diff --git a/errors.go b/errors.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..3dcafd0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/errors.go
@@ -0,0 +1,17 @@
+package impart
+
+import (
+	"net/http"
+)
+
+type HTTPError struct {
+	Status  int
+	Message string
+}
+
+func (h HTTPError) Error() string {
+	if h.Message == "" {
+		return http.StatusText(h.Status)
+	}
+	return h.Message
+}
diff --git a/response.go b/response.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..04ed0dd
--- /dev/null
+++ b/response.go
@@ -0,0 +1,62 @@
+package impart
+
+import (
+	"encoding/json"
+	"net/http"
+	"strconv"
+)
+
+type (
+	// envelope contains metadata and optional data for a response object.
+	envelope struct {
+		MetaData metadata    `json:"meta"`
+		Data     interface{} `json:"data,omitempty"`
+	}
+
+	// metadata contains more information about the response
+	metadata struct {
+		Code         int    `json:"code"`
+		ErrorType    string `json:"error_type,omitempty"`
+		ErrorMessage string `json:"error_message,omitempty"`
+	}
+)
+
+func writeBody(w http.ResponseWriter, body []byte, status int, contentType string) error {
+	w.Header().Set("Content-Type", contentType+"; charset=UTF-8")
+	w.Header().Set("Content-Length", strconv.Itoa(len(body)))
+	w.WriteHeader(status)
+	_, err := w.Write(body)
+	return err
+}
+
+func renderJSON(w http.ResponseWriter, value interface{}, status int) error {
+	body, err := json.Marshal(value)
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	return writeBody(w, body, status, "application/json")
+}
+
+func renderString(w http.ResponseWriter, status int, msg string) error {
+	return writeBody(w, []byte(msg), status, "text/plain")
+}
+
+func WriteSuccess(w http.ResponseWriter, data interface{}, status int) error {
+	env := &envelope{
+		MetaData: metadata{
+			Code: status,
+		},
+		Data: data,
+	}
+	return renderJSON(w, env, status)
+}
+
+func WriteError(w http.ResponseWriter, e HTTPError) error {
+	env := &envelope{
+		MetaData: metadata{
+			Code:         e.Status,
+			ErrorMessage: e.Message,
+		},
+	}
+	return renderJSON(w, env, e.Status)
+}