diff --git a/packages/core/src/render3/component.ts b/packages/core/src/render3/component.ts
index 2c206026791e2..e46334d35fd6c 100644
--- a/packages/core/src/render3/component.ts
+++ b/packages/core/src/render3/component.ts
@@ -133,8 +133,9 @@ export function renderComponent<T>(
     clean: CLEAN_PROMISE,
   };
   const rootView = createLView(
-      -1, rendererFactory.createRenderer(hostNode, componentDef.rendererType), createTView(null),
-      null, rootContext, componentDef.onPush ? LViewFlags.Dirty : LViewFlags.CheckAlways);
+      -1, rendererFactory.createRenderer(hostNode, componentDef.rendererType),
+      createTView(null, null), null, rootContext,
+      componentDef.onPush ? LViewFlags.Dirty : LViewFlags.CheckAlways);
 
   const oldView = enterView(rootView, null !);
   let elementNode: LElementNode;
diff --git a/packages/core/src/render3/definition.ts b/packages/core/src/render3/definition.ts
index 354ebfd1c9f0a..fd8d3172381ac 100644
--- a/packages/core/src/render3/definition.ts
+++ b/packages/core/src/render3/definition.ts
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ import {Type} from '../type';
 import {resolveRendererType2} from '../view/util';
 
 import {diPublic} from './di';
-import {ComponentDef, ComponentDefFeature, ComponentTemplate, DirectiveDef, DirectiveDefFeature, DirectiveDefListOrFactory, PipeDef} from './interfaces/definition';
+import {ComponentDef, ComponentDefFeature, ComponentTemplate, DirectiveDef, DirectiveDefFeature, DirectiveDefListOrFactory, PipeDef, PipeDefListOrFactory} from './interfaces/definition';
 import {CssSelector} from './interfaces/projection';
 
 
@@ -154,6 +154,14 @@ export function defineComponent<T>(componentDefinition: {
    * `DirectiveDef`s. The function is necessary to be able to support forward declarations.
    */
   directiveDefs?: DirectiveDefListOrFactory | null;
+
+  /**
+   * Registry of pipes that may be found in this component's view.
+   *
+   * The property is either an array of `PipeDefs`s or a function which returns the array of
+   * `PipeDefs`s. The function is necessary to be able to support forward declarations.
+   */
+  pipeDefs?: PipeDefListOrFactory | null;
 }): ComponentDef<T> {
   const type = componentDefinition.type;
   const def = <ComponentDef<any>>{
@@ -176,6 +184,7 @@ export function defineComponent<T>(componentDefinition: {
     onDestroy: type.prototype.ngOnDestroy || null,
     onPush: componentDefinition.changeDetection === ChangeDetectionStrategy.OnPush,
     directiveDefs: componentDefinition.directiveDefs || null,
+    pipeDefs: componentDefinition.pipeDefs || null,
     selector: componentDefinition.selector
   };
   const feature = componentDefinition.features;
@@ -380,15 +389,25 @@ export const defineDirective = defineComponent as any as<T>(directiveDefinition:
  *   });
  * }
  * ```
- * @param type Pipe class reference. Needed to extract pipe lifecycle hooks.
- * @param factory A factory for creating a pipe instance.
- * @param pure Whether the pipe is pure.
+ * @param pipeDef Pipe definition generated by the compiler
  */
-export function definePipe<T>(
-    {type, factory, pure}: {type: Type<T>, factory: () => T, pure?: boolean}): PipeDef<T> {
+export function definePipe<T>(pipeDef: {
+  /** Name of the pipe. Used for matching pipes in template to pipe defs. */
+  name: string,
+
+  /** Pipe class reference. Needed to extract pipe lifecycle hooks. */
+  type: Type<T>,
+
+  /** A factory for creating a pipe instance. */
+  factory: () => T,
+
+  /** Whether the pipe is pure. */
+  pure?: boolean
+}): PipeDef<T> {
   return <PipeDef<T>>{
-    n: factory,
-    pure: pure !== false,
-    onDestroy: type.prototype.ngOnDestroy || null
+    name: pipeDef.name,
+    n: pipeDef.factory,
+    pure: pipeDef.pure !== false,
+    onDestroy: pipeDef.type.prototype.ngOnDestroy || null
   };
 }
diff --git a/packages/core/src/render3/instructions.ts b/packages/core/src/render3/instructions.ts
index 220717ac6a830..2ce1172f10107 100644
--- a/packages/core/src/render3/instructions.ts
+++ b/packages/core/src/render3/instructions.ts
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ import {LContainerNode, LElementNode, LNode, LNodeType, TNodeFlags, LProjectionN
 import {assertNodeType} from './node_assert';
 import {appendChild, insertChild, insertView, appendProjectedNode, removeView, canInsertNativeNode} from './node_manipulation';
 import {isNodeMatchingSelector, matchingSelectorIndex} from './node_selector_matcher';
-import {ComponentDef, ComponentTemplate, ComponentType, DirectiveDef, DirectiveDefList, DirectiveDefListOrFactory, DirectiveType} from './interfaces/definition';
+import {ComponentDef, ComponentTemplate, ComponentType, DirectiveDef, DirectiveDefList, DirectiveDefListOrFactory, DirectiveType, PipeDef, PipeDefListOrFactory} from './interfaces/definition';
 import {RElement, RText, Renderer3, RendererFactory3, ProceduralRenderer3, ObjectOrientedRenderer3, RendererStyleFlags3, isProceduralRenderer} from './interfaces/renderer';
 import {isDifferent, stringify} from './util';
 import {executeHooks, queueLifecycleHooks, queueInitHooks, executeInitHooks} from './hooks';
@@ -400,20 +400,22 @@ function resetApplicationState() {
  * @param context to pass into the template.
