consensus_encoding: add standard I/O drivers

diff --git a/consensus_encoding/src/encode/mod.rs b/consensus_encoding/src/encode/mod.rs
index 12121107..9d39cdef 100644
--- a/consensus_encoding/src/encode/mod.rs
+++ b/consensus_encoding/src/encode/mod.rs
@@ -2,6 +2,9 @@
 
 //! Consensus Encoding Traits
 
+#[cfg(feature = "alloc")]
+use alloc::vec::Vec;
+
 pub mod encoders;
 
 /// A Bitcoin object which can be consensus-encoded.
@@ -74,3 +77,40 @@ pub fn encode_to_hash_engine<T: Encodable, H: hashes::HashEngine>(object: &T, mu
     }
     engine
 }
+
+/// Encodes an object into a vector.
+#[cfg(feature = "alloc")]
+pub fn encode_to_vec<T: Encodable>(object: &T) -> Vec<u8> {
+    let mut encoder = object.encoder();
+    let mut vec = Vec::new();
+    while let Some(chunk) = encoder.current_chunk() {
+        vec.extend_from_slice(chunk);
+        encoder.advance();
+    }
+    vec
+}
+
+/// Encodes an object to a standard I/O writer.
+///
+/// # Performance
+///
+/// This method writes data in potentially small chunks based on the encoder's
+/// internal chunking strategy. For optimal performance with unbuffered writers
+/// (like [`std::fs::File`] or [`std::net::TcpStream`]), consider wrapping your
+/// writer with [`std::io::BufWriter`].
+///
+/// # Errors
+///
+/// Returns any I/O error encountered while writing to the writer.
+#[cfg(feature = "std")]
+pub fn encode_to_writer<T: Encodable, W: std::io::Write>(
+    object: &T,
+    mut writer: W,
+) -> Result<(), std::io::Error> {
+    let mut encoder = object.encoder();
+    while let Some(chunk) = encoder.current_chunk() {
+        writer.write_all(chunk)?;
+        encoder.advance();
+    }
+    Ok(())
+}
diff --git a/consensus_encoding/src/lib.rs b/consensus_encoding/src/lib.rs
index f8190886..0e2fa737 100644
--- a/consensus_encoding/src/lib.rs
+++ b/consensus_encoding/src/lib.rs
@@ -14,8 +14,17 @@
 #![warn(deprecated_in_future)]
 #![doc(test(attr(warn(unused))))]
 
+#[cfg(feature = "alloc")]
+extern crate alloc;
+#[cfg(feature = "std")]
+extern crate std;
+
 mod encode;
 
+#[cfg(feature = "alloc")]
+pub use self::encode::encode_to_vec;
+#[cfg(feature = "std")]
+pub use self::encode::encode_to_writer;
 pub use self::encode::encoders::{
     ArrayEncoder, BytesEncoder, Encoder2, Encoder3, Encoder4, Encoder6,
 };
diff --git a/consensus_encoding/tests/encode.rs b/consensus_encoding/tests/encode.rs
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..e8531155
--- /dev/null
+++ b/consensus_encoding/tests/encode.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,96 @@
+// SPDX-License-Identifier: CC0-1.0
+
+//! Tests for encoder free functions.
+
+#[cfg(feature = "std")]
+use std::io::{Cursor, Write};
+
+use consensus_encoding::{ArrayEncoder, Encodable};
+
+// Simple test type that implements Encodable.
+struct TestData(u32);
+
+impl Encodable for TestData {
+    type Encoder<'s>
+        = ArrayEncoder<4>
+    where
+        Self: 's;
+
+    fn encoder(&self) -> Self::Encoder<'_> {
+        ArrayEncoder::without_length_prefix(self.0.to_le_bytes())
+    }
+}
+
+// Test with a type that creates an empty encoder.
+struct EmptyData;
+
+impl Encodable for EmptyData {
+    type Encoder<'s>
+        = ArrayEncoder<0>
+    where
+        Self: 's;
+
+    fn encoder(&self) -> Self::Encoder<'_> { ArrayEncoder::without_length_prefix([]) }
+}
+
+#[test]
+#[cfg(feature = "std")]
+fn encode_std_writer() {
+    let data = TestData(0x1234_5678);
+
+    let mut cursor = Cursor::new(Vec::new());
+    consensus_encoding::encode_to_writer(&data, &mut cursor).unwrap();
+
+    let result = cursor.into_inner();
+    assert_eq!(result, vec![0x78, 0x56, 0x34, 0x12]);
+}
+
+#[test]
+#[cfg(feature = "alloc")]
+fn encode_vec() {
+    let data = TestData(0xDEAD_BEEF);
+    let vec = consensus_encoding::encode_to_vec(&data);
+    assert_eq!(vec, vec![0xEF, 0xBE, 0xAD, 0xDE]);
+}
+
+#[test]
+#[cfg(feature = "alloc")]
+fn encode_vec_empty_data() {
+    let data = EmptyData;
+    let result = consensus_encoding::encode_to_vec(&data);
+    assert!(result.is_empty());
+}
+
+#[test]
+#[cfg(feature = "std")]
+fn encode_std_writer_empty_data() {
+    let data = EmptyData;
+    let mut cursor = Cursor::new(Vec::new());
+    consensus_encoding::encode_to_writer(&data, &mut cursor).unwrap();
+
+    let result = cursor.into_inner();
+    assert!(result.is_empty());
+}
+
+#[test]
+#[cfg(feature = "std")]
+fn encode_std_writer_io_error() {
+    // Test writer that always fails.
+    struct FailingWriter;
+
+    impl Write for FailingWriter {
+        fn write(&mut self, _buf: &[u8]) -> std::io::Result<usize> {
+            Err(std::io::Error::other("test error"))
+        }
+
+        fn flush(&mut self) -> std::io::Result<()> { Ok(()) }
+    }
+
+    let data = TestData(0x1234_5678);
+    let mut writer = FailingWriter;
+
+    let result = consensus_encoding::encode_to_writer(&data, &mut writer);
+
+    assert!(result.is_err());
+    assert_eq!(result.unwrap_err().kind(), std::io::ErrorKind::Other);
+}