diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..485dee6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+.idea
diff --git a/decode_map.go b/decode_map.go
index 52e0526..6e48513 100644
--- a/decode_map.go
+++ b/decode_map.go
@@ -279,49 +279,33 @@ func decodeStructValue(d *Decoder, v reflect.Value) error {
 
 	n, err := d.mapLen(c)
 	if err == nil {
-		return d.decodeStruct(v, n)
+		return d.decodeStructValueAsMap(v, n)
 	}
 
 	var err2 error
 	n, err2 = d.arrayLen(c)
-	if err2 != nil {
-		return err
-	}
-
-	if n <= 0 {
-		v.Set(reflect.Zero(v.Type()))
-		return nil
-	}
-
-	fields := structs.Fields(v.Type(), d.structTag)
-	if n != len(fields.List) {
-		return errArrayStruct
+	if err2 == nil {
+		return d.decodeStructValueAsArray(v, n)
 	}
 
-	for _, f := range fields.List {
-		if err := f.DecodeValue(d, v); err != nil {
-			return err
-		}
-	}
-
-	return nil
+	return err
 }
 
-func (d *Decoder) decodeStruct(v reflect.Value, n int) error {
+func (d *Decoder) decodeStructValueAsMap(v reflect.Value, n int) error {
 	if n == -1 {
 		v.Set(reflect.Zero(v.Type()))
 		return nil
 	}
 
-	fields := structs.Fields(v.Type(), d.structTag)
+	structFields := structs.Fields(v.Type(), d.structTag)
 	for i := 0; i < n; i++ {
 		name, err := d.decodeStringTemp()
 		if err != nil {
 			return err
 		}
 
-		if f := fields.Map[name]; f != nil {
-			if err := f.DecodeValue(d, v); err != nil {
+		if f := structFields.Map[name]; f != nil {
+			if err := decodeStructFieldValue(d, v, f); err != nil {
 				return err
 			}
 			continue
@@ -337,3 +321,31 @@ func (d *Decoder) decodeStruct(v reflect.Value, n int) error {
 
 	return nil
 }
+
+func (d *Decoder) decodeStructValueAsArray(v reflect.Value, n int) error {
+	if n <= 0 {
+		v.Set(reflect.Zero(v.Type()))
+		return nil
+	}
+
+	fields := structs.Fields(v.Type(), d.structTag)
+
+	if n != len(fields.List) && !fields.hasKeyFields {
+		return errArrayStruct
+	}
+
+	for _, f := range fields.List {
+		if err := decodeStructFieldValue(d, v, f); err != nil {
+			return err
+		}
+	}
+
+	return nil
+}
+
+func decodeStructFieldValue(d *Decoder, v reflect.Value, f *field) error {
+	if f == nil {
+		return d.Skip()
+	}
+	return f.DecodeValue(d, v)
+}
diff --git a/encode_map.go b/encode_map.go
index ba4c61b..2dd5687 100644
--- a/encode_map.go
+++ b/encode_map.go
@@ -145,9 +145,14 @@ func (e *Encoder) EncodeMapLen(l int) error {
 
 func encodeStructValue(e *Encoder, strct reflect.Value) error {
 	structFields := structs.Fields(strct.Type(), e.structTag)
-	if e.flags&arrayEncodedStructsFlag != 0 || structFields.AsArray {
-		return encodeStructValueAsArray(e, strct, structFields.List)
+
+	if e.flags&arrayEncodedStructsFlag != 0 || structFields.AsArray || structFields.hasKeyFields {
+		return encodeStructValueAsArray(e, strct, structFields)
 	}
+	return encodeStructValueAsMap(e, strct, structFields)
+}
+
+func encodeStructValueAsMap(e *Encoder, strct reflect.Value, structFields *fields) error {
 	fields := structFields.OmitEmpty(strct, e.flags&omitEmptyFlag != 0)
 
 	if err := e.EncodeMapLen(len(fields)); err != nil {
@@ -158,7 +163,7 @@ func encodeStructValue(e *Encoder, strct reflect.Value) error {
 		if err := e.EncodeString(f.name); err != nil {
 			return err
 		}
-		if err := f.EncodeValue(e, strct); err != nil {
+		if err := encodeStructFieldValue(e, strct, f); err != nil {
 			return err
 		}
 	}
@@ -166,14 +171,21 @@ func encodeStructValue(e *Encoder, strct reflect.Value) error {
 	return nil
 }
 