  * @param providedRendererFactory renderer factory to use
  * @param host The host element node to use
- * @param directiveRegistry Any directive defs that should be used to match nodes to directives
+ * @param defs Any directive or pipe defs that should be used for matching
  */
 export function renderTemplate<T>(
     hostNode: RElement, template: ComponentTemplate<T>, context: T,
     providedRendererFactory: RendererFactory3, host: LElementNode | null,
-    directiveRegistry: DirectiveDefListOrFactory | null = null): LElementNode {
+    directives?: DirectiveDefListOrFactory | null,
+    pipes?: PipeDefListOrFactory | null): LElementNode {
   if (host == null) {
     resetApplicationState();
     rendererFactory = providedRendererFactory;
+    const tView = getOrCreateTView(template, directives || null, pipes || null);
     host = createLNode(
         null, LNodeType.Element, hostNode,
         createLView(
-            -1, providedRendererFactory.createRenderer(null, null),
-            getOrCreateTView(template, directiveRegistry), null, {}, LViewFlags.CheckAlways));
+            -1, providedRendererFactory.createRenderer(null, null), tView, null, {},
+            LViewFlags.CheckAlways));
   }
   const hostView = host.data !;
   ngDevMode && assertNotNull(hostView, 'Host node should have an LView defined in host.data.');
@@ -432,9 +434,11 @@ export function renderEmbeddedTemplate<T>(
     let cm: boolean = false;
     if (viewNode == null) {
       // TODO: revisit setting currentView when re-writing view containers
+      const directives = currentView && currentView.tView.directiveRegistry;
+      const pipes = currentView && currentView.tView.pipeRegistry;
+
       const view = createLView(
-          -1, renderer, createTView(currentView && currentView.tView.directiveRegistry), template,
-          context, LViewFlags.CheckAlways);
+          -1, renderer, createTView(directives, pipes), template, context, LViewFlags.CheckAlways);
       viewNode = createLNode(null, LNodeType.View, null, view);
       cm = true;
     }
@@ -635,15 +639,20 @@ function findMatchingLocalNames(
  * if it doesn't already exist.
  *
  * @param template The template from which to get static data
+ * @param directives Directive defs that should be saved on TView
+ * @param pipes Pipe defs that should be saved on TView
  * @returns TView
  */
 function getOrCreateTView(
-    template: ComponentTemplate<any>, defs: DirectiveDefListOrFactory | null): TView {
-  return template.ngPrivateData || (template.ngPrivateData = createTView(defs) as never);
+    template: ComponentTemplate<any>, directives: DirectiveDefListOrFactory | null,
+    pipes: PipeDefListOrFactory | null): TView {
+  return template.ngPrivateData ||
+      (template.ngPrivateData = createTView(directives, pipes) as never);
 }
 
 /** Creates a TView instance */
-export function createTView(defs: DirectiveDefListOrFactory | null): TView {
+export function createTView(
+    defs: DirectiveDefListOrFactory | null, pipes: PipeDefListOrFactory | null): TView {
   return {
     data: [],
     directives: null,
@@ -658,7 +667,8 @@ export function createTView(defs: DirectiveDefListOrFactory | null): TView {
     pipeDestroyHooks: null,
     hostBindings: null,
     components: null,
-    directiveRegistry: typeof defs === 'function' ? defs() : defs
+    directiveRegistry: typeof defs === 'function' ? defs() : defs,
+    pipeRegistry: typeof pipes === 'function' ? pipes() : pipes
   };
 }
 
@@ -720,7 +730,7 @@ export function hostElement(
   const node = createLNode(
       0, LNodeType.Element, rNode,
       createLView(
-          -1, renderer, getOrCreateTView(def.template, def.directiveDefs), null, null,
+          -1, renderer, getOrCreateTView(def.template, def.directiveDefs, def.pipeDefs), null, null,
           def.onPush ? LViewFlags.Dirty : LViewFlags.CheckAlways));
 
   if (firstTemplatePass) {
@@ -1159,7 +1169,7 @@ export function directiveCreate<T>(
 
 function addComponentLogic<T>(
     index: number, elementIndex: number, instance: T, def: ComponentDef<any>): void {
-  const tView = getOrCreateTView(def.template, def.directiveDefs);
+  const tView = getOrCreateTView(def.template, def.directiveDefs, def.pipeDefs);
 
   // Only component views should be added to the view tree directly. Embedded views are
   // accessed through their containers because they may be removed / re-added later.
