diff --git a/core/engine/src/builtins/eval/mod.rs b/core/engine/src/builtins/eval/mod.rs
index 8ed4078eec..995772bc3f 100644
--- a/core/engine/src/builtins/eval/mod.rs
+++ b/core/engine/src/builtins/eval/mod.rs
@@ -99,7 +99,7 @@ impl Eval {
 
         // 2. If Type(x) is not String, return x.
         // TODO: rework parser to take an iterator of `u32` unicode codepoints
-        let Some(x) = x.as_string().map(JsString::to_std_string_escaped) else {
+        let Some(x) = x.as_string() else {
             return Ok(x.clone());
         };
 
@@ -118,7 +118,7 @@ impl Eval {
         //     b. If script is a List of errors, throw a SyntaxError exception.
         //     c. If script Contains ScriptBody is false, return undefined.
         //     d. Let body be the ScriptBody of script.
-        let mut parser = Parser::new(Source::from_bytes(&x));
+        let mut parser = Parser::new(Source::from_utf16(x));
         parser.set_identifier(context.next_parser_identifier());
         if strict {
             parser.set_strict();
diff --git a/core/engine/src/context/mod.rs b/core/engine/src/context/mod.rs
index c5a9cce945..3f5daa086a 100644
--- a/core/engine/src/context/mod.rs
+++ b/core/engine/src/context/mod.rs
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ mod hooks;
 pub(crate) mod icu;
 pub mod intrinsics;
 
+use boa_parser::source::ReadChar;
 pub use hooks::{DefaultHooks, HostHooks};
 
 #[cfg(feature = "intl")]
@@ -14,7 +15,7 @@ use intrinsics::Intrinsics;
 
 #[cfg(not(feature = "intl"))]
 pub use std::marker::PhantomData;
-use std::{cell::Cell, io::Read, path::Path, rc::Rc};
+use std::{cell::Cell, path::Path, rc::Rc};
 
 use crate::{
     builtins,
@@ -185,7 +186,7 @@ impl Context {
     /// Note that this won't run any scheduled promise jobs; you need to call [`Context::run_jobs`]
     /// on the context or [`JobQueue::run_jobs`] on the provided queue to run them.
     #[allow(clippy::unit_arg, dropping_copy_types)]
-    pub fn eval<R: Read>(&mut self, src: Source<'_, R>) -> JsResult<JsValue> {
+    pub fn eval<R: ReadChar>(&mut self, src: Source<'_, R>) -> JsResult<JsValue> {
         let main_timer = Profiler::global().start_event("Script evaluation", "Main");
 
         let result = Script::parse(src, None, self)?.evaluate(self);
diff --git a/core/engine/src/module/mod.rs b/core/engine/src/module/mod.rs
index 6700760310..bcf07e99f2 100644
--- a/core/engine/src/module/mod.rs
+++ b/core/engine/src/module/mod.rs
@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@ mod loader;
 mod namespace;
 mod source;
 mod synthetic;
+use boa_parser::source::ReadChar;
 pub use loader::*;
 pub use namespace::ModuleNamespace;
 use source::SourceTextModule;
@@ -33,7 +34,6 @@ pub use synthetic::{SyntheticModule, SyntheticModuleInitializer};
 use std::cell::{Cell, RefCell};
 use std::collections::HashSet;
 use std::hash::Hash;
-use std::io::Read;
 use std::rc::Rc;
 
 use rustc_hash::FxHashSet;
@@ -141,7 +141,7 @@ impl Module {
     /// Parses the provided `src` as an ECMAScript module, returning an error if parsing fails.
     ///
     /// [spec]: https://tc39.es/ecma262/#sec-parsemodule
-    pub fn parse<R: Read>(
+    pub fn parse<R: ReadChar>(
         src: Source<'_, R>,
         realm: Option<Realm>,
         context: &mut Context,
diff --git a/core/engine/src/script.rs b/core/engine/src/script.rs
index dfb2b905a2..276fbebd3e 100644
--- a/core/engine/src/script.rs
+++ b/core/engine/src/script.rs
@@ -8,10 +8,8 @@
 //! [spec]: https://tc39.es/ecma262/#sec-scripts
 //! [script]: https://tc39.es/ecma262/#sec-script-records
 
-use std::io::Read;
-
 use boa_gc::{Finalize, Gc, GcRefCell, Trace};
-use boa_parser::{Parser, Source};
+use boa_parser::{source::ReadChar, Parser, Source};
 use boa_profiler::Profiler;
 use rustc_hash::FxHashMap;
 
@@ -76,7 +74,7 @@ impl Script {
     /// Parses the provided `src` as an ECMAScript script, returning an error if parsing fails.
     ///
     /// [spec]: https://tc39.es/ecma262/#sec-parse-script
-    pub fn parse<R: Read>(
+    pub fn parse<R: ReadChar>(
         src: Source<'_, R>,
         realm: Option<Realm>,
         context: &mut Context,
diff --git a/core/engine/src/tests/operators.rs b/core/engine/src/tests/operators.rs
index 6d688e1041..553d8135e6 100644
--- a/core/engine/src/tests/operators.rs
+++ b/core/engine/src/tests/operators.rs
@@ -334,7 +334,7 @@ fn assignment_to_non_assignable_ctd() {
             TestAction::assert_native_error(
                 src,
                 JsNativeErrorKind::Syntax,
-                "Invalid left-hand side in assignment at line 1, col 13",
+                "Invalid left-hand side in assignment at line 1, col 12",
             )
         }),
     );
@@ -362,7 +362,7 @@ fn multicharacter_assignment_to_non_assignable_ctd() {
                 TestAction::assert_native_error(
                     src,
                     JsNativeErrorKind::Syntax,
-                    "Invalid left-hand side in assignment at line 1, col 13",
+                    "Invalid left-hand side in assignment at line 1, col 12",
                 )
             }),
     );
@@ -397,7 +397,7 @@ fn multicharacter_bitwise_assignment_to_non_assignable_ctd() {
             TestAction::assert_native_error(
                 src,
                 JsNativeErrorKind::Syntax,
-                "Invalid left-hand side in assignment at line 1, col 13",
+                "Invalid left-hand side in assignment at line 1, col 12",
             )
         }),
     );
diff --git a/core/parser/src/lexer/comment.rs b/core/parser/src/lexer/comment.rs
index 6b23e19ed7..aca752df1f 100644
--- a/core/parser/src/lexer/comment.rs
+++ b/core/parser/src/lexer/comment.rs
@@ -1,10 +1,10 @@
 //! Boa's lexing for ECMAScript comments.
 
 use crate::lexer::{Cursor, Error, Token, TokenKind, Tokenizer};
+use crate::source::ReadChar;
 use boa_ast::{Position, Span};
 use boa_interner::Interner;
 use boa_profiler::Profiler;
-use std::io::Read;
 
 /// Lexes a single line comment.
 ///
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ impl<R> Tokenizer<R> for SingleLineComment {
         _interner: &mut Interner,
     ) -> Result<Token, Error>
     where
-        R: Read,
+        R: ReadChar,
     {
         let _timer = Profiler::global().start_event("SingleLineComment", "Lexing");
 
@@ -66,7 +66,7 @@ impl<R> Tokenizer<R> for MultiLineComment {
         _interner: &mut Interner,
     ) -> Result<Token, Error>
     where
-        R: Read,
+        R: ReadChar,
     {
         let _timer = Profiler::global().start_event("MultiLineComment", "Lexing");
 
@@ -74,7 +74,7 @@ impl<R> Tokenizer<R> for MultiLineComment {
         while let Some(ch) = cursor.next_char()? {
             let tried_ch = char::try_from(ch);
             match tried_ch {
-                Ok(c) if c == '*' && cursor.next_is(b'/')? => {
+                Ok(c) if c == '*' && cursor.next_if(0x2F /* / */)? => {
                     return Ok(Token::new(
                         if new_line {
                             TokenKind::LineTerminator
@@ -115,7 +115,7 @@ impl<R> Tokenizer<R> for HashbangComment {
         _interner: &mut Interner,
     ) -> Result<Token, Error>
     where
-        R: Read,
+        R: ReadChar,
     {
         let _timer = Profiler::global().start_event("Hashbang", "Lexing");
 
diff --git a/core/parser/src/lexer/cursor.rs b/core/parser/src/lexer/cursor.rs
index b191781136..20efc3ab07 100644
--- a/core/parser/src/lexer/cursor.rs
+++ b/core/parser/src/lexer/cursor.rs
@@ -1,15 +1,18 @@
 //! Boa's lexer cursor that manages the input byte stream.
+
+use crate::source::{ReadChar, UTF8Input};
 use boa_ast::Position;
 use boa_profiler::Profiler;
-use std::io::{self, Bytes, Error, ErrorKind, Read};
+use std::io::{self, Error, ErrorKind};
 
 /// Cursor over the source code.
 #[derive(Debug)]
 pub(super) struct Cursor<R> {
-    iter: InnerIter<R>,
+    iter: R,
     pos: Position,
     module: bool,
     strict: bool,
+    peeked: [Option<u32>; 4],
 }
 
 impl<R> Cursor<R> {
@@ -19,7 +22,7 @@ impl<R> Cursor<R> {
     }
 
     /// Advances the position to the next column.
-    pub(super) fn next_column(&mut self) {
+    fn next_column(&mut self) {
         let current_line = self.pos.line_number();
         let next_column = self.pos.column_number() + 1;
         self.pos = Position::new(current_line, next_column);
@@ -53,62 +56,66 @@ impl<R> Cursor<R> {
     }
 }
 
-impl<R> Cursor<R>
-where
-    R: Read,
-{
+impl<R: ReadChar> Cursor<R> {
     /// Creates a new Lexer cursor.
     pub(super) fn new(inner: R) -> Self {
         Self {
-            iter: InnerIter::new(inner.bytes()),
+            iter: inner,
             pos: Position::new(1, 1),
             strict: false,
             module: false,
+            peeked: [None; 4],
         }
     }
 
     /// Creates a new Lexer cursor with an initial position.
     pub(super) fn with_position(inner: R, pos: Position) -> Self {
         Self {
-            iter: InnerIter::new(inner.bytes()),
+            iter: inner,
             pos,
             strict: false,
             module: false,
+            peeked: [None; 4],
         }
     }
 
-    /// Peeks the next byte.
-    pub(super) fn peek(&mut self) -> Result<Option<u8>, Error> {
-        let _timer = Profiler::global().start_event("cursor::peek()", "Lexing");
-
-        self.iter.peek_byte()
-    }
-
     /// Peeks the next n bytes, the maximum number of peeked bytes is 4 (n <= 4).
-    pub(super) fn peek_n(&mut self, n: u8) -> Result<&[u8], Error> {
+    pub(super) fn peek_n(&mut self, n: u8) -> Result<&[Option<u32>; 4], Error> {
         let _timer = Profiler::global().start_event("cursor::peek_n()", "Lexing");
 
-        self.iter.peek_n_bytes(n)
+        let peeked = self.peeked.iter().filter(|c| c.is_some()).count();
+        let needs_peek = n as usize - peeked;
+
+        for i in 0..needs_peek {
+            let next = self.iter.next_char()?;
+            self.peeked[i + peeked] = next;
+        }
+
+        Ok(&self.peeked)
     }
 
     /// Peeks the next UTF-8 character in u32 code point.
     pub(super) fn peek_char(&mut self) -> Result<Option<u32>, Error> {
         let _timer = Profiler::global().start_event("cursor::peek_char()", "Lexing");
 
-        self.iter.peek_char()
+        if let Some(c) = self.peeked[0] {
+            return Ok(Some(c));
+        }
+
+        let next = self.iter.next_char()?;
+        self.peeked[0] = next;
+        Ok(next)
     }
 
-    /// Compares the byte passed in to the next byte, if they match true is returned and the buffer is incremented.
-    pub(super) fn next_is(&mut self, byte: u8) -> io::Result<bool> {
-        let _timer = Profiler::global().start_event("cursor::next_is()", "Lexing");
+    pub(super) fn next_if(&mut self, c: u32) -> io::Result<bool> {
+        let _timer = Profiler::global().start_event("cursor::next_if()", "Lexing");
 
-        Ok(match self.peek()? {
-            Some(next) if next == byte => {
-                self.next_byte()?;
-                true
-            }
-            _ => false,
-        })
+        if self.peek_char()? == Some(c) {
+            self.next_char()?;
+            Ok(true)
+        } else {
+            Ok(false)
+        }
     }
 
