFSPEC_FETCH);
 
 	strbuf_reset(&value);
 
@@ -1138,7 +1137,7 @@ int cmd_clone(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix)
 	refs = transport_get_remote_refs(transport, NULL);
 
 	if (refs) {
-		mapped_refs = wanted_peer_refs(refs, refspec);
+		mapped_refs = wanted_peer_refs(refs, &refspec);
 		/*
 		 * transport_get_remote_refs() may return refs with null sha-1
 		 * in mapped_refs (see struct transport->get_refs_list
@@ -1232,6 +1231,6 @@ int cmd_clone(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix)
 	strbuf_release(&value);
 	junk_mode = JUNK_LEAVE_ALL;
 
-	free(refspec);
+	refspec_item_clear(&refspec);
 	return err;
 }
diff --git a/builtin/fast-export.c b/builtin/fast-export.c
index f9568ddba0..6c9768742f 100644
--- a/builtin/fast-export.c
+++ b/builtin/fast-export.c
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@
 #include "cache.h"
 #include "config.h"
 #include "refs.h"
+#include "refspec.h"
 #include "commit.h"
 #include "object.h"
 #include "tag.h"
@@ -35,8 +36,7 @@ static int use_done_feature;
 static int no_data;
 static int full_tree;
 static struct string_list extra_refs = STRING_LIST_INIT_NODUP;
-static struct refspec *refspecs;
-static int refspecs_nr;
+static struct refspec refspecs = REFSPEC_INIT_FETCH;
 static int anonymize;
 
 static int parse_opt_signed_tag_mode(const struct option *opt,
@@ -828,9 +828,9 @@ static void get_tags_and_duplicates(struct rev_cmdline_info *info)
 		if (dwim_ref(e->name, strlen(e->name), &oid, &full_name) != 1)
 			continue;
 
-		if (refspecs) {
+		if (refspecs.nr) {
 			char *private;
-			private = apply_refspecs(refspecs, refspecs_nr, full_name);
+			private = apply_refspecs(&refspecs, full_name);
 			if (private) {
 				free(full_name);
 				full_name = private;
@@ -976,8 +976,8 @@ static void import_marks(char *input_file)
 static void handle_deletes(void)
 {
 	int i;
-	for (i = 0; i < refspecs_nr; i++) {
-		struct refspec *refspec = &refspecs[i];
+	for (i = 0; i < refspecs.nr; i++) {
+		struct refspec_item *refspec = &refspecs.items[i];
 		if (*refspec->src)
 			continue;
 
@@ -1038,18 +1038,12 @@ int cmd_fast_export(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix)
 		usage_with_options (fast_export_usage, options);
 
 	if (refspecs_list.nr) {
-		const char **refspecs_str;
 		int i;
 
-		ALLOC_ARRAY(refspecs_str, refspecs_list.nr);
 		for (i = 0; i < refspecs_list.nr; i++)
-			refspecs_str[i] = refspecs_list.items[i].string;
-
-		refspecs_nr = refspecs_list.nr;
-		refspecs = parse_fetch_refspec(refspecs_nr, refspecs_str);
+			refspec_append(&refspecs, refspecs_list.items[i].string);
 
 		string_list_clear(&refspecs_list, 1);
-		free(refspecs_str);
 	}
 
 	if (use_done_feature)
@@ -1088,7 +1082,7 @@ int cmd_fast_export(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix)
 	if (use_done_feature)
 		printf("done\n");
 
-	free_refspec(refspecs_nr, refspecs);
+	refspec_clear(&refspecs);
 
 	return 0;
 }
diff --git a/builtin/fetch.c b/builtin/fetch.c
index 1f037e8e4b..c0d8ad1fe2 100644
--- a/builtin/fetch.c
+++ b/builtin/fetch.c
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@
 #include "config.h"
 #include "repository.h"
 #include "refs.h"
+#include "refspec.h"
 #include "commit.h"
 #include "builtin.h"
 #include "string-list.h"
@@ -59,8 +60,7 @@ static const char *submodule_prefix = "";
 static int recurse_submodules = RECURSE_SUBMODULES_DEFAULT;
 static int recurse_submodules_default = RECURSE_SUBMODULES_ON_DEMAND;
 static int shown_url = 0;
-static int refmap_alloc, refmap_nr;
-static const char **refmap_array;
+static struct refspec refmap = REFSPEC_INIT_FETCH;
 static struct list_objects_filter_options filter_options;
 static struct string_list server_options = STRING_LIST_INIT_DUP;
 
@@ -108,14 +108,12 @@ static int gitmodules_fetch_config(const char *var, const char *value, void *cb)
 
 static int parse_refmap_arg(const struct option *opt, const char *arg, int unset)
 {
-	ALLOC_GROW(refmap_array, refmap_nr + 1, refmap_alloc);
-
 	/*
 	 * "git fetch --refmap='' origin foo"
 	 * can be used to tell the command not to store anywhere
 	 */
-	if (*arg)
-		refmap_array[refmap_nr++] = arg;
+	refspec_append(&refmap, arg);
+
 	return 0;
 }
 
@@ -204,7 +202,7 @@ static void add_merge_config(struct ref **head,
 
 	for (i = 0; i < branch->merge_nr; i++) {
 		struct ref *rm, **old_tail = *tail;
-		struct refspec refspec;
+		struct refspec_item refspec;
 
 		for (rm = *head; rm; rm = rm->next) {
 			if (branch_merge_matches(branch, i, rm->name)) {
@@ -341,7 +339,7 @@ static void find_non_local_tags(struct transport *transport,
 }
 
 static struct ref *get_ref_map(struct transport *transport,
-			       struct refspec *refspecs, int refspec_count,
+			       struct refspec *rs,
 			       int tags, int *autotags)
 {
 	int i;
@@ -355,29 +353,26 @@ static struct ref *get_ref_map(struct transport *transport,
 
 	const struct ref *remote_refs;
 
-	for (i = 0; i < refspec_count; i++) {
-		if (!refspecs[i].exact_sha1) {
-			const char *glob = strchr(refspecs[i].src, '*');
-			if (glob)
-				argv_array_pushf(&ref_prefixes, "%.*s",
-						 (int)(glob - refspecs[i].src),
-						 refspecs[i].src);
-			else
-				expand_ref_prefix(&ref_prefixes, refspecs[i].src);
-		}
+	if (rs->nr)
+		refspec_ref_prefixes(rs, &ref_prefixes);
+	else if (transport->remote && transport->remote->fetch.nr)
+		refspec_ref_prefixes(&transport->remote->fetch, &ref_prefixes);
+
+	if (ref_prefixes.argc &&
+	    (tags == TAGS_SET || (tags == TAGS_DEFAULT && !rs->nr))) {
+		argv_array_push(&ref_prefixes, "refs/tags/");
 	}
 
 	remote_refs = transport_get_remote_refs(transport, &ref_prefixes);
 
 	argv_array_clear(&ref_prefixes);
 
-	if (refspec_count) {
+	if (rs->nr) {
 		struct refspec *fetch_refspec;
-		int fetch_refspec_nr;
 
-		for (i = 0; i < refspec_count; i++) {
-			get_fetch_map(remote_refs, &refspecs[i], &tail, 0);
-			if (refspecs[i].dst && refspecs[i].dst[0])
+		for (i = 0; i < rs->nr; i++) {
+			get_fetch_map(remote_refs, &rs->items[i], &tail, 0);
+			if (rs->items[i].dst && rs->items[i].dst[0])
 				*autotags = 1;
 		}
 		/* Merge everything on the command line (but not --tags) */
@@ -404,17 +399,14 @@ static struct ref *get_ref_map(struct transport *transport,
 		 * by ref_remove_duplicates() in favor of one of these
 		 * opportunistic entries with FETCH_HEAD_IGNORE.
 		 */
-		if (refmap_array) {
-			fetch_refspec = parse_fetch_refspec(refmap_nr, refmap_array);
-			fetch_refspec_nr = refmap_nr;
-		} else {
-			fetch_refspec = transport->remote->fetch;
-			fetch_refspec_nr = transport->remote->fetch_refspec_nr;
-		}
+		if (refmap.nr)
+			fetch_refspec = &refmap;
+		else
+			fetch_refspec = &transport->remote->fetch;
 
-		for (i = 0; i < fetch_refspec_nr; i++)
-			get_fetch_map(ref_map, &fetch_refspec[i], &oref_tail, 1);
-	} else if (refmap_array) {
+		for (i = 0; i < fetch_refspec->nr; i++)
+			get_fetch_map(ref_map, &fetch_refspec->items[i], &oref_tail, 1);
+	} else if (refmap.nr) {
 		die("--refmap option is only meaningful with command-line refspec(s).");
 	} else {
 		/* Use the defaults */
@@ -422,16 +414,16 @@ static struct ref *get_ref_map(struct transport *transport,
 		struct branch *branch = branch_get(NULL);
 		int has_merge = branch_has_merge_config(branch);
 		if (remote &&
-		    (remote->fetch_refspec_nr ||
+		    (remote->fetch.nr ||
 		     /* Note: has_merge implies non-NULL branch->remote_name */
 		     (has_merge && !strcmp(branch->remote_name, remote->name)))) {
-			for (i = 0; i < remote->fetch_refspec_nr; i++) {
-				get_fetch_map(remote_refs, &remote->fetch[i], &tail, 0);
-				if (remote->fetch[i].dst &&
-				    remote->fetch[i].dst[0])
+			for (i = 0; i < remote->fetch.nr; i++) {
+				get_fetch_map(remote_refs, &remote->fetch.items[i], &tail, 0);
+				if (remote->fetch.items[i].dst &&
+				    remote->fetch.items[i].dst[0])
 					*autotags = 1;
 				if (!i && !has_merge && ref_map &&
-				    !remote->fetch[0].pattern)
+				    !remote->fetch.items[0].pattern)
 					ref_map->fetch_head_status = FETCH_HEAD_MERGE;
 			}
 			/*
@@ -966,11 +958,11 @@ static int fetch_refs(struct transport *transport, struct ref *ref_map)
 	return ret;
 }
 
-static int prune_refs(struct refspec *refs, int ref_count, struct ref *ref_map,
-		const char *raw_url)
+static int prune_refs(struct refspec *rs, struct ref *ref_map,
+		      const char *raw_url)
 {
 	int url_len, i, result = 0;
-	struct ref *ref, *stale_refs = get_stale_heads(refs, ref_count, ref_map);
+	struct ref *ref, *stale_refs = get_stale_heads(rs, ref_map);
 	char *url;
 	int summary_width = transport_summary_width(stale_refs);
 	const char *dangling_msg = dry_run
@@ -1116,7 +1108,7 @@ static void backfill_tags(struct transport *transport, struct ref *ref_map)
 }
 
 static int do_fetch(struct transport *transport,
-		    struct refspec *refs, int ref_count)
+		    struct refspec *rs)
 {
 	struct string_list existing_refs = STRING_LIST_INIT_DUP;
 	struct ref *ref_map;
@@ -1140,7 +1132,7 @@ static int do_fetch(struct transport *transport,
 			goto cleanup;
 	}
 
-	ref_map = get_ref_map(transport, refs, ref_count, tags, &autotags);
+	ref_map = get_ref_map(transport, rs, tags, &autotags);
 	if (!update_head_ok)
 		check_not_current_branch(ref_map);
 
