diff --git a/cmd-show-options.c b/cmd-show-options.c
index 0a898156a..bff0634fe 100644
--- a/cmd-show-options.c
+++ b/cmd-show-options.c
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@
 static enum cmd_retval	cmd_show_options_exec(struct cmd *, struct cmdq_item *);
 
 static void		cmd_show_options_print(struct cmd *, struct cmdq_item *,
-			    struct options_entry *, int, int);
+			    struct options_entry *, const char *, int);
 static void		cmd_show_hooks_print_monitor(struct cmdq_item *,
 			    struct options_entry *);
 static enum cmd_retval	cmd_show_hooks_monitor(struct cmd *, struct cmdq_item *,
@@ -85,7 +85,8 @@ cmd_show_options_exec(struct cmd *self, struct cmdq_item *item)
 	struct cmd_find_state		*target = cmdq_get_target(item);
 	struct options			*oo;
 	char				*argument, *name = NULL, *cause;
-	int				 window, idx, ambiguous, parent, scope;
+	char				*array_key = NULL;
+	int				 window, ambiguous, parent, scope;
 	struct options_entry		*o;
 
 	window = (cmd_get_entry(self) == &cmd_show_window_options_entry);
@@ -107,7 +108,7 @@ cmd_show_options_exec(struct cmd *self, struct cmdq_item *item)
 	}
 	argument = format_single_from_target(item, args_string(args, 0));
 
-	name = options_match(argument, &idx, &ambiguous);
+	name = options_match(argument, &array_key, &ambiguous);
 	if (name == NULL) {
 		if (args_has(args, 'q'))
 			goto out;
@@ -137,7 +138,7 @@ cmd_show_options_exec(struct cmd *self, struct cmdq_item *item)
 		    args_has(args, 'B'))
 			cmd_show_hooks_print_monitor(item, o);
 		else
-			cmd_show_options_print(self, item, o, idx, parent);
+			cmd_show_options_print(self, item, o, array_key, parent);
 	}
 	else if (*name == '@') {
 		if (args_has(args, 'q'))
@@ -148,26 +149,28 @@ cmd_show_options_exec(struct cmd *self, struct cmdq_item *item)
 
 out:
 	free(name);
+	free(array_key);
 	free(argument);
 	return (CMD_RETURN_NORMAL);
 
 fail:
 	free(name);
+	free(array_key);
 	free(argument);
 	return (CMD_RETURN_ERROR);
 }
 
 static void
 cmd_show_options_print(struct cmd *self, struct cmdq_item *item,
-    struct options_entry *o, int idx, int parent)
+    struct options_entry *o, const char *array_key, int parent)
 {
 	struct args			*args = cmd_get_args(self);
 	struct options_array_item	*a;
 	const char			*name = options_name(o);
 	char				*value, *tmp = NULL, *escaped;
 
-	if (idx != -1) {
-		xasprintf(&tmp, "%s[%d]", name, idx);
+	if (array_key != NULL) {
+		xasprintf(&tmp, "%s[%s]", name, array_key);
 		name = tmp;
 	} else {
 		if (options_is_array(o)) {
@@ -178,8 +181,8 @@ cmd_show_options_print(struct cmd *self, struct cmdq_item *item,
 				return;
 			}
 			while (a != NULL) {
-				idx = options_array_item_index(a);
-				cmd_show_options_print(self, item, o, idx,
+				array_key = options_array_item_key(a);
+				cmd_show_options_print(self, item, o, array_key,
 				    parent);
 				a = options_array_next(a);
 			}
@@ -187,7 +190,7 @@ cmd_show_options_print(struct cmd *self, struct cmdq_item *item,
 		}
 	}
 
-	value = options_to_string(o, idx, 0);
+	value = options_to_string(o, array_key, 0);
 	if (args_has(args, 'v'))
 		cmdq_print(item, "%s", value);
 	else if (options_is_string(o)) {
@@ -243,15 +246,14 @@ cmd_show_options_all(struct cmd *self, struct cmdq_item *item, int scope,
 	const struct options_table_entry	*oe;
 	struct options_entry			*o;
 	struct options_array_item		*a;
-	const char				*name;
-	u_int					 idx;
+	const char				*name, *array_key;
 	int					 parent;
 