     /// Applies the predicate to the next character and returns the result.
@@ -120,41 +127,30 @@ where
     where
         F: Fn(char) -> bool,
     {
-        let _timer = Profiler::global().start_event("cursor::next_is_ascii_pred()", "Lexing");
+        let _timer = Profiler::global().start_event("cursor::next_is_pred()", "Lexing");
 
-        Ok(match self.peek()? {
-            Some(byte) if (0..=0x7F).contains(&byte) => pred(char::from(byte)),
+        Ok(match self.peek_char()? {
+            Some(byte) if (0..=0x7F).contains(&byte) =>
+            {
+                #[allow(clippy::cast_possible_truncation)]
+                pred(char::from(byte as u8))
+            }
             Some(_) | None => false,
         })
     }
 
-    /// Applies the predicate to the next UTF-8 character and returns the result.
-    /// Returns false if there is no next character, otherwise returns the result from the
-    /// predicate on the ascii char
-    ///
-    /// The buffer is not incremented.
-    #[cfg(test)]
-    pub(super) fn next_is_char_pred<F>(&mut self, pred: &F) -> io::Result<bool>
-    where
-        F: Fn(u32) -> bool,
-    {
-        let _timer = Profiler::global().start_event("cursor::next_is_char_pred()", "Lexing");
-
-        Ok(self.peek_char()?.map_or(false, pred))
-    }
-
     /// Fills the buffer with all bytes until the stop byte is found.
     /// Returns error when reaching the end of the buffer.
     ///
     /// Note that all bytes up until the stop byte are added to the buffer, including the byte right before.
-    pub(super) fn take_until(&mut self, stop: u8, buf: &mut Vec<u8>) -> io::Result<()> {
+    pub(super) fn take_until(&mut self, stop: u32, buf: &mut Vec<u32>) -> io::Result<()> {
         let _timer = Profiler::global().start_event("cursor::take_until()", "Lexing");
 
         loop {
-            if self.next_is(stop)? {
+            if self.next_if(stop)? {
                 return Ok(());
-            } else if let Some(byte) = self.next_byte()? {
-                buf.push(byte);
+            } else if let Some(c) = self.next_char()? {
+                buf.push(c);
             } else {
                 return Err(io::Error::new(
                     ErrorKind::UnexpectedEof,
@@ -177,8 +173,9 @@ where
         loop {
             if !self.next_is_ascii_pred(pred)? {
                 return Ok(());
-            } else if let Some(byte) = self.next_byte()? {
-                buf.push(byte);
+            } else if let Some(byte) = self.next_char()? {
+                #[allow(clippy::cast_possible_truncation)]
+                buf.push(byte as u8);
             } else {
                 // next_is_pred will return false if the next value is None so the None case should already be handled.
                 unreachable!();
@@ -186,89 +183,25 @@ where
         }
     }
 
-    /// Fills the buffer with characters until the first character for which the predicate (pred) is false.
-    /// It also stops when there is no next character.
-    ///
-    /// Note that all characters up until the stop character are added to the buffer, including the character right before.
-    #[cfg(test)]
-    pub(super) fn take_while_char_pred<F>(&mut self, buf: &mut Vec<u8>, pred: &F) -> io::Result<()>
-    where
-        F: Fn(u32) -> bool,
-    {
-        let _timer = Profiler::global().start_event("cursor::take_while_char_pred()", "Lexing");
-
-        loop {
-            if !self.next_is_char_pred(pred)? {
-                return Ok(());
-            } else if let Some(ch) = self.peek_char()? {
-                for _ in 0..utf8_len(ch) {
-                    buf.push(
-                        self.next_byte()?
-                            .expect("already checked that the next character exists"),
-                    );
-                }
-            } else {
-                // next_is_pred will return false if the next value is None so the None case should already be handled.
-                unreachable!();
-            }
-        }
-    }
-
-    /// It will fill the buffer with bytes.
-    ///
-    /// This expects for the buffer to be fully filled. If it's not, it will fail with an
-    /// `UnexpectedEof` I/O error.
-    pub(super) fn fill_bytes(&mut self, buf: &mut [u8]) -> io::Result<()> {
-        let _timer = Profiler::global().start_event("cursor::fill_bytes()", "Lexing");
-
-        self.iter.fill_bytes(buf)
-    }
-
-    /// Retrieves the next byte.
-    pub(crate) fn next_byte(&mut self) -> Result<Option<u8>, Error> {
-        let _timer = Profiler::global().start_event("cursor::next_byte()", "Lexing");
-
-        let byte = self.iter.next_byte()?;
-
-        match byte {
-            Some(b'\r') => {
-                // Try to take a newline if it's next, for windows "\r\n" newlines
-                // Otherwise, treat as a Mac OS9 bare '\r' newline
-                if self.peek()? == Some(b'\n') {
-                    let _next = self.iter.next_byte();
-                }
-                self.next_line();
-            }
-            Some(b'\n') => self.next_line(),
-            Some(0xE2) => {
-                // Try to match '\u{2028}' (e2 80 a8) and '\u{2029}' (e2 80 a9)
-                let next_bytes = self.peek_n(2)?;
-                if next_bytes == [0x80, 0xA8] || next_bytes == [0x80, 0xA9] {
-                    self.next_line();
-                } else {
-                    // 0xE2 is a utf8 first byte
-                    self.next_column();
-                }
-            }
-            Some(b) if utf8_is_first_byte(b) => self.next_column(),
-            _ => {}
-        }
-
-        Ok(byte)
-    }
-
     /// Retrieves the next UTF-8 character.
     pub(crate) fn next_char(&mut self) -> Result<Option<u32>, Error> {
         let _timer = Profiler::global().start_event("cursor::next_char()", "Lexing");
 
-        let ch = self.iter.next_char()?;
+        let ch = if let Some(c) = self.peeked[0] {
+            self.peeked[0] = None;
+            self.peeked.rotate_left(1);
+            Some(c)
+        } else {
+            self.iter.next_char()?
+        };
 
         match ch {
             Some(0xD) => {
                 // Try to take a newline if it's next, for windows "\r\n" newlines
                 // Otherwise, treat as a Mac OS9 bare '\r' newline
-                if self.peek()? == Some(0xA) {
-                    let _next = self.iter.next_byte();
+                if self.peek_char()? == Some(0xA) {
+                    self.peeked[0] = None;
+                    self.peeked.rotate_left(1);
                 }
                 self.next_line();
             }
@@ -282,224 +215,8 @@ where
     }
 }
 
-/// Inner iterator for a cursor.
-#[derive(Debug)]
-struct InnerIter<R> {
-    iter: Bytes<R>,
-    num_peeked_bytes: u8,
-    peeked_bytes: [u8; 4],
-    #[allow(clippy::option_option)]
-    peeked_char: Option<Option<u32>>,
-}
-
-impl<R> InnerIter<R> {
-    /// Creates a new inner iterator.
-    const fn new(iter: Bytes<R>) -> Self {
-        Self {
-            iter,
-            num_peeked_bytes: 0,
-            peeked_bytes: [0; 4],
-            peeked_char: None,
-        }
-    }
-}
-
-impl<R> InnerIter<R>
-where
-    R: Read,
-{
-    /// It will fill the buffer with checked ascii bytes.
-    ///
-    /// This expects for the buffer to be fully filled. If it's not, it will fail with an
-    /// `UnexpectedEof` I/O error.
-    fn fill_bytes(&mut self, buf: &mut [u8]) -> io::Result<()> {
-        for byte in &mut *buf {
-            *byte = self.next_byte()?.ok_or_else(|| {
-                io::Error::new(
-                    io::ErrorKind::UnexpectedEof,
-                    "unexpected EOF when filling buffer",
-                )
-            })?;
-        }
-        Ok(())
-    }
-
-    /// Increments the iter by n bytes.
-    fn increment(&mut self, n: u32) -> Result<(), Error> {
-        for _ in 0..n {
-            if (self.next_byte()?).is_none() {
-                break;
-            }
-        }
-        Ok(())
-    }
-
-    /// Peeks the next byte.
-    pub(super) fn peek_byte(&mut self) -> Result<Option<u8>, Error> {
-        if self.num_peeked_bytes > 0 {
-            let byte = self.peeked_bytes[0];
-            Ok(Some(byte))
-        } else {
-            match self.iter.next().transpose()? {
-                Some(byte) => {
-                    self.num_peeked_bytes = 1;
-                    self.peeked_bytes[0] = byte;
-                    Ok(Some(byte))
-                }
-                None => Ok(None),
-            }
-        }
-    }
-
-    /// Peeks the next n bytes, the maximum number of peeked bytes is 4 (n <= 4).
-    pub(super) fn peek_n_bytes(&mut self, n: u8) -> Result<&[u8], Error> {
-        while self.num_peeked_bytes < n && self.num_peeked_bytes < 4 {
-            match self.iter.next().transpose()? {
-                Some(byte) => {
-                    self.peeked_bytes[usize::from(self.num_peeked_bytes)] = byte;
-                    self.num_peeked_bytes += 1;
-                }
-                None => break,
-            };
-        }
-        Ok(&self.peeked_bytes[..usize::from(u8::min(n, self.num_peeked_bytes))])
-    }
-
-    /// Peeks the next unchecked character in u32 code point.
-    pub(super) fn peek_char(&mut self) -> Result<Option<u32>, Error> {
-        if let Some(ch) = self.peeked_char {
-            Ok(ch)
-        } else {
-            // Decode UTF-8
-            let (x, y, z, w) = match self.peek_n_bytes(4)? {
-                [b, ..] if *b < 128 => {
-                    let char = u32::from(*b);
-                    self.peeked_char = Some(Some(char));
-                    return Ok(Some(char));
-                }
-                [] => {
-                    self.peeked_char = None;
-                    return Ok(None);
-                }
-                bytes => (
-                    bytes[0],
-                    bytes.get(1).copied(),
-                    bytes.get(2).copied(),
-                    bytes.get(3).copied(),
-                ),
-            };
-
-            // Multibyte case follows
-            // Decode from a byte combination out of: [[[x y] z] w]
-            // NOTE: Performance is sensitive to the exact formulation here
-            let init = utf8_first_byte(x, 2);
-            let y = y.unwrap_or_default();
-            let mut ch = utf8_acc_cont_byte(init, y);
-            if x >= 0xE0 {
-                // [[x y z] w] case
-                // 5th bit in 0xE0 .. 0xEF is always clear, so `init` is still valid
-                let z = z.unwrap_or_default();
-                let y_z = utf8_acc_cont_byte(u32::from(y & CONT_MASK), z);
-                ch = init << 12 | y_z;
-                if x >= 0xF0 {
-                    // [x y z w] case
-                    // use only the lower 3 bits of `init`
-                    let w = w.unwrap_or_default();
-                    ch = (init & 7) << 18 | utf8_acc_cont_byte(y_z, w);
-                }
-            };
-
-            self.peeked_char = Some(Some(ch));
-            Ok(Some(ch))
-        }
-    }
-
-    /// Retrieves the next byte
-    fn next_byte(&mut self) -> io::Result<Option<u8>> {
-        self.peeked_char = None;
-        if self.num_peeked_bytes > 0 {
-            let byte = self.peeked_bytes[0];
-            self.num_peeked_bytes -= 1;
-            self.peeked_bytes.rotate_left(1);
-            Ok(Some(byte))
-        } else {
-            self.iter.next().transpose()
-        }
-    }
-
-    /// Retrieves the next unchecked char in u32 code point.
-    fn next_char(&mut self) -> io::Result<Option<u32>> {
-        if let Some(ch) = self.peeked_char.take() {
-            if let Some(c) = ch {
-                self.increment(utf8_len(c))?;
-            }
-            return Ok(ch);
-        }
-
-        // Decode UTF-8
-        let x = match self.next_byte()? {
-            Some(b) if b < 128 => return Ok(Some(u32::from(b))),
-            Some(b) => b,
-            None => return Ok(None),
-        };
-
-        // Multibyte case follows
-        // Decode from a byte combination out of: [[[x y] z] w]
-        // NOTE: Performance is sensitive to the exact formulation here
-        let init = utf8_first_byte(x, 2);
-        let y = unwrap_or_0(self.next_byte()?);
-        let mut ch = utf8_acc_cont_byte(init, y);
-        if x >= 0xE0 {
-            // [[x y z] w] case
-            // 5th bit in 0xE0 .. 0xEF is always clear, so `init` is still valid
-            let z = unwrap_or_0(self.next_byte()?);
-            let y_z = utf8_acc_cont_byte(u32::from(y & CONT_MASK), z);
-            ch = init << 12 | y_z;
-            if x >= 0xF0 {
-                // [x y z w] case
-                // use only the lower 3 bits of `init`
-                let w = unwrap_or_0(self.next_byte()?);
-                ch = (init & 7) << 18 | utf8_acc_cont_byte(y_z, w);
-            }
-        };
-
-        Ok(Some(ch))
-    }
-}
-
-/// Mask of the value bits of a continuation byte.
-const CONT_MASK: u8 = 0b0011_1111;
-
-/// Returns the initial codepoint accumulator for the first byte.
-/// The first byte is special, only want bottom 5 bits for width 2, 4 bits
-/// for width 3, and 3 bits for width 4.
-fn utf8_first_byte(byte: u8, width: u32) -> u32 {
-    u32::from(byte & (0x7F >> width))
-}
-
-/// Returns the value of `ch` updated with continuation byte `byte`.
-fn utf8_acc_cont_byte(ch: u32, byte: u8) -> u32 {
-    (ch << 6) | u32::from(byte & CONT_MASK)
-}
-
-/// Checks whether the byte is a UTF-8 first byte (i.e., ascii byte or starts with the
-/// bits `11`).
-const fn utf8_is_first_byte(byte: u8) -> bool {
-    byte <= 0x7F || (byte >> 6) == 0x11
-}
-
-fn unwrap_or_0(opt: Option<u8>) -> u8 {
-    opt.unwrap_or(0)
-}
-
-const fn utf8_len(ch: u32) -> u32 {
-    if ch <= 0x7F {
-        1
-    } else if ch <= 0x7FF {
-        2
-    } else if ch <= 0xFFFF {
-        3
-    } else {
-        4
+impl<'a> From<&'a [u8]> for Cursor<UTF8Input<&'a [u8]>> {
+    fn from(input: &'a [u8]) -> Self {
+        Self::new(UTF8Input::new(input))
     }
 }
diff --git a/core/parser/src/lexer/identifier.rs b/core/parser/src/lexer/identifier.rs
index a1ff167e90..6251a18b99 100644
--- a/core/parser/src/lexer/identifier.rs
+++ b/core/parser/src/lexer/identifier.rs
@@ -3,10 +3,10 @@
 use crate::lexer::{
     token::ContainsEscapeSequence, Cursor, Error, StringLiteral, Token, TokenKind, Tokenizer,
 };
+use crate::source::ReadChar;
 use boa_ast::{Keyword, Position, Span};
 use boa_interner::Interner;
 use boa_profiler::Profiler;
-use std::io::Read;
 
