diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 1fa3b0ec..2932d7f1 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -1,3 +1,9 @@
+Version 60:
+
+* String comparisons are public interfaces
+
+--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
 Version 59:
 
 * Integrated Beast INTERFACE (cmake)
diff --git a/doc/quickref.xml b/doc/quickref.xml
index 04edf9d5..3216d575 100644
--- a/doc/quickref.xml
+++ b/doc/quickref.xml
@@ -142,10 +142,10 @@
     <colspec colname="e"/>
     <thead>
       <row>
-        <entry valign="center" namest="a" nameend="d">
+        <entry valign="center" namest="a" nameend="e">
           <bridgehead renderas="sect2">Core</bridgehead>
         </entry>
-        <entry valign="center" namest="e" nameend="e">
+        <entry valign="center" namest="f" nameend="f">
           <bridgehead renderas="sect2">ZLib</bridgehead>
         </entry>
       </row>
@@ -169,10 +169,17 @@
             <member><link linkend="beast.ref.beast__error_category">error_category</link></member>
             <member><link linkend="beast.ref.beast__error_code">error_code</link></member>
             <member><link linkend="beast.ref.beast__error_condition">error_condition</link></member>
+          </simplelist>
+        </entry>
+        <entry valign="top">
+          <bridgehead renderas="sect3">&nbsp;</bridgehead>
+          <simplelist type="vert" columns="1">
             <member><link linkend="beast.ref.beast__flat_buffer">flat_buffer</link></member>
             <member><link linkend="beast.ref.beast__handler_alloc">handler_alloc</link></member>
             <member><link linkend="beast.ref.beast__handler_ptr">handler_ptr</link></member>
             <member><link linkend="beast.ref.beast__handler_type">handler_type</link></member>
+            <member><link linkend="beast.ref.beast__iequal">iequal</link></member>
+            <member><link linkend="beast.ref.beast__iless">iless</link></member>
             <member><link linkend="beast.ref.beast__multi_buffer">multi_buffer</link></member>
             <member><link linkend="beast.ref.beast__static_buffer">static_buffer</link></member>
             <member><link linkend="beast.ref.beast__static_buffer_n">static_buffer_n</link></member>
@@ -189,6 +196,7 @@
             <member><link linkend="beast.ref.beast__buffer_cat">buffer_cat</link></member>
             <member><link linkend="beast.ref.beast__buffer_prefix">buffer_prefix</link></member>
             <member><link linkend="beast.ref.beast__buffers">buffers</link></member>
+            <member><link linkend="beast.ref.beast__iequals">iequals</link></member>
             <member><link linkend="beast.ref.beast__ostream">ostream</link></member>
             <member><link linkend="beast.ref.beast__read_size">read_size</link></member>
             <member><link linkend="beast.ref.beast__read_size_or_throw">read_size_or_throw</link></member>
diff --git a/example/http-server/mime_type.hpp b/example/http-server/mime_type.hpp
index 07e7c437..ac9e38b4 100644
--- a/example/http-server/mime_type.hpp
+++ b/example/http-server/mime_type.hpp
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@
 #ifndef BEAST_EXAMPLE_HTTP_MIME_TYPE_H_INCLUDED
 #define BEAST_EXAMPLE_HTTP_MIME_TYPE_H_INCLUDED
 
-#include <beast/core/string_view.hpp>
+#include <beast/core/string.hpp>
 #include <boost/filesystem/path.hpp>
 #include <string>
 
diff --git a/extras/beast/test/pipe_stream.hpp b/extras/beast/test/pipe_stream.hpp
index bcabec45..8d1a019f 100644
--- a/extras/beast/test/pipe_stream.hpp
+++ b/extras/beast/test/pipe_stream.hpp
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@
 #include <beast/core/async_result.hpp>
 #include <beast/core/bind_handler.hpp>
 #include <beast/core/flat_buffer.hpp>
-#include <beast/core/string_view.hpp>
+#include <beast/core/string.hpp>
 #include <beast/core/type_traits.hpp>
 #include <beast/websocket/teardown.hpp>
 #include <beast/test/fail_counter.hpp>
diff --git a/include/beast/core.hpp b/include/beast/core.hpp
index b4b6f862..2960e542 100644
--- a/include/beast/core.hpp
+++ b/include/beast/core.hpp
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@
 #include <beast/core/static_buffer.hpp>
 #include <beast/core/static_string.hpp>
 #include <beast/core/string_param.hpp>
-#include <beast/core/string_view.hpp>
+#include <beast/core/string.hpp>
 #include <beast/core/type_traits.hpp>
 