@@ -1466,7 +1476,8 @@ function getOrCreateEmbeddedTView(viewIndex: number, parent: LContainerNode): TV
   ngDevMode && assertNodeType(parent, LNodeType.Container);
   const tContainer = (parent !.tNode as TContainerNode).data;
   if (viewIndex >= tContainer.length || tContainer[viewIndex] == null) {
-    tContainer[viewIndex] = createTView(currentView.tView.directiveRegistry);
+    const tView = currentView.tView;
+    tContainer[viewIndex] = createTView(tView.directiveRegistry, tView.pipeRegistry);
   }
   return tContainer[viewIndex];
 }
diff --git a/packages/core/src/render3/interfaces/definition.ts b/packages/core/src/render3/interfaces/definition.ts
index 3b81790aee2e9..5c864f3024a30 100644
--- a/packages/core/src/render3/interfaces/definition.ts
+++ b/packages/core/src/render3/interfaces/definition.ts
@@ -161,6 +161,14 @@ export interface ComponentDef<T> extends DirectiveDef<T> {
    * `DirectiveDef`s. The function is necessary to be able to support forward declarations.
    */
   directiveDefs: DirectiveDefListOrFactory|null;
+
+  /**
+   * Registry of pipes that may be found in this view.
+   *
+   * The property is either an array of `PipeDefs`s or a function which returns the array of
+   * `PipeDefs`s. The function is necessary to be able to support forward declarations.
+   */
+  pipeDefs: PipeDefListOrFactory|null;
 }
 
 /**
@@ -176,6 +184,13 @@ export interface ComponentDef<T> extends DirectiveDef<T> {
  * See: {@link definePipe}
  */
 export interface PipeDef<T> {
+  /**
+   * Pipe name.
+   *
+   * Used to resolve pipe in templates.
+   */
+  name: string;
+
   /**
    * factory function used to create a new directive instance.
    *
@@ -208,6 +223,15 @@ export type DirectiveDefListOrFactory = (() => DirectiveDefList) | DirectiveDefL
 
 export type DirectiveDefList = (DirectiveDef<any>| ComponentDef<any>)[];
 
+/**
+ * Type used for PipeDefs on component definition.
+ *
+ * The function is necessary to be able to support forward declarations.
+ */
+export type PipeDefListOrFactory = (() => PipeDefList) | PipeDefList;
+
+export type PipeDefList = PipeDef<any>[];
+
 // Note: This hack is necessary so we don't erroneously get a circular dependency
 // failure based on types.
 export const unusedValueExportToPlacateAjd = 1;
diff --git a/packages/core/src/render3/interfaces/view.ts b/packages/core/src/render3/interfaces/view.ts
index 6166d53918c7b..87ccc9e080dd0 100644
--- a/packages/core/src/render3/interfaces/view.ts
+++ b/packages/core/src/render3/interfaces/view.ts
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@
  */
 
 import {LContainer} from './container';
-import {ComponentDef, ComponentTemplate, DirectiveDef, DirectiveDefList, PipeDef} from './definition';
+import {ComponentTemplate, DirectiveDefList, PipeDef, PipeDefList} from './definition';
 import {LElementNode, LViewNode, TNode} from './node';
 import {LQueries} from './query';
 import {Renderer3} from './renderer';
@@ -245,6 +245,17 @@ export interface TView {
    */
   directiveRegistry: DirectiveDefList|null;
 
+  /**
+   * Full registry of pipes that may be found in this view.
+   *
+   * The property is either an array of `PipeDefs`s or a function which returns the array of
+   * `PipeDefs`s. The function is necessary to be able to support forward declarations.
+   *
+   * It's necessary to keep a copy of the full def list on the TView so it's possible
+   * to render template functions without a host component.
+   */
+  pipeRegistry: PipeDefList|null;
+
   /**
    * Array of ngOnInit and ngDoCheck hooks that should be executed for this view in
    * creation mode.
diff --git a/packages/core/src/render3/pipe.ts b/packages/core/src/render3/pipe.ts
index 8d16c3007590b..156cfb4143201 100644
--- a/packages/core/src/render3/pipe.ts
+++ b/packages/core/src/render3/pipe.ts
@@ -9,10 +9,9 @@
 import {PipeTransform} from '../change_detection/pipe_transform';
 
 import {getTView, load, store} from './instructions';
-import {PipeDef} from './interfaces/definition';
+import {PipeDef, PipeDefList} from './interfaces/definition';
 import {pureFunction1, pureFunction2, pureFunction3, pureFunction4, pureFunctionV} from './pure_function';
 
-
 /**
  * Create a pipe.