 /// Identifier lexing.
 ///
@@ -60,7 +60,7 @@ impl<R> Tokenizer<R> for Identifier {
         interner: &mut Interner,
     ) -> Result<Token, Error>
     where
-        R: Read,
+        R: ReadChar,
     {
         let _timer = Profiler::global().start_event("Identifier", "Lexing");
 
@@ -95,12 +95,12 @@ impl Identifier {
         init: char,
     ) -> Result<(String, bool), Error>
     where
-        R: Read,
+        R: ReadChar,
     {
         let _timer = Profiler::global().start_event("Identifier::take_identifier_name", "Lexing");
 
         let mut contains_escaped_chars = false;
-        let mut identifier_name = if init == '\\' && cursor.next_is(b'u')? {
+        let mut identifier_name = if init == '\\' && cursor.next_if(0x75 /* u */)? {
             let ch = StringLiteral::take_unicode_escape_sequence(cursor, start_pos)?;
 
             if Self::is_identifier_start(ch) {
@@ -119,10 +119,10 @@ impl Identifier {
 
         loop {
             let ch = match cursor.peek_char()? {
-                Some(0x005C /* \ */) if cursor.peek_n(2)?.get(1) == Some(&0x75) /* u */ => {
+                Some(0x005C /* \ */) if cursor.peek_n(2)?[1] == Some(0x75) /* u */ => {
                     let pos = cursor.pos();
-                    let _next = cursor.next_byte();
-                    let _next = cursor.next_byte();
+                    let _next = cursor.next_char();
+                    let _next = cursor.next_char();
                     let ch = StringLiteral::take_unicode_escape_sequence(cursor, pos)?;
 
                     if Self::is_identifier_part(ch) {
diff --git a/core/parser/src/lexer/mod.rs b/core/parser/src/lexer/mod.rs
index 192c24d88b..01650f899b 100644
--- a/core/parser/src/lexer/mod.rs
+++ b/core/parser/src/lexer/mod.rs
@@ -41,10 +41,10 @@ use self::{
     string::StringLiteral,
     template::TemplateLiteral,
 };
+use crate::source::{ReadChar, UTF8Input};
 use boa_ast::{Position, Punctuator, Span};
 use boa_interner::Interner;
 use boa_profiler::Profiler;
-use std::io::Read;
 
 pub use self::{
     error::Error,
@@ -60,7 +60,7 @@ trait Tokenizer<R> {
         interner: &mut Interner,
     ) -> Result<Token, Error>
     where
-        R: Read;
+        R: ReadChar;
 }
 
 /// Lexer or tokenizer for the Boa JavaScript Engine.
@@ -104,7 +104,7 @@ impl<R> Lexer<R> {
     /// Creates a new lexer.
     pub fn new(reader: R) -> Self
     where
-        R: Read,
+        R: ReadChar,
     {
         Self {
             cursor: Cursor::new(reader),
@@ -125,18 +125,20 @@ impl<R> Lexer<R> {
         interner: &mut Interner,
     ) -> Result<Token, Error>
     where
-        R: Read,
+        R: ReadChar,
     {
         let _timer = Profiler::global().start_event("lex_slash_token", "Lexing");
 
-        if let Some(c) = self.cursor.peek()? {
+        if let Some(c) = self.cursor.peek_char()? {
             match c {
-                b'/' => {
-                    self.cursor.next_byte()?.expect("/ token vanished"); // Consume the '/'
+                // /
+                0x002F => {
+                    self.cursor.next_char()?.expect("/ token vanished"); // Consume the '/'
                     SingleLineComment.lex(&mut self.cursor, start, interner)
                 }
-                b'*' => {
-                    self.cursor.next_byte()?.expect("* token vanished"); // Consume the '*'
+                // *
+                0x002A => {
+                    self.cursor.next_char()?.expect("* token vanished"); // Consume the '*'
                     MultiLineComment.lex(&mut self.cursor, start, interner)
                 }
                 ch => {
@@ -144,9 +146,10 @@ impl<R> Lexer<R> {
                         InputElement::Div | InputElement::TemplateTail => {
                             // Only div punctuator allowed, regex not.
 
-                            if ch == b'=' {
+                            // =
+                            if ch == 0x003D {
                                 // Indicates this is an AssignDiv.
-                                self.cursor.next_byte()?.expect("= token vanished"); // Consume the '='
+                                self.cursor.next_char()?.expect("= token vanished"); // Consume the '='
                                 Ok(Token::new(
                                     Punctuator::AssignDiv.into(),
                                     Span::new(start, self.cursor.pos()),
@@ -176,7 +179,7 @@ impl<R> Lexer<R> {
     /// Skips an HTML close comment (`-->`) if the `annex-b` feature is enabled.
     pub(crate) fn skip_html_close(&mut self, interner: &mut Interner) -> Result<(), Error>
     where
-        R: Read,
+        R: ReadChar,
     {
         if cfg!(not(feature = "annex-b")) || self.module() {
             return Ok(());
@@ -186,10 +189,11 @@ impl<R> Lexer<R> {
             let _next = self.cursor.next_char();
         }
 
-        if self.cursor.peek_n(3)? == [b'-', b'-', b'>'] {
-            let _next = self.cursor.next_byte();
-            let _next = self.cursor.next_byte();
-            let _next = self.cursor.next_byte();
+        // -->
+        if self.cursor.peek_n(3)?[..3] == [Some(0x2D), Some(0x2D), Some(0x3E)] {
+            let _next = self.cursor.next_char();
+            let _next = self.cursor.next_char();
+            let _next = self.cursor.next_char();
 
             let start = self.cursor.pos();
             SingleLineComment.lex(&mut self.cursor, start, interner)?;
@@ -206,7 +210,7 @@ impl<R> Lexer<R> {
     // We intentionally don't implement Iterator trait as Result<Option> is cleaner to handle.
     pub(crate) fn next_no_skip(&mut self, interner: &mut Interner) -> Result<Option<Token>, Error>
     where
-        R: Read,
+        R: ReadChar,
     {
         let _timer = Profiler::global().start_event("next()", "Lexing");
 
@@ -224,13 +228,13 @@ impl<R> Lexer<R> {
 
         //handle hashbang here so the below match block still throws error on
         //# if position isn't (1, 1)
-        if start.column_number() == 1 && start.line_number() == 1 && next_ch == 0x23 {
-            if let Some(hashbang_peek) = self.cursor.peek()? {
-                if hashbang_peek == 0x21 {
-                    let _token = HashbangComment.lex(&mut self.cursor, start, interner);
-                    return self.next(interner);
-                }
-            }
+        if start.column_number() == 1
+            && start.line_number() == 1
+            && next_ch == 0x23
+            && self.cursor.peek_char()? == Some(0x21)
+        {
+            let _token = HashbangComment.lex(&mut self.cursor, start, interner);
+            return self.next(interner);
         };
 
         if let Ok(c) = char::try_from(next_ch) {
@@ -250,7 +254,12 @@ impl<R> Lexer<R> {
                     Span::new(start, self.cursor.pos()),
                 )),
                 '.' => {
-                    if self.cursor.peek()?.as_ref().map(u8::is_ascii_digit) == Some(true) {
+                    if self
+                        .cursor
+                        .peek_char()?
+                        .filter(|c| (0x30..=0x39/* 0..=9 */).contains(c))
+                        .is_some()
+                    {
                         NumberLiteral::new(b'.').lex(&mut self.cursor, start, interner)
                     } else {
                         SpreadLiteral::new().lex(&mut self.cursor, start, interner)
@@ -287,10 +296,13 @@ impl<R> Lexer<R> {
                 '#' => PrivateIdentifier::new().lex(&mut self.cursor, start, interner),
                 '/' => self.lex_slash_token(start, interner),
                 #[cfg(feature = "annex-b")]
-                '<' if !self.module() && self.cursor.peek_n(3)? == [b'!', b'-', b'-'] => {
-                    let _next = self.cursor.next_byte();
-                    let _next = self.cursor.next_byte();
-                    let _next = self.cursor.next_byte();
+                // <!--
+                '<' if !self.module()
+                    && self.cursor.peek_n(3)?[..3] == [Some(0x21), Some(0x2D), Some(0x2D)] =>
+                {
+                    let _next = self.cursor.next_char();
+                    let _next = self.cursor.next_char();
+                    let _next = self.cursor.next_char();
                     let start = self.cursor.pos();
                     SingleLineComment.lex(&mut self.cursor, start, interner)
                 }
@@ -298,7 +310,7 @@ impl<R> Lexer<R> {
                 '=' | '*' | '+' | '-' | '%' | '|' | '&' | '^' | '<' | '>' | '!' | '~' | '?' => {
                     Operator::new(next_ch as u8).lex(&mut self.cursor, start, interner)
                 }
-                '\\' if self.cursor.peek()? == Some(b'u') => {
+                '\\' if self.cursor.peek_char()? == Some(0x0075 /* u */) => {
                     Identifier::new(c).lex(&mut self.cursor, start, interner)
                 }
                 _ if Identifier::is_identifier_start(c as u32) => {
@@ -340,7 +352,7 @@ impl<R> Lexer<R> {
     #[allow(clippy::should_implement_trait)]
     pub fn next(&mut self, interner: &mut Interner) -> Result<Option<Token>, Error>
     where
-        R: Read,
+        R: ReadChar,
     {
         loop {
             let Some(next) = self.next_no_skip(interner)? else {
@@ -360,12 +372,18 @@ impl<R> Lexer<R> {
         interner: &mut Interner,
     ) -> Result<Token, Error>
     where
-        R: Read,
+        R: ReadChar,
     {
         TemplateLiteral.lex(&mut self.cursor, start, interner)
     }
 }
 
+impl<'a> From<&'a [u8]> for Lexer<UTF8Input<&'a [u8]>> {
+    fn from(input: &'a [u8]) -> Self {
+        Self::new(UTF8Input::new(input))
+    }
+}
+
 /// ECMAScript goal symbols.
 ///
 /// <https://tc39.es/ecma262/#sec-ecmascript-language-lexical-grammar>
diff --git a/core/parser/src/lexer/number.rs b/core/parser/src/lexer/number.rs
index 35a9c523c6..9fa7475ec5 100644
--- a/core/parser/src/lexer/number.rs
+++ b/core/parser/src/lexer/number.rs
@@ -1,12 +1,13 @@
 //! This module implements lexing for number literals (123, 787) used in ECMAScript.
 