 #endif
diff --git a/include/beast/core/detail/ci_char_traits.hpp b/include/beast/core/detail/ci_char_traits.hpp
deleted file mode 100644
index da8bc3cd..00000000
--- a/include/beast/core/detail/ci_char_traits.hpp
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,105 +0,0 @@
-//
-// Copyright (c) 2013-2017 Vinnie Falco (vinnie dot falco at gmail dot com)
-//
-// Distributed under the Boost Software License, Version 1.0. (See accompanying
-// file LICENSE_1_0.txt or copy at http://www.boost.org/LICENSE_1_0.txt)
-//
-
-#ifndef BEAST_DETAIL_CI_CHAR_TRAITS_HPP
-#define BEAST_DETAIL_CI_CHAR_TRAITS_HPP
-
-#include <beast/core/string_view.hpp>
-#include <boost/range/algorithm/equal.hpp>
-
-namespace beast {
-namespace detail {
-
-inline
-char
-tolower(signed char c)
-{
-    static unsigned char constexpr tab[256] = {
-          0,   1,   2,   3,    4,   5,   6,   7,    8,   9,  10,  11,   12,  13,  14,  15,
-         16,  17,  18,  19,   20,  21,  22,  23,   24,  25,  26,  27,   28,  29,  30,  31,
-         32,  33,  34,  35,   36,  37,  38,  39,   40,  41,  42,  43,   44,  45,  46,  47,
-         48,  49,  50,  51,   52,  53,  54,  55,   56,  57,  58,  59,   60,  61,  62,  63,
-         64,  97,  98,  99,  100, 101, 102, 103,  104, 105, 106, 107,  108, 109, 110, 111,
-        112, 113, 114, 115,  116, 117, 118, 119,  120, 121, 122,  91,   92,  93,  94,  95,
-         96,  97,  98,  99,  100, 101, 102, 103,  104, 105, 106, 107,  108, 109, 110, 111,
-        112, 113, 114, 115,  116, 117, 118, 119,  120, 121, 122, 123,  124, 125, 126, 127,
-        128, 129, 130, 131,  132, 133, 134, 135,  136, 137, 138, 139,  140, 141, 142, 143,
-        144, 145, 146, 147,  148, 149, 150, 151,  152, 153, 154, 155,  156, 157, 158, 159,
-        160, 161, 162, 163,  164, 165, 166, 167,  168, 169, 170, 171,  172, 173, 174, 175,
-        176, 177, 178, 179,  180, 181, 182, 183,  184, 185, 186, 187,  188, 189, 190, 191,
-        192, 193, 194, 195,  196, 197, 198, 199,  200, 201, 202, 203,  204, 205, 206, 207,
-        208, 209, 210, 211,  212, 213, 214, 215,  216, 217, 218, 219,  220, 221, 222, 223,
-        224, 225, 226, 227,  228, 229, 230, 231,  232, 233, 234, 235,  236, 237, 238, 239,
-        240, 241, 242, 243,  244, 245, 246, 247,  248, 249, 250, 251,  252, 253, 254, 255
-    };
-    return static_cast<char>(
-        tab[static_cast<unsigned char>(c)]);
-}
-
-template<std::size_t N>
-inline
-string_view
-string_helper(const char (&s)[N])
-{
-    return string_view{s, N-1};
-}
-
-template<class T>
-inline
-T const&
-string_helper(T const& t)
-{
-    return t;
-}
-
-// Case-insensitive less
-struct ci_less
-{
-    static bool const is_transparent = true;
-
-    template<class S1, class S2>
-    bool
-    operator()(S1 const& lhs, S2 const& rhs) const noexcept
-    {
-        using std::begin;
-        using std::end;
-        auto const s1 = string_helper(lhs);
-        auto const s2 = string_helper(rhs);
-        return std::lexicographical_compare(
-            begin(s1), end(s1), begin(s2), end(s2),
-            [](char lhs, char rhs)
-            {
-                return tolower(lhs) < tolower(rhs);
-            }
-        );
-    }
-};
-
-// Case-insensitive equal
-struct ci_equal_pred
-{
-    bool
-    operator()(char c1, char c2) const noexcept
-    {
-        return tolower(c1) == tolower(c2);
-    }
-};
-
-// Case-insensitive equal
-template<class S1, class S2>
-bool
-ci_equal(S1 const& lhs, S2 const& rhs)
-{
-    return boost::range::equal(
-        string_helper(lhs), string_helper(rhs),
-            ci_equal_pred{});
-}
-
-} // detail
-} // beast
-
-#endif
diff --git a/include/beast/core/detail/static_string.hpp b/include/beast/core/detail/static_string.hpp
index a3e8b516..cb99fe94 100644
--- a/include/beast/core/detail/static_string.hpp
+++ b/include/beast/core/detail/static_string.hpp
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@
 #ifndef BEAST_DETAIL_STATIC_STRING_HPP
 #define BEAST_DETAIL_STATIC_STRING_HPP
 