-func encodeStructValueAsArray(e *Encoder, strct reflect.Value, fields []*field) error {
-	if err := e.EncodeArrayLen(len(fields)); err != nil {
+func encodeStructValueAsArray(e *Encoder, strct reflect.Value, structFields *fields) error {
+	if err := e.EncodeArrayLen(len(structFields.List)); err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
-	for _, f := range fields {
-		if err := f.EncodeValue(e, strct); err != nil {
+	for _, f := range structFields.List {
+		if err := encodeStructFieldValue(e, strct, f); err != nil {
 			return err
 		}
 	}
 	return nil
 }
+
+func encodeStructFieldValue(e *Encoder, strct reflect.Value, f *field) error {
+	if f == nil {
+		return e.EncodeNil()
+	}
+	return f.EncodeValue(e, strct)
+}
diff --git a/example_test.go b/example_test.go
index 1408a59..11b6689 100644
--- a/example_test.go
+++ b/example_test.go
@@ -164,6 +164,29 @@ func ExampleMarshal_asArray() {
 	// Output: [foo bar]
 }
 
+func ExampleMarshal_useKeys() {
+	type Item struct {
+		Foo string `msgpack:"key:0"`
+		// Bar string `msgpack:"1"`
+		Baz string `msgpack:"key:2"`
+	}
+
+	var buf bytes.Buffer
+	enc := msgpack.NewEncoder(&buf)
+	err := enc.Encode(&Item{Foo: "foo", Baz: "baz"})
+	if err != nil {
+		panic(err)
+	}
+
+	dec := msgpack.NewDecoder(&buf)
+	v, err := dec.DecodeInterface()
+	if err != nil {
+		panic(err)
+	}
+	fmt.Println(v)
+	// Output: [foo <nil> baz]
+}
+
 func ExampleMarshal_omitEmpty() {
 	type Item struct {
 		Foo string
diff --git a/types.go b/types.go
index 69aca61..95c494c 100644
--- a/types.go
+++ b/types.go
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ import (
 	"fmt"
 	"log"
 	"reflect"
+	"strconv"
 	"sync"
 
 	"github.com/vmihailenco/tagparser/v2"
@@ -92,6 +93,7 @@ func (m *structCache) Fields(typ reflect.Type, tag string) *fields {
 type field struct {
 	name      string
 	index     []int
+	key       int
 	omitEmpty bool
 	encoder   encoderFunc
 	decoder   decoderFunc
@@ -126,6 +128,7 @@ type fields struct {
 	List    []*field
 	AsArray bool
 
+	hasKeyFields bool
 	hasOmitEmpty bool
 }
 
@@ -137,11 +140,26 @@ func newFields(typ reflect.Type) *fields {
 	}
 }
 
-func (fs *fields) Add(field *field) {
-	fs.warnIfFieldExists(field.name)
-	fs.Map[field.name] = field
-	fs.List = append(fs.List, field)
-	if field.omitEmpty {
+func (fs *fields) Add(f *field) {
+	fs.warnIfFieldExists(f.name)
+	fs.Map[f.name] = f
+
+	if f.key == -1 {
+		fs.List = append(fs.List, f)
+	} else {
+		if len(fs.List) <= f.key {
+			if cap(fs.List) > f.key {
+				fs.List = fs.List[0 : f.key+1]
+			} else {
+				fsListOld := fs.List
+				fs.List = make([]*field, f.key+1)
+				copy(fs.List, fsListOld)
+			}
+		}
+		fs.List[f.key] = f
+	}
+
+	if f.omitEmpty {
 		fs.hasOmitEmpty = true
 	}
 }
@@ -175,12 +193,7 @@ func getFields(typ reflect.Type, fallbackTag string) *fields {
 	for i := 0; i < typ.NumField(); i++ {
 		f := typ.Field(i)
 
-		tagStr := f.Tag.Get(defaultStructTag)
-		if tagStr == "" && fallbackTag != "" {
-			tagStr = f.Tag.Get(fallbackTag)
-		}
-
-		tag := tagparser.Parse(tagStr)
+		tag := getFieldTag(&f, fallbackTag)
 		if tag.Name == "-" {
 			continue
 		}
@@ -199,6 +212,7 @@ func getFields(typ reflect.Type, fallbackTag string) *fields {
 		field := &field{
 			name:      tag.Name,
 			index:     f.Index,
+			key:       getKeyFromTag(tag),
 			omitEmpty: omitEmpty || tag.HasOption("omitempty"),
 		}
 
