diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index bb7dff0d..9a4e2527 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 src/scanners.rs: src/scanners.re
 	re2rust -W -Werror -i --no-generation-date -o $@ $<
+	cargo fmt
 
 bench:
 	cargo build --release
diff --git a/examples/headers.rs b/examples/headers.rs
index 09c8eb84..69b8df3d 100644
--- a/examples/headers.rs
+++ b/examples/headers.rs
@@ -25,23 +25,23 @@ fn get_document_title(document: &str) -> String {
             continue;
         }
 
-        let mut text = Vec::new();
+        let mut text = String::new();
         collect_text(node, &mut text);
 
         // The input was already known good UTF-8 (document: &str) so comrak
         // guarantees the output will be too.
-        return String::from_utf8(text).unwrap();
+        return text;
     }
 
     "Untitled Document".to_string()
 }
 
-fn collect_text<'a>(node: &'a AstNode<'a>, output: &mut Vec<u8>) {
+fn collect_text<'a>(node: &'a AstNode<'a>, output: &mut String) {
     match node.data.borrow().value {
         NodeValue::Text(ref literal) | NodeValue::Code(NodeCode { ref literal, .. }) => {
-            output.extend_from_slice(literal)
+            output.push_str(literal)
         }
-        NodeValue::LineBreak | NodeValue::SoftBreak => output.push(b' '),
+        NodeValue::LineBreak | NodeValue::SoftBreak => output.push(' '),
         _ => {
             for n in node.children() {
                 collect_text(n, output);
diff --git a/examples/s-expr.rs b/examples/s-expr.rs
index 591ac1fe..fa7af0cf 100644
--- a/examples/s-expr.rs
+++ b/examples/s-expr.rs
@@ -30,29 +30,20 @@ fn iter_nodes<'a, W: Write>(
     macro_rules! try_node_inline {
         ($node:expr, $name:ident) => {{
             if let $name(t) = $node {
-                return write!(
-                    writer,
-                    concat!(stringify!($name), "({:?})"),
-                    String::from_utf8_lossy(&t)
-                );
+                return write!(writer, concat!(stringify!($name), "({:?})"), t,);
             }
         }};
     }
 
     match &node.data.borrow().value {
-        Text(t) => write!(writer, "{:?}", String::from_utf8_lossy(&t))?,
+        Text(t) => write!(writer, "{:?}", t)?,
         value => {
             try_node_inline!(value, FootnoteDefinition);
             try_node_inline!(value, FootnoteReference);
             try_node_inline!(value, HtmlInline);
 
             if let Code(code) = value {
-                return write!(
-                    writer,
-                    "Code({:?}, {})",
-                    String::from_utf8_lossy(&code.literal),
-                    code.num_backticks
-                );
+                return write!(writer, "Code({:?}, {})", code.literal, code.num_backticks);
             }
 
             let has_blocks = node.children().any(|c| c.data.borrow().value.block());
diff --git a/examples/sample.rs b/examples/sample.rs
index 74bf8925..552a5781 100644
--- a/examples/sample.rs
+++ b/examples/sample.rs
@@ -34,12 +34,8 @@ fn large() {
 
     iter_nodes(root, &|node| {
         if let NodeValue::Text(ref mut text) = node.data.borrow_mut().value {
-            let orig = std::mem::replace(text, vec![]);
-            *text = String::from_utf8(orig)
-                .unwrap()
-                .replace("my", "your")
-                .as_bytes()
-                .to_vec();
+            let orig = std::mem::take(text);
+            *text = orig.replace("my", "your");
         }
     });
 
diff --git a/examples/update-readme.rs b/examples/update-readme.rs
index 944f1c63..567bc720 100644
--- a/examples/update-readme.rs
+++ b/examples/update-readme.rs
@@ -1,5 +1,8 @@
 // Update the "comrak --help" text in Comrak's own README.
 
+use std::fmt::Write;
+use std::str;
+
 use comrak::nodes::{AstNode, NodeValue};
 use comrak::{format_commonmark, parse_document, Arena, ComrakOptions};
 
@@ -25,22 +28,23 @@ fn main() -> Result<(), Box<dyn std::error::Error + 'static>> {
     iter_nodes(doc, &|node| {
         if let NodeValue::CodeBlock(ref mut ncb) = node.data.borrow_mut().value {
             // Look for the Cargo.toml example block.
-            if ncb.info == "toml".as_bytes() && ncb.literal.starts_with(&DEPENDENCIES.as_bytes()) {
-                let mut content = DEPENDENCIES.as_bytes().to_vec();
+            if ncb.info == "toml" && ncb.literal.starts_with(DEPENDENCIES) {
+                let mut content = DEPENDENCIES.to_string();
                 let mut version_parts = comrak::version().split('.').collect::<Vec<&str>>();
                 version_parts.pop();
-                content.extend("\"".bytes());
-                content.extend(version_parts.join(".").bytes());
-                content.extend("\"".bytes());
+                write!(content, "\"{}\"", version_parts.join(".")).unwrap();
                 ncb.literal = content;
             }
 
             // Look for a console code block whose contents starts with the HELP string.
             // Replace its contents with the same string and the actual command output.
-            if ncb.info == "console".as_bytes() && ncb.literal.starts_with(&HELP.as_bytes()) {
-                let mut content = HELP.as_bytes().to_vec();
+            if ncb.info == "console" && ncb.literal.starts_with(HELP) {
+                let mut content = HELP.to_string();
                 let mut cmd = std::process::Command::new("cargo");
-                content.extend(cmd.args(&["run", "--", "--help"]).output().unwrap().stdout);
+                content.push_str(
+                    str::from_utf8(&cmd.args(["run", "--", "--help"]).output().unwrap().stdout)
+                        .unwrap(),
+                );
                 ncb.literal = content;
             }
         }
diff --git a/proptest-regressions/tests.txt b/proptest-regressions/tests.txt
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..83a44c54
--- /dev/null
+++ b/proptest-regressions/tests.txt
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+# Seeds for failure cases proptest has generated in the past. It is
+# automatically read and these particular cases re-run before any
+# novel cases are generated.
+#
+# It is recommended to check this file in to source control so that
+# everyone who runs the test benefits from these saved cases.
+cc d71fb284045e89bb3bd8a1bbe634d42f3e7a5dd8074ff995fb482f0554f59eb1 # shrinks to ("A-",)
diff --git a/src/cm.rs b/src/cm.rs
index c096e462..fe104e90 100644
--- a/src/cm.rs
+++ b/src/cm.rs
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ use crate::parser::shortcodes::NodeShortCode;
 use crate::parser::ComrakOptions;
 use crate::scanners;
 use crate::{nodes, ComrakPlugins};
-use std;
+
 use std::cmp::max;
 use std::io::{self, Write};
 
@@ -58,7 +58,7 @@ struct CommonMarkFormatter<'a, 'o> {
 enum Escaping {
     Literal,
     Normal,
-    URL,
+    Url,
     Title,
 }
 
@@ -209,7 +209,7 @@ impl<'a, 'o> CommonMarkFormatter<'a, 'o> {
                         && (c == b'.' || c == b')')
                         && follows_digit
                         && (nextc == 0 || isspace(nextc)))))
-                || (escaping == Escaping::URL
+                || (escaping == Escaping::Url
                     && (c == b'`'
                         || c == b'<'
                         || c == b'>'
@@ -221,7 +221,7 @@ impl<'a, 'o> CommonMarkFormatter<'a, 'o> {
                     && (c == b'`' || c == b'<' || c == b'>' || c == b'"' || c == b'\\')));
 
         if needs_escaping {
-            if escaping == Escaping::URL && isspace(c) {
+            if escaping == Escaping::Url && isspace(c) {
                 write!(self.v, "%{:2X}", c).unwrap();
                 self.column += 3;
             } else if ispunct(c) {
@@ -310,7 +310,7 @@ impl<'a, 'o> CommonMarkFormatter<'a, 'o> {
 
         match node.data.borrow().value {
             NodeValue::Document => (),
-            NodeValue::FrontMatter(ref fm) => self.format_front_matter(fm, entering),
+            NodeValue::FrontMatter(ref fm) => self.format_front_matter(fm.as_bytes(), entering),
             NodeValue::BlockQuote => self.format_block_quote(entering),
             NodeValue::List(..) => self.format_list(node, entering),
             NodeValue::Item(..) => self.format_item(node, entering),
@@ -323,16 +323,20 @@ impl<'a, 'o> CommonMarkFormatter<'a, 'o> {
             NodeValue::HtmlBlock(ref nhb) => self.format_html_block(nhb, entering),
             NodeValue::ThematicBreak => self.format_thematic_break(entering),
             NodeValue::Paragraph => self.format_paragraph(entering),
-            NodeValue::Text(ref literal) => self.format_text(literal, allow_wrap, entering),
+            NodeValue::Text(ref literal) => {
+                self.format_text(literal.as_bytes(), allow_wrap, entering)
+            }
             NodeValue::LineBreak => self.format_line_break(entering),
             NodeValue::SoftBreak => self.format_soft_break(allow_wrap, entering),
-            NodeValue::Code(ref code) => self.format_code(&code.literal, allow_wrap, entering),
-            NodeValue::HtmlInline(ref literal) => self.format_html_inline(literal, entering),
+            NodeValue::Code(ref code) => {
+                self.format_code(code.literal.as_bytes(), allow_wrap, entering)
+            }
+            NodeValue::HtmlInline(ref literal) => {
+                self.format_html_inline(literal.as_bytes(), entering)
+            }
             NodeValue::Strong => self.format_strong(),
             NodeValue::Emph => self.format_emph(node),
-            NodeValue::TaskItem { checked, symbol } => {
-                self.format_task_item(checked, symbol, entering)
-            }
+            NodeValue::TaskItem { symbol } => self.format_task_item(symbol, entering),
             NodeValue::Strikethrough => self.format_strikethrough(),
             NodeValue::Superscript => self.format_superscript(),
             NodeValue::Link(ref nl) => return self.format_link(node, nl, entering),
@@ -343,12 +347,14 @@ impl<'a, 'o> CommonMarkFormatter<'a, 'o> {
             NodeValue::TableRow(..) => self.format_table_row(entering),
             NodeValue::TableCell => self.format_table_cell(node, entering),
             NodeValue::FootnoteDefinition(_) => self.format_footnote_definition(entering),
-            NodeValue::FootnoteReference(ref r) => self.format_footnote_reference(r, entering),
+            NodeValue::FootnoteReference(ref r) => {
+                self.format_footnote_reference(r.as_bytes(), entering)
+            }
         };
         true
     }
 
-    fn format_front_matter(&mut self, front_matter: &Vec<u8>, entering: bool) {
+    fn format_front_matter(&mut self, front_matter: &[u8], entering: bool) {
         if entering {
             self.output(front_matter, false, Escaping::Literal);
         }
@@ -467,30 +473,33 @@ impl<'a, 'o> CommonMarkFormatter<'a, 'o> {
                 self.blankline();
             }
 
-            if ncb.info.is_empty()
-                && (ncb.literal.len() > 2
-                    && !isspace(ncb.literal[0])
-                    && !(isspace(ncb.literal[ncb.literal.len() - 1])
-                        && isspace(ncb.literal[ncb.literal.len() - 2])))
+            let info = ncb.info.as_bytes();
+            let literal = ncb.literal.as_bytes();
+
+            if info.is_empty()
+                && (literal.len() > 2
+                    && !isspace(literal[0])
+                    && !(isspace(literal[literal.len() - 1])
+                        && isspace(literal[literal.len() - 2])))
                 && !first_in_list_item
             {
                 write!(self, "    ").unwrap();
                 write!(self.prefix, "    ").unwrap();
-                self.write_all(&ncb.literal).unwrap();
+                self.write_all(literal).unwrap();
                 let new_len = self.prefix.len() - 4;
                 self.prefix.truncate(new_len);
             } else {
-                let fence_char = if ncb.info.contains(&b'`') { b'~' } else { b'`' };
-                let numticks = max(3, longest_char_sequence(&ncb.literal, fence_char) + 1);
+                let fence_char = if info.contains(&b'`') { b'~' } else { b'`' };
+                let numticks = max(3, longest_char_sequence(literal, fence_char) + 1);
                 for _ in 0..numticks {
                     write!(self, "{}", fence_char as char).unwrap();
                 }
-                if !ncb.info.is_empty() {
+                if !info.is_empty() {
                     write!(self, " ").unwrap();
-                    self.write_all(&ncb.info).unwrap();
+                    self.write_all(info).unwrap();
                 }
                 self.cr();
-                self.write_all(&ncb.literal).unwrap();
+                self.write_all(literal).unwrap();
                 self.cr();
                 for _ in 0..numticks {
                     write!(self, "{}", fence_char as char).unwrap();
@@ -503,7 +512,7 @@ impl<'a, 'o> CommonMarkFormatter<'a, 'o> {
     fn format_html_block(&mut self, nhb: &NodeHtmlBlock, entering: bool) {
         if entering {
             self.blankline();
-            self.write_all(&nhb.literal).unwrap();
+            self.write_all(nhb.literal.as_bytes()).unwrap();
             self.blankline();
         }
     }
@@ -522,7 +531,7 @@ impl<'a, 'o> CommonMarkFormatter<'a, 'o> {
         }
     }
 