  *
@@ -21,19 +20,45 @@ import {pureFunction1, pureFunction2, pureFunction3, pureFunction4, pureFunction
  * @param firstInstance (optional) The first instance of the pipe that can be reused for pure pipes.
  * @returns T the instance of the pipe.
  */
-export function pipe<T>(index: number, pipeDef: PipeDef<T>, firstInstance?: T): T {
+export function pipe(index: number, pipeName: string, firstInstance?: any): any {
   const tView = getTView();
+  let pipeDef: PipeDef<any>;
+
   if (tView.firstTemplatePass) {
+    pipeDef = getPipeDef(pipeName, tView.pipeRegistry);
     tView.data[index] = pipeDef;
     if (pipeDef.onDestroy) {
       (tView.pipeDestroyHooks || (tView.pipeDestroyHooks = [])).push(index, pipeDef.onDestroy);
     }
+  } else {
+    pipeDef = tView.data[index] as PipeDef<any>;
   }
+
   const pipeInstance = pipeDef.pure && firstInstance ? firstInstance : pipeDef.n();
   store(index, pipeInstance);
   return pipeInstance;
 }
 
+/**
+ * Searches the pipe registry for a pipe with the given name. If one is found,
+ * returns the pipe. Otherwise, an error is thrown because the pipe cannot be resolved.
+ *
+ * @param name Name of pipe to resolve
+ * @param registry Full list of available pipes
+ * @returns Matching PipeDef
+ */
+function getPipeDef(name: string, registry: PipeDefList | null): PipeDef<any> {
+  if (registry) {
+    for (let i = 0; i < registry.length; i++) {
+      const pipeDef = registry[i];
+      if (name === pipeDef.name) {
+        return pipeDef;
+      }
+    }
+  }
+  throw new Error(`Pipe with name '${name}' not found!`);
+}
+
 /**
  * Invokes a pipe with 1 arguments.
  *
diff --git a/packages/core/test/render3/compiler_canonical/pipes_spec.ts b/packages/core/test/render3/compiler_canonical/pipes_spec.ts
index 301d551dbbe48..d4ebe21be7546 100644
--- a/packages/core/test/render3/compiler_canonical/pipes_spec.ts
+++ b/packages/core/test/render3/compiler_canonical/pipes_spec.ts
@@ -38,6 +38,7 @@ describe('pipes', () => {
 
     // NORMATIVE
     static ngPipeDef = $r3$.ɵdefinePipe({
+      name: 'myPipe',
       type: MyPipe,
       factory: function MyPipe_Factory() { return new MyPipe(); },
       pure: false,
@@ -57,6 +58,7 @@ describe('pipes', () => {
 
     // NORMATIVE
     static ngPipeDef = $r3$.ɵdefinePipe({
+      name: 'myPurePipe',
       type: MyPurePipe,
       factory: function MyPurePipe_Factory() { return new MyPurePipe(); },
       pure: true,
@@ -64,11 +66,6 @@ describe('pipes', () => {
     // /NORMATIVE
   }
 
-  // NORMATIVE
-  const $MyPurePipe_ngPipeDef$ = MyPurePipe.ngPipeDef;
-  const $MyPipe_ngPipeDef$ = MyPipe.ngPipeDef;
-  // /NORMATIVE
-
   it('should render pipes', () => {
     type $MyApp$ = MyApp;
     myPipeTransformCalls = 0;
@@ -87,8 +84,8 @@ describe('pipes', () => {
         template: function MyApp_Template(ctx: $MyApp$, cm: $boolean$) {
           if (cm) {
             $r3$.ɵT(0);
-            $r3$.ɵPp(1, $MyPipe_ngPipeDef$);
-            $r3$.ɵPp(2, $MyPurePipe_ngPipeDef$);
+            $r3$.ɵPp(1, 'myPipe');
+            $r3$.ɵPp(2, 'myPurePipe');
           }
           $r3$.ɵt(0, $r3$.ɵi1('', $r3$.ɵpb2(1, $r3$.ɵpb2(2, ctx.name, ctx.size), ctx.size), ''));
         }
@@ -96,6 +93,10 @@ describe('pipes', () => {
       // /NORMATIVE
     }
 
+    // NON-NORMATIVE
+    MyApp.ngComponentDef.pipeDefs = () => [MyPurePipe.ngPipeDef, MyPipe.ngPipeDef];
+    // /NON-NORMATIVE
+
     let myApp: MyApp = renderComponent(MyApp);
     expect(toHtml(containerEl)).toEqual('World!');
     expect(myPurePipeTransformCalls).toEqual(1);
@@ -115,7 +116,6 @@ describe('pipes', () => {
 
   it('should render many pipes and forward the first instance (pure or impure pipe)', () => {
     type $MyApp$ = MyApp;
-    type $MyPurePipe$ = MyPurePipe;
     myPipeTransformCalls = 0;
     myPurePipeTransformCalls = 0;
 
@@ -155,12 +155,12 @@ describe('pipes', () => {
         selector: [[['my-app'], null]],
         factory: function MyApp_Factory() { return new MyApp(); },
         template: function MyApp_Template(ctx: $MyApp$, cm: $boolean$) {
-          let $pi$: $MyPurePipe$;
+          let $pi$: $any$;
           if (cm) {
             $r3$.ɵT(0);
-            $pi$ = $r3$.ɵPp(1, $MyPurePipe_ngPipeDef$);
+            $pi$ = $r3$.ɵPp(1, 'myPurePipe');
             $r3$.ɵT(2);