-#include <beast/core/string_view.hpp>
+#include <beast/core/string.hpp>
 #include <iterator>
 #include <type_traits>
 
diff --git a/include/beast/core/static_string.hpp b/include/beast/core/static_string.hpp
index 8574fe03..fd324533 100644
--- a/include/beast/core/static_string.hpp
+++ b/include/beast/core/static_string.hpp
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@
 #define BEAST_STATIC_STRING_HPP
 
 #include <beast/config.hpp>
-#include <beast/core/string_view.hpp>
+#include <beast/core/string.hpp>
 #include <beast/core/detail/static_string.hpp>
 #include <algorithm>
 #include <cstdint>
diff --git a/include/beast/core/string.hpp b/include/beast/core/string.hpp
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..ca265de1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/include/beast/core/string.hpp
@@ -0,0 +1,104 @@
+//
+// Copyright (c) 2013-2017 Vinnie Falco (vinnie dot falco at gmail dot com)
+//
+// Distributed under the Boost Software License, Version 1.0. (See accompanying
+// file LICENSE_1_0.txt or copy at http://www.boost.org/LICENSE_1_0.txt)
+//
+
+#ifndef BEAST_STRING_HPP
+#define BEAST_STRING_HPP
+
+#include <boost/spirit/home/support/char_encoding/ascii.hpp>
+#include <boost/utility/string_ref.hpp>
+
+namespace beast {
+
+/// The type of string view used by the library
+using string_view = boost::string_ref;
+
+/// The type of basic string view used by the library
+template<class CharT, class Traits>
+using basic_string_view =
+    boost::basic_string_ref<CharT, Traits>;
+
+namespace detail {
+
+template<class = void>
+bool
+iequals(
+    beast::string_view const& lhs,
+    beast::string_view const& rhs)
+{
+    auto n = lhs.size();
+    if(rhs.size() != n)
+        return false;
+    auto p1 = lhs.data();
+    auto p2 = rhs.data();
+    using namespace boost::spirit::char_encoding;
+    while(n--)
+        if(ascii::tolower(*p1) != ascii::tolower(*p2))
+            return false;
+    return true;
+}
+
+} // detail
+
+/** Returns `true` if two strings are equal, using a case-insensitive comparison.
+
+    The case-comparison operation is defined only for low-ASCII characters.
+
+    @param lhs The string on the left side of the equality
+
+    @param rhs The string on the right side of the equality
+*/
+inline
+bool
+iequals(
+    beast::string_view const& lhs,
+    beast::string_view const& rhs)
+{
+    return detail::iequals(lhs, rhs);
+}
+
+/** A strictly less predicate for strings, using a case-insensitive comparison.
+
+    The case-comparison operation is defined only for low-ASCII characters.
+*/
+struct iless
+{
+    bool
+    operator()(
+        beast::string_view const& lhs,
+        beast::string_view const& rhs) const
+    {
+        using std::begin;
+        using std::end;
+        using namespace boost::spirit::char_encoding;
+        return std::lexicographical_compare(
+            begin(lhs), end(lhs), begin(rhs), end(rhs),
+            [](char lhs, char rhs)
+            {
+                return ascii::tolower(lhs) < ascii::tolower(rhs);
+            }
+        );
+    }
+};
+
+/** A predicate for string equality, using a case-insensitive comparison.
+
+    The case-comparison operation is defined only for low-ASCII characters.
+*/
+struct iequal
+{
+    bool
+    operator()(
+        beast::string_view const& lhs,
+        beast::string_view const& rhs) const
+    {
+        return iequals(lhs, rhs);
+    }
+};
+
+} // beast
+
+#endif
diff --git a/include/beast/core/string_param.hpp b/include/beast/core/string_param.hpp
index c71c5a6c..be16c54e 100644
--- a/include/beast/core/string_param.hpp
+++ b/include/beast/core/string_param.hpp
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@
 #define BEAST_STRING_PARAM_HPP
 
 #include <beast/config.hpp>
-#include <beast/core/string_view.hpp>
+#include <beast/core/string.hpp>
 #include <beast/core/detail/static_ostream.hpp>
 #include <beast/core/detail/type_traits.hpp>
 
diff --git a/include/beast/core/string_view.hpp b/include/beast/core/string_view.hpp
deleted file mode 100644
index f3bd7b1f..00000000
--- a/include/beast/core/string_view.hpp
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,25 +0,0 @@
-//
-// Copyright (c) 2013-2017 Vinnie Falco (vinnie dot falco at gmail dot com)
-//
-// Distributed under the Boost Software License, Version 1.0. (See accompanying
-// file LICENSE_1_0.txt or copy at http://www.boost.org/LICENSE_1_0.txt)
-//
-
-#ifndef BEAST_STRING_VIEW_HPP
-#define BEAST_STRING_VIEW_HPP
-
-#include <boost/utility/string_ref.hpp>
-
-namespace beast {
-
-/// The type of string view used by the library
-using string_view = boost::string_ref;
-
-/// The type of basic string view used by the library
-template<class CharT, class Traits>
-using basic_string_view =
-    boost::basic_string_ref<CharT, Traits>;
-
-} // beast
-
-#endif
diff --git a/include/beast/http/basic_parser.hpp b/include/beast/http/basic_parser.hpp
index 79612c64..672de3c1 100644
--- a/include/beast/http/basic_parser.hpp
+++ b/include/beast/http/basic_parser.hpp
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@
 