-    fn format_text(&mut self, literal: &Vec<u8>, allow_wrap: bool, entering: bool) {
+    fn format_text(&mut self, literal: &[u8], allow_wrap: bool, entering: bool) {
         if entering {
             self.output(literal, allow_wrap, Escaping::Normal);
         }
@@ -550,7 +559,7 @@ impl<'a, 'o> CommonMarkFormatter<'a, 'o> {
         }
     }
 
-    fn format_code(&mut self, literal: &Vec<u8>, allow_wrap: bool, entering: bool) {
+    fn format_code(&mut self, literal: &[u8], allow_wrap: bool, entering: bool) {
         if entering {
             let numticks = shortest_unused_sequence(literal, b'`');
             for _ in 0..numticks {
@@ -577,7 +586,7 @@ impl<'a, 'o> CommonMarkFormatter<'a, 'o> {
         }
     }
 
-    fn format_html_inline(&mut self, literal: &Vec<u8>, entering: bool) {
+    fn format_html_inline(&mut self, literal: &[u8], entering: bool) {
         if entering {
             self.write_all(literal).unwrap();
         }
@@ -602,9 +611,9 @@ impl<'a, 'o> CommonMarkFormatter<'a, 'o> {
         self.write_all(&[emph_delim]).unwrap();
     }
 
-    fn format_task_item(&mut self, _checked: bool, symbol: u8, entering: bool) {
+    fn format_task_item(&mut self, symbol: Option<char>, entering: bool) {
         if entering {
-            write!(self, "[{}] ", symbol as char).unwrap();
+            write!(self, "[{}] ", symbol.unwrap_or(' ')).unwrap();
         }
     }
 
@@ -619,29 +628,23 @@ impl<'a, 'o> CommonMarkFormatter<'a, 'o> {
     fn format_link(&mut self, node: &'a AstNode<'a>, nl: &NodeLink, entering: bool) -> bool {
         if is_autolink(node, nl) {
             if entering {
-                write!(self, "<").unwrap();
-                if nl.url.len() >= 7 && &nl.url[..7] == b"mailto:" {
-                    self.write_all(&nl.url[7..]).unwrap();
-                } else {
-                    self.write_all(&nl.url).unwrap();
-                }
-                write!(self, ">").unwrap();
+                write!(self, "<{}>", nl.url.trim_start_matches("mailto:")).unwrap();
                 return false;
             }
         } else if entering {
             write!(self, "[").unwrap();
         } else {
             write!(self, "](").unwrap();
-            self.output(&nl.url, false, Escaping::URL);
+            self.output(nl.url.as_bytes(), false, Escaping::Url);
             if !nl.title.is_empty() {
                 write!(self, " \"").unwrap();
-                self.output(&nl.title, false, Escaping::Title);
+                self.output(nl.title.as_bytes(), false, Escaping::Title);
                 write!(self, "\"").unwrap();
             }
             write!(self, ")").unwrap();
         }
 
-        return true;
+        true
     }
 
     fn format_image(&mut self, nl: &NodeLink, allow_wrap: bool, entering: bool) {
@@ -649,10 +652,10 @@ impl<'a, 'o> CommonMarkFormatter<'a, 'o> {
             write!(self, "![").unwrap();
         } else {
             write!(self, "](").unwrap();
-            self.output(&nl.url, false, Escaping::URL);
+            self.output(nl.url.as_bytes(), false, Escaping::Url);
             if !nl.title.is_empty() {
                 self.output(&[b' ', b'"'], allow_wrap, Escaping::Literal);
-                self.output(&nl.title, false, Escaping::Title);
+                self.output(nl.title.as_bytes(), false, Escaping::Title);
                 write!(self, "\"").unwrap();
             }
             write!(self, ")").unwrap();
@@ -737,7 +740,7 @@ impl<'a, 'o> CommonMarkFormatter<'a, 'o> {
         }
     }
 
-    fn format_footnote_reference(&mut self, r: &Vec<u8>, entering: bool) {
+    fn format_footnote_reference(&mut self, r: &[u8], entering: bool) {
         if entering {
             self.write_all(b"[^").unwrap();
             self.write_all(r).unwrap();
@@ -792,7 +795,7 @@ fn shortest_unused_sequence(literal: &[u8], f: u8) -> usize {
 }
 
 fn is_autolink<'a>(node: &'a AstNode<'a>, nl: &NodeLink) -> bool {
-    if nl.url.is_empty() || scanners::scheme(&nl.url).is_none() {
+    if nl.url.is_empty() || scanners::scheme(nl.url.as_bytes()).is_none() {
         return false;
     }
 
@@ -808,12 +811,7 @@ fn is_autolink<'a>(node: &'a AstNode<'a>, nl: &NodeLink) -> bool {
         },
     };
 
-    let mut real_url: &[u8] = &nl.url;
-    if real_url.len() >= 7 && &real_url[..7] == b"mailto:" {
-        real_url = &real_url[7..];
-    }
-
-    real_url == &*link_text
+    nl.url.trim_start_matches("mailto:") == link_text
 }
 
 fn table_escape<'a>(node: &'a AstNode<'a>, c: u8) -> bool {
diff --git a/src/entity.rs b/src/entity.rs
index 367fe72c..7b7a5e02 100644
--- a/src/entity.rs
+++ b/src/entity.rs
@@ -36,11 +36,8 @@ pub fn unescape(text: &[u8]) -> Option<(Vec<u8>, usize)> {
             0
         };
 
-        if num_digits >= 1 && num_digits <= 8 && i < text.len() && text[i] == b';' {
-            if codepoint == 0
-                || (codepoint >= 0xD800 && codepoint <= 0xE000)
-                || codepoint >= 0x110000
-            {
+        if (1..=8).contains(&num_digits) && i < text.len() && text[i] == b';' {
+            if codepoint == 0 || (0xD800..=0xE000).contains(&codepoint) || codepoint >= 0x110000 {
                 codepoint = 0xFFFD;
             }
             return Some((
diff --git a/src/html.rs b/src/html.rs
index 8aadbde6..ba91b15f 100644
--- a/src/html.rs
+++ b/src/html.rs
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ pub fn format_document<'a>(
     options: &ComrakOptions,
     output: &mut dyn Write,
 ) -> io::Result<()> {
-    format_document_with_plugins(root, &options, output, &ComrakPlugins::default())
+    format_document_with_plugins(root, options, output, &ComrakPlugins::default())
 }
 
 /// Formats an AST as HTML, modified by the given options. Accepts custom plugins.
@@ -174,7 +174,7 @@ const NEEDS_ESCAPED : [bool; 256] = [
 ];
 
 fn tagfilter(literal: &[u8]) -> bool {
-    static TAGFILTER_BLACKLIST: [&'static str; 9] = [
+    static TAGFILTER_BLACKLIST: [&str; 9] = [
         "title",
         "textarea",
         "style",
@@ -364,24 +364,23 @@ impl<'o> HtmlFormatter<'o> {
         while let Some((node, plain, phase)) = stack.pop() {
             match phase {
                 Phase::Pre => {
-                    let new_plain;
-                    if plain {
+                    let new_plain = if plain {
                         match node.data.borrow().value {
                             NodeValue::Text(ref literal)
                             | NodeValue::Code(NodeCode { ref literal, .. })
                             | NodeValue::HtmlInline(ref literal) => {
-                                self.escape(literal)?;
+                                self.escape(literal.as_bytes())?;
                             }
                             NodeValue::LineBreak | NodeValue::SoftBreak => {
                                 self.output.write_all(b" ")?;
                             }
                             _ => (),
                         }
-                        new_plain = plain;
+                        plain
                     } else {
                         stack.push((node, false, Phase::Post));
-                        new_plain = self.format_node(node, true)?;
-                    }
+                        self.format_node(node, true)?
+                    };
 
                     for ch in node.reverse_children() {
                         stack.push((ch, new_plain, Phase::Pre));
@@ -397,15 +396,15 @@ impl<'o> HtmlFormatter<'o> {
         Ok(())
     }
 
-    fn collect_text<'a>(&self, node: &'a AstNode<'a>, output: &mut Vec<u8>) {
+    fn collect_text<'a>(node: &'a AstNode<'a>, output: &mut Vec<u8>) {
         match node.data.borrow().value {
             NodeValue::Text(ref literal) | NodeValue::Code(NodeCode { ref literal, .. }) => {
-                output.extend_from_slice(literal)
+                output.extend_from_slice(literal.as_bytes())
             }
             NodeValue::LineBreak | NodeValue::SoftBreak => output.push(b' '),
             _ => {
                 for n in node.children() {
-                    self.collect_text(n, output);
+                    Self::collect_text(n, output);
                 }
             }
         }
@@ -479,7 +478,7 @@ impl<'o> HtmlFormatter<'o> {
 
                         if let Some(ref prefix) = self.options.extension.header_ids {
                             let mut text_content = Vec::with_capacity(20);
-                            self.collect_text(node, &mut text_content);
+                            Self::collect_text(node, &mut text_content);
 
                             let mut id = String::from_utf8(text_content).unwrap();
                             id = self.anchorizer.anchorize(id);
@@ -497,7 +496,7 @@ impl<'o> HtmlFormatter<'o> {
                 }
                 Some(adapter) => {
                     let mut text_content = Vec::with_capacity(20);
-                    self.collect_text(node, &mut text_content);
+                    Self::collect_text(node, &mut text_content);
                     let content = String::from_utf8(text_content).unwrap();
                     let heading = HeadingMeta {
                         level: nch.level,
@@ -521,13 +520,16 @@ impl<'o> HtmlFormatter<'o> {
                     let mut code_attributes: HashMap<String, String> = HashMap::new();
                     let code_attr: String;
 
-                    if !ncb.info.is_empty() {
-                        while first_tag < ncb.info.len() && !isspace(ncb.info[first_tag]) {
+                    let literal = &ncb.literal.as_bytes();
+                    let info = &ncb.info.as_bytes();
+
+                    if !info.is_empty() {
+                        while first_tag < info.len() && !isspace(info[first_tag]) {
                             first_tag += 1;
                         }
 
-                        let lang_str = str::from_utf8(&ncb.info[..first_tag]).unwrap();
-                        let info_str = str::from_utf8(&ncb.info[first_tag..]).unwrap().trim();
+                        let lang_str = str::from_utf8(&info[..first_tag]).unwrap();
+                        let info_str = str::from_utf8(&info[first_tag..]).unwrap().trim();
 
                         if self.options.render.github_pre_lang {
                             pre_attributes.insert(String::from("lang"), lang_str.to_string());
@@ -555,7 +557,7 @@ impl<'o> HtmlFormatter<'o> {
                                 build_opening_tag("code", &code_attributes).as_bytes(),
                             )?;
 
-                            self.escape(&ncb.literal)?;
+                            self.escape(literal)?;
 