-            $r3$.ɵPp(3, $MyPurePipe_ngPipeDef$, $pi$);
+            $r3$.ɵPp(3, 'myPurePipe', $pi$);
             $r3$.ɵC(4, C4, '', ['oneTimeIf', '']);
           }
           $r3$.ɵt(0, $r3$.ɵi1('', $r3$.ɵpb2(1, ctx.name, ctx.size), ''));
@@ -173,7 +173,7 @@ describe('pipes', () => {
             if (cm) {
               $r3$.ɵE(0, 'div');
               $r3$.ɵT(1);
-              $r3$.ɵPp(2, $MyPurePipe_ngPipeDef$, $pi$);
+              $r3$.ɵPp(2, 'myPurePipe', $pi$);
               $r3$.ɵe();
             }
             $r3$.ɵt(1, $r3$.ɵi1('', $r3$.ɵpb2(2, ctx.name, ctx.size), ''));
@@ -185,6 +185,7 @@ describe('pipes', () => {
 
     // NON-NORMATIVE
     MyApp.ngComponentDef.directiveDefs = [OneTimeIf.ngDirectiveDef];
+    MyApp.ngComponentDef.pipeDefs = [MyPurePipe.ngPipeDef];
     // /NON-NORMATIVE
 
     let myApp: MyApp = renderComponent(MyApp);
diff --git a/packages/core/test/render3/di_spec.ts b/packages/core/test/render3/di_spec.ts
index 589d210611f97..6b6055ea3f168 100644
--- a/packages/core/test/render3/di_spec.ts
+++ b/packages/core/test/render3/di_spec.ts
@@ -654,7 +654,7 @@ describe('di', () => {
   describe('getOrCreateNodeInjector', () => {
     it('should handle initial undefined state', () => {
       const contentView =
-          createLView(-1, null !, createTView(null), null, null, LViewFlags.CheckAlways);
+          createLView(-1, null !, createTView(null, null), null, null, LViewFlags.CheckAlways);
       const oldView = enterView(contentView, null !);
       try {
         const parent = createLNode(0, LNodeType.Element, null, null);
diff --git a/packages/core/test/render3/pipe_spec.ts b/packages/core/test/render3/pipe_spec.ts
index aa4b51ca1463e..f2a35161fcb84 100644
--- a/packages/core/test/render3/pipe_spec.ts
+++ b/packages/core/test/render3/pipe_spec.ts
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ import {bind, container, containerRefreshEnd, containerRefreshStart, elementEnd,
 import {pipe, pipeBind1, pipeBind3, pipeBind4, pipeBindV} from '../../src/render3/pipe';
 
 import {RenderLog, getRendererFactory2, patchLoggingRenderer2} from './imported_renderer2';
-import {renderToHtml} from './render_util';
+import {ComponentFixture, createComponent, renderToHtml} from './render_util';
 
 
 let log: string[] = [];
@@ -30,16 +30,33 @@ describe('pipe', () => {
     person = new Person();
   });
 
+  const defs = () => [CountingPipe.ngPipeDef, MultiArgPipe.ngPipeDef, CountingImpurePipe.ngPipeDef];
+
   it('should support interpolation', () => {
     function Template(person: Person, cm: boolean) {
       if (cm) {
         text(0);
-        pipe(1, CountingPipe.ngPipeDef);
+        pipe(1, 'countingPipe');
       }
       textBinding(0, interpolation1('', pipeBind1(1, person.name), ''));
     }
+
     person.init('bob', null);
-    expect(renderToHtml(Template, person)).toEqual('bob state:0');
+    expect(renderToHtml(Template, person, null, defs)).toEqual('bob state:0');
+  });
+
+  it('should throw if pipe is not found', () => {
+    const App = createComponent('app', function(ctx: any, cm: boolean) {
+      if (cm) {
+        text(0);
+        pipe(1, 'randomPipeName');
+      }
+      textBinding(0, interpolation1('', pipeBind1(1, ctx.value), ''));
+    }, [], defs);
+
+    expect(() => {
+      const fixture = new ComponentFixture(App);
+    }).toThrowError(/Pipe with name 'randomPipeName' not found!/);
   });
 
   it('should support bindings', () => {
@@ -64,6 +81,7 @@ describe('pipe', () => {
       transform(value: any) { return `${value}${value}`; }
 
       static ngPipeDef = definePipe({
+        name: 'double',
         type: DoublePipe,
         factory: function DoublePipe_Factory() { return new DoublePipe(); },
       });
@@ -72,13 +90,13 @@ describe('pipe', () => {
     function Template(ctx: string, cm: boolean) {
       if (cm) {
         elementStart(0, 'div', ['myDir', '']);
-        pipe(1, DoublePipe.ngPipeDef);
+        pipe(1, 'double');
         elementEnd();
       }
       elementProperty(0, 'elprop', bind(pipeBind1(1, ctx)));
       directive = loadDirective(0);
     }
-    renderToHtml(Template, 'a', [MyDir.ngDirectiveDef]);
+    renderToHtml(Template, 'a', [MyDir.ngDirectiveDef], [DoublePipe.ngPipeDef]);
     expect(directive !.dirProp).toEqual('aa');
   });
 
@@ -86,27 +104,29 @@ describe('pipe', () => {
