diff --git a/builtin/pack-refs.c b/builtin/pack-refs.c
index 1d1a64fe386..2464575a665 100644
--- a/builtin/pack-refs.c
+++ b/builtin/pack-refs.c
@@ -14,8 +14,8 @@ static char const * const pack_refs_usage[] = {
 int cmd_pack_refs(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix)
 {
 	unsigned int flags = PACK_REFS_PRUNE;
-	static struct ref_exclusions excludes = REF_EXCLUSIONS_INIT;
-	struct pack_refs_opts pack_refs_opts = {.exclusions = &excludes, .flags = flags};
+	static struct ref_visibility visibility = REF_VISIBILITY_INIT;
+	struct pack_refs_opts pack_refs_opts = {.visibility = &visibility, .flags = flags};
 	static struct string_list option_excluded_refs = STRING_LIST_INIT_NODUP;
 	struct string_list_item *item;
 
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ int cmd_pack_refs(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix)
 		usage_with_options(pack_refs_usage, opts);
 
 	for_each_string_list_item(item, &option_excluded_refs)
-		add_ref_exclusion(pack_refs_opts.exclusions, item->string);
+		add_ref_exclusion(pack_refs_opts.visibility, item->string);
 
 	return refs_pack_refs(get_main_ref_store(the_repository), &pack_refs_opts);
 }
diff --git a/builtin/rev-parse.c b/builtin/rev-parse.c
index 852e49e3403..9036d8876fc 100644
--- a/builtin/rev-parse.c
+++ b/builtin/rev-parse.c
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@ static int abbrev_ref_strict;
 static int output_sq;
 
 static int stuck_long;
-static struct ref_exclusions ref_excludes = REF_EXCLUSIONS_INIT;
+static struct ref_visibility ref_visibility = REF_VISIBILITY_INIT;
 
 /*
  * Some arguments are relevant "revision" arguments,
@@ -208,7 +208,7 @@ static int show_default(void)
 static int show_reference(const char *refname, const struct object_id *oid,
 			  int flag UNUSED, void *cb_data UNUSED)
 {
-	if (ref_excluded(&ref_excludes, refname))
+	if (ref_excluded(&ref_visibility, refname))
 		return 0;
 	show_rev(NORMAL, oid, refname);
 	return 0;
@@ -596,7 +596,7 @@ static void handle_ref_opt(const char *pattern, const char *prefix)
 		for_each_glob_ref_in(show_reference, pattern, prefix, NULL);
 	else
 		for_each_ref_in(prefix, show_reference, NULL);
-	clear_ref_exclusions(&ref_excludes);
+	clear_ref_visibility(&ref_visibility);
 }
 
 enum format_type {
@@ -874,7 +874,7 @@ int cmd_rev_parse(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix)
 			}
 			if (!strcmp(arg, "--all")) {
 				for_each_ref(show_reference, NULL);
-				clear_ref_exclusions(&ref_excludes);
+				clear_ref_visibility(&ref_visibility);
 				continue;
 			}
 			if (skip_prefix(arg, "--disambiguate=", &arg)) {
@@ -888,13 +888,13 @@ int cmd_rev_parse(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix)
 				continue;
 			}
 			if (opt_with_value(arg, "--branches", &arg)) {
-				if (ref_excludes.hidden_refs_configured)
+				if (ref_visibility.hidden_refs_configured)
 					return error(_("--exclude-hidden cannot be used together with --branches"));
 				handle_ref_opt(arg, "refs/heads/");
 				continue;
 			}
 			if (opt_with_value(arg, "--tags", &arg)) {
-				if (ref_excludes.hidden_refs_configured)
+				if (ref_visibility.hidden_refs_configured)
 					return error(_("--exclude-hidden cannot be used together with --tags"));
 				handle_ref_opt(arg, "refs/tags/");
 				continue;
@@ -904,17 +904,17 @@ int cmd_rev_parse(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix)
 				continue;
 			}
 			if (opt_with_value(arg, "--remotes", &arg)) {
-				if (ref_excludes.hidden_refs_configured)
+				if (ref_visibility.hidden_refs_configured)
 					return error(_("--exclude-hidden cannot be used together with --remotes"));
 				handle_ref_opt(arg, "refs/remotes/");
 				continue;
 			}
 			if (skip_prefix(arg, "--exclude=", &arg)) {
-				add_ref_exclusion(&ref_excludes, arg);
+				add_ref_exclusion(&ref_visibility, arg);
 				continue;
 			}
 			if (skip_prefix(arg, "--exclude-hidden=", &arg)) {
-				exclude_hidden_refs(&ref_excludes, arg);
+				exclude_hidden_refs(&ref_visibility, arg);
 				continue;
 			}
 			if (!strcmp(arg, "--show-toplevel")) {
diff --git a/refs.h b/refs.h
index 46020bd335c..57949a1726b 100644
--- a/refs.h
+++ b/refs.h
@@ -65,7 +65,7 @@ struct worktree;
 