                             self.output.write_all(b"</code></pre>\n")?
                         }
@@ -569,11 +571,11 @@ impl<'o> HtmlFormatter<'o> {
                             self.output.write_all(
                                 highlighter
                                     .highlight(
-                                        match str::from_utf8(&ncb.info[..first_tag]) {
+                                        match str::from_utf8(&info[..first_tag]) {
                                             Ok(lang) => Some(lang),
                                             Err(_) => None,
                                         },
-                                        str::from_utf8(ncb.literal.as_slice()).unwrap(),
+                                        &ncb.literal,
                                     )
                                     .as_bytes(),
                             )?;
@@ -586,14 +588,15 @@ impl<'o> HtmlFormatter<'o> {
             NodeValue::HtmlBlock(ref nhb) => {
                 if entering {
                     self.cr()?;
+                    let literal = nhb.literal.as_bytes();
                     if self.options.render.escape {
-                        self.escape(&nhb.literal)?;
+                        self.escape(literal)?;
                     } else if !self.options.render.unsafe_ {
                         self.output.write_all(b"<!-- raw HTML omitted -->")?;
                     } else if self.options.extension.tagfilter {
-                        tagfilter_block(&nhb.literal, &mut self.output)?;
+                        tagfilter_block(literal, &mut self.output)?;
                     } else {
-                        self.output.write_all(&nhb.literal)?;
+                        self.output.write_all(literal)?;
                     }
                     self.cr()?;
                 }
@@ -639,7 +642,7 @@ impl<'o> HtmlFormatter<'o> {
             }
             NodeValue::Text(ref literal) => {
                 if entering {
-                    self.escape(literal)?;
+                    self.escape(literal.as_bytes())?;
                 }
             }
             NodeValue::LineBreak => {
@@ -659,14 +662,15 @@ impl<'o> HtmlFormatter<'o> {
             NodeValue::Code(NodeCode { ref literal, .. }) => {
                 if entering {
                     self.output.write_all(b"<code>")?;
-                    self.escape(literal)?;
+                    self.escape(literal.as_bytes())?;
                     self.output.write_all(b"</code>")?;
                 }
             }
             NodeValue::HtmlInline(ref literal) => {
                 if entering {
+                    let literal = literal.as_bytes();
                     if self.options.render.escape {
-                        self.escape(&literal)?;
+                        self.escape(literal)?;
                     } else if !self.options.render.unsafe_ {
                         self.output.write_all(b"<!-- raw HTML omitted -->")?;
                     } else if self.options.extension.tagfilter && tagfilter(literal) {
@@ -708,12 +712,13 @@ impl<'o> HtmlFormatter<'o> {
             NodeValue::Link(ref nl) => {
                 if entering {
                     self.output.write_all(b"<a href=\"")?;
-                    if self.options.render.unsafe_ || !dangerous_url(&nl.url) {
-                        self.escape_href(&nl.url)?;
+                    let url = nl.url.as_bytes();
+                    if self.options.render.unsafe_ || !dangerous_url(url) {
+                        self.escape_href(url)?;
                     }
                     if !nl.title.is_empty() {
                         self.output.write_all(b"\" title=\"")?;
-                        self.escape(&nl.title)?;
+                        self.escape(nl.title.as_bytes())?;
                     }
                     self.output.write_all(b"\">")?;
                 } else {
@@ -723,15 +728,16 @@ impl<'o> HtmlFormatter<'o> {
             NodeValue::Image(ref nl) => {
                 if entering {
                     self.output.write_all(b"<img src=\"")?;
-                    if self.options.render.unsafe_ || !dangerous_url(&nl.url) {
-                        self.escape_href(&nl.url)?;
+                    let url = nl.url.as_bytes();
+                    if self.options.render.unsafe_ || !dangerous_url(url) {
+                        self.escape_href(url)?;
                     }
                     self.output.write_all(b"\" alt=\"")?;
                     return Ok(true);
                 } else {
                     if !nl.title.is_empty() {
                         self.output.write_all(b"\" title=\"")?;
-                        self.escape(&nl.title)?;
+                        self.escape(nl.title.as_bytes())?;
                     }
                     self.output.write_all(b"\" />")?;
                 }
@@ -848,7 +854,6 @@ impl<'o> HtmlFormatter<'o> {
             }
             NodeValue::FootnoteReference(ref r) => {
                 if entering {
-                    let r = str::from_utf8(r).unwrap();
                     write!(
                         self.output,
                         "<sup class=\"footnote-ref\"><a href=\"#fn-{}\" id=\"fnref-{}\" data-footnote-ref>{}</a></sup>",
@@ -856,16 +861,17 @@ impl<'o> HtmlFormatter<'o> {
                     )?;
                 }
             }
-            NodeValue::TaskItem { checked, .. } => {
+            NodeValue::TaskItem { symbol } => {
                 if entering {
-                    if checked {
-                        self.output.write_all(
-                            b"<input type=\"checkbox\" disabled=\"\" checked=\"\" /> ",
-                        )?;
-                    } else {
-                        self.output
-                            .write_all(b"<input type=\"checkbox\" disabled=\"\" /> ")?;
-                    }
+                    write!(
+                        self.output,
+                        "<input type=\"checkbox\" disabled=\"\" {}/> ",
+                        if symbol.is_some() {
+                            "checked=\"\" "
+                        } else {
+                            ""
+                        }
+                    )?;
                 }
             }
         }
diff --git a/src/lib.rs b/src/lib.rs
index c5308813..bae509ff 100644
--- a/src/lib.rs
+++ b/src/lib.rs
@@ -39,8 +39,8 @@
 //! iter_nodes(root, &|node| {
 //!     match &mut node.data.borrow_mut().value {
 //!         &mut NodeValue::Text(ref mut text) => {
-//!             let orig = std::mem::replace(text, vec![]);
-//!             *text = String::from_utf8(orig).unwrap().replace("my", "your").as_bytes().to_vec();
+//!             let orig = std::mem::replace(text, String::new());
+//!             *text = orig.replace("my", "your");
 //!         }
 //!         _ => (),
 //!     }
diff --git a/src/nodes.rs b/src/nodes.rs
index b3711f24..940c018b 100644
--- a/src/nodes.rs
+++ b/src/nodes.rs
@@ -12,8 +12,8 @@ pub enum NodeValue {
     /// The root of every CommonMark document.  Contains **blocks**.
     Document,
 
-    /// Non-Markdown front matter. Treated as an opaque blob.
-    FrontMatter(Vec<u8>),
+    /// Non-Markdown front matter.  Treated as an opaque blob.
+    FrontMatter(String),
 
     /// **Block**. A [block quote](https://github.github.com/gfm/#block-quotes).  Contains other
     /// **blocks**.
@@ -85,9 +85,9 @@ pub enum NodeValue {
     /// children.
     ThematicBreak,
 
-    /// **Block**. A footnote definition.  The `Vec<u8>` is the footnote's name.
+    /// **Block**. A footnote definition.  The `String` is the footnote's name.
     /// Contains other **blocks**.
-    FootnoteDefinition(Vec<u8>),
+    FootnoteDefinition(String),
 
     /// **Block**. A [table](https://github.github.com/gfm/#tables-extension-) per the GFM spec.
     /// Contains table rows.
@@ -102,14 +102,13 @@ pub enum NodeValue {
 
     /// **Inline**.  [Textual content](https://github.github.com/gfm/#textual-content).  All text
     /// in a document will be contained in a `Text` node.
-    Text(Vec<u8>),
+    Text(String),
 
     /// **Inline**. [Task list item](https://github.github.com/gfm/#task-list-items-extension-).
     TaskItem {
-        /// The `bool` `checked` indicates whether it is checked or not.
-        checked: bool,
-        /// The `symbol` that was used in the brackets to mark a task as `checked`.
-        symbol: u8,
+        /// The symbol that was used in the brackets to mark a task item
+        /// as checked, or None if the item is unchecked.
+        symbol: Option<char>,
     },
 
     /// **Inline**.  A [soft line break](https://github.github.com/gfm/#soft-line-breaks).  If
@@ -124,7 +123,7 @@ pub enum NodeValue {
     Code(NodeCode),
 
     /// **Inline**.  [Raw HTML](https://github.github.com/gfm/#raw-html) contained inline.
-    HtmlInline(Vec<u8>),
+    HtmlInline(String),
 
     /// **Inline**.  [Emphasised](https://github.github.com/gfm/#emphasis-and-strong-emphasis)
     /// text.
@@ -147,8 +146,8 @@ pub enum NodeValue {
     /// **Inline**.  An [image](https://github.github.com/gfm/#images).
     Image(NodeLink),
 
-    /// **Inline**.  A footnote reference; the `Vec<u8>` is the referent footnote's name.
-    FootnoteReference(Vec<u8>),
+    /// **Inline**.  A footnote reference; the `String` is the referent footnote's name.
+    FootnoteReference(String),
 
     #[cfg(feature = "shortcodes")]
     /// **Inline**. An Emoji character generated from a shortcode. Enable with feature "emoji"
@@ -181,20 +180,20 @@ pub struct NodeCode {
     /// As the contents are not interpreted as Markdown at all,
     /// they are contained within this structure,
     /// rather than inserted into a child inline of any kind.
-    pub literal: Vec<u8>,
+    pub literal: String,
 }
 
 /// The details of a link's destination, or an image's source.
 #[derive(Debug, Clone)]
 pub struct NodeLink {
     /// The URL for the link destination or image source.
-    pub url: Vec<u8>,
+    pub url: String,
 
     /// The title for the link or image.
     ///
     /// Note this field is used for the `title` attribute by the HTML formatter even for images;
     /// `alt` text is supplied in the image inline text.
-    pub title: Vec<u8>,
+    pub title: String,
 }
 
 /// The metadata of a list; the kind of list, the delimiter used and so on.
@@ -234,37 +233,27 @@ pub struct NodeDescriptionItem {
 }
 
 /// The type of list.
-#[derive(Debug, Clone, Copy, PartialEq)]
+#[derive(Debug, Clone, Copy, PartialEq, Default)]
 pub enum ListType {
     /// A bullet list, i.e. an unordered list.
+    #[default]
     Bullet,
 
     /// An ordered list.
     Ordered,
 }
 
-impl Default for ListType {
-    fn default() -> ListType {
-        ListType::Bullet
-    }
-}
-
 /// The delimiter for ordered lists, i.e. the character which appears after each number.
-#[derive(Debug, Clone, Copy, PartialEq)]
+#[derive(Debug, Clone, Copy, PartialEq, Default)]
 pub enum ListDelimType {
     /// A period character `.`.
+    #[default]
     Period,
 
     /// A paren character `)`.
     Paren,
 }
 
-impl Default for ListDelimType {
-    fn default() -> ListDelimType {
-        ListDelimType::Period
-    }
-}
-
 /// The metadata and data of a code block (fenced or indented).
 #[derive(Default, Debug, Clone)]
 pub struct NodeCodeBlock {
@@ -282,12 +271,12 @@ pub struct NodeCodeBlock {
 
     /// For fenced code blocks, the [info string](https://github.github.com/gfm/#info-string) after
     /// the opening fence, if any.
-    pub info: Vec<u8>,
+    pub info: String,
 
     /// The literal contents of the code block.  As the contents are not interpreted as Markdown at
     /// all, they are contained within this structure, rather than inserted into a child inline of
     /// any kind.
-    pub literal: Vec<u8>,
+    pub literal: String,
 }
 
 /// The metadata of a heading.
@@ -308,7 +297,7 @@ pub struct NodeHtmlBlock {
 
     /// The literal contents of the HTML block.  Per NodeCodeBlock, the content is included here
     /// rather than in any inline.
-    pub literal: Vec<u8>,
+    pub literal: String,
 }
 
 impl NodeValue {
@@ -347,7 +336,7 @@ impl NodeValue {
     /// Return a reference to the text of a `Text` inline, if this node is one.
     ///
     /// Convenience method.
-    pub fn text(&self) -> Option<&Vec<u8>> {
+    pub fn text(&self) -> Option<&String> {
         match *self {
             NodeValue::Text(ref t) => Some(t),
             _ => None,
@@ -357,7 +346,7 @@ impl NodeValue {
     /// Return a mutable reference to the text of a `Text` inline, if this node is one.
     ///
     /// Convenience method.
-    pub fn text_mut(&mut self) -> Option<&mut Vec<u8>> {
+    pub fn text_mut(&mut self) -> Option<&mut String> {
         match *self {
             NodeValue::Text(ref mut t) => Some(t),
             _ => None,
@@ -384,7 +373,7 @@ pub struct Ast {
     /// The line in the input document the node starts at.
     pub start_line: u32,
 