 use crate::lexer::{token::Numeric, Cursor, Error, Token, TokenKind, Tokenizer};
+use crate::source::ReadChar;
 use boa_ast::{Position, Span};
 use boa_interner::Interner;
 use boa_profiler::Profiler;
 use num_bigint::BigInt;
 use num_traits::{ToPrimitive, Zero};
-use std::{io::Read, str};
+use std::str;
 
 /// Number literal lexing.
 ///
@@ -64,29 +65,36 @@ fn take_signed_integer<R>(
     kind: NumericKind,
 ) -> Result<(), Error>
 where
-    R: Read,
+    R: ReadChar,
 {
     // The next part must be SignedInteger.
     // This is optionally a '+' or '-' followed by 1 or more DecimalDigits.
-    match cursor.next_byte()? {
-        Some(b'+') => {
+    match cursor.next_char()? {
+        Some(0x2B /* + */) => {
             buf.push(b'+');
             if !cursor.next_is_ascii_pred(&|ch| ch.is_digit(kind.base()))? {
                 // A digit must follow the + or - symbol.
                 return Err(Error::syntax("No digit found after + symbol", cursor.pos()));
             }
         }
-        Some(b'-') => {
+        Some(0x2D /* - */) => {
             buf.push(b'-');
             if !cursor.next_is_ascii_pred(&|ch| ch.is_digit(kind.base()))? {
                 // A digit must follow the + or - symbol.
                 return Err(Error::syntax("No digit found after - symbol", cursor.pos()));
             }
         }
-        Some(byte) => {
-            let ch = char::from(byte);
-            if ch.is_ascii() && ch.is_digit(kind.base()) {
-                buf.push(byte);
+        Some(c) => {
+            if let Some(ch) = char::from_u32(c) {
+                if ch.is_ascii() && ch.is_digit(kind.base()) {
+                    #[allow(clippy::cast_possible_truncation)]
+                    buf.push(c as u8);
+                } else {
+                    return Err(Error::syntax(
+                        "When lexing exponential value found unexpected char",
+                        cursor.pos(),
+                    ));
+                }
             } else {
                 return Err(Error::syntax(
                     "When lexing exponential value found unexpected char",
@@ -115,18 +123,14 @@ fn take_integer<R>(
     separator_allowed: bool,
 ) -> Result<(), Error>
 where
-    R: Read,
+    R: ReadChar,
 {
     let mut prev_is_underscore = false;
     let mut pos = cursor.pos();
     while cursor.next_is_ascii_pred(&|c| c.is_digit(kind.base()) || c == '_')? {
         pos = cursor.pos();
-        match cursor.next_byte()? {
-            Some(c) if char::from(c).is_digit(kind.base()) => {
-                prev_is_underscore = false;
-                buf.push(c);
-            }
-            Some(b'_') if separator_allowed => {
+        match cursor.next_char()? {
+            Some(0x5F /* _ */) if separator_allowed => {
                 if prev_is_underscore {
                     return Err(Error::syntax(
                         "only one underscore is allowed as numeric separator",
@@ -135,9 +139,16 @@ where
                 }
                 prev_is_underscore = true;
             }
-            Some(b'_') if !separator_allowed => {
+            Some(0x5F /* _ */) if !separator_allowed => {
                 return Err(Error::syntax("separator is not allowed", pos));
             }
+            Some(c) => {
+                if char::from_u32(c).map(|ch| ch.is_digit(kind.base())) == Some(true) {
+                    prev_is_underscore = false;
+                    #[allow(clippy::cast_possible_truncation)]
+                    buf.push(c as u8);
+                }
+            }
             _ => (),
         }
     }
@@ -158,7 +169,7 @@ where
 /// [spec]: https://tc39.es/ecma262/#sec-literals-numeric-literals
 fn check_after_numeric_literal<R>(cursor: &mut Cursor<R>) -> Result<(), Error>
 where
-    R: Read,
+    R: ReadChar,
 {
     if cursor.next_is_ascii_pred(&|ch| ch.is_ascii_alphanumeric() || ch == '$' || ch == '_')? {
         Err(Error::syntax(
@@ -178,7 +189,7 @@ impl<R> Tokenizer<R> for NumberLiteral {
         _interner: &mut Interner,
     ) -> Result<Token, Error>
     where
-        R: Read,
+        R: ReadChar,
     {
         let _timer = Profiler::global().start_event("NumberLiteral", "Lexing");
 
@@ -187,13 +198,14 @@ impl<R> Tokenizer<R> for NumberLiteral {
         // Default assume the number is a base 10 integer.
         let mut kind = NumericKind::Integer(10);
 
-        let c = cursor.peek();
+        let c = cursor.peek_char();
         let mut legacy_octal = false;
 
         if self.init == b'0' {
             if let Some(ch) = c? {
                 match ch {
-                    b'x' | b'X' => {
+                    // x | X
+                    0x0078 | 0x0058 => {
                         // Remove the initial '0' from buffer.
                         cursor.next_char()?.expect("x or X character vanished");
                         buf.pop();
@@ -209,7 +221,8 @@ impl<R> Tokenizer<R> for NumberLiteral {
                             ));
                         }
                     }
-                    b'o' | b'O' => {
+                    // o | O
+                    0x006F | 0x004F => {
                         // Remove the initial '0' from buffer.
                         cursor.next_char()?.expect("o or O character vanished");
                         buf.pop();
@@ -225,7 +238,8 @@ impl<R> Tokenizer<R> for NumberLiteral {
                             ));
                         }
                     }
-                    b'b' | b'B' => {
+                    // b | B
+                    0x0062 | 0x0042 => {
                         // Remove the initial '0' from buffer.
                         cursor.next_char()?.expect("b or B character vanished");
                         buf.pop();
@@ -241,7 +255,8 @@ impl<R> Tokenizer<R> for NumberLiteral {
                             ));
                         }
                     }
-                    b'n' => {
+                    // n
+                    0x006E => {
                         cursor.next_char()?.expect("n character vanished");
 
                         // DecimalBigIntegerLiteral '0n'
@@ -252,37 +267,41 @@ impl<R> Tokenizer<R> for NumberLiteral {
                     }
                     byte => {
                         legacy_octal = true;
-                        let ch = char::from(byte);
-                        if ch.is_digit(8) {
-                            // LegacyOctalIntegerLiteral, or a number with leading 0s.
-                            if cursor.strict() {
-                                // LegacyOctalIntegerLiteral is forbidden with strict mode true.
-                                return Err(Error::syntax(
-                                    "implicit octal literals are not allowed in strict mode",
-                                    start_pos,
-                                ));
-                            }
-
-                            // Remove the initial '0' from buffer.
-                            buf.pop();
-
-                            buf.push(cursor.next_byte()?.expect("'0' character vanished"));
-
-                            take_integer(&mut buf, cursor, NumericKind::Integer(8), false)?;
-
-                            if !cursor.next_is_ascii_pred(&|c| c.is_ascii_digit() || c == '_')? {
-                                // LegacyOctalIntegerLiteral
-                                kind = NumericKind::Integer(8);
-                            }
-                        } else if ch.is_ascii_digit() {
-                            // Indicates a numerical digit comes after then 0 but it isn't an octal digit
-                            // so therefore this must be a number with an unneeded leading 0. This is
-                            // forbidden in strict mode.
-                            if cursor.strict() {
-                                return Err(Error::syntax(
-                                    "leading 0's are not allowed in strict mode",
-                                    start_pos,
-                                ));
+                        if let Some(ch) = char::from_u32(byte) {
+                            if ch.is_digit(8) {
+                                // LegacyOctalIntegerLiteral, or a number with leading 0s.
+                                if cursor.strict() {
+                                    // LegacyOctalIntegerLiteral is forbidden with strict mode true.
+                                    return Err(Error::syntax(
+                                        "implicit octal literals are not allowed in strict mode",
+                                        start_pos,
+                                    ));
+                                }
+
+                                // Remove the initial '0' from buffer.
+                                buf.pop();
+
+                                #[allow(clippy::cast_possible_truncation)]
+                                buf.push(cursor.next_char()?.expect("'0' character vanished") as u8);
+
+                                take_integer(&mut buf, cursor, NumericKind::Integer(8), false)?;
+
+                                if !cursor
+                                    .next_is_ascii_pred(&|c| c.is_ascii_digit() || c == '_')?
+                                {
+                                    // LegacyOctalIntegerLiteral
+                                    kind = NumericKind::Integer(8);
+                                }
+                            } else if ch.is_ascii_digit() {
+                                // Indicates a numerical digit comes after then 0 but it isn't an octal digit
+                                // so therefore this must be a number with an unneeded leading 0. This is
+                                // forbidden in strict mode.
+                                if cursor.strict() {
+                                    return Err(Error::syntax(
+                                        "leading 0's are not allowed in strict mode",
+                                        start_pos,
+                                    ));
+                                }
                             }
                         } // Else indicates that the symbol is a non-number.
                     }
@@ -298,12 +317,12 @@ impl<R> Tokenizer<R> for NumberLiteral {
         }
 
         let next = if self.init == b'.' {
-            Some(b'.')
+            Some(0x002E /* . */)
         } else {
             // Consume digits and separators until a non-digit non-separator
             // character is encountered or all the characters are consumed.
             take_integer(&mut buf, cursor, kind, !legacy_octal)?;
-            cursor.peek()?
+            cursor.peek_char()?
         };
 
         // The non-digit character could be:
@@ -311,7 +330,7 @@ impl<R> Tokenizer<R> for NumberLiteral {
         // '.' To indicate a decimal separator.
         // 'e' | 'E' To indicate an ExponentPart.
         match next {
-            Some(b'n') => {
+            Some(0x006E /* n */) => {
                 // DecimalBigIntegerLiteral
                 // Lexing finished.
                 // Consume the n
@@ -321,21 +340,21 @@ impl<R> Tokenizer<R> for NumberLiteral {
                         cursor.pos(),
                     ));
                 }
-                cursor.next_byte()?.expect("n character vanished");
+                cursor.next_char()?.expect("n character vanished");
 
                 kind = kind.to_bigint();
             }
-            Some(b'.') => {
+            Some(0x002E /* . */) => {
                 if kind.base() == 10 {
                     // Only base 10 numbers can have a decimal separator.
                     // Number literal lexing finished if a . is found for a number in a different base.
                     if self.init != b'.' {
-                        cursor.next_byte()?.expect("'.' token vanished");
+                        cursor.next_char()?.expect("'.' token vanished");
                         buf.push(b'.'); // Consume the .
                     }
                     kind = NumericKind::Rational;
 
-                    if cursor.peek()? == Some(b'_') {
+                    if cursor.peek_char()? == Some(0x005F /* _ */) {
                         return Err(Error::syntax(
                             "numeric separator not allowed after '.'",
                             cursor.pos(),
@@ -348,10 +367,10 @@ impl<R> Tokenizer<R> for NumberLiteral {
 
                     // The non-digit character at this point must be an 'e' or 'E' to indicate an Exponent Part.
                     // Another '.' or 'n' is not allowed.
-                    match cursor.peek()? {
-                        Some(b'e' | b'E') => {
+                    match cursor.peek_char()? {
+                        Some(0x0065 /*e */ | 0x0045 /* E */) => {
                             // Consume the ExponentIndicator.
-                            cursor.next_byte()?.expect("e or E token vanished");
+                            cursor.next_char()?.expect("e or E token vanished");
 
                             buf.push(b'E');
 
@@ -363,9 +382,9 @@ impl<R> Tokenizer<R> for NumberLiteral {
                     }
                 }
             }
-            Some(b'e' | b'E') => {
+            Some(0x0065 /*e */ | 0x0045 /* E */) => {
                 kind = NumericKind::Rational;
-                cursor.next_byte()?.expect("e or E character vanished"); // Consume the ExponentIndicator.
+                cursor.next_char()?.expect("e or E character vanished"); // Consume the ExponentIndicator.
                 buf.push(b'E');
                 take_signed_integer(&mut buf, cursor, kind)?;
             }
diff --git a/core/parser/src/lexer/operator.rs b/core/parser/src/lexer/operator.rs
index 473eeb8073..8f99548d92 100644
--- a/core/parser/src/lexer/operator.rs
+++ b/core/parser/src/lexer/operator.rs
@@ -1,37 +1,34 @@
 //! Boa's lexing for ECMAScript operators (+, - etc.).
 