 #include <beast/config.hpp>
 #include <beast/core/error.hpp>
-#include <beast/core/string_view.hpp>
+#include <beast/core/string.hpp>
 #include <beast/http/field.hpp>
 #include <beast/http/verb.hpp>
 #include <beast/http/detail/basic_parser.hpp>
diff --git a/include/beast/http/detail/basic_parsed_list.hpp b/include/beast/http/detail/basic_parsed_list.hpp
index 4026e158..98f9acae 100644
--- a/include/beast/http/detail/basic_parsed_list.hpp
+++ b/include/beast/http/detail/basic_parsed_list.hpp
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@
 #ifndef BEAST_HTTP_DETAIL_BASIC_PARSED_LIST_HPP
 #define BEAST_HTTP_DETAIL_BASIC_PARSED_LIST_HPP
 
-#include <beast/core/string_view.hpp>
+#include <beast/core/string.hpp>
 #include <beast/core/detail/empty_base_optimization.hpp>
 #include <cstddef>
 #include <iterator>
diff --git a/include/beast/http/detail/basic_parser.hpp b/include/beast/http/detail/basic_parser.hpp
index beabf2ea..dd9018f9 100644
--- a/include/beast/http/detail/basic_parser.hpp
+++ b/include/beast/http/detail/basic_parser.hpp
@@ -8,8 +8,7 @@
 #ifndef BEAST_HTTP_DETAIL_BASIC_PARSER_HPP
 #define BEAST_HTTP_DETAIL_BASIC_PARSER_HPP
 
-#include <beast/core/string_view.hpp>
-#include <beast/core/detail/ci_char_traits.hpp>
+#include <beast/core/string.hpp>
 #include <beast/http/error.hpp>
 #include <beast/http/detail/rfc7230.hpp>
 #include <boost/version.hpp>
diff --git a/include/beast/http/detail/rfc7230.hpp b/include/beast/http/detail/rfc7230.hpp
index b4d536e2..8a8d1f62 100644
--- a/include/beast/http/detail/rfc7230.hpp
+++ b/include/beast/http/detail/rfc7230.hpp
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@
 #ifndef BEAST_HTTP_DETAIL_RFC7230_HPP
 #define BEAST_HTTP_DETAIL_RFC7230_HPP
 
-#include <beast/core/string_view.hpp>
+#include <beast/core/string.hpp>
 #include <iterator>
 #include <utility>
 
diff --git a/include/beast/http/field.hpp b/include/beast/http/field.hpp
index 9dfafccb..62d6a3f7 100644
--- a/include/beast/http/field.hpp
+++ b/include/beast/http/field.hpp
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@
 #define BEAST_HTTP_FIELD_HPP
 
 #include <beast/config.hpp>
-#include <beast/core/string_view.hpp>
+#include <beast/core/string.hpp>
 #include <iosfwd>
 
 namespace beast {
diff --git a/include/beast/http/fields.hpp b/include/beast/http/fields.hpp
index 93489439..ffc12c8d 100644
--- a/include/beast/http/fields.hpp
+++ b/include/beast/http/fields.hpp
@@ -10,8 +10,7 @@
 
 #include <beast/config.hpp>
 #include <beast/core/string_param.hpp>
-#include <beast/core/string_view.hpp>
-#include <beast/core/detail/ci_char_traits.hpp>
+#include <beast/core/string.hpp>
 #include <beast/http/field.hpp>
 #include <boost/asio/buffer.hpp>
 #include <boost/intrusive/list.hpp>
@@ -94,15 +93,18 @@ public:
         value() const;
     };
 
-    /// A function that compares keys as LessThanComparable
-    struct key_compare : private beast::detail::ci_less
+    /** A strictly less predicate for comparing keys, using a case-insensitive comparison.
+
+        The case-comparison operation is defined only for low-ASCII characters.
+    */
+    struct key_compare : beast::iless
     {
         /// Returns `true` if lhs is less than rhs using a strict ordering
         template<class String>
         bool
         operator()(String const& lhs, value_type const& rhs) const
         {
-            return ci_less::operator()(lhs, rhs.name_string());
+            return iless::operator()(lhs, rhs.name_string());
         }
 
         /// Returns `true` if lhs is less than rhs using a strict ordering
@@ -110,15 +112,14 @@ public:
         bool
         operator()(value_type const& lhs, String const& rhs) const
         {
-            return ci_less::operator()(lhs.name_string(), rhs);
+            return iless::operator()(lhs.name_string(), rhs);
         }
 
