diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index 5236e1e..70bb2a2 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -1,2 +1,3 @@
 *~
+*.swp
 
diff --git a/api.lua b/api.lua
index e8b9c7a..198979a 100644
--- a/api.lua
+++ b/api.lua
@@ -1,7 +1,33 @@
+local protection_detectors = {}
+
+-- Other protection mods should be able to display their protection in the hud
+areas.registerHudHandler = function(handler)
+	protection_detectors[#protection_detectors + 1] = handler
+end
+
+-- Generalized call to registered handlers to add their proeciton labels to the areas list
+local detect_extra_protection = function(pos, area_list)
+	if #protection_detectors <= 0 then
+		return area_list
+	end
+
+	for idx=1,#protection_detectors do
+		local func = protection_detectors[idx]
+		area_list = func(pos,area_list)
+	end
+	return area_list
+end
+
+function areas:getRegisteredProtections(pos)
+	local res = {}
+	res = detect_extra_protection(pos, res)
+	return res
+end
 
 --- Returns a list of areas that include the provided position.
 function areas:getAreasAtPos(pos)
 	local res = {}
+
 	if self.store then
 		local a = self.store:get_areas_for_pos(pos, false, true)
 		for store_id, store_area in pairs(a) do
@@ -13,9 +39,9 @@ function areas:getAreasAtPos(pos)
 		for id, area in pairs(self.areas) do
 			local ap1, ap2 = area.pos1, area.pos2
 			if
-					(px >= ap1.x and px <= ap2.x) and
-					(py >= ap1.y and py <= ap2.y) and
-					(pz >= ap1.z and pz <= ap2.z) then
+				(px >= ap1.x and px <= ap2.x) and
+				(py >= ap1.y and py <= ap2.y) and
+				(pz >= ap1.z and pz <= ap2.z) then
 				res[id] = area
 			end
 		end
diff --git a/api.md b/api.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..459e3bc
--- /dev/null
+++ b/api.md
@@ -0,0 +1,46 @@
+# API Extension
+
+Adding your protections to the HUD
+----------------------------------
+
+If you are providing an extra protection mod to work in conjunction with the
+HUD feature of `areas`, you can register a callback to add your mod's code to
+display your protection's existence.
+
+Registering a handler:
+
+* `areas.registerHudHandler(handler) --> nil`
+
+Handler specification:
+
+* `handler(pos,area_list) --> new_area_list`
+	* `pos` - the position at which to check for protection coverage by your mod
+	* `area_list` - the current list of protected areas
+	* `new_area_list` - the list of protected areas, updated with your entries
+
+Area list items:
+
+The area list item is a map table identified with an ID, and properties
+
+The ID should be in the format `modname:` and appended with an identifier for the protection.
+
+Each area list item should be a table with the following properties
+
+* `owner` - (required) the name of the protection owner
+* `name` - (optional) the name of the area
+
+Example
+-------
+
+	local myhandler = function(pos,area_list)
+		local areaowner = find_my_protections(pos)
+
+		if areaowner then
+			arealist["mymodname:first"] = {
+				name = "Protection name",
+				owner = areaowner, 
+			}
+		end
+	end
+
+	areas.register_hud_handler(myhandler)
diff --git a/hud.lua b/hud.lua
index 4908b92..ce83660 100644
--- a/hud.lua
+++ b/hud.lua
@@ -7,11 +7,24 @@ minetest.register_globalstep(function(dtime)
 		local name = player:get_player_name()
 		local pos = vector.round(player:getpos())
 		local areaStrings = {}
+
 		for id, area in pairs(areas:getAreasAtPos(pos)) do
 			table.insert(areaStrings, ("%s [%u] (%s%s)")
 					:format(area.name, id, area.owner,
 					area.open and ":open" or ""))
 		end
+
+		for id, area in pairs(areas:getRegisteredProtections(pos)) do
+			table.insert(
+				areaStrings, ("%s [%s] (%s)")
+				:format(
+					area.name or "",
+					id ,
+					area.owner
+				)
+			)
+		end
+
 		local areaString = "Areas:"
 		if #areaStrings > 0 then
 			areaString = areaString.."\n"..