diff --git a/src/encoding/block-helpers.cpp b/src/encoding/block-helpers.cpp
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..594fc5c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/encoding/block-helpers.cpp
@@ -0,0 +1,161 @@
+/* -*- Mode:C++; c-file-style:"gnu"; indent-tabs-mode:nil; -*- */
+/**
+ * Copyright (c) 2013-2015 Regents of the University of California.
+ *
+ * This file is part of ndn-cxx library (NDN C++ library with eXperimental eXtensions).
+ *
+ * ndn-cxx library is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify it under the
+ * terms of the GNU Lesser General Public License as published by the Free Software
+ * Foundation, either version 3 of the License, or (at your option) any later version.
+ *
+ * ndn-cxx library is distributed in the hope that it will be useful, but WITHOUT ANY
+ * WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A
+ * PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the GNU Lesser General Public License for more details.
+ *
+ * You should have received copies of the GNU General Public License and GNU Lesser
+ * General Public License along with ndn-cxx, e.g., in COPYING.md file.  If not, see
+ * <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
+ *
+ * See AUTHORS.md for complete list of ndn-cxx authors and contributors.
+ */
+
+#include "block-helpers.hpp"
+
+namespace ndn {
+namespace encoding {
+
+template<Tag TAG>
+size_t
+prependNonNegativeIntegerBlock(EncodingImpl<TAG>& encoder, uint32_t type, uint64_t value)
+{
+  size_t valueLength = encoder.prependNonNegativeInteger(value);
+  size_t totalLength = valueLength;
+  totalLength += encoder.prependVarNumber(valueLength);
+  totalLength += encoder.prependVarNumber(type);
+
+  return totalLength;
+}
+
+template size_t
+prependNonNegativeIntegerBlock<EstimatorTag>(EncodingImpl<EstimatorTag>& encoder,
+                                             uint32_t type, uint64_t value);
+
+template size_t
+prependNonNegativeIntegerBlock<EncoderTag>(EncodingImpl<EncoderTag>& encoder,
+                                           uint32_t type, uint64_t value);
+
+
+Block
+makeNonNegativeIntegerBlock(uint32_t type, uint64_t value)
+{
+  EncodingEstimator estimator;
+  size_t totalLength = prependNonNegativeIntegerBlock(estimator, type, value);
+
+  EncodingBuffer encoder(totalLength, 0);
+  prependNonNegativeIntegerBlock(encoder, type, value);
+
+  return encoder.block();
+}
+
+uint64_t
+readNonNegativeInteger(const Block& block)
+{
+  Buffer::const_iterator begin = block.value_begin();
+  return tlv::readNonNegativeInteger(block.value_size(), begin, block.value_end());
+}
+
+////////
+
+template<Tag TAG>
+size_t
+prependEmptyBlock(EncodingImpl<TAG>& encoder, uint32_t type)
+{
+  size_t totalLength = encoder.prependVarNumber(0);
+  totalLength += encoder.prependVarNumber(type);
+
+  return totalLength;
+}
+
+template size_t
+prependEmptyBlock<EstimatorTag>(EncodingImpl<EstimatorTag>& encoder, uint32_t type);
+
+template size_t
+prependEmptyBlock<EncoderTag>(EncodingImpl<EncoderTag>& encoder, uint32_t type);
+
+
+Block
+makeEmptyBlock(uint32_t type)
+{
+  EncodingEstimator estimator;
+  size_t totalLength = prependEmptyBlock(estimator, type);
+
+  EncodingBuffer encoder(totalLength, 0);
+  prependEmptyBlock(encoder, type);
+
+  return encoder.block();
+}
+
+////////
+
+template<Tag TAG>
+size_t
+prependStringBlock(EncodingImpl<TAG>& encoder, uint32_t type, const std::string& value)
+{
+  size_t valueLength = encoder.prependByteArray(reinterpret_cast<const uint8_t*>(value.data()),
+                                                value.size());
+  size_t totalLength = valueLength;
+  totalLength += encoder.prependVarNumber(valueLength);
+  totalLength += encoder.prependVarNumber(type);
+
+  return totalLength;
+}
+
+template size_t
+prependStringBlock<EstimatorTag>(EncodingImpl<EstimatorTag>& encoder,
+                                 uint32_t type, const std::string& value);
+
+template size_t
+prependStringBlock<EncoderTag>(EncodingImpl<EncoderTag>& encoder,
+                               uint32_t type, const std::string& value);
+
+
+Block
+makeStringBlock(uint32_t type, const std::string& value)
+{
+  EncodingEstimator estimator;
+  size_t totalLength = prependStringBlock(estimator, type, value);
+
+  EncodingBuffer encoder(totalLength, 0);
+  prependStringBlock(encoder, type, value);
+
+  return encoder.block();
+}
+
+std::string
+readString(const Block& block)
+{
+  return std::string(reinterpret_cast<const char*>(block.value()), block.value_size());
+}
+
+////////
+
+Block
+makeBinaryBlock(uint32_t type, const uint8_t* value, size_t length)
+{
+  EncodingEstimator estimator;
+  size_t totalLength = estimator.prependByteArrayBlock(type, value, length);
+
+  EncodingBuffer encoder(totalLength, 0);
+  encoder.prependByteArrayBlock(type, value, length);
+
+  return encoder.block();
+}
+
+Block
+makeBinaryBlock(uint32_t type, const char* value, size_t length)
+{
+  return makeBinaryBlock(type, reinterpret_cast<const uint8_t*>(value), length);
+}
+
+} // namespace encoding
+} // namespace ndn