         /// Returns `true` if lhs is less than rhs using a strict ordering
         bool
         operator()(value_type const& lhs, value_type const& rhs) const
         {
-            return ci_less::operator()(
-                lhs.name_string(), rhs.name_string());
+            return iless::operator()(lhs.name_string(), rhs.name_string());
         }
     };
 
@@ -546,6 +547,7 @@ public:
     //
     //--------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
+    /// Returns a copy of the key comparison function
     key_compare
     key_comp() const
     {
diff --git a/include/beast/http/impl/basic_parser.ipp b/include/beast/http/impl/basic_parser.ipp
index 18809c27..73bb48ea 100644
--- a/include/beast/http/impl/basic_parser.ipp
+++ b/include/beast/http/impl/basic_parser.ipp
@@ -10,7 +10,6 @@
 
 #include <beast/core/static_string.hpp>
 #include <beast/core/type_traits.hpp>
-#include <beast/core/detail/ci_char_traits.hpp>
 #include <beast/core/detail/clamp.hpp>
 #include <beast/http/error.hpp>
 #include <beast/http/rfc7230.hpp>
diff --git a/include/beast/http/impl/field.ipp b/include/beast/http/impl/field.ipp
index 8b4e3ae4..b2ddb48a 100644
--- a/include/beast/http/impl/field.ipp
+++ b/include/beast/http/impl/field.ipp
@@ -8,7 +8,6 @@
 #ifndef BEAST_HTTP_IMPL_FIELD_IPP
 #define BEAST_HTTP_IMPL_FIELD_IPP
 
-#include <beast/core/detail/ci_char_traits.hpp>
 #include <algorithm>
 #include <array>
 #include <boost/assert.hpp>
@@ -435,13 +434,13 @@ string_to_field(string_view s)
     auto const& v = get_field_strings();
     auto const it = std::lower_bound(
         v.begin(), v.end(), s,
-            beast::detail::ci_less{});
+            beast::iless{});
     if(it == v.end())
         return field::unknown;
-    if(! beast::detail::ci_equal(s, *it))
+    if(! iequals(s, *it))
         return field::unknown;
-    BOOST_ASSERT(beast::detail::ci_equal(s,
-        to_string(static_cast<field>(it - v.begin()))));
+    BOOST_ASSERT(iequals(s, to_string(
+        static_cast<field>(it - v.begin()))));
     return static_cast<field>(it - v.begin());
 }
 
diff --git a/include/beast/http/impl/fields.ipp b/include/beast/http/impl/fields.ipp
index ba2099f5..9493873f 100644
--- a/include/beast/http/impl/fields.ipp
+++ b/include/beast/http/impl/fields.ipp
@@ -10,7 +10,6 @@
 
 #include <beast/core/buffer_cat.hpp>
 #include <beast/core/static_string.hpp>
-#include <beast/core/detail/ci_char_traits.hpp>
 #include <beast/http/verb.hpp>
 #include <beast/http/rfc7230.hpp>
 #include <beast/http/status.hpp>
@@ -298,7 +297,7 @@ value_type(field name,
     , f_(name)
 {
     //BOOST_ASSERT(name == field::unknown ||
-    //    detail::ci_equal(sname, to_string(name)));
+    //    iequals(sname, to_string(name)));
     char* p = reinterpret_cast<char*>(this + 1);
     p[off_-2] = ':';
     p[off_-1] = ' ';
@@ -585,7 +584,7 @@ insert(field name,
     }
     auto const last = std::prev(before);
     // VFALCO is it worth comparing `field name` first?
-    if(! beast::detail::ci_equal(sname, last->name_string()))
+    if(! iequals(sname, last->name_string()))
     {
         BOOST_ASSERT(count(sname) == 0);
         set_.insert_before(before, e);
@@ -779,8 +778,7 @@ has_chunked_impl() const
     {
         auto cur = it++;
         if(it == v.end())
-            return beast::detail::ci_equal(
-                *cur, "chunked");
+            return iequals(*cur, "chunked");
     }
 }
 
@@ -925,7 +923,7 @@ set_element(value_type& e)
 {
     auto it = set_.lower_bound(
         e.name_string(), key_compare{});
-    if(it == set_.end() || ! beast::detail::ci_equal(
+    if(it == set_.end() || ! iequals(
         e.name_string(), it->name_string()))
     {
         set_.insert_before(it, e);
@@ -941,8 +939,7 @@ set_element(value_type& e)
         delete_element(*it);
         it = next;
         if(it == set_.end() ||
-            ! beast::detail::ci_equal(
-                e.name_string(), it->name_string()))
+            ! iequals(e.name_string(), it->name_string()))
             break;
     }
     set_.insert_before(it, e);
diff --git a/include/beast/http/impl/message.ipp b/include/beast/http/impl/message.ipp
index 45d9cf8c..78b487e0 100644
--- a/include/beast/http/impl/message.ipp
+++ b/include/beast/http/impl/message.ipp
@@ -9,7 +9,6 @@
 #define BEAST_HTTP_IMPL_MESSAGE_IPP
 