-    pub(crate) content: Vec<u8>,
+    pub(crate) content: String,
     pub(crate) open: bool,
     pub(crate) last_line_blank: bool,
     pub(crate) table_visited: bool,
@@ -395,7 +384,7 @@ impl Ast {
     pub fn new(value: NodeValue) -> Self {
         Ast {
             value,
-            content: vec![],
+            content: String::new(),
             start_line: 0,
             open: true,
             last_line_blank: false,
diff --git a/src/parser/autolink.rs b/src/parser/autolink.rs
index 67de349d..ea03b464 100644
--- a/src/parser/autolink.rs
+++ b/src/parser/autolink.rs
@@ -9,8 +9,9 @@ use unicode_categories::UnicodeCategories;
 pub fn process_autolinks<'a>(
     arena: &'a Arena<AstNode<'a>>,
     node: &'a AstNode<'a>,
-    contents: &mut Vec<u8>,
+    contents_str: &mut String,
 ) {
+    let contents = contents_str.as_bytes();
     let len = contents.len();
     let mut i = 0;
 
@@ -46,11 +47,11 @@ pub fn process_autolinks<'a>(
             i -= reverse;
             node.insert_after(post);
             if i + skip < len {
-                let remain = contents[i + skip..].to_vec();
+                let remain = str::from_utf8(&contents[i + skip..]).unwrap();
                 assert!(!remain.is_empty());
-                post.insert_after(make_inline(arena, NodeValue::Text(remain)));
+                post.insert_after(make_inline(arena, NodeValue::Text(remain.to_string())));
             }
-            contents.truncate(i);
+            contents_str.truncate(i);
             return;
         }
     }
@@ -88,14 +89,24 @@ fn www_match<'a>(
 
     link_end = autolink_delim(&contents[i..], link_end);
 
-    let mut url = b"http://".to_vec();
-    url.extend_from_slice(&contents[i..link_end + i]);
+    let mut url = "http://".to_string();
+    url.push_str(str::from_utf8(&contents[i..link_end + i]).unwrap());
 
-    let inl = make_inline(arena, NodeValue::Link(NodeLink { url, title: vec![] }));
+    let inl = make_inline(
+        arena,
+        NodeValue::Link(NodeLink {
+            url,
+            title: String::new(),
+        }),
+    );
 
     inl.append(make_inline(
         arena,
-        NodeValue::Text(contents[i..link_end + i].to_vec()),
+        NodeValue::Text(
+            str::from_utf8(&contents[i..link_end + i])
+                .unwrap()
+                .to_string(),
+        ),
     ));
     Some((inl, 0, link_end))
 }
@@ -197,7 +208,7 @@ fn url_match<'a>(
     contents: &[u8],
     i: usize,
 ) -> Option<(&'a AstNode<'a>, usize, usize)> {
-    const SCHEMES: [&'static [u8]; 3] = [b"http", b"https", b"ftp"];
+    const SCHEMES: [&[u8]; 3] = [b"http", b"https", b"ftp"];
 
     let size = contents.len();
 
@@ -226,12 +237,14 @@ fn url_match<'a>(
 
     link_end = autolink_delim(&contents[i..], link_end);
 
-    let url = contents[i - rewind..i + link_end].to_vec();
+    let url = str::from_utf8(&contents[i - rewind..i + link_end])
+        .unwrap()
+        .to_string();
     let inl = make_inline(
         arena,
         NodeValue::Link(NodeLink {
             url: url.clone(),
-            title: vec![],
+            title: String::new(),
         }),
     );
 
@@ -302,14 +315,18 @@ fn email_match<'a>(
         return None;
     }
 
-    let mut url = b"mailto:".to_vec();
-    url.extend_from_slice(&contents[i - rewind..link_end + i]);
-
-    let inl = make_inline(arena, NodeValue::Link(NodeLink { url, title: vec![] }));
+    let mut url = "mailto:".to_string();
+    let text = str::from_utf8(&contents[i - rewind..link_end + i]).unwrap();
+    url.push_str(text);
 
-    inl.append(make_inline(
+    let inl = make_inline(
         arena,
-        NodeValue::Text(contents[i - rewind..link_end + i].to_vec()),
-    ));
+        NodeValue::Link(NodeLink {
+            url,
+            title: String::new(),
+        }),
+    );
+
+    inl.append(make_inline(arena, NodeValue::Text(text.to_string())));
     Some((inl, rewind, rewind + link_end))
 }
diff --git a/src/parser/inlines.rs b/src/parser/inlines.rs
index f9b23bf9..e7285274 100644
--- a/src/parser/inlines.rs
+++ b/src/parser/inlines.rs
@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@ struct Flags {
 }
 
 pub struct RefMap {
-    pub map: HashMap<Vec<u8>, Reference>,
+    pub map: HashMap<String, Reference>,
     pub(crate) max_ref_size: usize,
     ref_size: usize,
 }
@@ -65,7 +65,7 @@ impl RefMap {
         }
     }
 
-    fn lookup(&mut self, lab: &[u8]) -> Option<Reference> {
+    fn lookup(&mut self, lab: &str) -> Option<Reference> {
         match self.map.get(lab) {
             Some(entry) => {
                 let size = entry.url.len() + entry.title.len();
@@ -172,7 +172,7 @@ impl<'a, 'r, 'o, 'd, 'i, 'c, 'subj> Subject<'a, 'r, 'o, 'd, 'i, 'c, 'subj> {
             '.' => Some(self.handle_period()),
             '[' => {
                 self.pos += 1;
-                let inl = make_inline(self.arena, NodeValue::Text(b"[".to_vec()));
+                let inl = make_inline(self.arena, NodeValue::Text("[".to_string()));
                 self.push_bracket(false, inl);
                 self.within_brackets = true;
                 Some(inl)
@@ -185,11 +185,11 @@ impl<'a, 'r, 'o, 'd, 'i, 'c, 'subj> Subject<'a, 'r, 'o, 'd, 'i, 'c, 'subj> {
                 self.pos += 1;
                 if self.peek_char() == Some(&(b'[')) && self.peek_char_n(1) != Some(&(b'^')) {
                     self.pos += 1;
-                    let inl = make_inline(self.arena, NodeValue::Text(b"![".to_vec()));
+                    let inl = make_inline(self.arena, NodeValue::Text("![".to_string()));
                     self.push_bracket(true, inl);
                     Some(inl)
                 } else {
-                    Some(make_inline(self.arena, NodeValue::Text(b"!".to_vec())))
+                    Some(make_inline(self.arena, NodeValue::Text("!".to_string())))
                 }
             }
             '~' if self.options.extension.strikethrough => Some(self.handle_delim(b'~')),
@@ -216,7 +216,10 @@ impl<'a, 'r, 'o, 'd, 'i, 'c, 'subj> Subject<'a, 'r, 'o, 'd, 'i, 'c, 'subj> {
                     strings::ltrim(&mut contents);
                 }
 
-                Some(make_inline(self.arena, NodeValue::Text(contents)))
+                Some(make_inline(
+                    self.arena,
+                    NodeValue::Text(String::from_utf8(contents).unwrap()),
+                ))
             }
         };
 
@@ -390,9 +393,7 @@ impl<'a, 'r, 'o, 'd, 'i, 'c, 'subj> Subject<'a, 'r, 'o, 'd, 'i, 'c, 'subj> {
                     }
                 } else if c.delim_char == b'\'' || c.delim_char == b'"' {
                     *c.inl.data.borrow_mut().value.text_mut().unwrap() =
-                        if c.delim_char == b'\'' { "’" } else { "”" }
-                            .to_string()
-                            .into_bytes();
+                        if c.delim_char == b'\'' { "’" } else { "”" }.to_string();
                     closer = c.next.get();
 
                     if opener_found {
@@ -408,8 +409,7 @@ impl<'a, 'r, 'o, 'd, 'i, 'c, 'subj> Subject<'a, 'r, 'o, 'd, 'i, 'c, 'subj> {
                         } else {
                             "“"
                         }
-                        .to_string()
-                        .into_bytes();
+                        .to_string();
                         self.remove_delimiter(opener.unwrap());
                         self.remove_delimiter(old_c);
                     }
@@ -559,14 +559,14 @@ impl<'a, 'r, 'o, 'd, 'i, 'c, 'subj> Subject<'a, 'r, 'o, 'd, 'i, 'c, 'subj> {
         match endpos {
             None => {
                 self.pos = startpos;
-                make_inline(self.arena, NodeValue::Text(vec![b'`'; openticks]))
+                make_inline(self.arena, NodeValue::Text("`".repeat(openticks)))
             }
             Some(endpos) => {
                 let buf = &self.input[startpos..endpos - openticks];
                 let buf = strings::normalize_code(buf);
                 let code = NodeCode {
                     num_backticks: openticks,
-                    literal: buf,
+                    literal: String::from_utf8(buf).unwrap(),
                 };
                 make_inline(self.arena, NodeValue::Code(code))
             }
@@ -586,15 +586,17 @@ impl<'a, 'r, 'o, 'd, 'i, 'c, 'subj> Subject<'a, 'r, 'o, 'd, 'i, 'c, 'subj> {
         let (numdelims, can_open, can_close) = self.scan_delims(c);
 
         let contents = if c == b'\'' && self.options.parse.smart {
-            b"\xE2\x80\x99".to_vec()
+            "’".to_string()
         } else if c == b'"' && self.options.parse.smart {
             if can_close {
-                b"\xE2\x90\x9D".to_vec()
+                "”".to_string()
             } else {
-                b"\xE2\x80\x9C".to_vec()
+                "“".to_string()
             }
         } else {
-            self.input[self.pos - numdelims..self.pos].to_vec()
+            str::from_utf8(&self.input[self.pos - numdelims..self.pos])
+                .unwrap()
+                .to_string()
         };
         let inl = make_inline(self.arena, NodeValue::Text(contents));
 
@@ -610,7 +612,7 @@ impl<'a, 'r, 'o, 'd, 'i, 'c, 'subj> Subject<'a, 'r, 'o, 'd, 'i, 'c, 'subj> {
         self.pos += 1;
 
         if !self.options.parse.smart || self.peek_char().map_or(false, |&c| c != b'-') {
-            return make_inline(self.arena, NodeValue::Text(vec![b'-']));
+            return make_inline(self.arena, NodeValue::Text("-".to_string()));
         }
 
         while self.options.parse.smart && self.peek_char().map_or(false, |&c| c == b'-') {
@@ -629,14 +631,12 @@ impl<'a, 'r, 'o, 'd, 'i, 'c, 'subj> Subject<'a, 'r, 'o, 'd, 'i, 'c, 'subj> {
             (2, (numhyphens - 4) / 3)
         };
 
-        let mut buf = vec![];
-        for _ in 0..ems {
-            buf.extend_from_slice(b"\xE2\x80\x94");
-        }
-        for _ in 0..ens {
-            buf.extend_from_slice(b"\xE2\x80\x93");
-        }
+        let ens = if ens > 0 { ens as usize } else { 0 };
+        let ems = if ems > 0 { ems as usize } else { 0 };
 
+        let mut buf = String::with_capacity(3 * (ems + ens));
+        buf.push_str(&"—".repeat(ems));
+        buf.push_str(&"–".repeat(ens));
         make_inline(self.arena, NodeValue::Text(buf))
     }
 
@@ -646,12 +646,12 @@ impl<'a, 'r, 'o, 'd, 'i, 'c, 'subj> Subject<'a, 'r, 'o, 'd, 'i, 'c, 'subj> {
             self.pos += 1;
             if self.peek_char().map_or(false, |&c| c == b'.') {
                 self.pos += 1;
-                make_inline(self.arena, NodeValue::Text(b"\xE2\x80\xA6".to_vec()))
+                make_inline(self.arena, NodeValue::Text("…".to_string()))
             } else {
-                make_inline(self.arena, NodeValue::Text(b"..".to_vec()))
+                make_inline(self.arena, NodeValue::Text("..".to_string()))
             }
         } else {
-            make_inline(self.arena, NodeValue::Text(b".".to_vec()))
+            make_inline(self.arena, NodeValue::Text(".".to_string()))
         }
     }
 