@@ -1164,11 +1156,10 @@ static int do_fetch(struct transport *transport,
 		 * explicitly (via command line or configuration); we
 		 * don't care whether --tags was specified.
 		 */
-		if (ref_count) {
-			prune_refs(refs, ref_count, ref_map, transport->url);
+		if (rs->nr) {
+			prune_refs(rs, ref_map, transport->url);
 		} else {
-			prune_refs(transport->remote->fetch,
-				   transport->remote->fetch_refspec_nr,
+			prune_refs(&transport->remote->fetch,
 				   ref_map,
 				   transport->url);
 		}
@@ -1357,10 +1348,8 @@ static inline void fetch_one_setup_partial(struct remote *remote)
 
 static int fetch_one(struct remote *remote, int argc, const char **argv, int prune_tags_ok)
 {
-	static const char **refs = NULL;
-	struct refspec *refspec;
-	int ref_nr = 0;
-	int j = 0;
+	struct refspec rs = REFSPEC_INIT_FETCH;
+	int i;
 	int exit_code;
 	int maybe_prune_tags;
 	int remote_via_config = remote_is_configured(remote, 0);
@@ -1393,29 +1382,24 @@ static int fetch_one(struct remote *remote, int argc, const char **argv, int pru
 
 	maybe_prune_tags = prune_tags_ok && prune_tags;
 	if (maybe_prune_tags && remote_via_config)
-		add_prune_tags_to_fetch_refspec(remote);
-
-	if (argc > 0 || (maybe_prune_tags && !remote_via_config)) {
-		size_t nr_alloc = st_add3(argc, maybe_prune_tags, 1);
-		refs = xcalloc(nr_alloc, sizeof(const char *));
-		if (maybe_prune_tags) {
-			refs[j++] = xstrdup("refs/tags/*:refs/tags/*");
-			ref_nr++;
-		}
-	}
-
-	if (argc > 0) {
-		int i;
-		for (i = 0; i < argc; i++) {
-			if (!strcmp(argv[i], "tag")) {
-				i++;
-				if (i >= argc)
-					die(_("You need to specify a tag name."));
-				refs[j++] = xstrfmt("refs/tags/%s:refs/tags/%s",
-						    argv[i], argv[i]);
-			} else
-				refs[j++] = argv[i];
-			ref_nr++;
+		refspec_append(&remote->fetch, TAG_REFSPEC);
+
+	if (maybe_prune_tags && (argc || !remote_via_config))
+		refspec_append(&rs, TAG_REFSPEC);
+
+	for (i = 0; i < argc; i++) {
+		if (!strcmp(argv[i], "tag")) {
+			char *tag;
+			i++;
+			if (i >= argc)
+				die(_("You need to specify a tag name."));
+
+			tag = xstrfmt("refs/tags/%s:refs/tags/%s",
+				      argv[i], argv[i]);
+			refspec_append(&rs, tag);
+			free(tag);
+		} else {
+			refspec_append(&rs, argv[i]);
 		}
 	}
 
@@ -1424,9 +1408,8 @@ static int fetch_one(struct remote *remote, int argc, const char **argv, int pru
 
 	sigchain_push_common(unlock_pack_on_signal);
 	atexit(unlock_pack);
-	refspec = parse_fetch_refspec(ref_nr, refs);
-	exit_code = do_fetch(gtransport, refspec, ref_nr);
-	free_refspec(ref_nr, refspec);
+	exit_code = do_fetch(gtransport, &rs);
+	refspec_clear(&rs);
 	transport_disconnect(gtransport);
 	gtransport = NULL;
 	return exit_code;
diff --git a/builtin/merge.c b/builtin/merge.c
index fba0a7fc79..d85f99b781 100644
--- a/builtin/merge.c
+++ b/builtin/merge.c
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@
 #include "run-command.h"
 #include "diff.h"
 #include "refs.h"
+#include "refspec.h"
 #include "commit.h"
 #include "diffcore.h"
 #include "revision.h"
diff --git a/builtin/pull.c b/builtin/pull.c
index 25f7db5b3a..1f2ecf3a88 100644
--- a/builtin/pull.c
+++ b/builtin/pull.c
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@
 #include "remote.h"
 #include "dir.h"
 #include "refs.h"
+#include "refspec.h"
 #include "revision.h"
 #include "submodule.h"
 #include "submodule-config.h"
@@ -679,12 +680,12 @@ static const char *get_upstream_branch(const char *remote)
  */
 static const char *get_tracking_branch(const char *remote, const char *refspec)
 {
-	struct refspec *spec;
+	struct refspec_item spec;
 	const char *spec_src;
 	const char *merge_branch;
 
-	spec = parse_fetch_refspec(1, &refspec);
-	spec_src = spec->src;
+	refspec_item_init(&spec, refspec, REFSPEC_FETCH);
+	spec_src = spec.src;
 	if (!*spec_src || !strcmp(spec_src, "HEAD"))
 		spec_src = "HEAD";
 	else if (skip_prefix(spec_src, "heads/", &spec_src))
@@ -704,7 +705,7 @@ static const char *get_tracking_branch(const char *remote, const char *refspec)
 	} else
 		merge_branch = NULL;
 
-	free_refspec(1, spec);
+	refspec_item_clear(&spec);
 	return merge_branch;
 }
 
diff --git a/builtin/push.c b/builtin/push.c
index ac3705370e..9cd8e8cd56 100644
--- a/builtin/push.c
+++ b/builtin/push.c
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@
 #include "cache.h"
 #include "config.h"
 #include "refs.h"
+#include "refspec.h"
 #include "run-command.h"
 #include "builtin.h"
 #include "remote.h"
@@ -56,19 +57,10 @@ static enum transport_family family;
 
 static struct push_cas_option cas;
 
-static const char **refspec;
-static int refspec_nr;
-static int refspec_alloc;
+static struct refspec rs = REFSPEC_INIT_PUSH;
 
 static struct string_list push_options_config = STRING_LIST_INIT_DUP;
 
-static void add_refspec(const char *ref)
-{
-	refspec_nr++;
-	ALLOC_GROW(refspec, refspec_nr, refspec_alloc);
-	refspec[refspec_nr-1] = ref;
-}
-
 static const char *map_refspec(const char *ref,
 			       struct remote *remote, struct ref *local_refs)
 {
@@ -78,12 +70,11 @@ static const char *map_refspec(const char *ref,
 	if (count_refspec_match(ref, local_refs, &matched) != 1)
 		return ref;
 
-	if (remote->push) {
-		struct refspec query;
-		memset(&query, 0, sizeof(struct refspec));
+	if (remote->push.nr) {
+		struct refspec_item query;
+		memset(&query, 0, sizeof(struct refspec_item));
 		query.src = matched->name;
-		if (!query_refspecs(remote->push, remote->push_refspec_nr, &query) &&
-		    query.dst) {
+		if (!query_refspecs(&remote->push, &query) && query.dst) {
 			struct strbuf buf = STRBUF_INIT;
 			strbuf_addf(&buf, "%s%s:%s",
 				    query.force ? "+" : "",
@@ -138,7 +129,7 @@ static void set_refspecs(const char **refs, int nr, const char *repo)
 			}
 			ref = map_refspec(ref, remote, local_refs);
 		}
-		add_refspec(ref);
+		refspec_append(&rs, ref);
 	}
 }
 
@@ -226,7 +217,7 @@ static void setup_push_upstream(struct remote *remote, struct branch *branch,
 	}
 
 	strbuf_addf(&refspec, "%s:%s", branch->refname, branch->merge[0]->src);
-	add_refspec(refspec.buf);
+	refspec_append(&rs, refspec.buf);
 }
 
 static void setup_push_current(struct remote *remote, struct branch *branch)
@@ -236,7 +227,7 @@ static void setup_push_current(struct remote *remote, struct branch *branch)
 	if (!branch)
 		die(_(message_detached_head_die), remote->name);
 	strbuf_addf(&refspec, "%s:%s", branch->refname, branch->refname);
-	add_refspec(refspec.buf);
+	refspec_append(&rs, refspec.buf);
 }
 
 static int is_workflow_triangular(struct remote *remote)
@@ -253,7 +244,7 @@ static void setup_default_push_refspecs(struct remote *remote)
 	switch (push_default) {
 	default:
 	case PUSH_DEFAULT_MATCHING:
-		add_refspec(":");
+		refspec_append(&rs, ":");
 		break;
 
 	case PUSH_DEFAULT_UNSPECIFIED:
@@ -341,7 +332,8 @@ static void advise_ref_needs_force(void)
 	advise(_(message_advice_ref_needs_force));
 }
 
-static int push_with_options(struct transport *transport, int flags)
+static int push_with_options(struct transport *transport, struct refspec *rs,
+			     int flags)
 {
 	int err;
 	unsigned int reject_reasons;
@@ -363,8 +355,7 @@ static int push_with_options(struct transport *transport, int flags)
 
 	if (verbosity > 0)
 		fprintf(stderr, _("Pushing to %s\n"), transport->url);
-	err = transport_push(transport, refspec_nr, refspec, flags,
-			     &reject_reasons);
+	err = transport_push(transport, rs, flags, &reject_reasons);
 	if (err != 0) {
 		fprintf(stderr, "%s", push_get_color(PUSH_COLOR_ERROR));
 		error(_("failed to push some refs to '%s'"), transport->url);
@@ -397,6 +388,7 @@ static int do_push(const char *repo, int flags,
 	struct remote *remote = pushremote_get(repo);
 	const char **url;
 	int url_nr;
+	struct refspec *push_refspec = &rs;
 
 	if (!remote) {
 		if (repo)
@@ -417,27 +409,9 @@ static int do_push(const char *repo, int flags,
 	if (push_options->nr)
 		flags |= TRANSPORT_PUSH_OPTIONS;
 
-	if ((flags & TRANSPORT_PUSH_ALL) && refspec) {
-		if (!strcmp(*refspec, "refs/tags/*"))
-			return error(_("--all and --tags are incompatible"));
-		return error(_("--all can't be combined with refspecs"));
-	}
-
-	if ((flags & TRANSPORT_PUSH_MIRROR) && refspec) {
-		if (!strcmp(*refspec, "refs/tags/*"))
-			return error(_("--mirror and --tags are incompatible"));
-		return error(_("--mirror can't be combined with refspecs"));
-	}
-
-	if ((flags & (TRANSPORT_PUSH_ALL|TRANSPORT_PUSH_MIRROR)) ==
-				(TRANSPORT_PUSH_ALL|TRANSPORT_PUSH_MIRROR)) {
-		return error(_("--all and --mirror are incompatible"));
-	}
-
-	if (!refspec && !(flags & TRANSPORT_PUSH_ALL)) {
-		if (remote->push_refspec_nr) {
-			refspec = remote->push_refspec;
-			refspec_nr = remote->push_refspec_nr;
+	if (!push_refspec->nr && !(flags & TRANSPORT_PUSH_ALL)) {
+		if (remote->push.nr) {
+			push_refspec = &remote->push;
 		} else if (!(flags & TRANSPORT_PUSH_MIRROR))
 			setup_default_push_refspecs(remote);
 	}
@@ -449,7 +423,7 @@ static int do_push(const char *repo, int flags,
 				transport_get(remote, url[i]);
 			if (flags & TRANSPORT_PUSH_OPTIONS)
 				transport->push_options = push_options;
-			if (push_with_options(transport, flags))
+			if (push_with_options(transport, push_refspec, flags))
 				errs++;
 		}
 	} else {
@@ -457,7 +431,7 @@ static int do_push(const char *repo, int flags,
 			transport_get(remote, NULL);
 		if (flags & TRANSPORT_PUSH_OPTIONS)
 			transport->push_options = push_options;
-		if (push_with_options(transport, flags))
+		if (push_with_options(transport, push_refspec, flags))
 			errs++;
 	}
 	return !!errs;
@@ -625,6 +599,20 @@ int cmd_push(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix)
 		die(_("--delete is incompatible with --all, --mirror and --tags"));
 	if (deleterefs && argc < 2)
 		die(_("--delete doesn't make sense without any refs"));
+	if (flags & TRANSPORT_PUSH_ALL) {
+		if (tags)
+			die(_("--all and --tags are incompatible"));
+		if (argc >= 2)
+			die(_("--all can't be combined with refspecs"));
+	}
+	if (flags & TRANSPORT_PUSH_MIRROR) {
+		if (tags)
+			die(_("--mirror and --tags are incompatible"));
+		if (argc >= 2)
+			die(_("--mirror can't be combined with refspecs"));
+	}
+	if ((flags & TRANSPORT_PUSH_ALL) && (flags & TRANSPORT_PUSH_MIRROR))
+		die(_("--all and --mirror are incompatible"));
 