 #include <beast/core/error.hpp>
-#include <beast/core/detail/ci_char_traits.hpp>
 #include <beast/core/detail/type_traits.hpp>
 #include <boost/assert.hpp>
 #include <boost/throw_exception.hpp>
diff --git a/include/beast/http/impl/rfc7230.ipp b/include/beast/http/impl/rfc7230.ipp
index 758122a3..bce0ec85 100644
--- a/include/beast/http/impl/rfc7230.ipp
+++ b/include/beast/http/impl/rfc7230.ipp
@@ -8,7 +8,6 @@
 #ifndef BEAST_HTTP_IMPL_RFC7230_IPP
 #define BEAST_HTTP_IMPL_RFC7230_IPP
 
-#include <beast/core/detail/ci_char_traits.hpp>
 #include <beast/http/detail/rfc7230.hpp>
 #include <iterator>
 
@@ -291,7 +290,7 @@ find(T const& s) ->
     return std::find_if(begin(), end(),
         [&s](value_type const& v)
         {
-            return beast::detail::ci_equal(s, v.first);
+            return iequals(s, v.first);
         });
 }
 
@@ -537,7 +536,7 @@ exists(T const& s)
     return std::find_if(begin(), end(),
         [&s](value_type const& v)
         {
-            return beast::detail::ci_equal(s, v);
+            return iequals(s, v);
         }
     ) != end();
 }
diff --git a/include/beast/http/message.hpp b/include/beast/http/message.hpp
index fdf77359..b751bcce 100644
--- a/include/beast/http/message.hpp
+++ b/include/beast/http/message.hpp
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@
 #include <beast/http/verb.hpp>
 #include <beast/http/status.hpp>
 #include <beast/http/type_traits.hpp>
-#include <beast/core/string_view.hpp>
+#include <beast/core/string.hpp>
 #include <beast/core/detail/integer_sequence.hpp>
 #include <boost/optional.hpp>
 #include <boost/throw_exception.hpp>
diff --git a/include/beast/http/serializer.hpp b/include/beast/http/serializer.hpp
index 4351f07e..bc2db093 100644
--- a/include/beast/http/serializer.hpp
+++ b/include/beast/http/serializer.hpp
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@
 #include <beast/config.hpp>
 #include <beast/core/buffer_cat.hpp>
 #include <beast/core/consuming_buffers.hpp>
-#include <beast/core/string_view.hpp>
+#include <beast/core/string.hpp>
 #include <beast/core/type_traits.hpp>
 #include <beast/http/message.hpp>
 #include <beast/http/detail/chunk_encode.hpp>
diff --git a/include/beast/http/status.hpp b/include/beast/http/status.hpp
index b2e8be63..ed793ae4 100644
--- a/include/beast/http/status.hpp
+++ b/include/beast/http/status.hpp
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@
 #define BEAST_HTTP_STATUS_HPP
 
 #include <beast/config.hpp>
-#include <beast/core/string_view.hpp>
+#include <beast/core/string.hpp>
 #include <iosfwd>
 
 namespace beast {
diff --git a/include/beast/http/string_view_body.hpp b/include/beast/http/string_view_body.hpp
index 6a7df6b2..2250694e 100644
--- a/include/beast/http/string_view_body.hpp
+++ b/include/beast/http/string_view_body.hpp
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@
 #define BEAST_HTTP_STRING_VIEW_BODY
 
 #include <beast/config.hpp>
-#include <beast/core/string_view.hpp>
+#include <beast/core/string.hpp>
 #include <beast/http/message.hpp>
 #include <boost/asio/buffer.hpp>
 #include <boost/optional.hpp>
diff --git a/include/beast/http/type_traits.hpp b/include/beast/http/type_traits.hpp
index 52f315ff..9f31b157 100644
--- a/include/beast/http/type_traits.hpp
+++ b/include/beast/http/type_traits.hpp
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@
 
 #include <beast/config.hpp>
 #include <beast/core/error.hpp>
-#include <beast/core/string_view.hpp>
+#include <beast/core/string.hpp>
 #include <beast/core/type_traits.hpp>
 #include <beast/http/detail/type_traits.hpp>
 #include <boost/asio/buffer.hpp>
diff --git a/include/beast/http/verb.hpp b/include/beast/http/verb.hpp
index 73cf4ec5..679af1a6 100644
--- a/include/beast/http/verb.hpp
+++ b/include/beast/http/verb.hpp
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@
 #define BEAST_HTTP_VERB_HPP
 