     function Template(person: Person, cm: boolean) {
       if (cm) {
         text(0);
-        pipe(1, MultiArgPipe.ngPipeDef);
+        pipe(1, 'multiArgPipe');
       }
       textBinding(
           0, interpolation1('', pipeBind3(1, person.name, 'one', person.address !.city), ''));
     }
+
     person.init('value', new Address('two'));
-    expect(renderToHtml(Template, person)).toEqual('value one two default');
+    expect(renderToHtml(Template, person, null, defs)).toEqual('value one two default');
   });
 
   it('should support calling pipes with different number of arguments', () => {
     function Template(person: Person, cm: boolean) {
       if (cm) {
         text(0);
-        pipe(1, MultiArgPipe.ngPipeDef);
-        pipe(2, MultiArgPipe.ngPipeDef);
+        pipe(1, 'multiArgPipe');
+        pipe(2, 'multiArgPipe');
       }
       textBinding(
           0, interpolation1('', pipeBind4(2, pipeBindV(1, [person.name, 'a', 'b']), 0, 1, 2), ''));
     }
+
     person.init('value', null);
-    expect(renderToHtml(Template, person)).toEqual('value a b default 0 1 2');
+    expect(renderToHtml(Template, person, null, defs)).toEqual('value a b default 0 1 2');
   });
 
   it('should do nothing when no change', () => {
@@ -115,6 +135,7 @@ describe('pipe', () => {
       transform(value: any) { return value; }
 
       static ngPipeDef = definePipe({
+        name: 'identityPipe',
         type: IdentityPipe,
         factory: function IdentityPipe_Factory() { return new IdentityPipe(); },
       });
@@ -123,16 +144,17 @@ describe('pipe', () => {
     function Template(person: Person, cm: boolean) {
       if (cm) {
         elementStart(0, 'div');
-        pipe(1, IdentityPipe.ngPipeDef);
+        pipe(1, 'identityPipe');
         elementEnd();
       }
       elementProperty(0, 'someProp', bind(pipeBind1(1, 'Megatron')));
     }
-    renderToHtml(Template, person, [], rendererFactory2);
+
+    renderToHtml(Template, person, null, [IdentityPipe.ngPipeDef], rendererFactory2);
     expect(renderLog.log).toEqual(['someProp=Megatron']);
 
     renderLog.clear();
-    renderToHtml(Template, person, [], rendererFactory2);
+    renderToHtml(Template, person, null, defs, rendererFactory2);
     expect(renderLog.log).toEqual([]);
   });
 
@@ -141,36 +163,36 @@ describe('pipe', () => {
       function Template(person: Person, cm: boolean) {
         if (cm) {
           text(0);
-          pipe(1, CountingPipe.ngPipeDef);
+          pipe(1, 'countingPipe');
         }
         textBinding(0, interpolation1('', pipeBind1(1, person.name), ''));
       }
 
       // change from undefined -> null
       person.name = null;
-      expect(renderToHtml(Template, person)).toEqual('null state:0');
-      expect(renderToHtml(Template, person)).toEqual('null state:0');
+      expect(renderToHtml(Template, person, null, defs)).toEqual('null state:0');
+      expect(renderToHtml(Template, person, null, defs)).toEqual('null state:0');
 
       // change from null -> some value
       person.name = 'bob';
-      expect(renderToHtml(Template, person)).toEqual('bob state:1');
-      expect(renderToHtml(Template, person)).toEqual('bob state:1');
+      expect(renderToHtml(Template, person, null, defs)).toEqual('bob state:1');
+      expect(renderToHtml(Template, person, null, defs)).toEqual('bob state:1');
 
       // change from some value -> some other value
       person.name = 'bart';
-      expect(renderToHtml(Template, person)).toEqual('bart state:2');
-      expect(renderToHtml(Template, person)).toEqual('bart state:2');
+      expect(renderToHtml(Template, person, null, defs)).toEqual('bart state:2');
+      expect(renderToHtml(Template, person, null, defs)).toEqual('bart state:2');
     });
 
     it('should cache pure pipes', () => {
       function Template(ctx: any, cm: boolean) {
-        let pipeInstance;
+        let pipeInstance: any;
         if (cm) {
           elementStart(0, 'div');
-          pipeInstance = pipe(1, CountingPipe.ngPipeDef);
+          pipeInstance = pipe(1, 'countingPipe');
           elementEnd();
           elementStart(2, 'div');
-          pipe(3, CountingPipe.ngPipeDef, pipeInstance);
+          pipe(3, 'countingPipe', pipeInstance);
           elementEnd();
           container(4);
         }