 	if (recurse_submodules == RECURSE_SUBMODULES_CHECK)
 		flags |= TRANSPORT_RECURSE_SUBMODULES_CHECK;
@@ -634,7 +622,7 @@ int cmd_push(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix)
 		flags |= TRANSPORT_RECURSE_SUBMODULES_ONLY;
 
 	if (tags)
-		add_refspec("refs/tags/*");
+		refspec_append(&rs, "refs/tags/*");
 
 	if (argc > 0) {
 		repo = argv[0];
diff --git a/builtin/remote.c b/builtin/remote.c
index 0bbf9f4c9e..1a82d850a2 100644
--- a/builtin/remote.c
+++ b/builtin/remote.c
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@
 #include "strbuf.h"
 #include "run-command.h"
 #include "refs.h"
+#include "refspec.h"
 #include "argv-array.h"
 
 static const char * const builtin_remote_usage[] = {
@@ -336,10 +337,10 @@ static int get_ref_states(const struct ref *remote_refs, struct ref_states *stat
 	struct ref *ref, *stale_refs;
 	int i;
 
-	for (i = 0; i < states->remote->fetch_refspec_nr; i++)
-		if (get_fetch_map(remote_refs, states->remote->fetch + i, &tail, 1))
+	for (i = 0; i < states->remote->fetch.nr; i++)
+		if (get_fetch_map(remote_refs, &states->remote->fetch.items[i], &tail, 1))
 			die(_("Could not get fetch map for refspec %s"),
-				states->remote->fetch_refspec[i]);
+				states->remote->fetch.raw[i]);
 
 	states->new_refs.strdup_strings = 1;
 	states->tracked.strdup_strings = 1;
@@ -350,8 +351,7 @@ static int get_ref_states(const struct ref *remote_refs, struct ref_states *stat
 		else
 			string_list_append(&states->tracked, abbrev_branch(ref->name));
 	}
-	stale_refs = get_stale_heads(states->remote->fetch,
-				     states->remote->fetch_refspec_nr, fetch_map);
+	stale_refs = get_stale_heads(&states->remote->fetch, fetch_map);
 	for (ref = stale_refs; ref; ref = ref->next) {
 		struct string_list_item *item =
 			string_list_append(&states->stale, abbrev_branch(ref->name));
@@ -391,8 +391,7 @@ static int get_push_ref_states(const struct ref *remote_refs,
 	local_refs = get_local_heads();
 	push_map = copy_ref_list(remote_refs);
 
-	match_push_refs(local_refs, &push_map, remote->push_refspec_nr,
-			remote->push_refspec, MATCH_REFS_NONE);
+	match_push_refs(local_refs, &push_map, &remote->push, MATCH_REFS_NONE);
 
 	states->push.strdup_strings = 1;
 	for (ref = push_map; ref; ref = ref->next) {
@@ -438,14 +437,14 @@ static int get_push_ref_states_noquery(struct ref_states *states)
 		return 0;
 
 	states->push.strdup_strings = 1;
-	if (!remote->push_refspec_nr) {
+	if (!remote->push.nr) {
 		item = string_list_append(&states->push, _("(matching)"));
 		info = item->util = xcalloc(1, sizeof(struct push_info));
 		info->status = PUSH_STATUS_NOTQUERIED;
 		info->dest = xstrdup(item->string);
 	}
-	for (i = 0; i < remote->push_refspec_nr; i++) {
-		struct refspec *spec = remote->push + i;
+	for (i = 0; i < remote->push.nr; i++) {
+		const struct refspec_item *spec = &remote->push.items[i];
 		if (spec->matching)
 			item = string_list_append(&states->push, _("(matching)"));
 		else if (strlen(spec->src))
@@ -465,7 +464,7 @@ static int get_head_names(const struct ref *remote_refs, struct ref_states *stat
 {
 	struct ref *ref, *matches;
 	struct ref *fetch_map = NULL, **fetch_map_tail = &fetch_map;
-	struct refspec refspec;
+	struct refspec_item refspec;
 
 	refspec.force = 0;
 	refspec.pattern = 1;
@@ -518,7 +517,7 @@ static int add_branch_for_removal(const char *refname,
 	const struct object_id *oid, int flags, void *cb_data)
 {
 	struct branches_for_remote *branches = cb_data;
-	struct refspec refspec;
+	struct refspec_item refspec;
 	struct known_remote *kr;
 
 	memset(&refspec, 0, sizeof(refspec));
@@ -589,12 +588,12 @@ static int migrate_file(struct remote *remote)
 		git_config_set_multivar(buf.buf, remote->url[i], "^$", 0);
 	strbuf_reset(&buf);
 	strbuf_addf(&buf, "remote.%s.push", remote->name);
-	for (i = 0; i < remote->push_refspec_nr; i++)
-		git_config_set_multivar(buf.buf, remote->push_refspec[i], "^$", 0);
+	for (i = 0; i < remote->push.raw_nr; i++)
+		git_config_set_multivar(buf.buf, remote->push.raw[i], "^$", 0);
 	strbuf_reset(&buf);
 	strbuf_addf(&buf, "remote.%s.fetch", remote->name);
-	for (i = 0; i < remote->fetch_refspec_nr; i++)
-		git_config_set_multivar(buf.buf, remote->fetch_refspec[i], "^$", 0);
+	for (i = 0; i < remote->fetch.raw_nr; i++)
+		git_config_set_multivar(buf.buf, remote->fetch.raw[i], "^$", 0);
 	if (remote->origin == REMOTE_REMOTES)
 		unlink_or_warn(git_path("remotes/%s", remote->name));
 	else if (remote->origin == REMOTE_BRANCHES)
@@ -649,11 +648,11 @@ static int mv(int argc, const char **argv)
 	strbuf_addf(&buf, "remote.%s.fetch", rename.new_name);
 	git_config_set_multivar(buf.buf, NULL, NULL, 1);
 	strbuf_addf(&old_remote_context, ":refs/remotes/%s/", rename.old_name);
-	for (i = 0; i < oldremote->fetch_refspec_nr; i++) {
+	for (i = 0; i < oldremote->fetch.raw_nr; i++) {
 		char *ptr;
 
 		strbuf_reset(&buf2);
-		strbuf_addstr(&buf2, oldremote->fetch_refspec[i]);
+		strbuf_addstr(&buf2, oldremote->fetch.raw[i]);
 		ptr = strstr(buf2.buf, old_remote_context.buf);
 		if (ptr) {
 			refspec_updated = 1;
@@ -837,7 +836,7 @@ static int append_ref_to_tracked_list(const char *refname,
 	const struct object_id *oid, int flags, void *cb_data)
 {
 	struct ref_states *states = cb_data;
-	struct refspec refspec;
+	struct refspec_item refspec;
 
 	if (flags & REF_ISSYMREF)
 		return 0;
diff --git a/builtin/send-pack.c b/builtin/send-pack.c
index b5427f75e3..4923b1058c 100644
--- a/builtin/send-pack.c
+++ b/builtin/send-pack.c
@@ -126,8 +126,7 @@ static int send_pack_config(const char *k, const char *v, void *cb)
 
 int cmd_send_pack(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix)
 {
-	int i, nr_refspecs = 0;
-	const char **refspecs = NULL;
+	struct refspec rs = REFSPEC_INIT_PUSH;
 	const char *remote_name = NULL;
 	struct remote *remote = NULL;
 	const char *dest = NULL;
@@ -189,8 +188,7 @@ int cmd_send_pack(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix)
 	argc = parse_options(argc, argv, prefix, options, send_pack_usage, 0);
 	if (argc > 0) {
 		dest = argv[0];
-		refspecs = (const char **)(argv + 1);
-		nr_refspecs = argc - 1;
+		refspec_appendn(&rs, argv + 1, argc - 1);
 	}
 
 	if (!dest)
@@ -209,31 +207,23 @@ int cmd_send_pack(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix)
 	args.push_options = push_options.nr ? &push_options : NULL;
 
 	if (from_stdin) {
-		struct argv_array all_refspecs = ARGV_ARRAY_INIT;
-
-		for (i = 0; i < nr_refspecs; i++)
-			argv_array_push(&all_refspecs, refspecs[i]);
-
 		if (args.stateless_rpc) {
 			const char *buf;
 			while ((buf = packet_read_line(0, NULL)))
-				argv_array_push(&all_refspecs, buf);
+				refspec_append(&rs, buf);
 		} else {
 			struct strbuf line = STRBUF_INIT;
 			while (strbuf_getline(&line, stdin) != EOF)
-				argv_array_push(&all_refspecs, line.buf);
+				refspec_append(&rs, line.buf);
 			strbuf_release(&line);
 		}
-
-		refspecs = all_refspecs.argv;
-		nr_refspecs = all_refspecs.argc;
 	}
 
 	/*
 	 * --all and --mirror are incompatible; neither makes sense
 	 * with any refspecs.
 	 */
-	if ((nr_refspecs > 0 && (send_all || args.send_mirror)) ||
+	if ((rs.nr > 0 && (send_all || args.send_mirror)) ||
 	    (send_all && args.send_mirror))
 		usage_with_options(send_pack_usage, options);
 
@@ -275,8 +265,6 @@ int cmd_send_pack(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix)
 		BUG("unknown protocol version");
 	}
 
-	transport_verify_remote_names(nr_refspecs, refspecs);
-
 	local_refs = get_local_heads();
 
 	flags = MATCH_REFS_NONE;
@@ -287,7 +275,7 @@ int cmd_send_pack(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix)
 		flags |= MATCH_REFS_MIRROR;
 
 	/* match them up */
-	if (match_push_refs(local_refs, &remote_refs, nr_refspecs, refspecs, flags))
+	if (match_push_refs(local_refs, &remote_refs, &rs, flags))
 		return -1;
 
 	if (!is_empty_cas(&cas))
diff --git a/builtin/submodule--helper.c b/builtin/submodule--helper.c
index 7c3cd9dbeb..bd250ca216 100644
--- a/builtin/submodule--helper.c
+++ b/builtin/submodule--helper.c
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@
 #include "run-command.h"
 #include "remote.h"
 #include "refs.h"
+#include "refspec.h"
 #include "connect.h"
 #include "revision.h"
 #include "diffcore.h"
@@ -1753,13 +1754,14 @@ static int push_check(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix)
 
 	/* Check the refspec */
 	if (argc > 2) {
-		int i, refspec_nr = argc - 2;
+		int i;
 		struct ref *local_refs = get_local_heads();
-		struct refspec *refspec = parse_push_refspec(refspec_nr,
-							     argv + 2);
+		struct refspec refspec = REFSPEC_INIT_PUSH;
 