@@ -223,6 +237,11 @@ func getFields(typ reflect.Type, fallbackTag string) *fields {
 			field.name = f.Name
 		}
 
+		if field.key != -1 {
+			fs.AsArray = true
+			fs.hasKeyFields = true
+		}
+
 		if f.Anonymous && !tag.HasOption("noinline") {
 			inline := tag.HasOption("inline")
 			if inline {
@@ -232,9 +251,7 @@ func getFields(typ reflect.Type, fallbackTag string) *fields {
 			}
 
 			if inline {
-				if _, ok := fs.Map[field.name]; ok {
-					log.Printf("msgpack: %s already has field=%s", fs.Type, field.name)
-				}
+				fs.warnIfFieldExists(field.name)
 				fs.Map[field.name] = field
 				continue
 			}
@@ -250,6 +267,26 @@ func getFields(typ reflect.Type, fallbackTag string) *fields {
 	return fs
 }
 
+func getFieldTag(f *reflect.StructField, fallbackTag string) *tagparser.Tag {
+	tagStr := f.Tag.Get(defaultStructTag)
+	if tagStr == "" && fallbackTag != "" {
+		tagStr = f.Tag.Get(fallbackTag)
+	}
+	return tagparser.Parse(tagStr)
+}
+
+func getKeyFromTag(tag *tagparser.Tag) int {
+	if key, ok := tag.Options["key"]; ok {
+		keyInt, err := strconv.Atoi(key)
+		if err != nil {
+			err := fmt.Errorf("msgpack: key value should be int: %s", key)
+			panic(err)
+		}
+		return keyInt
+	}
+	return -1
+}
+
 var (
 	encodeStructValuePtr uintptr
 	decodeStructValuePtr uintptr
diff --git a/types_test.go b/types_test.go
index fbc1ad3..9fb81c1 100644
--- a/types_test.go
+++ b/types_test.go
@@ -231,6 +231,18 @@ type AsArrayTest struct {
 	OmitEmptyTest
 }
 
+type AsArrayByKeysTest struct {
+	Foo string `msgpack:"key:0"`
+	Bar string `msgpack:"key:1"`
+	Baz string `msgpack:"key:2"`
+}
+
+type AsArrayByKeysCompatibilityTest struct {
+	Foo string `msgpack:"key:0"`
+	// Bar string `msgpack:"key:1"`
+	Baz string `msgpack:"key:2"`
+}
+
 type ExtTestField struct {
 	ExtTest ExtTest
 }
@@ -280,6 +292,8 @@ var encoderTests = []encoderTest{
 	{&InlinePtrTest{OmitEmptyTest: &OmitEmptyTest{Bar: "world"}}, "81a3426172a5776f726c64"},
 
 	{&AsArrayTest{}, "92a0a0"},
+	{&AsArrayByKeysTest{}, "93a0a0a0"},
+	{&AsArrayByKeysCompatibilityTest{}, "93a0c0a0"},
 
 	{&JSONFallbackTest{Foo: "hello"}, "82a3666f6fa568656c6c6fa3626172a0"},
 	{&JSONFallbackTest{Bar: "world"}, "81a3626172a5776f726c64"},
@@ -597,6 +611,20 @@ var (
 			decErr: "msgpack: number of fields in array-encoded struct has changed",
 		},
 
+		{in: nil, out: new(*AsArrayByKeysTest), wantnil: true},
+		{in: nil, out: new(AsArrayByKeysTest), wantzero: true},
+		{in: AsArrayByKeysTest{Foo: "foo", Bar: "bar", Baz: "baz"}, out: new(AsArrayByKeysTest)},
+		{
+			in:     AsArrayByKeysTest{Foo: "foo", Bar: "bar", Baz: "baz"},
+			out:    new(AsArrayByKeysCompatibilityTest),
+			wanted: AsArrayByKeysCompatibilityTest{Foo: "foo", Baz: "baz"},
+		},
+		{
+			in:     AsArrayByKeysCompatibilityTest{Foo: "foo", Baz: "baz"},
+			out:    new(AsArrayByKeysTest),
+			wanted: AsArrayByKeysTest{Foo: "foo", Baz: "baz"},
+		},
+
 		{in: (*EventTime)(nil), out: new(*EventTime)},
 		{in: &EventTime{time.Unix(0, 0)}, out: new(*EventTime)},