@@ -774,7 +774,7 @@ impl<'a, 'r, 'o, 'd, 'i, 'c, 'subj> Subject<'a, 'r, 'o, 'd, 'i, 'c, 'subj> {
         opener: &'d Delimiter<'a, 'd>,
         closer: &'d Delimiter<'a, 'd>,
     ) -> Option<&'d Delimiter<'a, 'd>> {
-        let opener_char = opener.inl.data.borrow().value.text().unwrap()[0];
+        let opener_char = opener.inl.data.borrow().value.text().unwrap().as_bytes()[0];
         let mut opener_num_chars = opener.inl.data.borrow().value.text().unwrap().len();
         let mut closer_num_chars = closer.inl.data.borrow().value.text().unwrap().len();
         let use_delims = if closer_num_chars >= 2 && opener_num_chars >= 2 {
@@ -866,11 +866,14 @@ impl<'a, 'r, 'o, 'd, 'i, 'c, 'subj> Subject<'a, 'r, 'o, 'd, 'i, 'c, 'subj> {
         if self.peek_char().map_or(false, |&c| ispunct(c)) {
             self.pos += 1;
             // TODO
-            make_inline(self.arena, NodeValue::Text(vec![self.input[self.pos - 1]]))
+            make_inline(
+                self.arena,
+                NodeValue::Text(String::from_utf8(vec![self.input[self.pos - 1]]).unwrap()),
+            )
         } else if !self.eof() && self.skip_line_end() {
             make_inline(self.arena, NodeValue::LineBreak)
         } else {
-            make_inline(self.arena, NodeValue::Text(b"\\".to_vec()))
+            make_inline(self.arena, NodeValue::Text("\\".to_string()))
         }
     }
 
@@ -889,10 +892,13 @@ impl<'a, 'r, 'o, 'd, 'i, 'c, 'subj> Subject<'a, 'r, 'o, 'd, 'i, 'c, 'subj> {
         self.pos += 1;
 
         match entity::unescape(&self.input[self.pos..]) {
-            None => make_inline(self.arena, NodeValue::Text(b"&".to_vec())),
+            None => make_inline(self.arena, NodeValue::Text("&".to_string())),
             Some((entity, len)) => {
                 self.pos += len;
-                make_inline(self.arena, NodeValue::Text(entity))
+                make_inline(
+                    self.arena,
+                    NodeValue::Text(String::from_utf8(entity).unwrap()),
+                )
             }
         }
     }
@@ -911,7 +917,7 @@ impl<'a, 'r, 'o, 'd, 'i, 'c, 'subj> Subject<'a, 'r, 'o, 'd, 'i, 'c, 'subj> {
             }
         }
         self.pos += 1;
-        make_inline(self.arena, NodeValue::Text(b":".to_vec()))
+        make_inline(self.arena, NodeValue::Text(":".to_string()))
     }
 
     pub fn handle_pointy_brace(&mut self) -> &'a AstNode<'a> {
@@ -921,7 +927,7 @@ impl<'a, 'r, 'o, 'd, 'i, 'c, 'subj> Subject<'a, 'r, 'o, 'd, 'i, 'c, 'subj> {
             let inl = make_autolink(
                 self.arena,
                 &self.input[self.pos..self.pos + matchlen - 1],
-                AutolinkType::URI,
+                AutolinkType::Uri,
             );
             self.pos += matchlen;
             return inl;
@@ -949,12 +955,10 @@ impl<'a, 'r, 'o, 'd, 'i, 'c, 'subj> Subject<'a, 'r, 'o, 'd, 'i, 'c, 'subj> {
                         matchlen = Some(4);
                     } else if self.input[self.pos + 3] == b'-' && self.input[self.pos + 4] == b'>' {
                         matchlen = Some(5);
+                    } else if let Some(m) = scanners::html_comment(&self.input[self.pos + 1..]) {
+                        matchlen = Some(m + 1);
                     } else {
-                        if let Some(m) = scanners::html_comment(&self.input[self.pos + 1..]) {
-                            matchlen = Some(m + 1);
-                        } else {
-                            self.flags.skip_html_comment = true;
-                        }
+                        self.flags.skip_html_comment = true;
                     }
                 } else if c == b'[' {
                     if !self.flags.skip_html_cdata {
@@ -1000,12 +1004,15 @@ impl<'a, 'r, 'o, 'd, 'i, 'c, 'subj> Subject<'a, 'r, 'o, 'd, 'i, 'c, 'subj> {
 
         if let Some(matchlen) = matchlen {
             let contents = &self.input[self.pos - 1..self.pos + matchlen];
-            let inl = make_inline(self.arena, NodeValue::HtmlInline(contents.to_vec()));
+            let inl = make_inline(
+                self.arena,
+                NodeValue::HtmlInline(str::from_utf8(contents).unwrap().to_string()),
+            );
             self.pos += matchlen;
             return inl;
         }
 
-        make_inline(self.arena, NodeValue::Text(b"<".to_vec()))
+        make_inline(self.arena, NodeValue::Text("<".to_string()))
     }
 
     pub fn push_bracket(&mut self, image: bool, inl_text: &'a AstNode<'a>) {
@@ -1030,14 +1037,14 @@ impl<'a, 'r, 'o, 'd, 'i, 'c, 'subj> Subject<'a, 'r, 'o, 'd, 'i, 'c, 'subj> {
 
         let brackets_len = self.brackets.len();
         if brackets_len == 0 {
-            return Some(make_inline(self.arena, NodeValue::Text(b"]".to_vec())));
+            return Some(make_inline(self.arena, NodeValue::Text("]".to_string())));
         }
 
         let is_image = self.brackets[brackets_len - 1].image;
 
         if !is_image && self.no_link_openers {
             self.brackets.pop();
-            return Some(make_inline(self.arena, NodeValue::Text(b"]".to_vec())));
+            return Some(make_inline(self.arena, NodeValue::Text("]".to_string())));
         }
 
         let after_link_text_pos = self.pos;
@@ -1071,7 +1078,11 @@ impl<'a, 'r, 'o, 'd, 'i, 'c, 'subj> Subject<'a, 'r, 'o, 'd, 'i, 'c, 'subj> {
                 self.pos = endall + 1;
                 let url = strings::clean_url(url);
                 let title = strings::clean_title(&self.input[starttitle..endtitle]);
-                self.close_bracket_match(is_image, url, title);
+                self.close_bracket_match(
+                    is_image,
+                    String::from_utf8(url).unwrap(),
+                    String::from_utf8(title).unwrap(),
+                );
                 return None;
             } else {
                 self.pos = after_link_text_pos;
@@ -1081,8 +1092,8 @@ impl<'a, 'r, 'o, 'd, 'i, 'c, 'subj> Subject<'a, 'r, 'o, 'd, 'i, 'c, 'subj> {
         // Try to see if this is a reference link
 
         let (mut lab, mut found_label) = match self.link_label() {
-            Some(lab) => (lab.to_vec(), true),
-            None => (vec![], false),
+            Some(lab) => (lab.to_string(), true),
+            None => ("".to_string(), false),
         };
 
         if !found_label {
@@ -1090,12 +1101,16 @@ impl<'a, 'r, 'o, 'd, 'i, 'c, 'subj> Subject<'a, 'r, 'o, 'd, 'i, 'c, 'subj> {
         }
 
         if (!found_label || lab.is_empty()) && !self.brackets[brackets_len - 1].bracket_after {
-            lab = self.input[self.brackets[brackets_len - 1].position..initial_pos - 1].to_vec();
+            lab = str::from_utf8(
+                &self.input[self.brackets[brackets_len - 1].position..initial_pos - 1],
+            )
+            .unwrap()
+            .to_string();
             found_label = true;
         }
 
         // Need to normalize both to lookup in refmap and to call callback
-        lab = strings::normalize_label(&lab);
+        let lab = strings::normalize_label(&lab);
         let mut reff = if found_label {
             self.refmap.lookup(&lab)
         } else {
@@ -1114,7 +1129,7 @@ impl<'a, 'r, 'o, 'd, 'i, 'c, 'subj> Subject<'a, 'r, 'o, 'd, 'i, 'c, 'subj> {
             return None;
         }
 
-        let mut text: Option<Vec<u8>> = None;
+        let mut text: Option<String> = None;
         if self.options.extension.footnotes
             && match self.brackets[brackets_len - 1].inl_text.next_sibling() {
                 Some(n) => {
@@ -1125,8 +1140,11 @@ impl<'a, 'r, 'o, 'd, 'i, 'c, 'subj> Subject<'a, 'r, 'o, 'd, 'i, 'c, 'subj> {
             }
         {
             let text = text.unwrap();
-            if text.len() > 1 && text[0] == b'^' {
-                let inl = make_inline(self.arena, NodeValue::FootnoteReference(text[1..].to_vec()));
+            if text.len() > 1 && text.as_bytes()[0] == b'^' {
+                let inl = make_inline(
+                    self.arena,
+                    NodeValue::FootnoteReference(text[1..].to_string()),
+                );
                 self.brackets[brackets_len - 1].inl_text.insert_before(inl);
                 self.brackets[brackets_len - 1]
                     .inl_text
@@ -1142,10 +1160,10 @@ impl<'a, 'r, 'o, 'd, 'i, 'c, 'subj> Subject<'a, 'r, 'o, 'd, 'i, 'c, 'subj> {
 
         self.brackets.pop();
         self.pos = initial_pos;
-        Some(make_inline(self.arena, NodeValue::Text(b"]".to_vec())))
+        Some(make_inline(self.arena, NodeValue::Text("]".to_string())))
     }
 
-    pub fn close_bracket_match(&mut self, is_image: bool, url: Vec<u8>, title: Vec<u8>) {
+    pub fn close_bracket_match(&mut self, is_image: bool, url: String, title: String) {
         let nl = NodeLink { url, title };
         let inl = make_inline(
             self.arena,
@@ -1172,7 +1190,7 @@ impl<'a, 'r, 'o, 'd, 'i, 'c, 'subj> Subject<'a, 'r, 'o, 'd, 'i, 'c, 'subj> {
         }
     }
 
-    pub fn link_label(&mut self) -> Option<&[u8]> {
+    pub fn link_label(&mut self) -> Option<&str> {
         let startpos = self.pos;
 
         if self.peek_char() != Some(&(b'[')) {
@@ -1204,7 +1222,7 @@ impl<'a, 'r, 'o, 'd, 'i, 'c, 'subj> Subject<'a, 'r, 'o, 'd, 'i, 'c, 'subj> {
         if c == b']' {
             let raw_label = strings::trim_slice(&self.input[startpos + 1..self.pos]);
             self.pos += 1;
-            Some(raw_label)
+            Some(str::from_utf8(raw_label).unwrap())
         } else {
             self.pos = startpos;
             None
@@ -1289,7 +1307,7 @@ pub fn manual_scan_link_url_2(input: &[u8]) -> Option<(&[u8], usize)> {
 pub fn make_inline<'a>(arena: &'a Arena<AstNode<'a>>, value: NodeValue) -> &'a AstNode<'a> {
     let ast = Ast {
         value,
-        content: vec![],
+        content: String::new(),
         start_line: 0,
         open: false,
         last_line_blank: false,
@@ -1306,13 +1324,13 @@ fn make_autolink<'a>(
     let inl = make_inline(
         arena,
         NodeValue::Link(NodeLink {
-            url: strings::clean_autolink(url, kind),
-            title: vec![],
+            url: String::from_utf8(strings::clean_autolink(url, kind)).unwrap(),
+            title: String::new(),
         }),
     );
     inl.append(make_inline(
         arena,
-        NodeValue::Text(entity::unescape_html(url)),
+        NodeValue::Text(String::from_utf8(entity::unescape_html(url)).unwrap()),
     ));
     inl
 }
diff --git a/src/parser/mod.rs b/src/parser/mod.rs
index 7f291017..72bbbcb1 100644
--- a/src/parser/mod.rs
+++ b/src/parser/mod.rs
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ use crate::nodes::{
 use crate::scanners;
 use crate::strings;
 use once_cell::sync::OnceCell;
-use regex::bytes::{Regex, RegexBuilder};
+use regex::{Regex, RegexBuilder};
 use std::cell::RefCell;
 use std::cmp::min;
 use std::collections::HashMap;
@@ -74,10 +74,10 @@ pub fn parse_document<'a>(
 ///     &arena,
 ///     "# Cool input!\nWow look at this cool [link][foo]. A [broken link] renders as text.",
 ///     &ComrakOptions::default(),
-///     Some(&mut |link_ref: &[u8]| match link_ref {
-///         b"foo" => Some((
-///             b"https://www.rust-lang.org/".to_vec(),
-///             b"The Rust Language".to_vec(),
+///     Some(&mut |link_ref: &str| match link_ref {
+///         "foo" => Some((
+///             "https://www.rust-lang.org/".to_string(),
+///             "The Rust Language".to_string(),
 ///         )),
 ///         _ => None,
 ///     }),
@@ -100,7 +100,7 @@ pub fn parse_document_with_broken_link_callback<'a, 'c>(
 ) -> &'a AstNode<'a> {
     let root: &'a AstNode<'a> = arena.alloc(Node::new(RefCell::new(Ast {
         value: NodeValue::Document,
-        content: vec![],
+        content: String::new(),
         start_line: 0,
         open: true,
         last_line_blank: false,
@@ -112,7 +112,7 @@ pub fn parse_document_with_broken_link_callback<'a, 'c>(
     parser.finish(linebuf)
 }
 
