diff --git a/jedi/api.py b/jedi/api.py
index e2631507..959d19ea 100644
--- a/jedi/api.py
+++ b/jedi/api.py
@@ -468,6 +468,25 @@ class Script(object):
         api_classes._clear_caches()
 
 
+def get_definitions(source, source_path=None, source_encoding='utf-8'):
+    """
+    Get all definitions in `source` sorted by its position.
+
+    This functions can be used for listing functions, classes and
+    data defined in a file.  This can be useful if you want to list
+    them in "sidebar".  Each element in the returned list also has
+    `get_definition` method which can be used to get sub-definitions
+    (e.g., methods in class).
+
+    :rtype: list of api_classes.Definition
+    """
+    parser = parsing.Parser(
+        modules.source_to_unicode(source, source_encoding),
+        module_path=source_path,
+    )
+    return api_classes.get_definitions(parser.scope)
+
+
 def set_debug_function(func_cb=debug.print_to_stdout, warnings=True,
                                             notices=True, speed=True):
     """
diff --git a/jedi/api_classes.py b/jedi/api_classes.py
index 3a966609..5ef0c02e 100644
--- a/jedi/api_classes.py
+++ b/jedi/api_classes.py
@@ -317,6 +317,32 @@ class Definition(BaseDefinition):
             position = ''
         return "%s:%s%s" % (self.module_name, self.description, position)
 
+    def get_definitions(self):
+        """
+        List sub-definitions (e.g., methods in class).
+
+        :rtype: list of Definition
+        """
+        return get_definitions(self._parser.scope)
+
+
+def get_definitions(scope):
+    """
+    List sub-definitions (e.g., methods in class).
+
+    :type scope: Scope
+    :rtype: list of Definition
+    """
+    def is_definition(s):
+        return isinstance(s, (pr.Import, pr.Function, pr.Class)) or \
+            isinstance(s, pr.Statement) and s.assignment_details
+    scopes = []
+    scopes.extend(scope.imports)
+    scopes.extend(scope.statements)
+    scopes.extend(scope.subscopes)
+    return map(Definition, sorted(filter(is_definition, scopes),
+                                  key=lambda s: s.start_pos))
+
 
 class RelatedName(BaseDefinition):
     """TODO: document this"""
diff --git a/test/regression.py b/test/regression.py
index 8f01ea14..e46062b3 100755
--- a/test/regression.py
+++ b/test/regression.py
@@ -391,6 +391,24 @@ class TestFeature(TestBase):
             self.assertEqual(quick_values, real_values)
 
 
+class TestGetDefinitions(TestBase):
+
+    def test_get_definitions_flat(self):
+        definitions = api.get_definitions("""
+        import module
+        class Class:
+            pass
+        def func():
+            pass
+        data = None
+        """)
+        desc = lambda i: definitions[i].description
+        assert desc(0) == 'import module'
+        assert desc(1) == 'class Class'
+        assert desc(2) == 'def func'
+        assert desc(3) == 'data=None'
+
+
 class TestSpeed(TestBase):
     def _check_speed(time_per_run, number=4, run_warm=True):
         """ Speed checks should typically be very tolerant. Some machines are