-		for (i = 0; i < refspec_nr; i++) {
-			struct refspec *rs = refspec + i;
+		refspec_appendn(&refspec, argv + 2, argc - 2);
+
+		for (i = 0; i < refspec.nr; i++) {
+			const struct refspec_item *rs = &refspec.items[i];
 
 			if (rs->pattern || rs->matching)
 				continue;
@@ -1786,7 +1788,7 @@ static int push_check(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix)
 				    rs->src);
 			}
 		}
-		free_refspec(refspec_nr, refspec);
+		refspec_clear(&refspec);
 	}
 	free(head);
 
diff --git a/checkout.c b/checkout.c
index ac42630f74..bdefc888ba 100644
--- a/checkout.c
+++ b/checkout.c
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 #include "cache.h"
 #include "remote.h"
+#include "refspec.h"
 #include "checkout.h"
 
 struct tracking_name_data {
@@ -12,8 +13,8 @@ struct tracking_name_data {
 static int check_tracking_name(struct remote *remote, void *cb_data)
 {
 	struct tracking_name_data *cb = cb_data;
-	struct refspec query;
-	memset(&query, 0, sizeof(struct refspec));
+	struct refspec_item query;
+	memset(&query, 0, sizeof(struct refspec_item));
 	query.src = cb->src_ref;
 	if (remote_find_tracking(remote, &query) ||
 	    get_oid(query.dst, cb->dst_oid)) {
diff --git a/http-push.c b/http-push.c
index 2669f4bfa1..7e38522098 100644
--- a/http-push.c
+++ b/http-push.c
@@ -1692,8 +1692,7 @@ int cmd_main(int argc, const char **argv)
 {
 	struct transfer_request *request;
 	struct transfer_request *next_request;
-	int nr_refspec = 0;
-	const char **refspec = NULL;
+	struct refspec rs = REFSPEC_INIT_PUSH;
 	struct remote_lock *ref_lock = NULL;
 	struct remote_lock *info_ref_lock = NULL;
 	struct rev_info revs;
@@ -1756,8 +1755,7 @@ int cmd_main(int argc, const char **argv)
 			}
 			continue;
 		}
-		refspec = argv;
-		nr_refspec = argc - i;
+		refspec_appendn(&rs, argv, argc - i);
 		break;
 	}
 
@@ -1768,7 +1766,7 @@ int cmd_main(int argc, const char **argv)
 	if (!repo->url)
 		usage(http_push_usage);
 
-	if (delete_branch && nr_refspec != 1)
+	if (delete_branch && rs.nr != 1)
 		die("You must specify only one branch name when deleting a remote branch");
 
 	setup_git_directory();
@@ -1814,18 +1812,18 @@ int cmd_main(int argc, const char **argv)
 
 	/* Remove a remote branch if -d or -D was specified */
 	if (delete_branch) {
-		if (delete_remote_branch(refspec[0], force_delete) == -1) {
+		const char *branch = rs.items[i].src;
+		if (delete_remote_branch(branch, force_delete) == -1) {
 			fprintf(stderr, "Unable to delete remote branch %s\n",
-				refspec[0]);
+				branch);
 			if (helper_status)
-				printf("error %s cannot remove\n", refspec[0]);
+				printf("error %s cannot remove\n", branch);
 		}
 		goto cleanup;
 	}
 
 	/* match them up */
-	if (match_push_refs(local_refs, &remote_refs,
-			    nr_refspec, (const char **) refspec, push_all)) {
+	if (match_push_refs(local_refs, &remote_refs, &rs, push_all)) {
 		rc = -1;
 		goto cleanup;
 	}
diff --git a/refspec.c b/refspec.c
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..c59a4ccf1e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/refspec.c
@@ -0,0 +1,223 @@
+#include "cache.h"
+#include "argv-array.h"
+#include "refs.h"
+#include "refspec.h"
+
+static struct refspec_item s_tag_refspec = {
+	0,
+	1,
+	0,
+	0,
+	"refs/tags/*",
+	"refs/tags/*"
+};
+
+/* See TAG_REFSPEC for the string version */
+const struct refspec_item *tag_refspec = &s_tag_refspec;
+
+/*
+ * Parses the provided refspec 'refspec' and populates the refspec_item 'item'.
+ * Returns 1 if successful and 0 if the refspec is invalid.
+ */
+static int parse_refspec(struct refspec_item *item, const char *refspec, int fetch)
+{
+	size_t llen;
+	int is_glob;
+	const char *lhs, *rhs;
+	int flags;
+
+	is_glob = 0;
+
+	lhs = refspec;
+	if (*lhs == '+') {
+		item->force = 1;
+		lhs++;
+	}
+
+	rhs = strrchr(lhs, ':');
+
+	/*
+	 * Before going on, special case ":" (or "+:") as a refspec
+	 * for pushing matching refs.
+	 */
+	if (!fetch && rhs == lhs && rhs[1] == '\0') {
+		item->matching = 1;
+		return 1;
+	}
+
+	if (rhs) {
+		size_t rlen = strlen(++rhs);
+		is_glob = (1 <= rlen && strchr(rhs, '*'));
+		item->dst = xstrndup(rhs, rlen);
+	}
+
+	llen = (rhs ? (rhs - lhs - 1) : strlen(lhs));
+	if (1 <= llen && memchr(lhs, '*', llen)) {
+		if ((rhs && !is_glob) || (!rhs && fetch))
+			return 0;
+		is_glob = 1;
+	} else if (rhs && is_glob) {
+		return 0;
+	}
+
+	item->pattern = is_glob;
+	item->src = xstrndup(lhs, llen);
+	flags = REFNAME_ALLOW_ONELEVEL | (is_glob ? REFNAME_REFSPEC_PATTERN : 0);
+
+	if (fetch) {
+		struct object_id unused;
+
+		/* LHS */
+		if (!*item->src)
+			; /* empty is ok; it means "HEAD" */
+		else if (llen == GIT_SHA1_HEXSZ && !get_oid_hex(item->src, &unused))
+			item->exact_sha1 = 1; /* ok */
+		else if (!check_refname_format(item->src, flags))
+			; /* valid looking ref is ok */
+		else
+			return 0;
+		/* RHS */
+		if (!item->dst)
+			; /* missing is ok; it is the same as empty */
+		else if (!*item->dst)
+			; /* empty is ok; it means "do not store" */
+		else if (!check_refname_format(item->dst, flags))
+			; /* valid looking ref is ok */
+		else
+			return 0;
+	} else {
+		/*
+		 * LHS
+		 * - empty is allowed; it means delete.
+		 * - when wildcarded, it must be a valid looking ref.
+		 * - otherwise, it must be an extended SHA-1, but
+		 *   there is no existing way to validate this.
+		 */
+		if (!*item->src)
+			; /* empty is ok */
+		else if (is_glob) {
+			if (check_refname_format(item->src, flags))
+				return 0;
+		}
+		else
+			; /* anything goes, for now */
+		/*
+		 * RHS
+		 * - missing is allowed, but LHS then must be a
+		 *   valid looking ref.
+		 * - empty is not allowed.
+		 * - otherwise it must be a valid looking ref.
+		 */
+		if (!item->dst) {
+			if (check_refname_format(item->src, flags))
+				return 0;
+		} else if (!*item->dst) {
+			return 0;
+		} else {
+			if (check_refname_format(item->dst, flags))
+				return 0;
+		}
+	}
+
+	return 1;
+}
+
+void refspec_item_init(struct refspec_item *item, const char *refspec, int fetch)
+{
+	memset(item, 0, sizeof(*item));
+
+	if (!parse_refspec(item, refspec, fetch))
+		die("Invalid refspec '%s'", refspec);
+}
+
+void refspec_item_clear(struct refspec_item *item)
+{
+	FREE_AND_NULL(item->src);
+	FREE_AND_NULL(item->dst);
+	item->force = 0;
+	item->pattern = 0;
+	item->matching = 0;
+	item->exact_sha1 = 0;
+}
+
+void refspec_init(struct refspec *rs, int fetch)
+{
+	memset(rs, 0, sizeof(*rs));
+	rs->fetch = fetch;
+}
+
+void refspec_append(struct refspec *rs, const char *refspec)
+{
+	struct refspec_item item;
+
+	refspec_item_init(&item, refspec, rs->fetch);
+
+	ALLOC_GROW(rs->items, rs->nr + 1, rs->alloc);
+	rs->items[rs->nr++] = item;
+
+	ALLOC_GROW(rs->raw, rs->raw_nr + 1, rs->raw_alloc);
+	rs->raw[rs->raw_nr++] = xstrdup(refspec);
+}
+
+void refspec_appendn(struct refspec *rs, const char **refspecs, int nr)
+{
+	int i;
+	for (i = 0; i < nr; i++)
+		refspec_append(rs, refspecs[i]);
+}
+
+void refspec_clear(struct refspec *rs)
+{
+	int i;
+
+	for (i = 0; i < rs->nr; i++)
+		refspec_item_clear(&rs->items[i]);
+
+	FREE_AND_NULL(rs->items);
+	rs->alloc = 0;
+	rs->nr = 0;
+
+	for (i = 0; i < rs->raw_nr; i++)
+		free((char *)rs->raw[i]);
+	FREE_AND_NULL(rs->raw);
+	rs->raw_alloc = 0;
+	rs->raw_nr = 0;
+
+	rs->fetch = 0;
+}
+
+int valid_fetch_refspec(const char *fetch_refspec_str)
+{
+	struct refspec_item refspec;
+	int ret = parse_refspec(&refspec, fetch_refspec_str, REFSPEC_FETCH);
+	refspec_item_clear(&refspec);
+	return ret;
+}
+
+void refspec_ref_prefixes(const struct refspec *rs,
+			  struct argv_array *ref_prefixes)
+{
+	int i;
+	for (i = 0; i < rs->nr; i++) {
+		const struct refspec_item *item = &rs->items[i];
+		const char *prefix = NULL;
+
+		if (rs->fetch == REFSPEC_FETCH)
+			prefix = item->src;
+		else if (item->dst)
+			prefix = item->dst;
+		else if (item->src && !item->exact_sha1)
+			prefix = item->src;
+
+		if (prefix) {
+			if (item->pattern) {
+				const char *glob = strchr(prefix, '*');
+				argv_array_pushf(ref_prefixes, "%.*s",
+						 (int)(glob - prefix),
+						 prefix);
+			} else {
+				expand_ref_prefix(ref_prefixes, prefix);
+			}
+		}
+	}
+}
diff --git a/refspec.h b/refspec.h
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..01b700e094
--- /dev/null
+++ b/refspec.h
@@ -0,0 +1,48 @@
+#ifndef REFSPEC_H
+#define REFSPEC_H
+
+#define TAG_REFSPEC "refs/tags/*:refs/tags/*"
+extern const struct refspec_item *tag_refspec;
+
+struct refspec_item {
+	unsigned force : 1;
+	unsigned pattern : 1;
+	unsigned matching : 1;
+	unsigned exact_sha1 : 1;
+
+	char *src;
+	char *dst;
+};
+
+#define REFSPEC_FETCH 1
+#define REFSPEC_PUSH 0
+
+#define REFSPEC_INIT_FETCH { .fetch = REFSPEC_FETCH }
+#define REFSPEC_INIT_PUSH { .fetch = REFSPEC_PUSH }
+
+struct refspec {
+	struct refspec_item *items;
+	int alloc;
+	int nr;
+
+	const char **raw;
+	int raw_alloc;
+	int raw_nr;
+
+	int fetch;
+};
+
+void refspec_item_init(struct refspec_item *item, const char *refspec, int fetch);
+void refspec_item_clear(struct refspec_item *item);
+void refspec_init(struct refspec *rs, int fetch);
+void refspec_append(struct refspec *rs, const char *refspec);
+void refspec_appendn(struct refspec *rs, const char **refspecs, int nr);
+void refspec_clear(struct refspec *rs);
+
+int valid_fetch_refspec(const char *refspec);
+
+struct argv_array;
+void refspec_ref_prefixes(const struct refspec *rs,
+			  struct argv_array *ref_prefixes);
+
+#endif /* REFSPEC_H */
diff --git a/remote.c b/remote.c
index 238689ae28..abe80c1397 100644
--- a/remote.c
+++ b/remote.c
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 #include "config.h"
 #include "remote.h"
 #include "refs.h"
+#include "refspec.h"
 #include "commit.h"
 #include "diff.h"
 #include "revision.h"
@@ -13,18 +14,6 @@
 
 enum map_direction { FROM_SRC, FROM_DST };
 