 use crate::lexer::{Cursor, Error, Token, TokenKind, Tokenizer};
+use crate::source::ReadChar;
 use boa_ast::{Position, Punctuator, Span};
 use boa_interner::Interner;
 use boa_profiler::Profiler;
-use std::io::Read;
 
 /// `vop` tests the next token to see if we're on an assign operation of just a plain binary operation.
 ///
 /// If the next value is not an assignment operation it will pattern match  the provided values and return the corresponding token.
 macro_rules! vop {
     ($cursor:ident, $assign_op:expr, $op:expr) => ({
-        match $cursor.peek()? {
+        match $cursor.peek_char()? {
             None => Err(Error::syntax("abrupt end - could not preview next value as part of the operator", $cursor.pos())),
-            Some(b'=') => {
-                $cursor.next_byte()?.expect("= token vanished");
-                $cursor.next_column();
+            Some(0x3D /* = */) => {
+                $cursor.next_char()?.expect("= token vanished");
                 $assign_op
             }
             Some(_) => $op,
         }
     });
     ($cursor:ident, $assign_op:expr, $op:expr, {$($case:pat => $block:expr), +}) => ({
-        match $cursor.peek()? {
+        match $cursor.peek_char()? {
             None => Err(Error::syntax("abrupt end - could not preview next value as part of the operator", $cursor.pos())),
-            Some(b'=') => {
-                $cursor.next_byte()?.expect("= token vanished");
-                $cursor.next_column();
+            Some(0x3D /* = */) => {
+                $cursor.next_char()?.expect("= token vanished");
                 $assign_op
             },
             $($case => {
-                $cursor.next_byte()?.expect("Token vanished");
-                $cursor.next_column();
+                $cursor.next_char()?.expect("Token vanished");
                 $block
             })+,
             _ => $op,
@@ -86,19 +83,19 @@ impl<R> Tokenizer<R> for Operator {
         _interner: &mut Interner,
     ) -> Result<Token, Error>
     where
-        R: Read,
+        R: ReadChar,
     {
         let _timer = Profiler::global().start_event("Operator", "Lexing");
 
         match self.init {
             b'*' => op!(cursor, start_pos, Ok(Punctuator::AssignMul), Ok(Punctuator::Mul), {
-                Some(b'*') => vop!(cursor, Ok(Punctuator::AssignPow), Ok(Punctuator::Exp))
+                Some(0x2A /* * */) => vop!(cursor, Ok(Punctuator::AssignPow), Ok(Punctuator::Exp))
             }),
             b'+' => op!(cursor, start_pos, Ok(Punctuator::AssignAdd), Ok(Punctuator::Add), {
-                Some(b'+') => Ok(Punctuator::Inc)
+                Some(0x2B /* + */) => Ok(Punctuator::Inc)
             }),
             b'-' => op!(cursor, start_pos, Ok(Punctuator::AssignSub), Ok(Punctuator::Sub), {
-                Some(b'-') => {
+                Some(0x2D /* - */) => {
                     Ok(Punctuator::Dec)
                 }
             }),
@@ -109,19 +106,16 @@ impl<R> Tokenizer<R> for Operator {
                 Ok(Punctuator::Mod)
             ),
             b'|' => op!(cursor, start_pos, Ok(Punctuator::AssignOr), Ok(Punctuator::Or), {
-                Some(b'|') => vop!(cursor, Ok(Punctuator::AssignBoolOr), Ok(Punctuator::BoolOr))
+                Some(0x7C /* | */) => vop!(cursor, Ok(Punctuator::AssignBoolOr), Ok(Punctuator::BoolOr))
             }),
             b'&' => op!(cursor, start_pos, Ok(Punctuator::AssignAnd), Ok(Punctuator::And), {
-                Some(b'&') => vop!(cursor, Ok(Punctuator::AssignBoolAnd), Ok(Punctuator::BoolAnd))
+                Some(0x26 /* & */) => vop!(cursor, Ok(Punctuator::AssignBoolAnd), Ok(Punctuator::BoolAnd))
             }),
             b'?' => {
-                let (first, second) = (
-                    cursor.peek_n(2)?.first().copied(),
-                    cursor.peek_n(2)?.get(1).copied(),
-                );
+                let (first, second) = (cursor.peek_char()?, cursor.peek_n(2)?[1]);
                 match first {
-                    Some(b'?') => {
-                        cursor.next_byte()?.expect("? vanished");
+                    Some(0x3F /* ? */) => {
+                        cursor.next_char()?.expect("? vanished");
                         op!(
                             cursor,
                             start_pos,
@@ -129,8 +123,9 @@ impl<R> Tokenizer<R> for Operator {
                             Ok(Punctuator::Coalesce)
                         )
                     }
-                    Some(b'.') if !matches!(second, Some(second) if second.is_ascii_digit()) => {
-                        cursor.next_byte()?.expect(". vanished");
+                    Some(0x2E /* . */) if !matches!(second, Some(second) if (0x30..=0x39 /* 0..=9 */).contains(&second)) =>
+                    {
+                        cursor.next_char()?.expect(". vanished");
                         Ok(Token::new(
                             TokenKind::Punctuator(Punctuator::Optional),
                             Span::new(start_pos, cursor.pos()),
@@ -148,24 +143,24 @@ impl<R> Tokenizer<R> for Operator {
                 Ok(Punctuator::AssignXor),
                 Ok(Punctuator::Xor)
             ),
-            b'=' => op!(cursor, start_pos, if cursor.next_is(b'=')? {
+            b'=' => op!(cursor, start_pos, if cursor.next_if(0x3D /* = */)? {
                 Ok(Punctuator::StrictEq)
             } else {
                 Ok(Punctuator::Eq)
             }, Ok(Punctuator::Assign), {
-                Some(b'>') => {
+                Some(0x3E /* > */) => {
                     Ok(Punctuator::Arrow)
                 }
             }),
             b'<' => {
                 op!(cursor, start_pos, Ok(Punctuator::LessThanOrEq), Ok(Punctuator::LessThan), {
-                    Some(b'<') => vop!(cursor, Ok(Punctuator::AssignLeftSh), Ok(Punctuator::LeftSh))
+                    Some(0x3C /* < */) => vop!(cursor, Ok(Punctuator::AssignLeftSh), Ok(Punctuator::LeftSh))
                 })
             }
             b'>' => {
                 op!(cursor, start_pos, Ok(Punctuator::GreaterThanOrEq), Ok(Punctuator::GreaterThan), {
-                    Some(b'>') => vop!(cursor, Ok(Punctuator::AssignRightSh), Ok(Punctuator::RightSh), {
-                        Some(b'>') => vop!(cursor, Ok(Punctuator::AssignURightSh), Ok(Punctuator::URightSh))
+                    Some(0x3E /* > */) => vop!(cursor, Ok(Punctuator::AssignRightSh), Ok(Punctuator::RightSh), {
+                        Some(0x3E /* > */) => vop!(cursor, Ok(Punctuator::AssignURightSh), Ok(Punctuator::URightSh))
                     })
                 })
             }
diff --git a/core/parser/src/lexer/private_identifier.rs b/core/parser/src/lexer/private_identifier.rs
index 296fe13c1d..ce0f1eba4b 100644
--- a/core/parser/src/lexer/private_identifier.rs
+++ b/core/parser/src/lexer/private_identifier.rs
@@ -1,10 +1,10 @@
 //! Boa's lexing for ECMAScript private identifiers (#foo, #myvar, etc.).
 
 use crate::lexer::{identifier::Identifier, Cursor, Error, Token, TokenKind, Tokenizer};
+use crate::source::ReadChar;
 use boa_ast::{Position, Span};
 use boa_interner::Interner;
 use boa_profiler::Profiler;
-use std::io::Read;
 
 /// Private Identifier lexing.
 ///
@@ -30,14 +30,14 @@ impl<R> Tokenizer<R> for PrivateIdentifier {
         interner: &mut Interner,
     ) -> Result<Token, Error>
     where
-        R: Read,
+        R: ReadChar,
     {
         let _timer = Profiler::global().start_event("PrivateIdentifier", "Lexing");
 
         if let Some(next_ch) = cursor.next_char()? {
             if let Ok(c) = char::try_from(next_ch) {
                 match c {
-                    '\\' if cursor.peek()? == Some(b'u') => {
+                    '\\' if cursor.peek_char()? == Some(0x0075 /* u */) => {
                         let (name, _) = Identifier::take_identifier_name(cursor, start_pos, c)?;
                         Ok(Token::new(
                             TokenKind::PrivateIdentifier(interner.get_or_intern(name.as_str())),
diff --git a/core/parser/src/lexer/regex.rs b/core/parser/src/lexer/regex.rs
index 3645610792..2a99e013f3 100644
--- a/core/parser/src/lexer/regex.rs
+++ b/core/parser/src/lexer/regex.rs
@@ -1,15 +1,13 @@
 //! Boa's lexing for ECMAScript regex literals.
 
 use crate::lexer::{Cursor, Error, Span, Token, TokenKind, Tokenizer};
+use crate::source::ReadChar;
 use bitflags::bitflags;
 use boa_ast::Position;
 use boa_interner::{Interner, Sym};
 use boa_profiler::Profiler;
 use regress::{Flags, Regex};
-use std::{
-    io::{self, ErrorKind, Read},
-    str::{self, FromStr},
-};
+use std::str::{self, FromStr};
 
 /// Regex literal lexing.
 ///
@@ -34,7 +32,7 @@ impl<R> Tokenizer<R> for RegexLiteral {
         interner: &mut Interner,
     ) -> Result<Token, Error>
     where
-        R: Read,
+        R: ReadChar,
     {
         let _timer = Profiler::global().start_event("RegexLiteral", "Lexing");
 
@@ -43,7 +41,7 @@ impl<R> Tokenizer<R> for RegexLiteral {
 
         // Lex RegularExpressionBody.
         loop {
-            match cursor.next_byte()? {
+            match cursor.next_char()? {
                 None => {
                     // Abrupt end.
                     return Err(Error::syntax(
@@ -53,52 +51,40 @@ impl<R> Tokenizer<R> for RegexLiteral {
                 }
                 Some(b) => {
                     match b {
-                        b'/' if !is_class_char => break, // RegularExpressionBody finished.
-                        b'[' => {
+                        // /
+                        0x2F if !is_class_char => break, // RegularExpressionBody finished.
+                        // [
+                        0x5B => {
                             is_class_char = true;
                             body.push(b);
                         }
-                        b']' if is_class_char => {
+                        // ]
+                        0x5D if is_class_char => {
                             is_class_char = false;
                             body.push(b);
                         }
-                        b'\n' | b'\r' => {
+                        // \n | \r | \u{2028} | \u{2029}
+                        0xA | 0xD | 0x2028 | 0x2029 => {
                             // Not allowed in Regex literal.
                             return Err(Error::syntax(
                                 "new lines are not allowed in regular expressions",
                                 cursor.pos(),
                             ));
                         }
-                        0xE2 if (cursor.peek_n(2)? == [0x80, 0xA8]
-                            || cursor.peek_n(2)? == [0x80, 0xA9]) =>
-                        {
-                            // '\u{2028}' (e2 80 a8) and '\u{2029}' (e2 80 a9) are not allowed
-                            return Err(Error::syntax(
-                                "new lines are not allowed in regular expressions",
-                                cursor.pos(),
-                            ));
-                        }
-                        b'\\' => {
+                        // \
+                        0x5C => {
                             // Escape sequence
-                            body.push(b'\\');
-                            if let Some(sc) = cursor.next_byte()? {
+                            body.push(b);
+                            if let Some(sc) = cursor.next_char()? {
                                 match sc {
-                                    b'\n' | b'\r' => {
+                                    // \n | \r | \u{2028} | \u{2029}
+                                    0xA | 0xD | 0x2028 | 0x2029 => {
                                         // Not allowed in Regex literal.
                                         return Err(Error::syntax(
                                             "new lines are not allowed in regular expressions",
                                             cursor.pos(),
                                         ));
                                     }
-                                    0xE2 if (cursor.peek_n(2)? == [0x80, 0xA8]
-                                        || cursor.peek_n(2)? == [0x80, 0xA9]) =>
-                                    {
-                                        // '\u{2028}' (e2 80 a8) and '\u{2029}' (e2 80 a9) are not allowed
-                                        return Err(Error::syntax(
-                                            "new lines are not allowed in regular expressions",
-                                            cursor.pos(),
-                                        ));
-                                    }
                                     b => body.push(b),
                                 }
                             } else {
@@ -119,28 +105,41 @@ impl<R> Tokenizer<R> for RegexLiteral {
         let flags_start = cursor.pos();
         cursor.take_while_ascii_pred(&mut flags, &char::is_alphabetic)?;
 
