diff --git a/runtime/doc/lua.txt b/runtime/doc/lua.txt
index f546404f85..794df90d97 100644
--- a/runtime/doc/lua.txt
+++ b/runtime/doc/lua.txt
@@ -1755,13 +1755,66 @@ vim.islist({t})                                                 *vim.islist()*
     See also: ~
       • |vim.isarray()|
 
+vim.list.bisect({t}, {val}, {opts})                        *vim.list.bisect()*
+    Search for a position in a sorted list {t} where {val} can be inserted
+    while keeping the list sorted.
+
+    Use {bound} to determine whether to return the first or the last position,
+    defaults to "lower", i.e., the first position.
+
+    NOTE: Behavior is undefined on unsorted lists!
+
+    Example: >lua
+
+        local t = { 1, 2, 2, 3, 3, 3 }
+        local first = vim.list.bisect(t, 3)
+        -- `first` is `val`'s first index if found,
+        -- useful for existence checks.
+        print(t[first]) -- 3
+
+        local last = vim.list.bisect(t, 3, { bound = 'upper' })
+        -- Note that `last` is 7, not 6,
+        -- this is suitable for insertion.
+
+        table.insert(t, last, 4)
+        -- t is now { 1, 2, 2, 3, 3, 3, 4 }
+
+        -- You can use lower bound and upper bound together
+        -- to obtain the range of occurrences of `val`.
+
+        -- 3 is in [first, last)
+        for i = first, last - 1 do
+          print(t[i]) -- { 3, 3, 3 }
+        end
+<
+
+    Parameters: ~
+      • {t}     (`any[]`) A comparable list.
+      • {val}   (`any`) The value to search.
+      • {opts}  (`table?`) A table with the following fields:
+                • {lo}? (`integer`, default: `1`) Start index of the list.
+                • {hi}? (`integer`, default: `#t + 1`) End index of the list,
+                  exclusive.
+                • {key}? (`fun(val: any): any`) Optional, compare the return
+                  value instead of the {val} itself if provided.
+                • {bound}? (`'lower'|'upper'`, default: `'lower'`) Specifies
+                  the search variant.
+                  • "lower": returns the first position where inserting {val}
+                    keeps the list sorted.
+                  • "upper": returns the last position where inserting {val}
+                    keeps the list sorted..
+
+    Return: ~
+        (`integer`) index serves as either the lower bound or the upper bound
+        position.
+
 vim.list.unique({t}, {key})                                *vim.list.unique()*
     Removes duplicate values from a list-like table in-place.
 
     Only the first occurrence of each value is kept. The operation is
     performed in-place and the input table is modified.
 
-    Accepts an optional `hash` argument that if provided is called for each
+    Accepts an optional `key` argument that if provided is called for each
     value in the list to compute a hash key for uniqueness comparison. This is
     useful for deduplicating table values or complex objects.
 
@@ -1778,7 +1831,7 @@ vim.list.unique({t}, {key})                                *vim.list.unique()*
 
     Parameters: ~
       • {t}    (`any[]`)
-      • {key}  (`fun(x: T): any??`) Optional hash function to determine
+      • {key}  (`fun(x: T): any?`) Optional hash function to determine
                uniqueness of values
 
     Return: ~
diff --git a/runtime/doc/news.txt b/runtime/doc/news.txt
index b7d098b956..7393f8ef04 100644
--- a/runtime/doc/news.txt
+++ b/runtime/doc/news.txt
@@ -234,6 +234,7 @@ LUA
 • |Iter:take()| and |Iter:skip()| now optionally accept predicates.
 • Built-in plugin manager |vim.pack|
 • |vim.list.unique()| to deduplicate lists.
+• |vim.list.bisect()| for binary search.
 