 #include <beast/config.hpp>
-#include <beast/core/string_view.hpp>
+#include <beast/core/string.hpp>
 #include <iosfwd>
 
 namespace beast {
diff --git a/include/beast/http/write.hpp b/include/beast/http/write.hpp
index 24332804..296b2b04 100644
--- a/include/beast/http/write.hpp
+++ b/include/beast/http/write.hpp
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@
 #include <beast/http/detail/chunk_encode.hpp>
 #include <beast/core/error.hpp>
 #include <beast/core/async_result.hpp>
-#include <beast/core/string_view.hpp>
+#include <beast/core/string.hpp>
 #include <boost/variant.hpp>
 #include <iosfwd>
 #include <limits>
diff --git a/include/beast/websocket/detail/hybi13.hpp b/include/beast/websocket/detail/hybi13.hpp
index 7cb17c3c..ccfd8854 100644
--- a/include/beast/websocket/detail/hybi13.hpp
+++ b/include/beast/websocket/detail/hybi13.hpp
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@
 #define BEAST_WEBSOCKET_DETAIL_HYBI13_HPP
 
 #include <beast/core/static_string.hpp>
-#include <beast/core/string_view.hpp>
+#include <beast/core/string.hpp>
 #include <beast/core/detail/base64.hpp>
 #include <beast/core/detail/sha1.hpp>
 #include <boost/assert.hpp>
diff --git a/include/beast/websocket/detail/pmd_extension.hpp b/include/beast/websocket/detail/pmd_extension.hpp
index 75176b5b..83cf8d6b 100644
--- a/include/beast/websocket/detail/pmd_extension.hpp
+++ b/include/beast/websocket/detail/pmd_extension.hpp
@@ -11,7 +11,6 @@
 #include <beast/core/error.hpp>
 #include <beast/core/consuming_buffers.hpp>
 #include <beast/core/read_size.hpp>
-#include <beast/core/detail/ci_char_traits.hpp>
 #include <beast/zlib/deflate_stream.hpp>
 #include <beast/zlib/inflate_stream.hpp>
 #include <beast/websocket/option.hpp>
@@ -77,16 +76,15 @@ pmd_read(pmd_offer& offer, Fields const& fields)
     offer.server_no_context_takeover = false;
     offer.client_no_context_takeover = false;
 
-    using beast::detail::ci_equal;
     http::ext_list list{
         fields["Sec-WebSocket-Extensions"]};
     for(auto const& ext : list)
     {
-        if(ci_equal(ext.first, "permessage-deflate"))
+        if(iequals(ext.first, "permessage-deflate"))
         {
             for(auto const& param : ext.second)
             {
-                if(ci_equal(param.first,
+                if(iequals(param.first,
                     "server_max_window_bits"))
                 {
                     if(offer.server_max_window_bits != 0)
@@ -114,7 +112,7 @@ pmd_read(pmd_offer& offer, Fields const& fields)
                         return; // MUST decline
                     }
                 }
-                else if(ci_equal(param.first,
+                else if(iequals(param.first,
                     "client_max_window_bits"))
                 {
                     if(offer.client_max_window_bits != 0)
@@ -142,7 +140,7 @@ pmd_read(pmd_offer& offer, Fields const& fields)
                         offer.client_max_window_bits = -1;
                     }
                 }
-                else if(ci_equal(param.first,
+                else if(iequals(param.first,
                     "server_no_context_takeover"))
                 {
                     if(offer.server_no_context_takeover)
@@ -161,7 +159,7 @@ pmd_read(pmd_offer& offer, Fields const& fields)
                     }
                     offer.server_no_context_takeover = true;
                 }
-                else if(ci_equal(param.first,
+                else if(iequals(param.first,
                     "client_no_context_takeover"))
                 {
                     if(offer.client_no_context_takeover)
diff --git a/include/beast/websocket/rfc6455.hpp b/include/beast/websocket/rfc6455.hpp
index 50301b3b..c0d67b6d 100644
--- a/include/beast/websocket/rfc6455.hpp
+++ b/include/beast/websocket/rfc6455.hpp
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@
 