+        // SAFETY: We have already checked that the bytes are valid UTF-8.
         let flags_str = unsafe { str::from_utf8_unchecked(flags.as_slice()) };
-        if let Ok(body_str) = str::from_utf8(body.as_slice()) {
-            if let Err(error) = Regex::with_flags(body_str, flags_str) {
-                return Err(Error::Syntax(
-                    format!("Invalid regular expression literal: {error}").into(),
-                    start_pos,
-                ));
+
+        let mut body_utf16 = Vec::new();
+
+        // We convert the body to UTF-16 since it may contain code points that are not valid UTF-8.
+        // We already know that the body is valid UTF-16. Casting is fine.
+        #[allow(clippy::cast_possible_truncation)]
+        for cp in &body {
+            let cp = *cp;
+            if cp <= 0xFFFF {
+                body_utf16.push(cp as u16);
+            } else {
+                let cp = cp - 0x1_0000;
+                let high = 0xD800 | ((cp >> 10) as u16);
+                let low = 0xDC00 | ((cp as u16) & 0x3FF);
+                body_utf16.push(high);
+                body_utf16.push(low);
             }
+        }
 
-            Ok(Token::new(
-                TokenKind::regular_expression_literal(
-                    interner.get_or_intern(body_str),
-                    parse_regex_flags(flags_str, flags_start, interner)?,
-                ),
-                Span::new(start_pos, cursor.pos()),
-            ))
-        } else {
-            Err(Error::from(io::Error::new(
-                ErrorKind::InvalidData,
-                "Invalid UTF-8 character in regular expressions",
-            )))
+        if let Err(error) = Regex::from_unicode(body.into_iter(), flags_str) {
+            return Err(Error::Syntax(
+                format!("Invalid regular expression literal: {error}").into(),
+                start_pos,
+            ));
         }
+
+        Ok(Token::new(
+            TokenKind::regular_expression_literal(
+                interner.get_or_intern(body_utf16.as_slice()),
+                parse_regex_flags(flags_str, flags_start, interner)?,
+            ),
+            Span::new(start_pos, cursor.pos()),
+        ))
     }
 }
 
diff --git a/core/parser/src/lexer/spread.rs b/core/parser/src/lexer/spread.rs
index d22a1f41cb..5732a50f9a 100644
--- a/core/parser/src/lexer/spread.rs
+++ b/core/parser/src/lexer/spread.rs
@@ -1,10 +1,10 @@
 //! Boa's lexing for ECMAScript spread (...) literals.
 
 use crate::lexer::{Cursor, Error, Token, Tokenizer};
+use crate::source::ReadChar;
 use boa_ast::{Position, Punctuator, Span};
 use boa_interner::Interner;
 use boa_profiler::Profiler;
-use std::io::Read;
 
 /// Spread literal lexing.
 ///
@@ -34,13 +34,13 @@ impl<R> Tokenizer<R> for SpreadLiteral {
         _interner: &mut Interner,
     ) -> Result<Token, Error>
     where
-        R: Read,
+        R: ReadChar,
     {
         let _timer = Profiler::global().start_event("SpreadLiteral", "Lexing");
 
         // . or ...
-        if cursor.next_is(b'.')? {
-            if cursor.next_is(b'.')? {
+        if cursor.next_if(0x2E /* . */)? {
+            if cursor.next_if(0x2E /* . */)? {
                 Ok(Token::new(
                     Punctuator::Spread.into(),
                     Span::new(start_pos, cursor.pos()),
diff --git a/core/parser/src/lexer/string.rs b/core/parser/src/lexer/string.rs
index 0e0748f8f2..a49d5ab522 100644
--- a/core/parser/src/lexer/string.rs
+++ b/core/parser/src/lexer/string.rs
@@ -1,13 +1,11 @@
 //! Boa's lexing for ECMAScript string literals.
 
 use crate::lexer::{token::EscapeSequence, Cursor, Error, Token, TokenKind, Tokenizer};
+use crate::source::ReadChar;
 use boa_ast::{Position, Span};
 use boa_interner::Interner;
 use boa_profiler::Profiler;
-use std::{
-    io::{self, ErrorKind, Read},
-    str,
-};
+use std::io::{self, ErrorKind};
 
 /// String literal lexing.
 ///
@@ -84,7 +82,7 @@ impl<R> Tokenizer<R> for StringLiteral {
         interner: &mut Interner,
     ) -> Result<Token, Error>
     where
-        R: Read,
+        R: ReadChar,
     {
         let _timer = Profiler::global().start_event("StringLiteral", "Lexing");
 
@@ -119,7 +117,7 @@ impl StringLiteral {
         strict: bool,
     ) -> Result<(Vec<u16>, Span, EscapeSequence), Error>
     where
-        R: Read,
+        R: ReadChar,
     {
         let mut buf = Vec::new();
         let mut escape_sequence = EscapeSequence::empty();
@@ -172,7 +170,7 @@ impl StringLiteral {
         is_template_literal: bool,
     ) -> Result<(Option<u32>, EscapeSequence), Error>
     where
-        R: Read,
+        R: ReadChar,
     {
         let escape_ch = cursor.next_char()?.ok_or_else(|| {
             Error::from(io::Error::new(
@@ -192,8 +190,8 @@ impl StringLiteral {
             0x0027 /* ' */ => (Some(0x0027 /* ' */), EscapeSequence::OTHER),
             0x005C /* \ */ => (Some(0x005C /* \ */), EscapeSequence::OTHER),
             0x0030 /* 0 */ if cursor
-                .peek()?
-                .filter(u8::is_ascii_digit)
+                .peek_char()?
+                .filter(|c| (0x30..=0x39 /* 0..=9 */).contains(c))
                 .is_none() =>
                 (Some(0x0000 /* NULL */), EscapeSequence::OTHER),
             0x0078 /* x */ => {
@@ -256,23 +254,32 @@ impl StringLiteral {
         start_pos: Position,
     ) -> Result<u32, Error>
     where
-        R: Read,
+        R: ReadChar,
     {
         // Support \u{X..X} (Unicode CodePoint)
-        if cursor.next_is(b'{')? {
+        if cursor.next_if(0x7B /* { */)? {
             // TODO: use bytes for a bit better performance (using stack)
             let mut code_point_buf = Vec::with_capacity(6);
-            cursor.take_until(b'}', &mut code_point_buf)?;
-
-            let code_point = str::from_utf8(code_point_buf.as_slice())
-                .ok()
-                .and_then(|code_point_str| {
-                    // The `code_point_str` should represent a single unicode codepoint, convert to u32
-                    u32::from_str_radix(code_point_str, 16).ok()
-                })
-                .ok_or_else(|| {
-                    Error::syntax("malformed Unicode character escape sequence", start_pos)
-                })?;
+            cursor.take_until(0x7D /* } */, &mut code_point_buf)?;
+
+            let mut s = String::with_capacity(code_point_buf.len());
+            for c in code_point_buf {
+                if let Some(c) = char::from_u32(c) {
+                    s.push(c);
+                } else {
+                    return Err(Error::syntax(
+                        "malformed Unicode character escape sequence",
+                        start_pos,
+                    ));
+                }
+            }
+
+            let Ok(code_point) = u32::from_str_radix(&s, 16) else {
+                return Err(Error::syntax(
+                    "malformed Unicode character escape sequence",
+                    start_pos,
+                ));
+            };
 
             // UTF16Encoding of a numeric code point value
             if code_point > 0x10_FFFF {
@@ -286,15 +293,33 @@ impl StringLiteral {
         } else {
             // Grammar: Hex4Digits
             // Collect each character after \u e.g \uD83D will give "D83D"
-            let mut code_point_utf8_bytes = [0u8; 4];
-            cursor.fill_bytes(&mut code_point_utf8_bytes)?;
-
-            // Convert to u16
-            let code_point = str::from_utf8(&code_point_utf8_bytes)
-                .ok()
-                .and_then(|code_point_str| u16::from_str_radix(code_point_str, 16).ok())
+            let mut buffer = [0u32; 4];
+            buffer[0] = cursor
+                .next_char()?
+                .ok_or_else(|| Error::syntax("invalid Unicode escape sequence", start_pos))?;
+            buffer[1] = cursor
+                .next_char()?
+                .ok_or_else(|| Error::syntax("invalid Unicode escape sequence", start_pos))?;
+            buffer[2] = cursor
+                .next_char()?
+                .ok_or_else(|| Error::syntax("invalid Unicode escape sequence", start_pos))?;
+            buffer[3] = cursor
+                .next_char()?
                 .ok_or_else(|| Error::syntax("invalid Unicode escape sequence", start_pos))?;
 
+            let mut s = String::with_capacity(buffer.len());
+            for c in buffer {
+                if let Some(c) = char::from_u32(c) {
+                    s.push(c);
+                } else {
+                    return Err(Error::syntax("invalid Unicode escape sequence", start_pos));
+                }
+            }
+
+            let Ok(code_point) = u16::from_str_radix(&s, 16) else {
+                return Err(Error::syntax("invalid Unicode escape sequence", start_pos));
+            };
+
             Ok(u32::from(code_point))
         }
     }
@@ -304,14 +329,34 @@ impl StringLiteral {
         start_pos: Position,
     ) -> Result<u32, Error>
     where
-        R: Read,
+        R: ReadChar,
     {
-        let mut code_point_utf8_bytes = [0u8; 2];
-        cursor.fill_bytes(&mut code_point_utf8_bytes)?;
-        let code_point = str::from_utf8(&code_point_utf8_bytes)
-            .ok()
-            .and_then(|code_point_str| u16::from_str_radix(code_point_str, 16).ok())
+        let mut buffer = [0u32; 2];
+        buffer[0] = cursor
+            .next_char()?
             .ok_or_else(|| Error::syntax("invalid Hexadecimal escape sequence", start_pos))?;
+        buffer[1] = cursor
+            .next_char()?
+            .ok_or_else(|| Error::syntax("invalid Hexadecimal escape sequence", start_pos))?;
+
+        let mut s = String::with_capacity(buffer.len());
+        for c in buffer {
+            if let Some(c) = char::from_u32(c) {
+                s.push(c);
+            } else {
+                return Err(Error::syntax(
+                    "invalid Hexadecimal escape sequence",
+                    start_pos,
+                ));
+            }
+        }
+
+        let Ok(code_point) = u16::from_str_radix(&s, 16) else {
+            return Err(Error::syntax(
+                "invalid Hexadecimal escape sequence",
+                start_pos,
+            ));
+        };
 
         Ok(u32::from(code_point))
     }
@@ -321,24 +366,24 @@ impl StringLiteral {
         init_byte: u8,
     ) -> Result<u32, Error>
     where
-        R: Read,
+        R: ReadChar,
     {
         // Grammar: OctalDigit
         let mut code_point = u32::from(init_byte - b'0');
 
         // Grammar: ZeroToThree OctalDigit
         // Grammar: FourToSeven OctalDigit
-        if let Some(byte) = cursor.peek()? {
-            if (b'0'..=b'7').contains(&byte) {
-                cursor.next_byte()?;
-                code_point = (code_point * 8) + u32::from(byte - b'0');
+        if let Some(c) = cursor.peek_char()? {
+            if (0x30..=0x37/* 0..=7 */).contains(&c) {
+                cursor.next_char()?;
+                code_point = (code_point * 8) + c - 0x30 /* 0 */;
 
-                if (b'0'..=b'3').contains(&init_byte) {
+                if (0x30..=0x33/* 0..=3 */).contains(&init_byte) {
                     // Grammar: ZeroToThree OctalDigit OctalDigit
-                    if let Some(byte) = cursor.peek()? {
-                        if (b'0'..=b'7').contains(&byte) {
-                            cursor.next_byte()?;
-                            code_point = (code_point * 8) + u32::from(byte - b'0');
+                    if let Some(c) = cursor.peek_char()? {
+                        if (0x30..=0x37/* 0..=7 */).contains(&c) {
+                            cursor.next_char()?;
+                            code_point = (code_point * 8) + c - 0x30 /* 0 */;
                         }
                     }
                 }
diff --git a/core/parser/src/lexer/template.rs b/core/parser/src/lexer/template.rs
index eb69261cf1..59b85790db 100644
--- a/core/parser/src/lexer/template.rs
+++ b/core/parser/src/lexer/template.rs
@@ -1,13 +1,17 @@
 //! Boa's lexing for ECMAScript template literals.
 