-static struct refspec s_tag_refspec = {
-	0,
-	1,
-	0,
-	0,
-	"refs/tags/*",
-	"refs/tags/*"
-};
-
-/* See TAG_REFSPEC for the string version */
-const struct refspec *tag_refspec = &s_tag_refspec;
-
 struct counted_string {
 	size_t len;
 	const char *s;
@@ -88,33 +77,6 @@ static const char *alias_url(const char *url, struct rewrites *r)
 	return xstrfmt("%s%s", r->rewrite[longest_i]->base, url + longest->len);
 }
 
-static void add_push_refspec(struct remote *remote, const char *ref)
-{
-	ALLOC_GROW(remote->push_refspec,
-		   remote->push_refspec_nr + 1,
-		   remote->push_refspec_alloc);
-	remote->push_refspec[remote->push_refspec_nr++] = ref;
-}
-
-static void add_fetch_refspec(struct remote *remote, const char *ref)
-{
-	ALLOC_GROW(remote->fetch_refspec,
-		   remote->fetch_refspec_nr + 1,
-		   remote->fetch_refspec_alloc);
-	remote->fetch_refspec[remote->fetch_refspec_nr++] = ref;
-}
-
-void add_prune_tags_to_fetch_refspec(struct remote *remote)
-{
-	int nr = remote->fetch_refspec_nr;
-	int bufsize = nr  + 1;
-	int size = sizeof(struct refspec);
-
-	remote->fetch = xrealloc(remote->fetch, size  * bufsize);
-	memcpy(&remote->fetch[nr], tag_refspec, size);
-	add_fetch_refspec(remote, xstrdup(TAG_REFSPEC));
-}
-
 static void add_url(struct remote *remote, const char *url)
 {
 	ALLOC_GROW(remote->url, remote->url_nr + 1, remote->url_alloc);
@@ -186,9 +148,12 @@ static struct remote *make_remote(const char *name, int len)
 	ret = xcalloc(1, sizeof(struct remote));
 	ret->prune = -1;  /* unspecified */
 	ret->prune_tags = -1;  /* unspecified */
+	ret->name = xstrndup(name, len);
+	refspec_init(&ret->push, REFSPEC_PUSH);
+	refspec_init(&ret->fetch, REFSPEC_FETCH);
+
 	ALLOC_GROW(remotes, remotes_nr + 1, remotes_alloc);
 	remotes[remotes_nr++] = ret;
-	ret->name = xstrndup(name, len);
 
 	hashmap_entry_init(ret, lookup_entry.hash);
 	replaced = hashmap_put(&remotes_hash, ret);
@@ -286,9 +251,9 @@ static void read_remotes_file(struct remote *remote)
 		if (skip_prefix(buf.buf, "URL:", &v))
 			add_url_alias(remote, xstrdup(skip_spaces(v)));
 		else if (skip_prefix(buf.buf, "Push:", &v))
-			add_push_refspec(remote, xstrdup(skip_spaces(v)));
+			refspec_append(&remote->push, skip_spaces(v));
 		else if (skip_prefix(buf.buf, "Pull:", &v))
-			add_fetch_refspec(remote, xstrdup(skip_spaces(v)));
+			refspec_append(&remote->fetch, skip_spaces(v));
 	}
 	strbuf_release(&buf);
 	fclose(f);
@@ -327,15 +292,19 @@ static void read_branches_file(struct remote *remote)
 		frag = "master";
 
 	add_url_alias(remote, strbuf_detach(&buf, NULL));
-	add_fetch_refspec(remote, xstrfmt("refs/heads/%s:refs/heads/%s",
-					  frag, remote->name));
+	strbuf_addf(&buf, "refs/heads/%s:refs/heads/%s",
+		    frag, remote->name);
+	refspec_append(&remote->fetch, buf.buf);
 
 	/*
 	 * Cogito compatible push: push current HEAD to remote #branch
 	 * (master if missing)
 	 */
-	add_push_refspec(remote, xstrfmt("HEAD:refs/heads/%s", frag));
+	strbuf_reset(&buf);
+	strbuf_addf(&buf, "HEAD:refs/heads/%s", frag);
+	refspec_append(&remote->push, buf.buf);
 	remote->fetch_tags = 1; /* always auto-follow */
+	strbuf_release(&buf);
 }
 
 static int handle_config(const char *key, const char *value, void *cb)
@@ -420,12 +389,14 @@ static int handle_config(const char *key, const char *value, void *cb)
 		const char *v;
 		if (git_config_string(&v, key, value))
 			return -1;
-		add_push_refspec(remote, v);
+		refspec_append(&remote->push, v);
+		free((char *)v);
 	} else if (!strcmp(subkey, "fetch")) {
 		const char *v;
 		if (git_config_string(&v, key, value))
 			return -1;
-		add_fetch_refspec(remote, v);
+		refspec_append(&remote->fetch, v);
+		free((char *)v);
 	} else if (!strcmp(subkey, "receivepack")) {
 		const char *v;
 		if (git_config_string(&v, key, value))
@@ -499,158 +470,6 @@ static void read_config(void)
 	alias_all_urls();
 }
 
-static struct refspec *parse_refspec_internal(int nr_refspec, const char **refspec, int fetch, int verify)
-{
-	int i;
-	struct refspec *rs = xcalloc(nr_refspec, sizeof(*rs));
-
-	for (i = 0; i < nr_refspec; i++) {
-		size_t llen;
-		int is_glob;
-		const char *lhs, *rhs;
-		int flags;
-
-		is_glob = 0;
-
-		lhs = refspec[i];
-		if (*lhs == '+') {
-			rs[i].force = 1;
-			lhs++;
-		}
-
-		rhs = strrchr(lhs, ':');
-
-		/*
-		 * Before going on, special case ":" (or "+:") as a refspec
-		 * for pushing matching refs.
-		 */
-		if (!fetch && rhs == lhs && rhs[1] == '\0') {
-			rs[i].matching = 1;
-			continue;
-		}
-
-		if (rhs) {
-			size_t rlen = strlen(++rhs);
-			is_glob = (1 <= rlen && strchr(rhs, '*'));
-			rs[i].dst = xstrndup(rhs, rlen);
-		}
-
-		llen = (rhs ? (rhs - lhs - 1) : strlen(lhs));
-		if (1 <= llen && memchr(lhs, '*', llen)) {
-			if ((rhs && !is_glob) || (!rhs && fetch))
-				goto invalid;
-			is_glob = 1;
-		} else if (rhs && is_glob) {
-			goto invalid;
-		}
-
-		rs[i].pattern = is_glob;
-		rs[i].src = xstrndup(lhs, llen);
-		flags = REFNAME_ALLOW_ONELEVEL | (is_glob ? REFNAME_REFSPEC_PATTERN : 0);
-
-		if (fetch) {
-			struct object_id unused;
-
-			/* LHS */
-			if (!*rs[i].src)
-				; /* empty is ok; it means "HEAD" */
-			else if (llen == GIT_SHA1_HEXSZ && !get_oid_hex(rs[i].src, &unused))
-				rs[i].exact_sha1 = 1; /* ok */
-			else if (!check_refname_format(rs[i].src, flags))
-				; /* valid looking ref is ok */
-			else
-				goto invalid;
-			/* RHS */
-			if (!rs[i].dst)
-				; /* missing is ok; it is the same as empty */
-			else if (!*rs[i].dst)
-				; /* empty is ok; it means "do not store" */
-			else if (!check_refname_format(rs[i].dst, flags))
-				; /* valid looking ref is ok */
-			else
-				goto invalid;
-		} else {
-			/*
-			 * LHS
-			 * - empty is allowed; it means delete.
-			 * - when wildcarded, it must be a valid looking ref.
-			 * - otherwise, it must be an extended SHA-1, but
-			 *   there is no existing way to validate this.
-			 */
-			if (!*rs[i].src)
-				; /* empty is ok */
-			else if (is_glob) {
-				if (check_refname_format(rs[i].src, flags))
-					goto invalid;
-			}
-			else
-				; /* anything goes, for now */
-			/*
-			 * RHS
-			 * - missing is allowed, but LHS then must be a
-			 *   valid looking ref.
-			 * - empty is not allowed.
-			 * - otherwise it must be a valid looking ref.
-			 */
-			if (!rs[i].dst) {
-				if (check_refname_format(rs[i].src, flags))
-					goto invalid;
-			} else if (!*rs[i].dst) {
-				goto invalid;
-			} else {
-				if (check_refname_format(rs[i].dst, flags))
-					goto invalid;
-			}
-		}
-	}
-	return rs;
-
- invalid:
-	if (verify) {
-		/*
-		 * nr_refspec must be greater than zero and i must be valid
-		 * since it is only possible to reach this point from within
-		 * the for loop above.
-		 */
-		free_refspec(i+1, rs);
-		return NULL;
-	}
-	die("Invalid refspec '%s'", refspec[i]);
-}
-
-int valid_fetch_refspec(const char *fetch_refspec_str)
-{
-	struct refspec *refspec;
-
-	refspec = parse_refspec_internal(1, &fetch_refspec_str, 1, 1);
-	free_refspec(1, refspec);
-	return !!refspec;
-}
-
-struct refspec *parse_fetch_refspec(int nr_refspec, const char **refspec)
-{
-	return parse_refspec_internal(nr_refspec, refspec, 1, 0);
-}
-
-struct refspec *parse_push_refspec(int nr_refspec, const char **refspec)
-{
-	return parse_refspec_internal(nr_refspec, refspec, 0, 0);
-}
-
-void free_refspec(int nr_refspec, struct refspec *refspec)
-{
-	int i;
-
-	if (!refspec)
-		return;
-
-	for (i = 0; i < nr_refspec; i++) {
-		free(refspec[i].src);
-		free(refspec[i].dst);
-	}
-	free(refspec);
-}
-
 static int valid_remote_nick(const char *name)
 {
 	if (!name[0] || is_dot_or_dotdot(name))
@@ -705,9 +524,8 @@ const char *remote_ref_for_branch(struct branch *branch, int for_push,
 				pushremote_for_branch(branch, NULL);
 			struct remote *remote = remote_get(remote_name);
 
-			if (remote && remote->push_refspec_nr &&
-			    (dst = apply_refspecs(remote->push,
-						  remote->push_refspec_nr,
+			if (remote && remote->push.nr &&
+			    (dst = apply_refspecs(&remote->push,
 						  branch->refname))) {
 				if (explicit)
 					*explicit = 1;
@@ -744,8 +562,6 @@ static struct remote *remote_get_1(const char *name,
 		add_url_alias(ret, name);
 	if (!valid_remote(ret))
 		return NULL;
-	ret->fetch = parse_fetch_refspec(ret->fetch_refspec_nr, ret->fetch_refspec);
-	ret->push = parse_push_refspec(ret->push_refspec_nr, ret->push_refspec);
 	return ret;
 }
 