 OPTIONS
 
diff --git a/runtime/lua/vim/lsp/semantic_tokens.lua b/runtime/lua/vim/lsp/semantic_tokens.lua
index 5246f93ef7..24bf5d46c1 100644
--- a/runtime/lua/vim/lsp/semantic_tokens.lua
+++ b/runtime/lua/vim/lsp/semantic_tokens.lua
@@ -45,38 +45,6 @@ local STHighlighter = { name = 'Semantic Tokens', active = {} }
 STHighlighter.__index = STHighlighter
 setmetatable(STHighlighter, Capability)
 
---- Do a binary search of the tokens in the half-open range [lo, hi).
----
---- Return the index i in range such that tokens[j].line < line for all j < i, and
---- tokens[j].line >= line for all j >= i, or return hi if no such index is found.
-local function lower_bound(tokens, line, lo, hi)
-  while lo < hi do
-    local mid = bit.rshift(lo + hi, 1) -- Equivalent to floor((lo + hi) / 2).
-    if tokens[mid].end_line < line then
-      lo = mid + 1
-    else
-      hi = mid
-    end
-  end
-  return lo
-end
-
---- Do a binary search of the tokens in the half-open range [lo, hi).
----
---- Return the index i in range such that tokens[j].line <= line for all j < i, and
---- tokens[j].line > line for all j >= i, or return hi if no such index is found.
-local function upper_bound(tokens, line, lo, hi)
-  while lo < hi do
-    local mid = bit.rshift(lo + hi, 1) -- Equivalent to floor((lo + hi) / 2).
-    if line < tokens[mid].line then
-      hi = mid
-    else
-      lo = mid + 1
-    end
-  end
-  return lo
-end
-
 --- Extracts modifier strings from the encoded number in the token array
 ---
 ---@param x integer
@@ -488,8 +456,18 @@ function STHighlighter:on_win(topline, botline)
 
       local ft = vim.bo[self.bufnr].filetype
       local highlights = assert(current_result.highlights)
-      local first = lower_bound(highlights, topline, 1, #highlights + 1)
-      local last = upper_bound(highlights, botline, first, #highlights + 1) - 1
+      local first = vim.list.bisect(highlights, { end_line = topline }, {
+        key = function(highlight)
+          return highlight.end_line
+        end,
+      })
+      local last = vim.list.bisect(highlights, { line = botline }, {
+        lo = first,
+        bound = 'upper',
+        key = function(highlight)
+          return highlight.line
+        end,
+      }) - 1
 
       --- @type boolean?, integer?
       local is_folded, foldend
@@ -761,7 +739,11 @@ function M.get_at_pos(bufnr, row, col)
   for client_id, client in pairs(highlighter.client_state) do
     local highlights = client.current_result.highlights
     if highlights then
-      local idx = lower_bound(highlights, row, 1, #highlights + 1)
+      local idx = vim.list.bisect(highlights, { end_line = row }, {
+        key = function(highlight)
+          return highlight.end_line
+        end,
+      })
       for i = idx, #highlights do
         local token = highlights[i]
         --- @cast token STTokenRangeInspect
diff --git a/runtime/lua/vim/shared.lua b/runtime/lua/vim/shared.lua
index 9ce5d5b72d..014b64c18b 100644
--- a/runtime/lua/vim/shared.lua
+++ b/runtime/lua/vim/shared.lua
@@ -350,12 +350,21 @@ end
 
 vim.list = {}
 
+---TODO(ofseed): memoize, string value support, type alias.
+---@generic T
+---@param v T
+---@param key? fun(v: T): any
+---@return any
+local function key_fn(v, key)
+  return key and key(v) or v
+end
+
 --- Removes duplicate values from a list-like table in-place.
 ---
 --- Only the first occurrence of each value is kept.
 --- The operation is performed in-place and the input table is modified.
 ---
---- Accepts an optional `hash` argument that if provided is called for each
+--- Accepts an optional `key` argument that if provided is called for each
 --- value in the list to compute a hash key for uniqueness comparison.
 --- This is useful for deduplicating table values or complex objects.
 ---
@@ -373,21 +382,18 @@ vim.list = {}
 ---
 --- @generic T
 --- @param t T[]
---- @param key? fun(x: T): any? Optional hash function to determine uniqueness of values
+--- @param key? fun(x: T): any Optional hash function to determine uniqueness of values
 --- @return T[] : The deduplicated list
 function vim.list.unique(t, key)
   vim.validate('t', t, 'table')
   local seen = {} --- @type table<any,boolean>
 
   local finish = #t
-  key = key or function(a)
-    return a
-  end
 
   local j = 1
   for i = 1, finish do
     local v = t[i]
-    local vh = key(v)
+    local vh = key_fn(v, key)
     if not seen[vh] then
       t[j] = v
       if vh ~= nil then
@@ -404,6 +410,127 @@ function vim.list.unique(t, key)
   return t
 end
 