 #include <beast/config.hpp>
 #include <beast/core/static_string.hpp>
-#include <beast/core/string_view.hpp>
+#include <beast/core/string.hpp>
 #include <beast/http/message.hpp>
 #include <array>
 #include <cstdint>
diff --git a/include/beast/websocket/stream.hpp b/include/beast/websocket/stream.hpp
index 9fe4d2fb..72541820 100644
--- a/include/beast/websocket/stream.hpp
+++ b/include/beast/websocket/stream.hpp
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@
 #include <beast/http/detail/type_traits.hpp>
 #include <beast/core/async_result.hpp>
 #include <beast/core/buffered_read_stream.hpp>
-#include <beast/core/string_view.hpp>
+#include <beast/core/string.hpp>
 #include <beast/core/detail/type_traits.hpp>
 #include <boost/asio.hpp>
 #include <algorithm>
diff --git a/test/Jamfile b/test/Jamfile
index 5fac3da3..bee625f4 100644
--- a/test/Jamfile
+++ b/test/Jamfile
@@ -37,8 +37,8 @@ unit-test core-tests :
     core/read_size.cpp
     core/static_buffer.cpp
     core/static_string.cpp
+    core/string.cpp
     core/string_param.cpp
-    core/string_view.cpp
     core/type_traits.cpp
     core/base64.cpp
     core/empty_base_optimization.cpp
diff --git a/test/core/CMakeLists.txt b/test/core/CMakeLists.txt
index b71d54b3..c67cea26 100644
--- a/test/core/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/test/core/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -32,8 +32,8 @@ add_executable (core-tests
     read_size.cpp
     static_buffer.cpp
     static_string.cpp
+    string.cpp
     string_param.cpp
-    string_view.cpp
     type_traits.cpp
     base64.cpp
     empty_base_optimization.cpp
diff --git a/test/core/buffer_bench.cpp b/test/core/buffer_bench.cpp
index 76f3b3d2..a18fae4f 100644
--- a/test/core/buffer_bench.cpp
+++ b/test/core/buffer_bench.cpp
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@
 #include <beast/core/flat_buffer.hpp>
 #include <beast/core/multi_buffer.hpp>
 #include <beast/core/read_size.hpp>
-#include <beast/core/string_view.hpp>
+#include <beast/core/string.hpp>
 #include <beast/unit_test/suite.hpp>
 #include <boost/asio/streambuf.hpp>
 #include <algorithm>
diff --git a/test/core/buffer_test.hpp b/test/core/buffer_test.hpp
index e5b0affa..3a05b459 100644
--- a/test/core/buffer_test.hpp
+++ b/test/core/buffer_test.hpp
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@
 #ifndef BEAST_TEST_BUFFER_TEST_HPP
 #define BEAST_TEST_BUFFER_TEST_HPP
 
-#include <beast/core/string_view.hpp>
+#include <beast/core/string.hpp>
 #include <beast/core/read_size.hpp>
 #include <beast/core/type_traits.hpp>
 #include <beast/core/detail/type_traits.hpp>
diff --git a/test/core/flat_buffer.cpp b/test/core/flat_buffer.cpp
index 293cb5da..fda65623 100644
--- a/test/core/flat_buffer.cpp
+++ b/test/core/flat_buffer.cpp
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@
 
 #include <beast/core/ostream.hpp>
 #include <beast/core/read_size.hpp>
-#include <beast/core/string_view.hpp>
+#include <beast/core/string.hpp>
 #include <beast/test/test_allocator.hpp>
 #include <beast/unit_test/suite.hpp>
 #include <boost/lexical_cast.hpp>
diff --git a/test/core/multi_buffer.cpp b/test/core/multi_buffer.cpp
index f7c39e23..f2e3dbf3 100644
--- a/test/core/multi_buffer.cpp
+++ b/test/core/multi_buffer.cpp
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@
 #include "buffer_test.hpp"
 
 #include <beast/core/ostream.hpp>
-#include <beast/core/string_view.hpp>
+#include <beast/core/string.hpp>
 #include <beast/core/type_traits.hpp>
 #include <beast/test/test_allocator.hpp>
 #include <beast/unit_test/suite.hpp>
diff --git a/test/core/static_buffer.cpp b/test/core/static_buffer.cpp
index 83a79168..b2ef000d 100644
--- a/test/core/static_buffer.cpp
+++ b/test/core/static_buffer.cpp
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@
 #include "buffer_test.hpp"
 
 #include <beast/core/ostream.hpp>
-#include <beast/core/string_view.hpp>
+#include <beast/core/string.hpp>
 #include <beast/unit_test/suite.hpp>
 #include <string>
 
diff --git a/test/core/string_view.cpp b/test/core/string.cpp
similarity index 88%
rename from test/core/string_view.cpp
rename to test/core/string.cpp
index b97e888f..c8afa23c 100644
--- a/test/core/string_view.cpp
+++ b/test/core/string.cpp
@@ -6,4 +6,4 @@
 //
 
 // Test that header file is self-contained.
-#include <beast/core/string_view.hpp>
+#include <beast/core/string.hpp>
diff --git a/test/http/field.cpp b/test/http/field.cpp
index d5c3dca4..c44f48cc 100644
--- a/test/http/field.cpp
+++ b/test/http/field.cpp
@@ -9,7 +9,6 @@
 #include <beast/http/field.hpp>
 
 #include <beast/unit_test/suite.hpp>
-#include <boost/lexical_cast.hpp>
 
 namespace beast {
 namespace http {
@@ -23,8 +22,7 @@ public:
         auto const match =
             [&](field f, string_view s)
             {
-                BEAST_EXPECT(
-                    beast::detail::ci_equal(to_string(f), s));
+                BEAST_EXPECT(iequals(to_string(f), s));
                 BEAST_EXPECT(string_to_field(s) == f);
             };