 struct pack_refs_opts {
 	unsigned int flags;
-	struct ref_exclusions *exclusions;
+	struct ref_visibility *visibility;
 };
 
 const char *refs_resolve_ref_unsafe(struct ref_store *refs,
diff --git a/refs/files-backend.c b/refs/files-backend.c
index 76aebfde695..3ef19199788 100644
--- a/refs/files-backend.c
+++ b/refs/files-backend.c
@@ -1183,7 +1183,7 @@ static int should_pack_ref(const char *refname,
 	    REF_WORKTREE_SHARED)
 		return 0;
 
-	if (opts->exclusions && ref_excluded(opts->exclusions, refname))
+	if (opts->visibility && ref_excluded(opts->visibility, refname))
 		return 0;
 
 	/* Do not pack non-tags unless PACK_REFS_ALL is set: */
diff --git a/revision.c b/revision.c
index b33cc1d106a..d59cd728e9e 100644
--- a/revision.c
+++ b/revision.c
@@ -1533,54 +1533,71 @@ static void add_rev_cmdline_list(struct rev_info *revs,
 	}
 }
 
-int ref_excluded(const struct ref_exclusions *exclusions, const char *path)
+static int ref_matched(const char *path,
+		       const struct string_list *l,
+		       const struct string_list *hidden_refs)
 {
 	const char *stripped_path = strip_namespace(path);
 	struct string_list_item *item;
 
-	for_each_string_list_item(item, &exclusions->excluded_refs) {
+	for_each_string_list_item(item, l) {
 		if (!wildmatch(item->string, path, 0))
 			return 1;
 	}
 
-	if (ref_is_hidden(stripped_path, path, &exclusions->hidden_refs))
+	if (ref_is_hidden(stripped_path, path, hidden_refs))
 		return 1;
 
 	return 0;
 }
 
-void init_ref_exclusions(struct ref_exclusions *exclusions)
+int ref_excluded(const struct ref_visibility *visibility, const char *path)
 {
-	struct ref_exclusions blank = REF_EXCLUSIONS_INIT;
-	memcpy(exclusions, &blank, sizeof(*exclusions));
+	return ref_matched(path, &visibility->excluded_refs, &visibility->hidden_refs);
 }
 
-void clear_ref_exclusions(struct ref_exclusions *exclusions)
+int ref_included(const struct ref_visibility *visibility, const char *path)
 {
-	string_list_clear(&exclusions->excluded_refs, 0);
-	string_list_clear(&exclusions->hidden_refs, 0);
-	exclusions->hidden_refs_configured = 0;
+	return ref_matched(path, &visibility->included_refs, &visibility->hidden_refs);
 }
 
-void add_ref_exclusion(struct ref_exclusions *exclusions, const char *exclude)
+void init_ref_visibility(struct ref_visibility *visibility)
 {
-	string_list_append(&exclusions->excluded_refs, exclude);
+	struct ref_visibility blank = REF_VISIBILITY_INIT;
+	memcpy(visibility, &blank, sizeof(*visibility));
+}
+
+void clear_ref_visibility(struct ref_visibility *visibility)
+{
+	string_list_clear(&visibility->excluded_refs, 0);
+	string_list_clear(&visibility->hidden_refs, 0);
+	visibility->hidden_refs_configured = 0;
+}
+
+void add_ref_exclusion(struct ref_visibility *visibility, const char *exclude)
+{
+	string_list_append(&visibility->excluded_refs, exclude);
+}
+
+void add_ref_inclusion(struct ref_visibility *visibility, const char *include)
+{
+	string_list_append(&visibility->included_refs, include);
 }
 
