+/**
+ * Handle for a group of elements that will be evaluated together.
+ * They must all be of the same type. A block group allows the
+ * plugin to keep some state across individual evaluations.
+ */
+struct GNUNET_BLOCK_Group;
+
+
+/**
+ * Create a new block group.
+ *
+ * @param ctx block context in which the block group is created
+ * @param type type of the block for which we are creating the group
+ * @param nonce random value used to seed the group creation
+ * @param raw_data optional serialized prior state of the group, NULL if unavailable/fresh
+ * @param raw_data_size number of bytes in @a raw_data, 0 if unavailable/fresh
+ * @param ... type-specific additional data, can be empty
+ * @return block group handle, NULL if block groups are not supported
+ * by this @a type of block (this is not an error)
+ */
+struct GNUNET_BLOCK_Group *
+GNUNET_BLOCK_group_create (struct GNUNET_BLOCK_Context *ctx,
+ enum GNUNET_BLOCK_Type type,
+ uint32_t nonce,
+ const void *raw_data,
+ size_t raw_data_size,
+ ...);
+
+
+/**
+ * Serialize state of a block group.
+ *
+ * @param bg group to serialize
+ * @param[out] nonce set to the nonce of the @a bg
+ * @param[out] raw_data set to the serialized state
+ * @param[out] raw_data_size set to the number of bytes in @a raw_data
+ * @return #GNUNET_OK on success, #GNUNET_NO if serialization is not
+ * supported, #GNUNET_SYSERR on error
+ */
+int
+GNUNET_BLOCK_group_serialize (struct GNUNET_BLOCK_Group *bg,
+ uint32_t *nonce,
+ void **raw_data,
+ size_t *raw_data_size);
+
+
+/**
+ * Destroy resources used by a block group.
+ *
+ * @param bg group to destroy, NULL is allowed
+ */
+void
+GNUNET_BLOCK_group_destroy (struct GNUNET_BLOCK_Group *bg);
+
+