@@ -776,12 +592,6 @@ int for_each_remote(each_remote_fn fn, void *priv)
 		struct remote *r = remotes[i];
 		if (!r)
 			continue;
-		if (!r->fetch)
-			r->fetch = parse_fetch_refspec(r->fetch_refspec_nr,
-						       r->fetch_refspec);
-		if (!r->push)
-			r->push = parse_push_refspec(r->push_refspec_nr,
-						     r->push_refspec);
 		result = fn(r, priv);
 	}
 	return result;
@@ -887,7 +697,9 @@ static int match_name_with_pattern(const char *key, const char *name,
 	return ret;
 }
 
-static void query_refspecs_multiple(struct refspec *refs, int ref_count, struct refspec *query, struct string_list *results)
+static void query_refspecs_multiple(struct refspec *rs,
+				    struct refspec_item *query,
+				    struct string_list *results)
 {
 	int i;
 	int find_src = !query->src;
@@ -895,8 +707,8 @@ static void query_refspecs_multiple(struct refspec *refs, int ref_count, struct
 	if (find_src && !query->dst)
 		error("query_refspecs_multiple: need either src or dst");
 
-	for (i = 0; i < ref_count; i++) {
-		struct refspec *refspec = &refs[i];
+	for (i = 0; i < rs->nr; i++) {
+		struct refspec_item *refspec = &rs->items[i];
 		const char *key = find_src ? refspec->dst : refspec->src;
 		const char *value = find_src ? refspec->src : refspec->dst;
 		const char *needle = find_src ? query->dst : query->src;
@@ -913,7 +725,7 @@ static void query_refspecs_multiple(struct refspec *refs, int ref_count, struct
 	}
 }
 
-int query_refspecs(struct refspec *refs, int ref_count, struct refspec *query)
+int query_refspecs(struct refspec *rs, struct refspec_item *query)
 {
 	int i;
 	int find_src = !query->src;
@@ -923,8 +735,8 @@ int query_refspecs(struct refspec *refs, int ref_count, struct refspec *query)
 	if (find_src && !query->dst)
 		return error("query_refspecs: need either src or dst");
 
-	for (i = 0; i < ref_count; i++) {
-		struct refspec *refspec = &refs[i];
+	for (i = 0; i < rs->nr; i++) {
+		struct refspec_item *refspec = &rs->items[i];
 		const char *key = find_src ? refspec->dst : refspec->src;
 		const char *value = find_src ? refspec->src : refspec->dst;
 
@@ -944,23 +756,22 @@ int query_refspecs(struct refspec *refs, int ref_count, struct refspec *query)
 	return -1;
 }
 
-char *apply_refspecs(struct refspec *refspecs, int nr_refspec,
-		     const char *name)
+char *apply_refspecs(struct refspec *rs, const char *name)
 {
-	struct refspec query;
+	struct refspec_item query;
 
-	memset(&query, 0, sizeof(struct refspec));
+	memset(&query, 0, sizeof(struct refspec_item));
 	query.src = (char *)name;
 
-	if (query_refspecs(refspecs, nr_refspec, &query))
+	if (query_refspecs(rs, &query))
 		return NULL;
 
 	return query.dst;
 }
 
-int remote_find_tracking(struct remote *remote, struct refspec *refspec)
+int remote_find_tracking(struct remote *remote, struct refspec_item *refspec)
 {
-	return query_refspecs(remote->fetch, remote->fetch_refspec_nr, refspec);
+	return query_refspecs(&remote->fetch, refspec);
 }
 
 static struct ref *alloc_ref_with_prefix(const char *prefix, size_t prefixlen,
@@ -1167,7 +978,7 @@ static char *guess_ref(const char *name, struct ref *peer)
 }
 
 static int match_explicit_lhs(struct ref *src,
-			      struct refspec *rs,
+			      struct refspec_item *rs,
 			      struct ref **match,
 			      int *allocated_match)
 {
@@ -1193,7 +1004,7 @@ static int match_explicit_lhs(struct ref *src,
 
 static int match_explicit(struct ref *src, struct ref *dst,
 			  struct ref ***dst_tail,
-			  struct refspec *rs)
+			  struct refspec_item *rs)
 {
 	struct ref *matched_src, *matched_dst;
 	int allocated_src;
@@ -1262,36 +1073,37 @@ static int match_explicit(struct ref *src, struct ref *dst,
 }
 
 static int match_explicit_refs(struct ref *src, struct ref *dst,
-			       struct ref ***dst_tail, struct refspec *rs,
-			       int rs_nr)
+			       struct ref ***dst_tail, struct refspec *rs)
 {
 	int i, errs;
-	for (i = errs = 0; i < rs_nr; i++)
-		errs += match_explicit(src, dst, dst_tail, &rs[i]);
+	for (i = errs = 0; i < rs->nr; i++)
+		errs += match_explicit(src, dst, dst_tail, &rs->items[i]);
 	return errs;
 }
 
-static char *get_ref_match(const struct refspec *rs, int rs_nr, const struct ref *ref,
-		int send_mirror, int direction, const struct refspec **ret_pat)
+static char *get_ref_match(const struct refspec *rs, const struct ref *ref,
+			   int send_mirror, int direction,
+			   const struct refspec_item **ret_pat)
 {
-	const struct refspec *pat;
+	const struct refspec_item *pat;
 	char *name;
 	int i;
 	int matching_refs = -1;
-	for (i = 0; i < rs_nr; i++) {
-		if (rs[i].matching &&
-		    (matching_refs == -1 || rs[i].force)) {
+	for (i = 0; i < rs->nr; i++) {
+		const struct refspec_item *item = &rs->items[i];
+		if (item->matching &&
+		    (matching_refs == -1 || item->force)) {
 			matching_refs = i;
 			continue;
 		}
 
-		if (rs[i].pattern) {
-			const char *dst_side = rs[i].dst ? rs[i].dst : rs[i].src;
+		if (item->pattern) {
+			const char *dst_side = item->dst ? item->dst : item->src;
 			int match;
 			if (direction == FROM_SRC)
-				match = match_name_with_pattern(rs[i].src, ref->name, dst_side, &name);
+				match = match_name_with_pattern(item->src, ref->name, dst_side, &name);
 			else
-				match = match_name_with_pattern(dst_side, ref->name, rs[i].src, &name);
+				match = match_name_with_pattern(dst_side, ref->name, item->src, &name);
 			if (match) {
 				matching_refs = i;
 				break;
@@ -1301,7 +1113,7 @@ static char *get_ref_match(const struct refspec *rs, int rs_nr, const struct ref
 	if (matching_refs == -1)
 		return NULL;
 
-	pat = rs + matching_refs;
+	pat = &rs->items[matching_refs];
 	if (pat->matching) {
 		/*
 		 * "matching refs"; traditionally we pushed everything
@@ -1443,22 +1255,20 @@ static void prepare_ref_index(struct string_list *ref_index, struct ref *ref)
  * but we can catch some errors early before even talking to the
  * remote side.
  */
-int check_push_refs(struct ref *src, int nr_refspec, const char **refspec_names)
+int check_push_refs(struct ref *src, struct refspec *rs)
 {
-	struct refspec *refspec = parse_push_refspec(nr_refspec, refspec_names);
 	int ret = 0;
 	int i;
 
-	for (i = 0; i < nr_refspec; i++) {
-		struct refspec *rs = refspec + i;
+	for (i = 0; i < rs->nr; i++) {
+		struct refspec_item *item = &rs->items[i];
 
-		if (rs->pattern || rs->matching)
+		if (item->pattern || item->matching)
 			continue;
 
-		ret |= match_explicit_lhs(src, rs, NULL, NULL);
+		ret |= match_explicit_lhs(src, item, NULL, NULL);
 	}
 
-	free_refspec(nr_refspec, refspec);
 	return ret;
 }
 
@@ -1471,32 +1281,29 @@ int check_push_refs(struct ref *src, int nr_refspec, const char **refspec_names)
  * dst (e.g. pushing to a new branch, done in match_explicit_refs).
  */
 int match_push_refs(struct ref *src, struct ref **dst,
-		    int nr_refspec, const char **refspec, int flags)
+		    struct refspec *rs, int flags)
 {
-	struct refspec *rs;
 	int send_all = flags & MATCH_REFS_ALL;
 	int send_mirror = flags & MATCH_REFS_MIRROR;
 	int send_prune = flags & MATCH_REFS_PRUNE;
 	int errs;
-	static const char *default_refspec[] = { ":", NULL };
 	struct ref *ref, **dst_tail = tail_ref(dst);
 	struct string_list dst_ref_index = STRING_LIST_INIT_NODUP;
 
-	if (!nr_refspec) {
-		nr_refspec = 1;
-		refspec = default_refspec;
-	}
-	rs = parse_push_refspec(nr_refspec, (const char **) refspec);
-	errs = match_explicit_refs(src, *dst, &dst_tail, rs, nr_refspec);
+	/* If no refspec is provided, use the default ":" */
+	if (!rs->nr)
+		refspec_append(rs, ":");
+
+	errs = match_explicit_refs(src, *dst, &dst_tail, rs);
 
 	/* pick the remainder */
 	for (ref = src; ref; ref = ref->next) {
 		struct string_list_item *dst_item;
 		struct ref *dst_peer;
-		const struct refspec *pat = NULL;
+		const struct refspec_item *pat = NULL;
 		char *dst_name;
 
-		dst_name = get_ref_match(rs, nr_refspec, ref, send_mirror, FROM_SRC, &pat);
+		dst_name = get_ref_match(rs, ref, send_mirror, FROM_SRC, &pat);
 		if (!dst_name)
 			continue;
 
@@ -1545,7 +1352,7 @@ int match_push_refs(struct ref *src, struct ref **dst,
 				/* We're already sending something to this ref. */
 				continue;
 
-			src_name = get_ref_match(rs, nr_refspec, ref, send_mirror, FROM_DST, NULL);
+			src_name = get_ref_match(rs, ref, send_mirror, FROM_DST, NULL);
 			if (src_name) {
 				if (!src_ref_index.nr)
 					prepare_ref_index(&src_ref_index, src);
@@ -1557,6 +1364,7 @@ int match_push_refs(struct ref *src, struct ref **dst,
 		}
 		string_list_clear(&src_ref_index, 0);
 	}
+
 	if (errs)
 		return -1;
 	return 0;
@@ -1753,7 +1561,7 @@ static const char *tracking_for_push_dest(struct remote *remote,
 {
 	char *ret;
 
-	ret = apply_refspecs(remote->fetch, remote->fetch_refspec_nr, refname);
+	ret = apply_refspecs(&remote->fetch, refname);
 	if (!ret)
 		return error_buf(err,
 				 _("push destination '%s' on remote '%s' has no local tracking branch"),
@@ -1771,12 +1579,11 @@ static const char *branch_get_push_1(struct branch *branch, struct strbuf *err)
 				 _("branch '%s' has no remote for pushing"),
 				 branch->name);
 
-	if (remote->push_refspec_nr) {
+	if (remote->push.nr) {
 		char *dst;
 		const char *ret;
 