 	if (cmd_get_entry(self) != &cmd_show_hooks_entry) {
 		o = options_first(oo);
 		while (o != NULL) {
 			if (options_table_entry(o) == NULL)
-				cmd_show_options_print(self, item, o, -1, 0);
+				cmd_show_options_print(self, item, o, NULL, 0);
 			o = options_next(o);
 		}
 	}
@@ -278,7 +280,7 @@ cmd_show_options_all(struct cmd *self, struct cmdq_item *item, int scope,
 			parent = 0;
 
 		if (!options_is_array(o))
-			cmd_show_options_print(self, item, o, -1, parent);
+			cmd_show_options_print(self, item, o, NULL, parent);
 		else if ((a = options_array_first(o)) == NULL) {
 			if (!args_has(args, 'v')) {
 				name = options_name(o);
@@ -289,8 +291,8 @@ cmd_show_options_all(struct cmd *self, struct cmdq_item *item, int scope,
 			}
 		} else {
 			while (a != NULL) {
-				idx = options_array_item_index(a);
-				cmd_show_options_print(self, item, o, idx,
+				array_key = options_array_item_key(a);
+				cmd_show_options_print(self, item, o, array_key,
 				    parent);
 				a = options_array_next(a);
 			}
diff --git a/colour.c b/colour.c
index b37882a88..f563fd5aa 100644
--- a/colour.c
+++ b/colour.c
@@ -1294,7 +1294,8 @@ colour_palette_from_option(struct colour_palette *p, struct options *oo)
 {
 	struct options_entry		*o;
 	struct options_array_item	*a;
-	u_int				 i, n;
+	union options_value		*ov;
+	u_int				 i;
 	int				 c;
 
 	if (p == NULL)
@@ -1312,12 +1313,11 @@ colour_palette_from_option(struct colour_palette *p, struct options *oo)
 		p->default_palette = xcalloc(256, sizeof *p->default_palette);
 	for (i = 0; i < 256; i++)
 		p->default_palette[i] = -1;
-	while (a != NULL) {
-		n = options_array_item_index(a);
-		if (n < 256) {
-			c = options_array_item_value(a)->number;
-			p->default_palette[n] = c;
+	for (i = 0; i < 256; i++) {
+		ov = options_array_getv(o, "%u", i);
+		if (ov != NULL) {
+			c = ov->number;
+			p->default_palette[i] = c;
 		}
-		a = options_array_next(a);
 	}
 }
diff --git a/input.c b/input.c
index cbedfba41..2438ea504 100644
--- a/input.c
+++ b/input.c
@@ -2781,7 +2781,7 @@ input_exit_rename(struct input_ctx *ictx)
 	if (ictx->input_len == 0) {
 		o = options_get_only(w->options, "automatic-rename");
 		if (o != NULL)
-			options_remove_or_default(o, -1, NULL);
+			options_remove_or_default(o, NULL, NULL);
 		if (!options_get_number(w->options, "automatic-rename"))
 			window_set_name(w, "", 1);
 	} else {
diff --git a/status.c b/status.c
index 0d9fc3e4e..8f7c209e1 100644
--- a/status.c
+++ b/status.c
@@ -274,7 +274,7 @@ status_redraw(struct client *c)
 		for (i = 0; i < lines; i++) {
 			screen_write_cursormove(&ctx, 0, i, 0);
 