-type Callback<'c> = &'c mut dyn FnMut(&[u8]) -> Option<(Vec<u8>, Vec<u8>)>;
+type Callback<'c> = &'c mut dyn FnMut(&str) -> Option<(String, String)>;
 
 pub struct Parser<'a, 'o, 'c> {
     arena: &'a Arena<AstNode<'a>>,
@@ -571,8 +571,8 @@ impl Debug for ComrakRenderPlugins<'_> {
 
 #[derive(Clone)]
 pub struct Reference {
-    pub url: Vec<u8>,
-    pub title: Vec<u8>,
+    pub url: String,
+    pub title: String,
 }
 
 struct FootnoteDefinition<'a> {
@@ -619,12 +619,13 @@ impl<'a, 'o, 'c> Parser<'a, 'o, 'c> {
             self.total_size += s.len();
         }
 
-        if self.last_buffer_ended_with_cr && s.len() > 0 && s[0] == b'\n' {
+        if self.last_buffer_ended_with_cr && !s.is_empty() && s[0] == b'\n' {
             buffer += 1;
         }
         self.last_buffer_ended_with_cr = false;
 
         if let Some(ref delimiter) = self.options.extension.front_matter_delimiter {
+            // TODO: re2c
             let front_matter_pattern = RegexBuilder::new(&format!(
                 "\\A(?:\u{feff})?{delim}\\r?\\n.*^{delim}\\r?\\n(?:\\r?\\n)?",
                 delim = regex::escape(delimiter)
@@ -633,10 +634,13 @@ impl<'a, 'o, 'c> Parser<'a, 'o, 'c> {
             .dot_matches_new_line(true)
             .build()
             .unwrap();
-            if let Some(front_matter_size) = front_matter_pattern.shortest_match(&s[buffer..]) {
+
+            // We've only advanced `s` past a \n; we are valid UTF-8.
+            let buffer_to_check = unsafe { str::from_utf8_unchecked(&s[buffer..]) };
+            if let Some(front_matter_size) = front_matter_pattern.shortest_match(buffer_to_check) {
                 let node = self.add_child(
                     self.root,
-                    NodeValue::FrontMatter(s[buffer..buffer + front_matter_size].to_vec()),
+                    NodeValue::FrontMatter(buffer_to_check[..front_matter_size].to_string()),
                 );
                 buffer += front_matter_size;
                 self.finalize(node).unwrap();
@@ -666,18 +670,16 @@ impl<'a, 'o, 'c> Parser<'a, 'o, 'c> {
             if process {
                 if !linebuf.is_empty() {
                     linebuf.extend_from_slice(&s[buffer..eol]);
-                    self.process_line(&linebuf);
+                    self.process_line(linebuf);
                     linebuf.truncate(0);
                 } else {
                     self.process_line(&s[buffer..eol]);
                 }
+            } else if eol < end && s[eol] == b'\0' {
+                linebuf.extend_from_slice(&s[buffer..eol]);
+                linebuf.extend_from_slice(&"\u{fffd}".to_string().into_bytes());
             } else {
-                if eol < end && s[eol] == b'\0' {
-                    linebuf.extend_from_slice(&s[buffer..eol]);
-                    linebuf.extend_from_slice(&"\u{fffd}".to_string().into_bytes());
-                } else {
-                    linebuf.extend_from_slice(&s[buffer..eol]);
-                }
+                linebuf.extend_from_slice(&s[buffer..eol]);
             }
 
             buffer = eol;
@@ -800,7 +802,7 @@ impl<'a, 'o, 'c> Parser<'a, 'o, 'c> {
 
         if self.line_number == 0
             && line.len() >= 3
-            && unsafe { str::from_utf8_unchecked(line) }.starts_with("\u{feff}")
+            && unsafe { str::from_utf8_unchecked(line) }.starts_with('\u{feff}')
         {
             self.offset += 3;
         }
@@ -931,7 +933,7 @@ impl<'a, 'o, 'c> Parser<'a, 'o, 'c> {
                 if strings::is_space_or_tab(line[self.offset]) {
                     self.advance_offset(line, 1, true);
                 }
-                *container = self.add_child(*container, NodeValue::BlockQuote);
+                *container = self.add_child(container, NodeValue::BlockQuote);
             } else if !indented
                 && unwrap_into(
                     scanners::atx_heading_start(&line[self.first_nonspace..]),
@@ -941,7 +943,7 @@ impl<'a, 'o, 'c> Parser<'a, 'o, 'c> {
                 let heading_startpos = self.first_nonspace;
                 let offset = self.offset;
                 self.advance_offset(line, heading_startpos + matched - offset, false);
-                *container = self.add_child(*container, NodeValue::Heading(NodeHeading::default()));
+                *container = self.add_child(container, NodeValue::Heading(NodeHeading::default()));
 
                 let mut hashpos = line[self.first_nonspace..]
                     .iter()
@@ -971,10 +973,10 @@ impl<'a, 'o, 'c> Parser<'a, 'o, 'c> {
                     fence_char: line[first_nonspace],
                     fence_length: matched,
                     fence_offset: first_nonspace - offset,
-                    info: Vec::with_capacity(10),
-                    literal: Vec::new(),
+                    info: String::with_capacity(10),
+                    literal: String::new(),
                 };
-                *container = self.add_child(*container, NodeValue::CodeBlock(ncb));
+                *container = self.add_child(container, NodeValue::CodeBlock(ncb));
                 self.advance_offset(line, first_nonspace + matched - offset, false);
             } else if !indented
                 && (unwrap_into(
@@ -988,10 +990,10 @@ impl<'a, 'o, 'c> Parser<'a, 'o, 'c> {
             {
                 let nhb = NodeHtmlBlock {
                     block_type: matched as u8,
-                    literal: Vec::new(),
+                    literal: String::new(),
                 };
 
-                *container = self.add_child(*container, NodeValue::HtmlBlock(nhb));
+                *container = self.add_child(container, NodeValue::HtmlBlock(nhb));
             } else if !indented
                 && node_matches!(container, NodeValue::Paragraph)
                 && unwrap_into(
@@ -1022,7 +1024,7 @@ impl<'a, 'o, 'c> Parser<'a, 'o, 'c> {
                 && self.thematic_break_kill_pos <= self.first_nonspace
                 && unwrap_into(self.scan_thematic_break(line), &mut matched)
             {
-                *container = self.add_child(*container, NodeValue::ThematicBreak);
+                *container = self.add_child(container, NodeValue::ThematicBreak);
                 let adv = line.len() - 1 - self.offset;
                 self.advance_offset(line, adv, false);
             } else if !indented
@@ -1036,7 +1038,10 @@ impl<'a, 'o, 'c> Parser<'a, 'o, 'c> {
                 c = c.split(|&e| e == b']').next().unwrap();
                 let offset = self.first_nonspace + matched - self.offset;
                 self.advance_offset(line, offset, false);
-                *container = self.add_child(*container, NodeValue::FootnoteDefinition(c.to_vec()));
+                *container = self.add_child(
+                    container,
+                    NodeValue::FootnoteDefinition(str::from_utf8(c).unwrap().to_string()),
+                );
             } else if !indented
                 && self.options.extension.description_lists
                 && line[self.first_nonspace] == b':'
@@ -1070,7 +1075,7 @@ impl<'a, 'o, 'c> Parser<'a, 'o, 'c> {
                 }
 
                 let i = self.column - save_column;
-                if i >= 5 || i < 1 || strings::is_line_end_char(line[self.offset]) {
+                if !(1..5).contains(&i) || strings::is_line_end_char(line[self.offset]) {
                     nl.padding = matched + 1;
                     self.offset = save_offset;
                     self.column = save_column;
@@ -1088,10 +1093,10 @@ impl<'a, 'o, 'c> Parser<'a, 'o, 'c> {
                     NodeValue::List(ref mnl) => !lists_match(&nl, mnl),
                     _ => true,
                 } {
-                    *container = self.add_child(*container, NodeValue::List(nl));
+                    *container = self.add_child(container, NodeValue::List(nl));
                 }
 
-                *container = self.add_child(*container, NodeValue::Item(nl));
+                *container = self.add_child(container, NodeValue::Item(nl));
             } else if indented && !maybe_lazy && !self.blank {
                 self.advance_offset(line, CODE_INDENT, true);
                 let ncb = NodeCodeBlock {
@@ -1099,13 +1104,13 @@ impl<'a, 'o, 'c> Parser<'a, 'o, 'c> {
                     fence_char: 0,
                     fence_length: 0,
                     fence_offset: 0,
-                    info: vec![],
-                    literal: Vec::new(),
+                    info: String::new(),
+                    literal: String::new(),
                 };
-                *container = self.add_child(*container, NodeValue::CodeBlock(ncb));
+                *container = self.add_child(container, NodeValue::CodeBlock(ncb));
             } else {
                 let new_container = if !indented && self.options.extension.table {
-                    table::try_opening_block(self, *container, line)
+                    table::try_opening_block(self, container, line)
                 } else {
                     None
                 };
@@ -1454,11 +1459,12 @@ impl<'a, 'o, 'c> Parser<'a, 'o, 'c> {
             self.offset += 1;
             let chars_to_tab = TAB_STOP - (self.column % TAB_STOP);
             for _ in 0..chars_to_tab {
-                ast.content.push(b' ');
+                ast.content.push(' ');
             }
         }
         if self.offset < line.len() {
-            ast.content.extend_from_slice(&line[self.offset..]);
+            ast.content
+                .push_str(str::from_utf8(&line[self.offset..]).unwrap()); // TODO: try propagating &[u8] to &str up from here
         }
     }
 
@@ -1492,14 +1498,14 @@ impl<'a, 'o, 'c> Parser<'a, 'o, 'c> {
     }
 
     fn finalize(&mut self, node: &'a AstNode<'a>) -> Option<&'a AstNode<'a>> {
-        self.finalize_borrowed(node, &mut *node.data.borrow_mut())
+        self.finalize_borrowed(node, &mut node.data.borrow_mut())
     }
 
-    fn resolve_reference_link_definitions(&mut self, content: &mut Vec<u8>) -> bool {
+    fn resolve_reference_link_definitions(&mut self, content: &mut String) -> bool {
         let mut seeked = 0;
         {
             let mut pos = 0;
-            let mut seek: &[u8] = &*content;
+            let mut seek: &[u8] = content.as_bytes();
             while !seek.is_empty()
                 && seek[0] == b'['
                 && unwrap_into(self.parse_reference_inline(seek), &mut pos)
@@ -1510,10 +1516,10 @@ impl<'a, 'o, 'c> Parser<'a, 'o, 'c> {
         }
 
         if seeked != 0 {
-            *content = content[seeked..].to_vec();
+            *content = content[seeked..].to_string();
         }
 