+---@class vim.list.bisect.Opts
+---@inlinedoc
+---
+--- Start index of the list.
+--- (default: `1`)
+---@field lo? integer
+---
+--- End index of the list, exclusive.
+--- (default: `#t + 1`)
+---@field hi? integer
+---
+--- Optional, compare the return value instead of the {val} itself if provided.
+---@field key? fun(val: any): any
+---
+--- Specifies the search variant.
+---   - "lower": returns the first position
+---     where inserting {val} keeps the list sorted.
+---   - "upper": returns the last position
+---     where inserting {val} keeps the list sorted..
+--- (default: `'lower'`)
+---@field bound? 'lower' | 'upper'
+
+---@generic T
+---@param t T[]
+---@param val T
+---@param key? fun(val: any): any
+---@param lo integer
+---@param hi integer
+---@return integer i in range such that `t[j]` < {val} for all j < i,
+---                and `t[j]` >= {val} for all j >= i,
+---                or return {hi} if no such index is found.
+local function lower_bound(t, val, lo, hi, key)
+  local bit = require('bit') -- Load bitop on demand
+  local val_key = key_fn(val, key)
+  while lo < hi do
+    local mid = bit.rshift(lo + hi, 1) -- Equivalent to floor((lo + hi) / 2)
+    if key_fn(t[mid], key) < val_key then
+      lo = mid + 1
+    else
+      hi = mid
+    end
+  end
+  return lo
+end
+
+---@generic T
+---@param t T[]
+---@param val T
+---@param key? fun(val: any): any
+---@param lo integer
+---@param hi integer
+---@return integer i in range such that `t[j]` <= {val} for all j < i,
+---                and `t[j]` > {val} for all j >= i,
+---                or return {hi} if no such index is found.
+local function upper_bound(t, val, lo, hi, key)
+  local bit = require('bit') -- Load bitop on demand
+  local val_key = key_fn(val, key)
+  while lo < hi do
+    local mid = bit.rshift(lo + hi, 1) -- Equivalent to floor((lo + hi) / 2)
+    if val_key < key_fn(t[mid], key) then
+      hi = mid
+    else
+      lo = mid + 1
+    end
+  end
+  return lo
+end
+
+--- Search for a position in a sorted list {t}
+--- where {val} can be inserted while keeping the list sorted.
+---
+--- Use {bound} to determine whether to return the first or the last position,
+--- defaults to "lower", i.e., the first position.
+---
+--- NOTE: Behavior is undefined on unsorted lists!
+---
+--- Example:
+--- ```lua
+---
+--- local t = { 1, 2, 2, 3, 3, 3 }
+--- local first = vim.list.bisect(t, 3)
+--- -- `first` is `val`'s first index if found,
+--- -- useful for existence checks.
+--- print(t[first]) -- 3
+---
+--- local last = vim.list.bisect(t, 3, { bound = 'upper' })
+--- -- Note that `last` is 7, not 6,
+--- -- this is suitable for insertion.
+---
+--- table.insert(t, last, 4)
+--- -- t is now { 1, 2, 2, 3, 3, 3, 4 }
+---
+--- -- You can use lower bound and upper bound together
+--- -- to obtain the range of occurrences of `val`.
+---
+--- -- 3 is in [first, last)
+--- for i = first, last - 1 do
+---   print(t[i]) -- { 3, 3, 3 }
+--- end
+--- ```
+---@generic T
+---@param t T[] A comparable list.
+---@param val T The value to search.
+---@param opts? vim.list.bisect.Opts
+---@return integer index serves as either the lower bound or the upper bound position.
+function vim.list.bisect(t, val, opts)
+  vim.validate('t', t, 'table')
+  vim.validate('opts', opts, 'table', true)
+
+  opts = opts or {}
+  local lo = opts.lo or 1
+  local hi = opts.hi or #t + 1
+  local key = opts.key
+
+  if opts.bound == 'upper' then
+    return upper_bound(t, val, lo, hi, key)
+  else
+    return lower_bound(t, val, lo, hi, key)
+  end
+end
+
 --- Checks if a table is empty.
 ---
 ---@see https://github.com/premake/premake-core/blob/master/src/base/table.lua
diff --git a/test/functional/lua/list_spec.lua b/test/functional/lua/list_spec.lua