-			ov = options_array_get(o, i);
+			ov = options_array_getv(o, "%u", i);
 			if (ov == NULL) {
 				for (n = 0; n < width; n++)
 					screen_write_putc(&ctx, &gc, ' ');
diff --git a/tmux.1 b/tmux.1
index 54d30072b..03f653dd9 100644
--- a/tmux.1
+++ b/tmux.1
@@ -4574,6 +4574,10 @@ If
 .Fl g
 is given, the global session or window option is set.
 .Pp
+Array options may be set by giving a key in square brackets after the option
+name, for example
+.Ql command-alias[zoom] .
+.Pp
 .Fl F
 expands formats in the option value.
 The
@@ -4685,7 +4689,7 @@ it is replaced with
 .Ar value .
 For example, after:
 .Pp
-.Dl set \-s command\-alias[100] zoom=\[aq]resize\-pane \-Z\[aq]
+.Dl set \-s command\-alias[zoom] zoom=\[aq]resize\-pane \-Z\[aq]
 .Pp
 Using:
 .Pp
@@ -6286,11 +6290,11 @@ or
 .Fl H .
 The following two commands are equivalent:
 .Bd -literal -offset indent.
-set\-hook \-g pane\-mode\-changed[42] \[aq]set \-g status\-left\-style bg=red\[aq]
-set\-option \-g pane\-mode\-changed[42] \[aq]set \-g status\-left\-style bg=red\[aq]
+set\-hook \-g pane\-mode\-changed[style] \[aq]display\-message changed\[aq]
+set\-option \-g pane\-mode\-changed[style] \[aq]display\-message changed\[aq]
 .Ed
 .Pp
-Setting a hook without specifying an array index clears the hook and sets the
+Setting a hook without specifying an array key clears the hook and sets the
 first member of the array.
 .Pp
 A command's after
diff --git a/tmux.h b/tmux.h
index ddcb96146..e76bed7ab 100644
--- a/tmux.h
+++ b/tmux.h
@@ -2653,25 +2653,27 @@ const struct options_table_entry *options_table_entry(struct options_entry *);
 struct options_entry *options_get_only(struct options *, const char *);
 struct options_entry *options_get(struct options *, const char *);
 void		 options_array_clear(struct options_entry *);
-union options_value *options_array_get(struct options_entry *, u_int);
-int		 options_array_set(struct options_entry *, u_int, const char *,
-		     int, char **);
+union options_value *options_array_get(struct options_entry *, const char *);
+union options_value * printflike(2, 3) options_array_getv(
+		     struct options_entry *, const char *, ...);
+int		 options_array_set(struct options_entry *, const char *,
+		     const char *, int, char **);
 int		 options_array_assign(struct options_entry *, const char *,
 		     char **);
 struct options_array_item *options_array_first(struct options_entry *);
 struct options_array_item *options_array_next(struct options_array_item *);
-u_int		 options_array_item_index(struct options_array_item *);
+const char	*options_array_item_key(struct options_array_item *);
 union options_value *options_array_item_value(struct options_array_item *);
 int		 options_is_array(struct options_entry *);
 int		 options_is_string(struct options_entry *);
-char		*options_to_string(struct options_entry *, int, int);
-char		*options_parse(const char *, int *);
-struct options_entry *options_parse_get(struct options *, const char *, int *,
-		     int);
+char		*options_to_string(struct options_entry *, const char *, int);
+char		*options_parse(const char *, char **);
+struct options_entry *options_parse_get(struct options *, const char *,
+		     char **, int);
 const struct options_table_entry *options_search(const char *);
-char		*options_match(const char *, int *, int *);
-struct options_entry *options_match_get(struct options *, const char *, int *,
-		     int, int *);
+char		*options_match(const char *, char **, int *);
+struct options_entry *options_match_get(struct options *, const char *,
+		     char **, int, int *);
 const char	*options_get_string(struct options *, const char *);
 long long	 options_get_number(struct options *, const char *);
 struct cmd_list *options_get_command(struct options *, const char *);
@@ -2694,7 +2696,7 @@ int		 options_from_string(struct options *,
 int	 	 options_find_choice(const struct options_table_entry *,
 		     const char *, char **);
 void		 options_push_changes(const char *);
-int		 options_remove_or_default(struct options_entry *, int,
+int		 options_remove_or_default(struct options_entry *, const char *,
 		     char **);
 
 /* options-table.c */
diff --git a/tty-keys.c b/tty-keys.c
index 209bbeeab..d6a2610ea 100644
--- a/tty-keys.c
+++ b/tty-keys.c
@@ -495,7 +495,6 @@ tty_keys_build(struct tty *tty)
 	u_int					 i, j;
 	const char				*s;
 	struct options_entry			*o;
-	struct options_array_item		*a;
 	union options_value			*ov;
 	char					 copy[16];
 	key_code				 key;
@@ -532,12 +531,10 @@ tty_keys_build(struct tty *tty)
 
 	o = options_get(global_options, "user-keys");
 	if (o != NULL) {
-		a = options_array_first(o);
-		while (a != NULL) {
-			i = options_array_item_index(a);
-			ov = options_array_item_value(a);
-			tty_keys_add(tty, ov->string, KEYC_USER + i);
-			a = options_array_next(a);
+		for (i = 0; i <= KEYC_NUSER; i++) {
+			ov = options_array_getv(o, "%u", i);
+			if (ov != NULL)
+				tty_keys_add(tty, ov->string, KEYC_USER + i);
 		}
 	}
 }