diff --git a/examples/serial_example.cc b/examples/serial_example.cc
index cd06803..e81e50e 100644
--- a/examples/serial_example.cc
+++ b/examples/serial_example.cc
@@ -29,7 +29,6 @@
 
 #include "serial/serial.h"
 
-using std::array;
 using std::string;
 using std::exception;
 using std::cout;
@@ -47,15 +46,16 @@ void my_sleep(unsigned long milliseconds) {
 
 void enumerate_ports()
 {
-	vector<array<string, 3> > devices_found = serial::list_ports();
+	vector<serial::PortDescription> devices_found = serial::list_ports();
 
-	vector<array<string, 3> >::iterator iter = devices_found.begin();
+	vector<serial::PortDescription>::iterator iter = devices_found.begin();
 
 	while( iter != devices_found.end() )
 	{
-		array<string, 3> device = *iter++;
+		serial::PortDescription device = *iter++;
 
-		printf( "(%s, %s, %s)\n", device[0].c_str(), device[1].c_str(), device[2].c_str() );
+		printf( "(%s, %s, %s)\n", device.port.c_str(), device.friendly_name.c_str(),
+     device.hardware_id.c_str() );
 	}
 }
 
diff --git a/include/serial/serial.h b/include/serial/serial.h
index 0bc8db1..16f52ea 100644
--- a/include/serial/serial.h
+++ b/include/serial/serial.h
@@ -36,7 +36,6 @@
 #ifndef SERIAL_H
 #define SERIAL_H
 
-#include <array>
 #include <limits>
 #include <vector>
 #include <string>
@@ -696,19 +695,30 @@ public:
   }
 };
 
+/*!
+ * Structure that describes a serial device.
+ */
+struct PortDescription {
+
+  /*! Address of port (this can be passed to the constructor of Serial) */
+  std::string port;
+
+  /*! Has additional information when available */
+  std::string friendly_name;
+
+  /*! Hardware ID or "n/a" if not available */
+  std::string hardware_id;
+
+};
 
 /* Lists the serial ports available on the system
  *
  * Returns a vector of available serial ports, each represented
- * by three strings:
+ * by a serial::PortDescription data structure:
  *
- *   - Port (this can be passed to the constructor of Serial)
- *   - Pretty port (has additional information when availabe)
- *   - Hardware ID or "n/a" if not avaiable
- *
- * \return vector of triplets (port, pretty port, hw id), one for each serial port
+ * \return vector of serial::PortDescription.
  */
-std::vector<std::array<std::string, 3> >
+std::vector<PortDescription>
 list_ports();
 
 } // namespace serial
diff --git a/src/impl/list_ports/list_ports_linux.cc b/src/impl/list_ports/list_ports_linux.cc
index b437ac8..375d6ac 100644
--- a/src/impl/list_ports/list_ports_linux.cc
+++ b/src/impl/list_ports/list_ports_linux.cc
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@
 
 #include "serial/serial.h"
 
-using std::array;
+using serial::PortDescription;
 using std::istringstream;
 using std::ifstream;
 using std::getline;
@@ -292,10 +292,10 @@ usb_sysfs_hw_string(const string& sysfs_path)
     return format("USB VID:PID=%s:%s %s", vid.c_str(), pid.c_str(), serial_number.c_str() );
 }
 
-vector<array<string, 3> >
+vector<PortDescription>
 serial::list_ports()
 {
-    vector<array<string, 3> > results;
+    vector<PortDescription> results;
 
     vector<string> search_globs;
     search_globs.push_back("/dev/ttyACM*");
@@ -318,11 +318,11 @@ serial::list_ports()
 
         string hardware_id = sysfs_info[1];
 
-        array<string, 3> device_entry;
-        device_entry[0] = device;
-        device_entry[1] = friendly_name;
-        device_entry[2] = hardware_id;
-
+        PortDescription device_entry;
+        device_entry.port = device;
+        device_entry.friendly_name = friendly_name;
+        device_entry.hardware_id = hardware_id;
+        
         results.push_back( device_entry );
 
     }
diff --git a/src/impl/list_ports/list_ports_win.cc b/src/impl/list_ports/list_ports_win.cc
index 1d5939e..00cdb52 100644
--- a/src/impl/list_ports/list_ports_win.cc
+++ b/src/impl/list_ports/list_ports_win.cc
@@ -10,9 +10,8 @@
 #include <SetupAPI.h>
 #include <devguid.h>
 #include <cstring>
-#include <array>
 
-using std::array;
+using serial::PortDescription
 using std::vector;
 using std::string;
 
@@ -20,7 +19,7 @@ static const DWORD port_name_max_length = 256;
 static const DWORD friendly_name_max_length = 256;
 static const DWORD hardware_id_max_length = 256;
 
-vector<array<string, 3> >
+vector<PortDescription>
 serial::list_ports()
 {
 	decltype( serial::list_ports() ) devices_found;
@@ -114,10 +113,10 @@ serial::list_ports()
 		else
 			hardware_id[0] = '\0';
 
-		array<string, 3> port_entry;
-		port_entry[0] = port_name;
-		port_entry[1] = friendly_name;
-		port_entry[2] = hardware_id;
+		PortDescription port_entry;
+		port_entry.port = port_name;
+		port_entry.friendly_name = friendly_name;
+		port_entry.hardware_id = hardware_id;
 
 		devices_found.push_back(port_entry);
 	}