-        !strings::is_blank(content)
+        !strings::is_blank(content.as_bytes())
     }
 
     fn finalize_borrowed(
@@ -1537,18 +1543,18 @@ impl<'a, 'o, 'c> Parser<'a, 'o, 'c> {
             NodeValue::CodeBlock(ref mut ncb) => {
                 if !ncb.fenced {
                     strings::remove_trailing_blank_lines(content);
-                    content.push(b'\n');
+                    content.push('\n');
                 } else {
                     let mut pos = 0;
                     while pos < content.len() {
-                        if strings::is_line_end_char(content[pos]) {
+                        if strings::is_line_end_char(content.as_bytes()[pos]) {
                             break;
                         }
                         pos += 1;
                     }
                     assert!(pos < content.len());
 
-                    let mut tmp = entity::unescape_html(&content[..pos]);
+                    let mut tmp = entity::unescape_html(&content.as_bytes()[..pos]);
                     strings::trim(&mut tmp);
                     strings::unescape(&mut tmp);
                     if tmp.is_empty() {
@@ -1557,19 +1563,19 @@ impl<'a, 'o, 'c> Parser<'a, 'o, 'c> {
                             .parse
                             .default_info_string
                             .as_ref()
-                            .map_or(vec![], |s| s.as_bytes().to_vec());
+                            .map_or(String::new(), |s| s.clone());
                     } else {
-                        ncb.info = tmp;
+                        ncb.info = String::from_utf8(tmp).unwrap();
                     }
 
-                    if content[pos] == b'\r' {
+                    if content.as_bytes()[pos] == b'\r' {
                         pos += 1;
                     }
-                    if content[pos] == b'\n' {
+                    if content.as_bytes()[pos] == b'\n' {
                         pos += 1;
                     }
 
-                    *content = content[pos..].to_vec();
+                    content.drain(..pos);
                 }
                 mem::swap(&mut ncb.literal, content);
             }
@@ -1625,7 +1631,7 @@ impl<'a, 'o, 'c> Parser<'a, 'o, 'c> {
     fn parse_inlines(&mut self, node: &'a AstNode<'a>) {
         let delimiter_arena = Arena::new();
         let node_data = node.data.borrow();
-        let content = strings::rtrim_slice(&node_data.content);
+        let content = strings::rtrim_slice(node_data.content.as_bytes());
         let mut subj = inlines::Subject::new(
             self.arena,
             self.options,
@@ -1650,13 +1656,13 @@ impl<'a, 'o, 'c> Parser<'a, 'o, 'c> {
         Self::find_footnote_references(self.root, &mut map, &mut ix);
 
         if ix > 0 {
-            let mut v = map.into_iter().map(|(_, v)| v).collect::<Vec<_>>();
+            let mut v = map.into_values().collect::<Vec<_>>();
             v.sort_unstable_by(|a, b| a.ix.cmp(&b.ix));
             for f in v {
-                if f.ix.is_some() {
+                if let Some(ix) = f.ix {
                     match f.node.data.borrow_mut().value {
                         NodeValue::FootnoteDefinition(ref mut name) => {
-                            *name = format!("{}", f.ix.unwrap()).into_bytes();
+                            *name = format!("{}", ix);
                         }
                         _ => unreachable!(),
                     }
@@ -1668,7 +1674,7 @@ impl<'a, 'o, 'c> Parser<'a, 'o, 'c> {
 
     fn find_footnote_definitions(
         node: &'a AstNode<'a>,
-        map: &mut HashMap<Vec<u8>, FootnoteDefinition<'a>>,
+        map: &mut HashMap<String, FootnoteDefinition<'a>>,
     ) {
         match node.data.borrow().value {
             NodeValue::FootnoteDefinition(ref name) => {
@@ -1688,35 +1694,37 @@ impl<'a, 'o, 'c> Parser<'a, 'o, 'c> {
 
     fn find_footnote_references(
         node: &'a AstNode<'a>,
-        map: &mut HashMap<Vec<u8>, FootnoteDefinition>,
-        ix: &mut u32,
+        map: &mut HashMap<String, FootnoteDefinition>,
+        ixp: &mut u32,
     ) {
         let mut ast = node.data.borrow_mut();
         let mut replace = None;
         match ast.value {
             NodeValue::FootnoteReference(ref mut name) => {
                 if let Some(ref mut footnote) = map.get_mut(name) {
-                    if footnote.ix.is_none() {
-                        *ix += 1;
-                        footnote.ix = Some(*ix);
-                    }
-                    *name = format!("{}", footnote.ix.unwrap()).into_bytes();
+                    let ix = match footnote.ix {
+                        Some(ix) => ix,
+                        None => {
+                            *ixp += 1;
+                            footnote.ix = Some(*ixp);
+                            *ixp
+                        }
+                    };
+                    *name = format!("{}", ix);
                 } else {
                     replace = Some(name.clone());
                 }
             }
             _ => {
                 for n in node.children() {
-                    Self::find_footnote_references(n, map, ix);
+                    Self::find_footnote_references(n, map, ixp);
                 }
             }
         }
 
         if let Some(mut label) = replace {
-            label.insert(0, b'[');
-            label.insert(1, b'^');
-            let len = label.len();
-            label.insert(len, b']');
+            label.insert_str(0, "[^");
+            label.push(']');
             ast.value = NodeValue::Text(label);
         }
     }
@@ -1745,7 +1753,7 @@ impl<'a, 'o, 'c> Parser<'a, 'o, 'c> {
 
                             match ns.data.borrow().value {
                                 NodeValue::Text(ref adj) => {
-                                    root.extend_from_slice(adj);
+                                    root.push_str(adj);
                                     ns.detach();
                                 }
                                 _ => {
@@ -1776,7 +1784,7 @@ impl<'a, 'o, 'c> Parser<'a, 'o, 'c> {
         }
     }
 
-    fn postprocess_text_node(&mut self, node: &'a AstNode<'a>, text: &mut Vec<u8>) {
+    fn postprocess_text_node(&mut self, node: &'a AstNode<'a>, text: &mut String) {
         if self.options.extension.tasklist {
             self.process_tasklist(node, text);
         }
@@ -1786,16 +1794,20 @@ impl<'a, 'o, 'c> Parser<'a, 'o, 'c> {
         }
     }
 
-    fn process_tasklist(&mut self, node: &'a AstNode<'a>, text: &mut Vec<u8>) {
+    fn process_tasklist(&mut self, node: &'a AstNode<'a>, text: &mut String) {
+        // TODO: re2c
         static TASKLIST: OnceCell<Regex> = OnceCell::new();
         let r = TASKLIST.get_or_init(|| Regex::new(r"\A(\s*\[(.)\])(?:\z|\s)").unwrap());
 
         let (symbol, end) = match r.captures(text) {
             None => return,
-            Some(c) => (c.get(2).unwrap().as_bytes()[0], c.get(0).unwrap().end()),
+            Some(c) => (c.get(2).unwrap().as_str(), c.get(0).unwrap().end()),
         };
 
-        if !self.options.parse.relaxed_tasklist_matching && !matches!(symbol, b' ' | b'x' | b'X') {
+        assert!(symbol.len() == 1);
+        let symbol = symbol.chars().next().unwrap();
+
+        if !self.options.parse.relaxed_tasklist_matching && !matches!(symbol, ' ' | 'x' | 'X') {
             return;
         }
 
@@ -1812,12 +1824,12 @@ impl<'a, 'o, 'c> Parser<'a, 'o, 'c> {
             return;
         }
 
-        *text = text[end..].to_vec();
+        text.drain(..end);
+
         let checkbox = inlines::make_inline(
             self.arena,
             NodeValue::TaskItem {
-                checked: symbol != b' ',
-                symbol: symbol,
+                symbol: if symbol == ' ' { None } else { Some(symbol) },
             },
         );
         node.insert_before(checkbox);
@@ -1836,17 +1848,10 @@ impl<'a, 'o, 'c> Parser<'a, 'o, 'c> {
             self.callback.as_mut(),
         );
 
-        let mut lab: Vec<u8> = match subj.link_label() {
-            Some(lab) => {
-                if lab.is_empty() {
-                    return None;
-                } else {
-                    lab
-                }
-            }
-            None => return None,
-        }
-        .to_vec();
+        let mut lab: String = match subj.link_label() {
+            Some(lab) if !lab.is_empty() => lab.to_string(),
+            _ => return None,
+        };
 
         if subj.peek_char() != Some(&(b':')) {
             return None;
@@ -1894,9 +1899,9 @@ impl<'a, 'o, 'c> Parser<'a, 'o, 'c> {
 
         lab = strings::normalize_label(&lab);
         if !lab.is_empty() {
-            subj.refmap.map.entry(lab.to_vec()).or_insert(Reference {
-                url: strings::clean_url(&url),
-                title: strings::clean_title(&title),
+            subj.refmap.map.entry(lab).or_insert(Reference {
+                url: String::from_utf8(strings::clean_url(url)).unwrap(),
+                title: String::from_utf8(strings::clean_title(&title)).unwrap(),
             });
         }
         Some(subj.pos)
@@ -2054,23 +2059,19 @@ fn reopen_ast_nodes<'a>(mut ast: &'a AstNode<'a>) {
 
 #[derive(Debug, Clone, Copy, PartialEq, Eq)]
 pub enum AutolinkType {
-    URI,
+    Uri,
     Email,
 }
 
 #[derive(Debug, Clone, Copy)]
 /// Options for bulleted list redering in markdown. See `link_style` in [ComrakRenderOptions] for more details.
+#[derive(Default)]
 pub enum ListStyleType {
     /// The `-` character
+    #[default]
     Dash = 45,
     /// The `+` character
     Plus = 43,
     /// The `*` character
     Star = 42,
 }
-
-impl Default for ListStyleType {
-    fn default() -> Self {
-        ListStyleType::Dash
-    }
-}
diff --git a/src/parser/table.rs b/src/parser/table.rs
index 8f28b575..2700aafb 100644
--- a/src/parser/table.rs
+++ b/src/parser/table.rs
@@ -7,8 +7,8 @@ use crate::strings::trim;
 use std::cell::RefCell;
 use std::cmp::min;
 
-pub fn try_opening_block<'a, 'o, 'c>(
-    parser: &mut Parser<'a, 'o, 'c>,
+pub fn try_opening_block<'a>(
+    parser: &mut Parser<'a, '_, '_>,
     container: &'a AstNode<'a>,
     line: &[u8],
 ) -> Option<(&'a AstNode<'a>, bool, bool)> {
@@ -24,8 +24,8 @@ pub fn try_opening_block<'a, 'o, 'c>(
     }
 }
 
-fn try_opening_header<'a, 'o, 'c>(
-    parser: &mut Parser<'a, 'o, 'c>,
+fn try_opening_header<'a>(
+    parser: &mut Parser<'a, '_, '_>,
     container: &'a AstNode<'a>,
     line: &[u8],
 ) -> Option<(&'a AstNode<'a>, bool, bool)> {
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ fn try_opening_header<'a, 'o, 'c>(
 
     let marker_row = row(&line[parser.first_nonspace..]).unwrap();
 
-    let header_row = match row(&container.data.borrow().content) {
+    let header_row = match row(container.data.borrow().content.as_bytes()) {
         Some(header_row) => header_row,
         None => return Some((container, false, true)),
     };
@@ -52,13 +52,14 @@ fn try_opening_header<'a, 'o, 'c>(
         try_inserting_table_header_paragraph(
             parser,
             container,
-            &container.data.borrow().content,
+            container.data.borrow().content.as_bytes(),
             header_row.paragraph_offset,
         );
     }
 
     let mut alignments = vec![];
     for cell in marker_row.cells {
+        let cell = cell.as_bytes();
         let left = !cell.is_empty() && cell[0] == b':';
         let right = !cell.is_empty() && cell[cell.len() - 1] == b':';
         alignments.push(if left && right {
@@ -89,8 +90,8 @@ fn try_opening_header<'a, 'o, 'c>(
     Some((table, true, false))
 }
 