-		dst = apply_refspecs(remote->push, remote->push_refspec_nr,
-				     branch->refname);
+		dst = apply_refspecs(&remote->push, branch->refname);
 		if (!dst)
 			return error_buf(err,
 					 _("push refspecs for '%s' do not include '%s'"),
@@ -1849,7 +1656,7 @@ static int ignore_symref_update(const char *refname)
  * local symbolic ref.
  */
 static struct ref *get_expanded_map(const struct ref *remote_refs,
-				    const struct refspec *refspec)
+				    const struct refspec_item *refspec)
 {
 	const struct ref *ref;
 	struct ref *ret = NULL;
@@ -1914,7 +1721,7 @@ static struct ref *get_local_ref(const char *name)
 }
 
 int get_fetch_map(const struct ref *remote_refs,
-		  const struct refspec *refspec,
+		  const struct refspec_item *refspec,
 		  struct ref ***tail,
 		  int missing_ok)
 {
@@ -2252,8 +2059,7 @@ struct ref *guess_remote_head(const struct ref *head,
 struct stale_heads_info {
 	struct string_list *ref_names;
 	struct ref **stale_refs_tail;
-	struct refspec *refs;
-	int ref_count;
+	struct refspec *rs;
 };
 
 static int get_stale_heads_cb(const char *refname, const struct object_id *oid,
@@ -2261,12 +2067,12 @@ static int get_stale_heads_cb(const char *refname, const struct object_id *oid,
 {
 	struct stale_heads_info *info = cb_data;
 	struct string_list matches = STRING_LIST_INIT_DUP;
-	struct refspec query;
+	struct refspec_item query;
 	int i, stale = 1;
-	memset(&query, 0, sizeof(struct refspec));
+	memset(&query, 0, sizeof(struct refspec_item));
 	query.dst = (char *)refname;
 
-	query_refspecs_multiple(info->refs, info->ref_count, &query, &matches);
+	query_refspecs_multiple(info->rs, &query, &matches);
 	if (matches.nr == 0)
 		goto clean_exit; /* No matches */
 
@@ -2294,7 +2100,7 @@ clean_exit:
 	return 0;
 }
 
-struct ref *get_stale_heads(struct refspec *refs, int ref_count, struct ref *fetch_map)
+struct ref *get_stale_heads(struct refspec *rs, struct ref *fetch_map)
 {
 	struct ref *ref, *stale_refs = NULL;
 	struct string_list ref_names = STRING_LIST_INIT_NODUP;
@@ -2302,8 +2108,7 @@ struct ref *get_stale_heads(struct refspec *refs, int ref_count, struct ref *fet
 
 	info.ref_names = &ref_names;
 	info.stale_refs_tail = &stale_refs;
-	info.refs = refs;
-	info.ref_count = ref_count;
+	info.rs = rs;
 	for (ref = fetch_map; ref; ref = ref->next)
 		string_list_append(&ref_names, ref->name);
 	string_list_sort(&ref_names);
@@ -2387,7 +2192,7 @@ static int remote_tracking(struct remote *remote, const char *refname,
 {
 	char *dst;
 
-	dst = apply_refspecs(remote->fetch, remote->fetch_refspec_nr, refname);
+	dst = apply_refspecs(&remote->fetch, refname);
 	if (!dst)
 		return -1; /* no tracking ref for refname at remote */
 	if (read_ref(dst, oid))
diff --git a/remote.h b/remote.h
index 93dd97e25f..45ecc6cefa 100644
--- a/remote.h
+++ b/remote.h
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
 
 #include "parse-options.h"
 #include "hashmap.h"
+#include "refspec.h"
 
 enum {
 	REMOTE_UNCONFIGURED = 0,
@@ -27,15 +28,9 @@ struct remote {
 	int pushurl_nr;
 	int pushurl_alloc;
 
-	const char **push_refspec;
-	struct refspec *push;
-	int push_refspec_nr;
-	int push_refspec_alloc;
+	struct refspec push;
 
-	const char **fetch_refspec;
-	struct refspec *fetch;
-	int fetch_refspec_nr;
-	int fetch_refspec_alloc;
+	struct refspec fetch;
 
 	/*
 	 * -1 to never fetch tags
@@ -68,18 +63,6 @@ int for_each_remote(each_remote_fn fn, void *priv);
 
 int remote_has_url(struct remote *remote, const char *url);
 
-struct refspec {
-	unsigned force : 1;
-	unsigned pattern : 1;
-	unsigned matching : 1;
-	unsigned exact_sha1 : 1;
-
-	char *src;
-	char *dst;
-};
-
-extern const struct refspec *tag_refspec;
-
 struct ref {
 	struct ref *next;
 	struct object_id old_oid;
@@ -177,19 +160,12 @@ int ref_newer(const struct object_id *new_oid, const struct object_id *old_oid);
  */
 struct ref *ref_remove_duplicates(struct ref *ref_map);
 
-int valid_fetch_refspec(const char *refspec);
-struct refspec *parse_fetch_refspec(int nr_refspec, const char **refspec);
-extern struct refspec *parse_push_refspec(int nr_refspec, const char **refspec);
+int query_refspecs(struct refspec *rs, struct refspec_item *query);
+char *apply_refspecs(struct refspec *rs, const char *name);
 
-void free_refspec(int nr_refspec, struct refspec *refspec);
-
-extern int query_refspecs(struct refspec *specs, int nr, struct refspec *query);
-char *apply_refspecs(struct refspec *refspecs, int nr_refspec,
-		     const char *name);
-
-int check_push_refs(struct ref *src, int nr_refspec, const char **refspec);
+int check_push_refs(struct ref *src, struct refspec *rs);
 int match_push_refs(struct ref *src, struct ref **dst,
-		    int nr_refspec, const char **refspec, int all);
+		    struct refspec *rs, int flags);
 void set_ref_status_for_push(struct ref *remote_refs, int send_mirror,
 	int force_update);
 
@@ -205,7 +181,7 @@ void set_ref_status_for_push(struct ref *remote_refs, int send_mirror,
  * missing_ok is usually false, but when we are adding branch.$name.merge
  * it is Ok if the branch is not at the remote anymore.
  */
-int get_fetch_map(const struct ref *remote_refs, const struct refspec *refspec,
+int get_fetch_map(const struct ref *remote_refs, const struct refspec_item *refspec,
 		  struct ref ***tail, int missing_ok);
 
 struct ref *get_remote_ref(const struct ref *remote_refs, const char *name);
@@ -213,7 +189,7 @@ struct ref *get_remote_ref(const struct ref *remote_refs, const char *name);
 /*
  * For the given remote, reads the refspec's src and sets the other fields.
  */
-int remote_find_tracking(struct remote *remote, struct refspec *refspec);
+int remote_find_tracking(struct remote *remote, struct refspec_item *refspec);
 
 struct branch {
 	const char *name;
@@ -223,7 +199,7 @@ struct branch {
 	const char *pushremote_name;
 
 	const char **merge_name;
-	struct refspec **merge;
+	struct refspec_item **merge;
 	int merge_nr;
 	int merge_alloc;
 
@@ -292,7 +268,7 @@ struct ref *guess_remote_head(const struct ref *head,
 			      int all);
 
 /* Return refs which no longer exist on remote */
-struct ref *get_stale_heads(struct refspec *refs, int ref_count, struct ref *fetch_map);
+struct ref *get_stale_heads(struct refspec *rs, struct ref *fetch_map);
 
 /*
  * Compare-and-swap
@@ -315,8 +291,4 @@ extern int parseopt_push_cas_option(const struct option *, const char *arg, int
 extern int is_empty_cas(const struct push_cas_option *);
 void apply_push_cas(struct push_cas_option *, struct remote *, struct ref *);
 
-#define TAG_REFSPEC "refs/tags/*:refs/tags/*"
-
-void add_prune_tags_to_fetch_refspec(struct remote *remote);
-
 #endif
diff --git a/submodule.c b/submodule.c
index 1f88623893..47d005797e 100644
--- a/submodule.c
+++ b/submodule.c
@@ -968,7 +968,7 @@ int find_unpushed_submodules(struct oid_array *commits,
 
 static int push_submodule(const char *path,
 			  const struct remote *remote,
-			  const char **refspec, int refspec_nr,
+			  const struct refspec *rs,
 			  const struct string_list *push_options,
 			  int dry_run)
 {
@@ -991,8 +991,8 @@ static int push_submodule(const char *path,
 		if (remote->origin != REMOTE_UNCONFIGURED) {
 			int i;
 			argv_array_push(&cp.args, remote->name);
-			for (i = 0; i < refspec_nr; i++)
-				argv_array_push(&cp.args, refspec[i]);
+			for (i = 0; i < rs->raw_nr; i++)
+				argv_array_push(&cp.args, rs->raw[i]);
 		}
 
 		prepare_submodule_repo_env(&cp.env_array);
@@ -1013,7 +1013,7 @@ static int push_submodule(const char *path,
  */
 static void submodule_push_check(const char *path, const char *head,
 				 const struct remote *remote,
-				 const char **refspec, int refspec_nr)
+				 const struct refspec *rs)
 {
 	struct child_process cp = CHILD_PROCESS_INIT;
 	int i;
@@ -1023,8 +1023,8 @@ static void submodule_push_check(const char *path, const char *head,
 	argv_array_push(&cp.args, head);
 	argv_array_push(&cp.args, remote->name);
 
-	for (i = 0; i < refspec_nr; i++)
-		argv_array_push(&cp.args, refspec[i]);
+	for (i = 0; i < rs->raw_nr; i++)
+		argv_array_push(&cp.args, rs->raw[i]);
 
 	prepare_submodule_repo_env(&cp.env_array);
 	cp.git_cmd = 1;
@@ -1043,7 +1043,7 @@ static void submodule_push_check(const char *path, const char *head,
 
 int push_unpushed_submodules(struct oid_array *commits,
 			     const struct remote *remote,
-			     const char **refspec, int refspec_nr,
+			     const struct refspec *rs,
 			     const struct string_list *push_options,
 			     int dry_run)
 {
@@ -1069,8 +1069,7 @@ int push_unpushed_submodules(struct oid_array *commits,
 
 		for (i = 0; i < needs_pushing.nr; i++)
 			submodule_push_check(needs_pushing.items[i].string,
-					     head, remote,
-					     refspec, refspec_nr);
+					     head, remote, rs);
 		free(head);
 	}
 
@@ -1078,7 +1077,7 @@ int push_unpushed_submodules(struct oid_array *commits,
 	for (i = 0; i < needs_pushing.nr; i++) {
 		const char *path = needs_pushing.items[i].string;
 		fprintf(stderr, "Pushing submodule '%s'\n", path);
-		if (!push_submodule(path, remote, refspec, refspec_nr,
+		if (!push_submodule(path, remote, rs,
 				    push_options, dry_run)) {
 			fprintf(stderr, "Unable to push submodule '%s'\n", path);
 			ret = 0;
diff --git a/submodule.h b/submodule.h
index e5526f6aaa..aae0c9c8ff 100644
--- a/submodule.h
+++ b/submodule.h
@@ -100,9 +100,10 @@ extern int submodule_touches_in_range(struct object_id *a,
 extern int find_unpushed_submodules(struct oid_array *commits,
 				    const char *remotes_name,
 				    struct string_list *needs_pushing);
+struct refspec;
 extern int push_unpushed_submodules(struct oid_array *commits,
 				    const struct remote *remote,
-				    const char **refspec, int refspec_nr,
+				    const struct refspec *rs,
 				    const struct string_list *push_options,
 				    int dry_run);
 /*
diff --git a/t/t5702-protocol-v2.sh b/t/t5702-protocol-v2.sh
index 4ad5c5769b..a4fe6508bd 100755
--- a/t/t5702-protocol-v2.sh
+++ b/t/t5702-protocol-v2.sh
@@ -345,6 +345,20 @@ test_expect_success 'even with handcrafted request, filter does not work if not
 	git -C server serve --stateless-rpc <in >/dev/null
 '
 