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..7534505ef2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/functional/lua/list_spec.lua
@@ -0,0 +1,65 @@
+-- Test suite for vim.list
+local t = require('test.testutil')
+local eq = t.eq
+
+describe('vim.list', function()
+  it('vim.list.unique()', function()
+    eq({ 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 }, vim.list.unique({ 1, 2, 2, 3, 4, 4, 5 }))
+    eq({ 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 }, vim.list.unique({ 1, 2, 3, 4, 4, 5, 1, 2, 3, 2, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 }))
+    eq({ 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, field = 1 }, vim.list.unique({ 1, 2, 2, 3, 4, 4, 5, field = 1 }))
+
+    -- Not properly defined, but test anyway
+    -- luajit evaluates #t as 7, whereas Lua 5.1 evaluates it as 12
+    local r = vim.list.unique({ 1, 2, 2, 3, 4, 4, 5, nil, 6, 6, 7, 7 })
+    if jit then
+      eq({ 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, nil, nil, nil, 6, 6, 7, 7 }, r)
+    else
+      eq({ 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, nil, 6, 7 }, r)
+    end
+
+    eq(
+      { { 1 }, { 2 }, { 3 } },
+      vim.list.unique({ { 1 }, { 1 }, { 2 }, { 2 }, { 3 }, { 3 } }, function(x)
+        return x[1]
+      end)
+    )
+  end)
+
+  --- Generate a list like { 1, 2, 2, 3, 3, 3, 4, 4, 4, 4, ...}.
+  ---@param num integer
+  local function gen_list(num)
+    ---@type integer[]
+    local list = {}
+    for i = 1, num do
+      for _ = 1, i do
+        list[#list + 1] = i
+      end
+    end
+    return list
+  end
+
+  --- Index of the last {num}.
+  --- Mathematically, a triangular number.
+  ---@param num integer
+  local function index(num)
+    return math.floor((math.pow(num, 2) + num) / 2)
+  end
+
+  it("vim.list.bisect(..., { bound = 'lower' })", function()
+    local num = math.random(100)
+    local list = gen_list(num)
+
+    local target = math.random(num)
+    eq(vim.list.bisect(list, target, { bound = 'lower' }), index(target - 1) + 1)
+    eq(vim.list.bisect(list, num + 1, { bound = 'lower' }), index(num) + 1)
+  end)
+
+  it("vim.list.bisect(..., bound = { 'upper' })", function()
+    local num = math.random(100)
+    local list = gen_list(num)
+
+    local target = math.random(num)
+    eq(vim.list.bisect(list, target, { bound = 'upper' }), index(target) + 1)
+    eq(vim.list.bisect(list, num + 1, { bound = 'upper' }), index(num) + 1)
+  end)
+end)
diff --git a/test/functional/lua/vim_spec.lua b/test/functional/lua/vim_spec.lua
index 14e08cffba..9372f5c7b7 100644
--- a/test/functional/lua/vim_spec.lua
+++ b/test/functional/lua/vim_spec.lua
@@ -1260,28 +1260,6 @@ describe('lua stdlib', function()
     eq({ 2 }, exec_lua [[ return vim.list_extend({}, {2;a=1}, -1, 2) ]])
   end)
 
-  it('vim.list.unique', function()
-    eq({ 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 }, vim.list.unique({ 1, 2, 2, 3, 4, 4, 5 }))
-    eq({ 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 }, vim.list.unique({ 1, 2, 3, 4, 4, 5, 1, 2, 3, 2, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 }))
-    eq({ 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, field = 1 }, vim.list.unique({ 1, 2, 2, 3, 4, 4, 5, field = 1 }))
-
-    -- Not properly defined, but test anyway
-    -- luajit evaluates #t as 7, whereas Lua 5.1 evaluates it as 12
-    local r = vim.list.unique({ 1, 2, 2, 3, 4, 4, 5, nil, 6, 6, 7, 7 })
-    if jit then
-      eq({ 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, nil, nil, nil, 6, 6, 7, 7 }, r)
-    else
-      eq({ 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, nil, 6, 7 }, r)
-    end
-
-    eq(
-      { { 1 }, { 2 }, { 3 } },
-      vim.list.unique({ { 1 }, { 1 }, { 2 }, { 2 }, { 3 }, { 3 } }, function(x)
-        return x[1]
-      end)
-    )
-  end)
-
   it('vim.tbl_add_reverse_lookup', function()
     eq(
       true,