-use crate::lexer::{
-    string::{StringLiteral, UTF16CodeUnitsBuffer},
-    Cursor, Error, Token, TokenKind, Tokenizer,
+use crate::source::ReadChar;
+use crate::{
+    lexer::{
+        string::{StringLiteral, UTF16CodeUnitsBuffer},
+        Cursor, Error, Token, TokenKind, Tokenizer,
+    },
+    source::UTF8Input,
 };
 use boa_ast::{Position, Span};
 use boa_interner::{Interner, Sym};
 use boa_profiler::Profiler;
-use std::io::{self, ErrorKind, Read};
+use std::io::{self, ErrorKind};
 
 #[cfg_attr(feature = "deser", derive(serde::Serialize, serde::Deserialize))]
 #[derive(Debug, Clone, Copy, PartialEq, Eq)]
@@ -44,7 +48,7 @@ impl TemplateString {
     /// [spec]: https://tc39.es/ecma262/#sec-static-semantics-templatestrings
     pub fn to_owned_cooked(self, interner: &mut Interner) -> Result<Sym, Error> {
         let string = interner.resolve_expect(self.raw).to_string();
-        let mut cursor = Cursor::with_position(string.as_bytes(), self.start_pos);
+        let mut cursor = Cursor::with_position(UTF8Input::new(string.as_bytes()), self.start_pos);
         let mut buf: Vec<u16> = Vec::new();
 
         loop {
@@ -99,7 +103,7 @@ impl<R> Tokenizer<R> for TemplateLiteral {
         interner: &mut Interner,
     ) -> Result<Token, Error>
     where
-        R: Read,
+        R: ReadChar,
     {
         let _timer = Profiler::global().start_event("TemplateLiteral", "Lexing");
 
@@ -124,7 +128,7 @@ impl<R> Tokenizer<R> for TemplateLiteral {
                     ));
                 }
                 // $
-                0x0024 if cursor.next_is(b'{')? => {
+                0x0024 if cursor.next_if(0x7B /* { */)? => {
                     let raw_sym = interner.get_or_intern(&buf[..]);
                     let template_string = TemplateString::new(raw_sym, start_pos);
 
@@ -135,7 +139,7 @@ impl<R> Tokenizer<R> for TemplateLiteral {
                 }
                 // \
                 0x005C => {
-                    let escape_ch = cursor.peek()?.ok_or_else(|| {
+                    let escape_ch = cursor.peek_char()?.ok_or_else(|| {
                         Error::from(io::Error::new(
                             ErrorKind::UnexpectedEof,
                             "unterminated escape sequence in literal",
@@ -143,13 +147,18 @@ impl<R> Tokenizer<R> for TemplateLiteral {
                     })?;
 
                     buf.push(u16::from(b'\\'));
-                    match escape_ch {
-                        b'`' | b'$' | b'\\' => {
-                            let next_byte =
-                                cursor.next_byte()?.expect("already checked next character");
-                            buf.push(u16::from(next_byte));
-                        }
-                        _ => continue,
+                    let escape_ch = match escape_ch {
+                        // `
+                        0x0060 => Some(0x0060),
+                        // $
+                        0x0024 => Some(0x0024),
+                        // \
+                        0x005C => Some(0x005C),
+                        _ => None,
+                    };
+                    if let Some(ch) = escape_ch {
+                        let _ = cursor.next_char()?.expect("already checked next character");
+                        buf.push(ch);
                     }
                 }
                 ch => {
diff --git a/core/parser/src/lexer/tests.rs b/core/parser/src/lexer/tests.rs
index ff363d2621..f775d21f2a 100644
--- a/core/parser/src/lexer/tests.rs
+++ b/core/parser/src/lexer/tests.rs
@@ -3,8 +3,9 @@
 use crate::lexer::{
     template::TemplateString,
     token::{ContainsEscapeSequence, EscapeSequence, Numeric},
-    Cursor, Error, Interner, Lexer, Position, Punctuator, Read, Span, TokenKind,
+    Cursor, Error, Interner, Lexer, Position, Punctuator, Span, TokenKind,
 };
+use crate::source::ReadChar;
 use boa_ast::Keyword;
 use boa_interner::Sym;
 use boa_macros::utf16;
@@ -16,7 +17,7 @@ fn span(start: (u32, u32), end: (u32, u32)) -> Span {
 
 fn expect_tokens<R>(lexer: &mut Lexer<R>, expected: &[TokenKind], interner: &mut Interner)
 where
-    R: Read,
+    R: ReadChar,
 {
     for expect in expected {
         assert_eq!(&lexer.next(interner).unwrap().unwrap().kind(), &expect);
@@ -31,7 +32,7 @@ where
 #[test]
 fn check_single_line_comment() {
     let s1 = "var \n//This is a comment\ntrue";
-    let mut lexer = Lexer::new(s1.as_bytes());
+    let mut lexer = Lexer::from(s1.as_bytes());
     let interner = &mut Interner::default();
 
     let expected = [
@@ -47,7 +48,7 @@ fn check_single_line_comment() {
 #[test]
 fn check_single_line_comment_with_crlf_ending() {
     let s1 = "var \r\n//This is a comment\r\ntrue";
-    let mut lexer = Lexer::new(s1.as_bytes());
+    let mut lexer = Lexer::from(s1.as_bytes());
     let interner = &mut Interner::default();
 
     let expected = [
@@ -63,7 +64,7 @@ fn check_single_line_comment_with_crlf_ending() {
 #[test]
 fn check_multi_line_comment() {
     let s = "var /* await \n break \n*/ x";
-    let mut lexer = Lexer::new(s.as_bytes());
+    let mut lexer = Lexer::from(s.as_bytes());
     let interner = &mut Interner::default();
 
     let sym = interner.get_or_intern_static("x", utf16!("x"));
@@ -79,7 +80,7 @@ fn check_multi_line_comment() {
 #[test]
 fn check_identifier() {
     let s = "x x1 _x $x __ $$ Ѐ ЀЀ x\u{200C}\u{200D} \\u0078 \\u0078\\u0078 \\u{0078}x\\u{0078}";
-    let mut lexer = Lexer::new(s.as_bytes());
+    let mut lexer = Lexer::from(s.as_bytes());
     let interner = &mut Interner::default();
 
     let expected = [
@@ -116,7 +117,7 @@ fn check_invalid_identifier_start() {
     let invalid_identifier_starts = ["\u{200C}", "\u{200D}", "😀"];
 
     for s in &invalid_identifier_starts {
-        let mut lexer = Lexer::new(s.as_bytes());
+        let mut lexer = Lexer::from(s.as_bytes());
         let interner = &mut Interner::default();
         lexer
             .next(interner)
@@ -132,7 +133,7 @@ fn check_invalid_identifier_part() {
     let sym = interner.get_or_intern_static("x", utf16!("x"));
     for part in &invalid_identifier_parts {
         let s = String::from("x") + part;
-        let mut lexer = Lexer::new(s.as_bytes());
+        let mut lexer = Lexer::from(s.as_bytes());
         let interner = &mut Interner::default();
         assert_eq!(
             lexer.next(interner).unwrap().unwrap().kind(),
@@ -144,7 +145,7 @@ fn check_invalid_identifier_part() {
 #[test]
 fn check_string() {
     let s = "'aaa' \"bbb\"";
-    let mut lexer = Lexer::new(s.as_bytes());
+    let mut lexer = Lexer::from(s.as_bytes());
     let interner = &mut Interner::default();
 
     let a_sym = interner.get_or_intern_static("aaa", utf16!("aaa"));
@@ -160,7 +161,7 @@ fn check_string() {
 #[test]
 fn check_template_literal_simple() {
     let s = "`I'm a template literal`";
-    let mut lexer = Lexer::new(s.as_bytes());
+    let mut lexer = Lexer::from(s.as_bytes());
     let interner = &mut Interner::default();
 
     let sym =
@@ -175,7 +176,7 @@ fn check_template_literal_simple() {
 #[test]
 fn check_template_literal_unterminated() {
     let s = "`I'm a template";
-    let mut lexer = Lexer::new(s.as_bytes());
+    let mut lexer = Lexer::from(s.as_bytes());
     let interner = &mut Interner::default();
 
     lexer
@@ -189,7 +190,7 @@ fn check_punctuators() {
     let s = "{ ( ) [ ] . ... ; , < > <= >= == != === !== \
              + - * % -- << >> >>> & | ^ ! ~ && || ? : \
              = += -= *= &= **= ++ ** <<= >>= >>>= &= |= ^= => ?? ??= &&= ||= ?.";
-    let mut lexer = Lexer::new(s.as_bytes());
+    let mut lexer = Lexer::from(s.as_bytes());
     let interner = &mut Interner::default();
 
     let expected = [
@@ -259,7 +260,7 @@ fn check_keywords() {
              do else export extends finally for function if import in instanceof \
              new return super switch this throw try typeof var void while with yield";
 
-    let mut lexer = Lexer::new(s.as_bytes());
+    let mut lexer = Lexer::from(s.as_bytes());
     let interner = &mut Interner::default();
 
     let expected = [
@@ -305,7 +306,7 @@ fn check_keywords() {
 #[test]
 fn check_variable_definition_tokens() {
     let s = "let a = 'hello';";
-    let mut lexer = Lexer::new(s.as_bytes());
+    let mut lexer = Lexer::from(s.as_bytes());
     let interner = &mut Interner::default();
 
     let a_sym = interner.get_or_intern_static("a", utf16!("a"));
@@ -325,7 +326,7 @@ fn check_variable_definition_tokens() {
 fn check_positions() {
     let s = r#"console.log("hello world"); // Test"#;
     // --------123456789
-    let mut lexer = Lexer::new(s.as_bytes());
+    let mut lexer = Lexer::from(s.as_bytes());
     let interner = &mut Interner::default();
 
     // The first column is 1 (not zero indexed)
@@ -375,7 +376,7 @@ fn check_positions() {
 fn check_positions_codepoint() {
     let s = r#"console.log("hello world\u{2764}"); // Test"#;
     // --------123456789
-    let mut lexer = Lexer::new(s.as_bytes());
+    let mut lexer = Lexer::from(s.as_bytes());
     let interner = &mut Interner::default();
 
     // The first column is 1 (not zero indexed)
@@ -425,7 +426,7 @@ fn check_positions_codepoint() {
 fn check_line_numbers() {
     let s = "x\ny\n";
 
-    let mut lexer = Lexer::new(s.as_bytes());
+    let mut lexer = Lexer::from(s.as_bytes());
     let interner = &mut Interner::default();
 
     assert_eq!(
@@ -450,7 +451,7 @@ fn check_line_numbers() {
 #[test]
 fn check_decrement_advances_lexer_2_places() {
     // Here we want an example of decrementing an integer
-    let mut lexer = Lexer::new(&b"let a = b--;"[..]);
+    let mut lexer = Lexer::from(&b"let a = b--;"[..]);
     let interner = &mut Interner::default();
 
     for _ in 0..4 {
@@ -472,7 +473,7 @@ fn check_decrement_advances_lexer_2_places() {
 
 #[test]
 fn single_int() {
-    let mut lexer = Lexer::new(&b"52"[..]);
+    let mut lexer = Lexer::from(&b"52"[..]);
     let interner = &mut Interner::default();
 
     let expected = [TokenKind::numeric_literal(52)];
@@ -482,7 +483,7 @@ fn single_int() {
 
 #[test]
 fn numbers() {
-    let mut lexer = Lexer::new(
+    let mut lexer = Lexer::from(
         "1 2 0x34 056 7.89 42. 5e3 5e+3 5e-3 0b10 0O123 0999 1.0e1 1.0e-1 1.0E1 1E1 0.0 0.12 -32"
             .as_bytes(),
     );
@@ -516,7 +517,7 @@ fn numbers() {
 
 #[test]
 fn numbers_with_separators() {
-    let mut lexer = Lexer::new(
+    let mut lexer = Lexer::from(
         "1_0 2_0 0x3_4 056 7.8_9 4_2. 5_0e2 5_0e+2 5_0e-4 0b1_0 1_0.0_0e2 1.0E-0_1 -3_2".as_bytes(),
     );
     let interner = &mut Interner::default();
@@ -548,7 +549,7 @@ fn numbers_with_bad_separators() {
     ];
 
     for n in &numbers {
-        let mut lexer = Lexer::new(n.as_bytes());
+        let mut lexer = Lexer::from(n.as_bytes());
         let interner = &mut Interner::default();
         assert!(lexer.next(interner).is_err());
     }
@@ -556,7 +557,7 @@ fn numbers_with_bad_separators() {
 