+test_expect_success 'default refspec is used to filter ref when fetchcing' '
+	test_when_finished "rm -f log" &&
+
+	GIT_TRACE_PACKET="$(pwd)/log" git -C file_child -c protocol.version=2 \
+		fetch origin &&
+
+	git -C file_child log -1 --format=%s three >actual &&
+	git -C file_parent log -1 --format=%s three >expect &&
+	test_cmp expect actual &&
+
+	grep "ref-prefix refs/heads/" log &&
+	grep "ref-prefix refs/tags/" log
+'
+
 # Test protocol v2 with 'http://' transport
 #
 . "$TEST_DIRECTORY"/lib-httpd.sh
diff --git a/transport-helper.c b/transport-helper.c
index 11f1055b47..1f8ff7e942 100644
--- a/transport-helper.c
+++ b/transport-helper.c
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@
 #include "sigchain.h"
 #include "argv-array.h"
 #include "refs.h"
+#include "refspec.h"
 #include "transport-internal.h"
 #include "protocol.h"
 
@@ -35,8 +36,7 @@ struct helper_data {
 	char *export_marks;
 	char *import_marks;
 	/* These go from remote name (as in "list") to private name */
-	struct refspec *refspecs;
-	int refspec_nr;
+	struct refspec rs;
 	/* Transport options for fetch-pack/send-pack (should one of
 	 * those be invoked).
 	 */
@@ -106,9 +106,6 @@ static struct child_process *get_helper(struct transport *transport)
 	struct helper_data *data = transport->data;
 	struct strbuf buf = STRBUF_INIT;
 	struct child_process *helper;
-	const char **refspecs = NULL;
-	int refspec_nr = 0;
-	int refspec_alloc = 0;
 	int duped;
 	int code;
 
@@ -138,6 +135,7 @@ static struct child_process *get_helper(struct transport *transport)
 
 	data->helper = helper;
 	data->no_disconnect_req = 0;
+	refspec_init(&data->rs, REFSPEC_FETCH);
 
 	/*
 	 * Open the output as FILE* so strbuf_getline_*() family of
@@ -183,11 +181,8 @@ static struct child_process *get_helper(struct transport *transport)
 			data->export = 1;
 		else if (!strcmp(capname, "check-connectivity"))
 			data->check_connectivity = 1;
-		else if (!data->refspecs && skip_prefix(capname, "refspec ", &arg)) {
-			ALLOC_GROW(refspecs,
-				   refspec_nr + 1,
-				   refspec_alloc);
-			refspecs[refspec_nr++] = xstrdup(arg);
+		else if (skip_prefix(capname, "refspec ", &arg)) {
+			refspec_append(&data->rs, arg);
 		} else if (!strcmp(capname, "connect")) {
 			data->connect = 1;
 		} else if (!strcmp(capname, "stateless-connect")) {
@@ -206,14 +201,7 @@ static struct child_process *get_helper(struct transport *transport)
 			    capname);
 		}
 	}
-	if (refspecs) {
-		int i;
-		data->refspec_nr = refspec_nr;
-		data->refspecs = parse_fetch_refspec(refspec_nr, refspecs);
-		for (i = 0; i < refspec_nr; i++)
-			free((char *)refspecs[i]);
-		free(refspecs);
-	} else if (data->import || data->bidi_import || data->export) {
+	if (!data->rs.nr && (data->import || data->bidi_import || data->export)) {
 		warning("This remote helper should implement refspec capability.");
 	}
 	strbuf_release(&buf);
@@ -377,8 +365,7 @@ static int release_helper(struct transport *transport)
 {
 	int res = 0;
 	struct helper_data *data = transport->data;
-	free_refspec(data->refspec_nr, data->refspecs);
-	data->refspecs = NULL;
+	refspec_clear(&data->rs);
 	res = disconnect_helper(transport);
 	free(transport->data);
 	return res;
@@ -535,8 +522,8 @@ static int fetch_with_import(struct transport *transport,
 		if (posn->status & REF_STATUS_UPTODATE)
 			continue;
 		name = posn->symref ? posn->symref : posn->name;
-		if (data->refspecs)
-			private = apply_refspecs(data->refspecs, data->refspec_nr, name);
+		if (data->rs.nr)
+			private = apply_refspecs(&data->rs, name);
 		else
 			private = xstrdup(name);
 		if (private) {
@@ -814,11 +801,11 @@ static int push_update_refs_status(struct helper_data *data,
 		if (push_update_ref_status(&buf, &ref, remote_refs))
 			continue;
 
-		if (flags & TRANSPORT_PUSH_DRY_RUN || !data->refspecs || data->no_private_update)
+		if (flags & TRANSPORT_PUSH_DRY_RUN || !data->rs.nr || data->no_private_update)
 			continue;
 
 		/* propagate back the update to the remote namespace */
-		private = apply_refspecs(data->refspecs, data->refspec_nr, ref->name);
+		private = apply_refspecs(&data->rs, ref->name);
 		if (!private)
 			continue;
 		update_ref("update by helper", private, &ref->new_oid, NULL,
@@ -938,7 +925,7 @@ static int push_refs_with_export(struct transport *transport,
 	struct string_list revlist_args = STRING_LIST_INIT_DUP;
 	struct strbuf buf = STRBUF_INIT;
 
-	if (!data->refspecs)
+	if (!data->rs.nr)
 		die("remote-helper doesn't support push; refspec needed");
 
 	set_common_push_options(transport, data->name, flags);
@@ -955,7 +942,7 @@ static int push_refs_with_export(struct transport *transport,
 		char *private;
 		struct object_id oid;
 
-		private = apply_refspecs(data->refspecs, data->refspec_nr, ref->name);
+		private = apply_refspecs(&data->rs, ref->name);
 		if (private && !get_oid(private, &oid)) {
 			strbuf_addf(&buf, "^%s", private);
 			string_list_append_nodup(&revlist_args,
diff --git a/transport.c b/transport.c
index 6785fcceed..a32da30dee 100644
--- a/transport.c
+++ b/transport.c
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@
 #include "bundle.h"
 #include "dir.h"
 #include "refs.h"
+#include "refspec.h"
 #include "branch.h"
 #include "url.h"
 #include "submodule.h"
@@ -390,7 +391,7 @@ int transport_refs_pushed(struct ref *ref)
 
 void transport_update_tracking_ref(struct remote *remote, struct ref *ref, int verbose)
 {
-	struct refspec rs;
+	struct refspec_item rs;
 
 	if (ref->status != REF_STATUS_OK && ref->status != REF_STATUS_UPTODATE)
 		return;
@@ -619,29 +620,6 @@ void transport_print_push_status(const char *dest, struct ref *refs,
 	free(head);
 }
 
-void transport_verify_remote_names(int nr_heads, const char **heads)
-{
-	int i;
-
-	for (i = 0; i < nr_heads; i++) {
-		const char *local = heads[i];
-		const char *remote = strrchr(heads[i], ':');
-
-		if (*local == '+')
-			local++;
-
-		/* A matching refspec is okay.  */
-		if (remote == local && remote[1] == '\0')
-			continue;
-
-		remote = remote ? (remote + 1) : local;
-		if (check_refname_format(remote,
-				REFNAME_ALLOW_ONELEVEL|REFNAME_REFSPEC_PATTERN))
-			die("remote part of refspec is not a valid name in %s",
-				heads[i]);
-	}
-}
-
 static int git_transport_push(struct transport *transport, struct ref *remote_refs, int flags)
 {
 	struct git_transport_data *data = transport->data;
@@ -1093,11 +1071,10 @@ static int run_pre_push_hook(struct transport *transport,
 }
 
 int transport_push(struct transport *transport,
-		   int refspec_nr, const char **refspec, int flags,
+		   struct refspec *rs, int flags,
 		   unsigned int *reject_reasons)
 {
 	*reject_reasons = 0;
-	transport_verify_remote_names(refspec_nr, refspec);
 
 	if (transport_color_config() < 0)
 		return -1;
@@ -1111,38 +1088,17 @@ int transport_push(struct transport *transport,
 		int porcelain = flags & TRANSPORT_PUSH_PORCELAIN;
 		int pretend = flags & TRANSPORT_PUSH_DRY_RUN;
 		int push_ret, ret, err;
-		struct refspec *tmp_rs;
 		struct argv_array ref_prefixes = ARGV_ARRAY_INIT;
-		int i;
 
-		if (check_push_refs(local_refs, refspec_nr, refspec) < 0)
+		if (check_push_refs(local_refs, rs) < 0)
 			return -1;
 
-		tmp_rs = parse_push_refspec(refspec_nr, refspec);
-		for (i = 0; i < refspec_nr; i++) {
-			const char *prefix = NULL;
-
-			if (tmp_rs[i].dst)
-				prefix = tmp_rs[i].dst;
-			else if (tmp_rs[i].src && !tmp_rs[i].exact_sha1)
-				prefix = tmp_rs[i].src;
-
-			if (prefix) {
-				const char *glob = strchr(prefix, '*');
-				if (glob)
-					argv_array_pushf(&ref_prefixes, "%.*s",
-							 (int)(glob - prefix),
-							 prefix);
-				else
-					expand_ref_prefix(&ref_prefixes, prefix);
-			}
-		}
+		refspec_ref_prefixes(rs, &ref_prefixes);
 
 		remote_refs = transport->vtable->get_refs_list(transport, 1,
 							       &ref_prefixes);
 
 		argv_array_clear(&ref_prefixes);
-		free_refspec(refspec_nr, tmp_rs);
 
 		if (flags & TRANSPORT_PUSH_ALL)
 			match_flags |= MATCH_REFS_ALL;
@@ -1153,10 +1109,8 @@ int transport_push(struct transport *transport,
 		if (flags & TRANSPORT_PUSH_FOLLOW_TAGS)
 			match_flags |= MATCH_REFS_FOLLOW_TAGS;
 
-		if (match_push_refs(local_refs, &remote_refs,
-				    refspec_nr, refspec, match_flags)) {
+		if (match_push_refs(local_refs, &remote_refs, rs, match_flags))
 			return -1;
-		}
 
 		if (transport->smart_options &&
 		    transport->smart_options->cas &&
@@ -1185,7 +1139,7 @@ int transport_push(struct transport *transport,
 
 			if (!push_unpushed_submodules(&commits,
 						      transport->remote,
-						      refspec, refspec_nr,
+						      rs,
 						      transport->push_options,
 						      pretend)) {
 				oid_array_clear(&commits);
diff --git a/transport.h b/transport.h
index 73a7be3c8a..7792b08582 100644
--- a/transport.h
+++ b/transport.h
@@ -203,7 +203,7 @@ void transport_set_verbosity(struct transport *transport, int verbosity,
 #define REJECT_NEEDS_FORCE     0x10
 
 int transport_push(struct transport *connection,
-		   int refspec_nr, const char **refspec, int flags,
+		   struct refspec *rs, int flags,
 		   unsigned int * reject_reasons);
 
 /*
@@ -233,8 +233,6 @@ int transport_helper_init(struct transport *transport, const char *name);
 int bidirectional_transfer_loop(int input, int output);
 
 /* common methods used by transport.c and builtin/send-pack.c */
-void transport_verify_remote_names(int nr_heads, const char **heads);
-
 void transport_update_tracking_ref(struct remote *remote, struct ref *ref, int verbose);
 
 int transport_refs_pushed(struct ref *ref);