@@ -184,7 +206,7 @@ describe('pipe', () => {
             {
               if (cm1) {
                 elementStart(0, 'div');
-                pipe(1, CountingPipe.ngPipeDef, pipeInstance);
+                pipe(1, 'countingPipe', pipeInstance);
                 elementEnd();
               }
               elementProperty(0, 'someProp', bind(pipeBind1(1, true)));
@@ -195,8 +217,9 @@ describe('pipe', () => {
         }
         containerRefreshEnd();
       }
+
       const pipeInstances: CountingPipe[] = [];
-      renderToHtml(Template, {}, [], rendererFactory2);
+      renderToHtml(Template, {}, null, defs, rendererFactory2);
       expect(pipeInstances.length).toEqual(4);
       expect(pipeInstances[0]).toBeAnInstanceOf(CountingPipe);
       expect(pipeInstances[1]).toBe(pipeInstances[0]);
@@ -210,24 +233,24 @@ describe('pipe', () => {
       function Template(person: Person, cm: boolean) {
         if (cm) {
           text(0);
-          pipe(1, CountingImpurePipe.ngPipeDef);
+          pipe(1, 'countingImpurePipe');
         }
         textBinding(0, interpolation1('', pipeBind1(1, person.name), ''));
       }
 
       person.name = 'bob';
-      expect(renderToHtml(Template, person)).toEqual('bob state:0');
-      expect(renderToHtml(Template, person)).toEqual('bob state:1');
+      expect(renderToHtml(Template, person, null, defs)).toEqual('bob state:0');
+      expect(renderToHtml(Template, person, null, defs)).toEqual('bob state:1');
     });
 
     it('should not cache impure pipes', () => {
       function Template(ctx: any, cm: boolean) {
         if (cm) {
           elementStart(0, 'div');
-          pipe(1, CountingImpurePipe.ngPipeDef);
+          pipe(1, 'countingImpurePipe');
           elementEnd();
           elementStart(2, 'div');
-          pipe(3, CountingImpurePipe.ngPipeDef);
+          pipe(3, 'countingImpurePipe');
           elementEnd();
           container(4);
         }
@@ -241,7 +264,7 @@ describe('pipe', () => {
             {
               if (cm1) {
                 elementStart(0, 'div');
-                pipe(1, CountingImpurePipe.ngPipeDef);
+                pipe(1, 'countingImpurePipe');
                 elementEnd();
               }
               elementProperty(0, 'someProp', bind(pipeBind1(1, true)));
@@ -252,8 +275,9 @@ describe('pipe', () => {
         }
         containerRefreshEnd();
       }
+
       const pipeInstances: CountingImpurePipe[] = [];
-      renderToHtml(Template, {}, [], rendererFactory2);
+      renderToHtml(Template, {}, null, defs, rendererFactory2);
       expect(pipeInstances.length).toEqual(4);
       expect(pipeInstances[0]).toBeAnInstanceOf(CountingImpurePipe);
       expect(pipeInstances[1]).toBeAnInstanceOf(CountingImpurePipe);
@@ -273,6 +297,7 @@ describe('pipe', () => {
       transform(value: any): any { return null; }
 
       static ngPipeDef = definePipe({
+        name: 'pipeWithOnDestroy',
         type: PipeWithOnDestroy,
         factory: function PipeWithOnDestroy_Factory() { return new PipeWithOnDestroy(); },
       });
@@ -290,7 +315,7 @@ describe('pipe', () => {
             {
               if (cm1) {
                 text(0);
-                pipe(1, PipeWithOnDestroy.ngPipeDef);
+                pipe(1, 'pipeWithOnDestroy');
               }
               textBinding(0, interpolation1('', pipeBind1(1, person.age), ''));
             }
@@ -299,21 +324,23 @@ describe('pipe', () => {
         }
         containerRefreshEnd();
       }
+      const defs = [PipeWithOnDestroy.ngPipeDef];
+
       person.age = 25;
-      renderToHtml(Template, person);
+      renderToHtml(Template, person, null, defs);
 
       person.age = 15;
-      renderToHtml(Template, person);
+      renderToHtml(Template, person, null, defs);
       expect(log).toEqual(['pipeWithOnDestroy - ngOnDestroy']);
 
       log = [];
       person.age = 30;
-      renderToHtml(Template, person);
+      renderToHtml(Template, person, null, defs);
       expect(log).toEqual([]);
 
       log = [];
       person.age = 10;
-      renderToHtml(Template, person);
+      renderToHtml(Template, person, null, defs);
       expect(log).toEqual(['pipeWithOnDestroy - ngOnDestroy']);
     });
   });
@@ -327,6 +354,7 @@ class CountingPipe implements PipeTransform {
   transform(value: any) { return `${value} state:${this.state++}`; }
 