 struct exclude_hidden_refs_cb {
-	struct ref_exclusions *exclusions;
+	struct ref_visibility *visibility;
 	const char *section;
 };
 
 static int hide_refs_config(const char *var, const char *value, void *cb_data)
 {
 	struct exclude_hidden_refs_cb *cb = cb_data;
-	cb->exclusions->hidden_refs_configured = 1;
+	cb->visibility->hidden_refs_configured = 1;
 	return parse_hide_refs_config(var, value, cb->section,
-				      &cb->exclusions->hidden_refs);
+				      &cb->visibility->hidden_refs);
 }
 
-void exclude_hidden_refs(struct ref_exclusions *exclusions, const char *section)
+void exclude_hidden_refs(struct ref_visibility *visibility, const char *section)
 {
 	struct exclude_hidden_refs_cb cb;
 
@@ -1588,10 +1605,10 @@ void exclude_hidden_refs(struct ref_exclusions *exclusions, const char *section)
 			strcmp(section, "uploadpack"))
 		die(_("unsupported section for hidden refs: %s"), section);
 
-	if (exclusions->hidden_refs_configured)
+	if (visibility->hidden_refs_configured)
 		die(_("--exclude-hidden= passed more than once"));
 
-	cb.exclusions = exclusions;
+	cb.visibility = visibility;
 	cb.section = section;
 
 	git_config(hide_refs_config, &cb);
@@ -1935,7 +1952,7 @@ void repo_init_revisions(struct repository *r,
 
 	init_display_notes(&revs->notes_opt);
 	list_objects_filter_init(&revs->filter);
-	init_ref_exclusions(&revs->ref_excludes);
+	init_ref_visibility(&revs->ref_excludes);
 }
 
 static void add_pending_commit_list(struct rev_info *revs,
@@ -2724,12 +2741,12 @@ static int handle_revision_pseudo_opt(struct rev_info *revs,
 			init_all_refs_cb(&cb, revs, *flags);
 			other_head_refs(handle_one_ref, &cb);
 		}
-		clear_ref_exclusions(&revs->ref_excludes);
+		clear_ref_visibility(&revs->ref_excludes);
 	} else if (!strcmp(arg, "--branches")) {
 		if (revs->ref_excludes.hidden_refs_configured)
 			return error(_("--exclude-hidden cannot be used together with --branches"));
 		handle_refs(refs, revs, *flags, refs_for_each_branch_ref);
-		clear_ref_exclusions(&revs->ref_excludes);
+		clear_ref_visibility(&revs->ref_excludes);
 	} else if (!strcmp(arg, "--bisect")) {
 		read_bisect_terms(&term_bad, &term_good);
 		handle_refs(refs, revs, *flags, for_each_bad_bisect_ref);
@@ -2740,17 +2757,17 @@ static int handle_revision_pseudo_opt(struct rev_info *revs,
 		if (revs->ref_excludes.hidden_refs_configured)
 			return error(_("--exclude-hidden cannot be used together with --tags"));
 		handle_refs(refs, revs, *flags, refs_for_each_tag_ref);
-		clear_ref_exclusions(&revs->ref_excludes);
+		clear_ref_visibility(&revs->ref_excludes);
 	} else if (!strcmp(arg, "--remotes")) {
 		if (revs->ref_excludes.hidden_refs_configured)
 			return error(_("--exclude-hidden cannot be used together with --remotes"));
 		handle_refs(refs, revs, *flags, refs_for_each_remote_ref);
-		clear_ref_exclusions(&revs->ref_excludes);
+		clear_ref_visibility(&revs->ref_excludes);
 	} else if ((argcount = parse_long_opt("glob", argv, &optarg))) {
 		struct all_refs_cb cb;
 		init_all_refs_cb(&cb, revs, *flags);
 		for_each_glob_ref(handle_one_ref, optarg, &cb);
-		clear_ref_exclusions(&revs->ref_excludes);
+		clear_ref_visibility(&revs->ref_excludes);
 		return argcount;
 	} else if ((argcount = parse_long_opt("exclude", argv, &optarg))) {
 		add_ref_exclusion(&revs->ref_excludes, optarg);
@@ -2764,21 +2781,21 @@ static int handle_revision_pseudo_opt(struct rev_info *revs,
 			return error(_("--exclude-hidden cannot be used together with --branches"));
 		init_all_refs_cb(&cb, revs, *flags);
 		for_each_glob_ref_in(handle_one_ref, optarg, "refs/heads/", &cb);
-		clear_ref_exclusions(&revs->ref_excludes);
+		clear_ref_visibility(&revs->ref_excludes);
 	} else if (skip_prefix(arg, "--tags=", &optarg)) {
 		struct all_refs_cb cb;
 		if (revs->ref_excludes.hidden_refs_configured)
 			return error(_("--exclude-hidden cannot be used together with --tags"));
 		init_all_refs_cb(&cb, revs, *flags);
 		for_each_glob_ref_in(handle_one_ref, optarg, "refs/tags/", &cb);
-		clear_ref_exclusions(&revs->ref_excludes);
+		clear_ref_visibility(&revs->ref_excludes);
 	} else if (skip_prefix(arg, "--remotes=", &optarg)) {
 		struct all_refs_cb cb;
 		if (revs->ref_excludes.hidden_refs_configured)
 			return error(_("--exclude-hidden cannot be used together with --remotes"));
 		init_all_refs_cb(&cb, revs, *flags);
 		for_each_glob_ref_in(handle_one_ref, optarg, "refs/remotes/", &cb);
-		clear_ref_exclusions(&revs->ref_excludes);
+		clear_ref_visibility(&revs->ref_excludes);
 	} else if (!strcmp(arg, "--reflog")) {
 		add_reflogs_to_pending(revs, *flags);
 	} else if (!strcmp(arg, "--indexed-objects")) {
diff --git a/revision.h b/revision.h
index 25776af3815..296c520a003 100644
--- a/revision.h
+++ b/revision.h
@@ -84,7 +84,12 @@ struct rev_cmdline_info {
 	} *rev;
 };
 