-fn try_opening_row<'a, 'o, 'c>(
-    parser: &mut Parser<'a, 'o, 'c>,
+fn try_opening_row<'a>(
+    parser: &mut Parser<'a, '_, '_>,
     container: &'a AstNode<'a>,
     alignments: &[TableAlignment],
     line: &[u8],
@@ -121,7 +122,7 @@ fn try_opening_row<'a, 'o, 'c>(
 
 struct Row {
     paragraph_offset: usize,
-    cells: Vec<Vec<u8>>,
+    cells: Vec<String>,
 }
 
 fn row(string: &[u8]) -> Option<Row> {
@@ -140,7 +141,7 @@ fn row(string: &[u8]) -> Option<Row> {
         if cell_matched > 0 || pipe_matched > 0 {
             let mut cell = unescape_pipes(&string[offset..offset + cell_matched]);
             trim(&mut cell);
-            cells.push(cell);
+            cells.push(String::from_utf8(cell).unwrap());
         }
 
         offset += cell_matched + pipe_matched;
@@ -172,8 +173,8 @@ fn row(string: &[u8]) -> Option<Row> {
     }
 }
 
-fn try_inserting_table_header_paragraph<'a, 'o, 'c>(
-    parser: &mut Parser<'a, 'o, 'c>,
+fn try_inserting_table_header_paragraph<'a>(
+    parser: &mut Parser<'a, '_, '_>,
     container: &'a AstNode<'a>,
     parent_string: &[u8],
     paragraph_offset: usize,
@@ -181,14 +182,14 @@ fn try_inserting_table_header_paragraph<'a, 'o, 'c>(
     let mut paragraph_content = unescape_pipes(&parent_string[..paragraph_offset]);
     trim(&mut paragraph_content);
 
-    if !container.parent().is_some()
+    if container.parent().is_none()
         || !nodes::can_contain_type(container.parent().unwrap(), &NodeValue::Paragraph)
     {
         return;
     }
 
     let mut paragraph = Ast::new(NodeValue::Paragraph);
-    paragraph.content = paragraph_content;
+    paragraph.content = String::from_utf8(paragraph_content).unwrap();
     let node = parser.arena.alloc(Node::new(RefCell::new(paragraph)));
     container.insert_before(node);
 }
diff --git a/src/plugins/syntect.rs b/src/plugins/syntect.rs
index 4854433f..7f297054 100644
--- a/src/plugins/syntect.rs
+++ b/src/plugins/syntect.rs
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ impl<'a> SyntectAdapter<'a> {
     /// Construct a new `SyntectAdapter` object and set the syntax highlighting theme.
     pub fn new(theme: &'a str) -> Self {
         SyntectAdapter {
-            theme: &theme,
+            theme,
             syntax_set: SyntaxSet::load_defaults_newlines(),
             theme_set: ThemeSet::load_defaults(),
         }
diff --git a/src/scanners.re b/src/scanners.re
index 7cd21a34..79846c29 100644
--- a/src/scanners.re
+++ b/src/scanners.re
@@ -1,6 +1,3 @@
-// TODO: consider dropping all the #[inline(always)], we probably don't know
-// better than rustc.
-
 /*!re2c
     re2c:case-insensitive    = 1;
     re2c:encoding:utf8       = 1;
diff --git a/src/scanners.rs b/src/scanners.rs
index cd8f510e..50b3b9c8 100644
--- a/src/scanners.rs
+++ b/src/scanners.rs
@@ -1,6 +1,4 @@
 /* Generated by re2c 3.0 */
-// TODO: consider dropping all the #[inline(always)], we probably don't know
-// better than rustc.
 
 pub fn atx_heading_start(s: &[u8]) -> Option<usize> {
     let mut cursor = 0;
diff --git a/src/strings.rs b/src/strings.rs
index f11b1eb9..41a0371d 100644
--- a/src/strings.rs
+++ b/src/strings.rs
@@ -81,10 +81,11 @@ pub fn normalize_code(v: &[u8]) -> Vec<u8> {
     r
 }
 
-pub fn remove_trailing_blank_lines(line: &mut Vec<u8>) {
+pub fn remove_trailing_blank_lines(line: &mut String) {
+    let line_bytes = line.as_bytes();
     let mut i = line.len() - 1;
     loop {
-        let c = line[i];
+        let c = line_bytes[i];
 
         if c != b' ' && c != b'\t' && !is_line_end_char(c) {
             break;
@@ -98,10 +99,8 @@ pub fn remove_trailing_blank_lines(line: &mut Vec<u8>) {
         i -= 1;
     }
 
-    for i in i..line.len() {
-        let c = line[i];
-
-        if !is_line_end_char(c) {
+    for (i, c) in line_bytes.iter().enumerate().take(line.len()).skip(i) {
+        if !is_line_end_char(*c) {
             continue;
         }
 
@@ -240,11 +239,14 @@ pub fn is_blank(s: &[u8]) -> bool {
     true
 }
 
-pub fn normalize_label(i: &[u8]) -> Vec<u8> {
-    let i = trim_slice(i);
+pub fn normalize_label(i: &str) -> String {
+    // trim_slice only removes bytes from start and end that match isspace();
+    // result is UTF-8.
+    let i = unsafe { str::from_utf8_unchecked(trim_slice(i.as_bytes())) };
+
     let mut v = String::with_capacity(i.len());
     let mut last_was_whitespace = false;
-    for c in unsafe { str::from_utf8_unchecked(i) }.chars() {
+    for c in i.chars() {
         for e in c.to_lowercase() {
             if e.is_whitespace() {
                 if !last_was_whitespace {
@@ -257,7 +259,7 @@ pub fn normalize_label(i: &[u8]) -> Vec<u8> {
             }
         }
     }
-    v.into_bytes()
+    v
 }
 
 #[cfg(feature = "syntect")]
diff --git a/src/tests.rs b/src/tests.rs
index 03c3475a..d725e70b 100644
--- a/src/tests.rs
+++ b/src/tests.rs
@@ -80,7 +80,7 @@ fn commonmark(input: &str, expected: &str, opts: Option<&ComrakOptions>) {
 
     let root = parse_document(&arena, input, options);
     let mut output = vec![];
-    cm::format_document(root, &options, &mut output).unwrap();
+    cm::format_document(root, options, &mut output).unwrap();
     compare_strs(&String::from_utf8(output).unwrap(), expected, "regular");
 }
 
@@ -132,14 +132,14 @@ fn html_plugins(input: &str, expected: &str, plugins: &ComrakPlugins) {
 
     let root = parse_document(&arena, input, &options);
     let mut output = vec![];
-    html::format_document_with_plugins(root, &options, &mut output, &plugins).unwrap();
+    html::format_document_with_plugins(root, &options, &mut output, plugins).unwrap();
     compare_strs(&String::from_utf8(output).unwrap(), expected, "regular");
 
     let mut md = vec![];
     cm::format_document(root, &options, &mut md).unwrap();
     let root = parse_document(&arena, &String::from_utf8(md).unwrap(), &options);
     let mut output_from_rt = vec![];
-    html::format_document_with_plugins(root, &options, &mut output_from_rt, &plugins).unwrap();
+    html::format_document_with_plugins(root, &options, &mut output_from_rt, plugins).unwrap();
     compare_strs(
         &String::from_utf8(output_from_rt).unwrap(),
         expected,
@@ -564,13 +564,13 @@ fn backticks_num() {
 
     let code1 = NodeValue::Code(NodeCode {
         num_backticks: 1,
-        literal: b"code1".to_vec(),
+        literal: "code1".to_string(),
     });
     asssert_node_eq(root, &[0, 1], &code1);
 
     let code2 = NodeValue::Code(NodeCode {
         num_backticks: 3,
-        literal: b"code2".to_vec(),
+        literal: "code2".to_string(),
     });
     asssert_node_eq(root, &[0, 3], &code2);
 }
@@ -1247,7 +1247,7 @@ fn nested_tables_3() {
 
 #[test]
 fn no_stack_smash_html() {
-    let s: String = ::std::iter::repeat('>').take(150_000).collect();
+    let s: String = ">".repeat(150_000);
     let arena = Arena::new();
     let root = parse_document(&arena, &s, &ComrakOptions::default());
     let mut output = vec![];
@@ -1256,7 +1256,7 @@ fn no_stack_smash_html() {
 
 #[test]
 fn no_stack_smash_cm() {
-    let s: String = ::std::iter::repeat('>').take(150_000).collect();
+    let s: String = ">".repeat(150_000);
     let arena = Arena::new();
     let root = parse_document(&arena, &s, &ComrakOptions::default());
     let mut output = vec![];
@@ -1420,7 +1420,7 @@ fn exercise_full_api<'a>() {
         &arena,
         "document",
         &default_options,
-        Some(&mut |_: &[u8]| Some((b"abc".to_vec(), b"xyz".to_vec()))),
+        Some(&mut |_: &str| Some(("abc".to_string(), "xyz".to_string()))),
     );
 
     let _ = ComrakOptions {
@@ -1457,15 +1457,15 @@ fn exercise_full_api<'a>() {
     pub struct MockAdapter {}
     impl SyntaxHighlighterAdapter for MockAdapter {
         fn highlight(&self, lang: Option<&str>, code: &str) -> String {
-            String::from(format!("{}{}", lang.unwrap(), code))
+            format!("{}{}", lang.unwrap(), code)
         }
 
         fn build_pre_tag(&self, attributes: &HashMap<String, String>) -> String {
-            build_opening_tag("pre", &attributes)
+            build_opening_tag("pre", attributes)
         }
 
         fn build_code_tag(&self, attributes: &HashMap<String, String>) -> String {
-            build_opening_tag("code", &attributes)
+            build_opening_tag("code", attributes)
         }
     }
 
@@ -1519,11 +1519,11 @@ fn exercise_full_api<'a>() {
             let _: bool = ncb.fenced;
             let _: u8 = ncb.fence_char;
             let _: usize = ncb.fence_length;
-            let _: Vec<u8> = ncb.info;
-            let _: Vec<u8> = ncb.literal;
+            let _: String = ncb.info;
+            let _: String = ncb.literal;
         }
         nodes::NodeValue::HtmlBlock(nhb) => {
-            let _: Vec<u8> = nhb.literal;
+            let _: String = nhb.literal;
         }
         nodes::NodeValue::Paragraph => {}
         nodes::NodeValue::Heading(nh) => {
@@ -1532,7 +1532,7 @@ fn exercise_full_api<'a>() {
         }
         nodes::NodeValue::ThematicBreak => {}
         nodes::NodeValue::FootnoteDefinition(name) => {
-            let _: &Vec<u8> = name;
+            let _: &String = name;
         }
         nodes::NodeValue::Table(aligns) => {
             let _: &Vec<nodes::TableAlignment> = aligns;
@@ -1548,35 +1548,34 @@ fn exercise_full_api<'a>() {
         }
         nodes::NodeValue::TableCell => {}
         nodes::NodeValue::Text(text) => {
-            let _: &Vec<u8> = text;
+            let _: &String = text;
         }
-        nodes::NodeValue::TaskItem { checked, symbol } => {
-            let _: &bool = checked;
-            let _: &u8 = symbol;
+        nodes::NodeValue::TaskItem { symbol } => {
+            let _: &Option<char> = symbol;
         }
         nodes::NodeValue::SoftBreak => {}
         nodes::NodeValue::LineBreak => {}
         nodes::NodeValue::Code(code) => {
             let _: usize = code.num_backticks;
-            let _: Vec<u8> = code.literal;
+            let _: String = code.literal;
         }
         nodes::NodeValue::HtmlInline(html) => {
-            let _: &Vec<u8> = html;
+            let _: &String = html;
         }
         nodes::NodeValue::Emph => {}
         nodes::NodeValue::Strong => {}
         nodes::NodeValue::Strikethrough => {}
         nodes::NodeValue::Superscript => {}
         nodes::NodeValue::Link(nl) | nodes::NodeValue::Image(nl) => {
-            let _: Vec<u8> = nl.url;
-            let _: Vec<u8> = nl.title;
+            let _: String = nl.url;
+            let _: String = nl.title;
         }
         #[cfg(feature = "shortcodes")]
         nodes::NodeValue::ShortCode(ne) => {
             let _: Option<String> = ne.shortcode();
         }
         nodes::NodeValue::FootnoteReference(name) => {
-            let _: &Vec<u8> = name;
+            let _: &String = name;
         }
     }
 }