   static ngPipeDef = definePipe({
+    name: 'countingPipe',
     type: CountingPipe,
     factory: function CountingPipe_Factory() { return new CountingPipe(); },
   });
@@ -339,6 +367,7 @@ class CountingImpurePipe implements PipeTransform {
   transform(value: any) { return `${value} state:${this.state++}`; }
 
   static ngPipeDef = definePipe({
+    name: 'countingImpurePipe',
     type: CountingImpurePipe,
     factory: function CountingImpurePipe_Factory() { return new CountingImpurePipe(); },
     pure: false,
@@ -352,6 +381,7 @@ class MultiArgPipe implements PipeTransform {
   }
 
   static ngPipeDef = definePipe({
+    name: 'multiArgPipe',
     type: MultiArgPipe,
     factory: function MultiArgPipe_Factory() { return new MultiArgPipe(); },
   });
diff --git a/packages/core/test/render3/render_util.ts b/packages/core/test/render3/render_util.ts
index 233dac0ac6868..3de933fcef790 100644
--- a/packages/core/test/render3/render_util.ts
+++ b/packages/core/test/render3/render_util.ts
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ import {stringifyElement} from '@angular/platform-browser/testing/src/browser_ut
 import {CreateComponentOptions} from '../../src/render3/component';
 import {ComponentDef, ComponentTemplate, ComponentType, DirectiveDef, DirectiveType, PublicFeature, defineComponent, defineDirective, renderComponent as _renderComponent, tick} from '../../src/render3/index';
 import {NG_HOST_SYMBOL, renderTemplate} from '../../src/render3/instructions';
+import {DirectiveDefListOrFactory, PipeDefListOrFactory} from '../../src/render3/interfaces/definition';
 import {LElementNode} from '../../src/render3/interfaces/node';
 import {RElement, RText, Renderer3, RendererFactory3, domRendererFactory3} from '../../src/render3/interfaces/renderer';
 
@@ -151,10 +152,11 @@ export function resetDOM() {
  * @deprecated use `TemplateFixture` or `ComponentFixture`
  */
 export function renderToHtml(
-    template: ComponentTemplate<any>, ctx: any, defs?: any[],
-    providedRendererFactory?: RendererFactory3 | null) {
+    template: ComponentTemplate<any>, ctx: any, directives?: DirectiveDefListOrFactory | null,
+    pipes?: PipeDefListOrFactory | null, providedRendererFactory?: RendererFactory3 | null) {
   host = renderTemplate(
-      containerEl, template, ctx, providedRendererFactory || testRendererFactory, host, defs);
+      containerEl, template, ctx, providedRendererFactory || testRendererFactory, host,
+      directives || null, pipes || null);
   return toHtml(containerEl);
 }
 
@@ -189,8 +191,8 @@ export function toHtml<T>(componentOrElement: T | RElement): string {
 }
 
 export function createComponent(
-    name: string, template: ComponentTemplate<any>,
-    defs: (ComponentDef<any>| DirectiveDef<any>)[] = []): ComponentType<any> {
+    name: string, template: ComponentTemplate<any>, directives: DirectiveDefListOrFactory = [],
+    pipes: PipeDefListOrFactory = []): ComponentType<any> {
   return class Component {
     value: any;
     static ngComponentDef = defineComponent({
@@ -199,7 +201,8 @@ export function createComponent(
       factory: () => new Component,
       template: template,
       features: [PublicFeature],
-      directiveDefs: () => defs
+      directiveDefs: directives,
+      pipeDefs: pipes
     });
   };
 }
diff --git a/packages/core/test/render3/renderer_factory_spec.ts b/packages/core/test/render3/renderer_factory_spec.ts
index 7fc21fc642c34..623c96b54e5e4 100644
--- a/packages/core/test/render3/renderer_factory_spec.ts
+++ b/packages/core/test/render3/renderer_factory_spec.ts
@@ -88,7 +88,7 @@ describe('renderer factory lifecycle', () => {
   });
 
   it('should work with a template', () => {
-    renderToHtml(Template, {}, [], rendererFactory);
+    renderToHtml(Template, {}, null, null, rendererFactory);
     expect(logs).toEqual(['create', 'begin', 'function', 'end']);
 
     logs = [];
@@ -97,7 +97,7 @@ describe('renderer factory lifecycle', () => {
   });
 
   it('should work with a template which contains a component', () => {
-    renderToHtml(TemplateWithComponent, {}, defs, rendererFactory);
+    renderToHtml(TemplateWithComponent, {}, defs, null, rendererFactory);
     expect(logs).toEqual(
         ['create', 'begin', 'function_with_component', 'create', 'component', 'end']);