-struct ref_exclusions {
+struct ref_visibility {
+	/*
+	 * Included refs is a list of wildmatch patterns. If any of the
+	 * patterns match, the reference will be included.
+	 */
+	struct string_list included_refs;
 	/*
 	 * Excluded refs is a list of wildmatch patterns. If any of the
 	 * patterns match, the reference will be excluded.
@@ -106,9 +111,10 @@ struct ref_exclusions {
 };
 
 /**
- * Initialize a `struct ref_exclusions` with a macro.
+ * Initialize a `struct ref_visibility` with a macro.
  */
-#define REF_EXCLUSIONS_INIT { \
+#define REF_VISIBILITY_INIT { \
+	.included_refs = STRING_LIST_INIT_DUP, \
 	.excluded_refs = STRING_LIST_INIT_DUP, \
 	.hidden_refs = STRING_LIST_INIT_DUP, \
 }
@@ -135,7 +141,7 @@ struct rev_info {
 	struct list_objects_filter_options filter;
 
 	/* excluding from --branches, --refs, etc. expansion */
-	struct ref_exclusions ref_excludes;
+	struct ref_visibility ref_excludes;
 
 	/* Basic information */
 	const char *prefix;
@@ -487,11 +493,13 @@ void show_object_with_name(FILE *, struct object *, const char *);
  * Helpers to check if a reference should be excluded.
  */
 
-int ref_excluded(const struct ref_exclusions *exclusions, const char *path);
-void init_ref_exclusions(struct ref_exclusions *);
-void clear_ref_exclusions(struct ref_exclusions *);
-void add_ref_exclusion(struct ref_exclusions *, const char *exclude);
-void exclude_hidden_refs(struct ref_exclusions *, const char *section);
+int ref_excluded(const struct ref_visibility *exclusions, const char *path);
+int ref_included(const struct ref_visibility *exclusions, const char *path);
+void init_ref_visibility(struct ref_visibility *);
+void clear_ref_visibility(struct ref_visibility *);
+void add_ref_exclusion(struct ref_visibility *, const char *exclude);
+void add_ref_inclusion(struct ref_visibility *, const char *exclude);
+void exclude_hidden_refs(struct ref_visibility *, const char *section);
 
 /**
  * This function can be used if you want to add commit objects as revision