 #[test]
 fn big_exp_numbers() {
-    let mut lexer = Lexer::new(&b"1.0e25 1.0e36 9.0e50"[..]);
+    let mut lexer = Lexer::from(&b"1.0e25 1.0e36 9.0e50"[..]);
     let interner = &mut Interner::default();
 
     let expected = [
@@ -572,7 +573,7 @@ fn big_exp_numbers() {
 
 #[test]
 fn big_literal_numbers() {
-    let mut lexer = Lexer::new(&b"10000000000000000000000000"[..]);
+    let mut lexer = Lexer::from(&b"10000000000000000000000000"[..]);
     let interner = &mut Interner::default();
 
     let expected = [TokenKind::numeric_literal(
@@ -584,7 +585,7 @@ fn big_literal_numbers() {
 
 #[test]
 fn implicit_octal_edge_case() {
-    let mut lexer = Lexer::new(&b"044.5 094.5"[..]);
+    let mut lexer = Lexer::from(&b"044.5 094.5"[..]);
     let interner = &mut Interner::default();
 
     let expected = [
@@ -598,7 +599,7 @@ fn implicit_octal_edge_case() {
 
 #[test]
 fn hexadecimal_edge_case() {
-    let mut lexer = Lexer::new(&b"0xffff.ff 0xffffff"[..]);
+    let mut lexer = Lexer::from(&b"0xffff.ff 0xffffff"[..]);
     let interner = &mut Interner::default();
 
     let sym = interner.get_or_intern_static("ff", utf16!("ff"));
@@ -614,7 +615,7 @@ fn hexadecimal_edge_case() {
 
 #[test]
 fn single_number_without_semicolon() {
-    let mut lexer = Lexer::new(&b"1"[..]);
+    let mut lexer = Lexer::from(&b"1"[..]);
     let interner = &mut Interner::default();
 
     let expected = [TokenKind::numeric_literal(Numeric::Integer(1))];
@@ -624,7 +625,7 @@ fn single_number_without_semicolon() {
 
 #[test]
 fn number_followed_by_dot() {
-    let mut lexer = Lexer::new(&b"1.."[..]);
+    let mut lexer = Lexer::from(&b"1.."[..]);
     let interner = &mut Interner::default();
 
     let expected = [
@@ -637,7 +638,7 @@ fn number_followed_by_dot() {
 
 #[test]
 fn regex_literal() {
-    let mut lexer = Lexer::new(&b"/(?:)/"[..]);
+    let mut lexer = Lexer::from(&b"/(?:)/"[..]);
     let interner = &mut Interner::default();
 
     let expected = [TokenKind::regular_expression_literal(
@@ -650,7 +651,7 @@ fn regex_literal() {
 
 #[test]
 fn regex_equals_following_assignment() {
-    let mut lexer = Lexer::new(&b"const myRegex = /=/;"[..]);
+    let mut lexer = Lexer::from(&b"const myRegex = /=/;"[..]);
     let interner = &mut Interner::default();
 
     let expected = [
@@ -669,7 +670,7 @@ fn regex_equals_following_assignment() {
 
 #[test]
 fn regex_literal_flags() {
-    let mut lexer = Lexer::new(&br"/\/[^\/]*\/*/gmi"[..]);
+    let mut lexer = Lexer::from(&br"/\/[^\/]*\/*/gmi"[..]);
     let interner = &mut Interner::default();
 
     let expected = [TokenKind::regular_expression_literal(
@@ -682,14 +683,14 @@ fn regex_literal_flags() {
 
 #[test]
 fn regex_literal_flags_err() {
-    let mut lexer = Lexer::new(&br"/\/[^\/]*\/*/gmip"[..]);
+    let mut lexer = Lexer::from(&br"/\/[^\/]*\/*/gmip"[..]);
     let interner = &mut Interner::default();
 
     lexer
         .next(interner)
         .expect_err("Lexer did not handle regex literal with error");
 
-    let mut lexer = Lexer::new(&br"/\/[^\/]*\/*/gmii"[..]);
+    let mut lexer = Lexer::from(&br"/\/[^\/]*\/*/gmii"[..]);
     let interner = &mut Interner::default();
 
     lexer
@@ -699,7 +700,7 @@ fn regex_literal_flags_err() {
 
 #[test]
 fn addition_no_spaces() {
-    let mut lexer = Lexer::new(&b"1+1"[..]);
+    let mut lexer = Lexer::from(&b"1+1"[..]);
     let interner = &mut Interner::default();
 
     let expected = [
@@ -713,7 +714,7 @@ fn addition_no_spaces() {
 
 #[test]
 fn addition_no_spaces_left_side() {
-    let mut lexer = Lexer::new(&b"1+ 1"[..]);
+    let mut lexer = Lexer::from(&b"1+ 1"[..]);
     let interner = &mut Interner::default();
 
     let expected = [
@@ -727,7 +728,7 @@ fn addition_no_spaces_left_side() {
 
 #[test]
 fn addition_no_spaces_right_side() {
-    let mut lexer = Lexer::new(&b"1 +1"[..]);
+    let mut lexer = Lexer::from(&b"1 +1"[..]);
     let interner = &mut Interner::default();
 
     let expected = [
@@ -741,7 +742,7 @@ fn addition_no_spaces_right_side() {
 
 #[test]
 fn addition_no_spaces_e_number_left_side() {
-    let mut lexer = Lexer::new(&b"1e2+ 1"[..]);
+    let mut lexer = Lexer::from(&b"1e2+ 1"[..]);
     let interner = &mut Interner::default();
 
     let expected = [
@@ -755,7 +756,7 @@ fn addition_no_spaces_e_number_left_side() {
 
 #[test]
 fn addition_no_spaces_e_number_right_side() {
-    let mut lexer = Lexer::new(&b"1 +1e3"[..]);
+    let mut lexer = Lexer::from(&b"1 +1e3"[..]);
     let interner = &mut Interner::default();
 
     let expected = [
@@ -769,7 +770,7 @@ fn addition_no_spaces_e_number_right_side() {
 
 #[test]
 fn addition_no_spaces_e_number() {
-    let mut lexer = Lexer::new(&b"1e3+1e11"[..]);
+    let mut lexer = Lexer::from(&b"1e3+1e11"[..]);
     let interner = &mut Interner::default();
 
     let expected = [
@@ -783,7 +784,7 @@ fn addition_no_spaces_e_number() {
 
 #[test]
 fn take_while_ascii_pred_simple() {
-    let mut cur = Cursor::new(&b"abcdefghijk"[..]);
+    let mut cur = Cursor::from(&b"abcdefghijk"[..]);
 
     let mut buf: Vec<u8> = Vec::new();
 
@@ -795,7 +796,7 @@ fn take_while_ascii_pred_simple() {
 
 #[test]
 fn take_while_ascii_pred_immediate_stop() {
-    let mut cur = Cursor::new(&b"abcdefghijk"[..]);
+    let mut cur = Cursor::from(&b"abcdefghijk"[..]);
 
     let mut buf: Vec<u8> = Vec::new();
 
@@ -806,7 +807,7 @@ fn take_while_ascii_pred_immediate_stop() {
 
 #[test]
 fn take_while_ascii_pred_entire_str() {
-    let mut cur = Cursor::new(&b"abcdefghijk"[..]);
+    let mut cur = Cursor::from(&b"abcdefghijk"[..]);
 
     let mut buf: Vec<u8> = Vec::new();
 
@@ -817,7 +818,7 @@ fn take_while_ascii_pred_entire_str() {
 
 #[test]
 fn take_while_ascii_pred_non_ascii_stop() {
-    let mut cur = Cursor::new("abcde😀fghijk".as_bytes());
+    let mut cur = Cursor::from("abcde😀fghijk".as_bytes());
 
     let mut buf: Vec<u8> = Vec::new();
 
@@ -826,63 +827,13 @@ fn take_while_ascii_pred_non_ascii_stop() {
     assert_eq!(str::from_utf8(buf.as_slice()).unwrap(), "abcde");
 }
 
-#[test]
-fn take_while_char_pred_simple() {
-    let mut cur = Cursor::new(&b"abcdefghijk"[..]);
-
-    let mut buf: Vec<u8> = Vec::new();
-
-    cur.take_while_char_pred(&mut buf, &|c| {
-        c == 'a' as u32 || c == 'b' as u32 || c == 'c' as u32
-    })
-    .unwrap();
-
-    assert_eq!(str::from_utf8(buf.as_slice()).unwrap(), "abc");
-}
-
-#[test]
-fn take_while_char_pred_immediate_stop() {
-    let mut cur = Cursor::new(&b"abcdefghijk"[..]);
-
-    let mut buf: Vec<u8> = Vec::new();
-
-    cur.take_while_char_pred(&mut buf, &|_| false).unwrap();
-
-    assert_eq!(str::from_utf8(buf.as_slice()).unwrap(), "");
-}
-
-#[test]
-fn take_while_char_pred_entire_str() {
-    let mut cur = Cursor::new(&b"abcdefghijk"[..]);
-
-    let mut buf: Vec<u8> = Vec::new();
-
-    cur.take_while_char_pred(&mut buf, &|_| true).unwrap();
-
-    assert_eq!(str::from_utf8(buf.as_slice()).unwrap(), "abcdefghijk");
-}
-
-#[test]
-fn take_while_char_pred_utf8_char() {
-    let mut cur = Cursor::new("abc😀defghijk".as_bytes());
-
-    let mut buf: Vec<u8> = Vec::new();
-
-    cur.take_while_char_pred(&mut buf, &|c| {
-        char::try_from(c).map_or(false, |c| c == 'a' || c == 'b' || c == 'c' || c == '😀')
-    })
-    .unwrap();
-
-    assert_eq!(str::from_utf8(buf.as_slice()).unwrap(), "abc😀");
-}
-
 #[test]
 fn illegal_following_numeric_literal() {
     // Checks as per https://tc39.es/ecma262/#sec-literals-numeric-literals that a NumericLiteral cannot
     // be immediately followed by an IdentifierStart or DecimalDigit.
 
     // Decimal Digit
-    let mut lexer = Lexer::new(&b"11.6n3"[..]);
+    let mut lexer = Lexer::from(&b"11.6n3"[..]);
     let interner = &mut Interner::default();
 
     let err = lexer
@@ -895,7 +846,7 @@ fn illegal_following_numeric_literal() {
     }
 
     // Identifier Start
-    let mut lexer = Lexer::new(&b"17.4$"[..]);
+    let mut lexer = Lexer::from(&b"17.4$"[..]);
     let interner = &mut Interner::default();
 
     if let Error::Syntax(_, pos) = lexer
@@ -907,7 +858,7 @@ fn illegal_following_numeric_literal() {
         panic!("invalid error type");
     }
 
-    let mut lexer = Lexer::new(&b"17.4_"[..]);
+    let mut lexer = Lexer::from(&b"17.4_"[..]);
     let interner = &mut Interner::default();
 
     if let Error::Syntax(_, pos) = lexer
@@ -922,7 +873,7 @@ fn illegal_following_numeric_literal() {
 
 #[test]
 fn string_codepoint_with_no_braces() {
-    let mut lexer = Lexer::new(&br#""test\uD38Dtest""#[..]);
+    let mut lexer = Lexer::from(&br#""test\uD38Dtest""#[..]);
     let interner = &mut Interner::default();
 
     assert!(lexer.next(interner).is_ok());
@@ -933,7 +884,7 @@ fn string_codepoint_with_no_braces() {
 fn illegal_code_point_following_numeric_literal() {
     // Checks as per https://tc39.es/ecma262/#sec-literals-numeric-literals that a NumericLiteral cannot
     // be immediately followed by an IdentifierStart where the IdentifierStart
-    let mut lexer = Lexer::new(&br"17.4\u{2764}"[..]);
+    let mut lexer = Lexer::from(&br"17.4\u{2764}"[..]);
     let interner = &mut Interner::default();
 
     assert!(
@@ -947,7 +898,7 @@ fn illegal_code_point_following_numeric_literal() {
 fn string_unicode() {
     let s = r#"'中文';"#;
 
-    let mut lexer = Lexer::new(s.as_bytes());
+    let mut lexer = Lexer::from(s.as_bytes());
     let interner = &mut Interner::default();
 
     let sym = interner.get_or_intern_static("中文", utf16!("中文"));
@@ -961,7 +912,7 @@ fn string_unicode() {
 
 #[test]
 fn string_unicode_escape_with_braces() {
-    let mut lexer = Lexer::new(&br"'{\u{20ac}\u{a0}\u{a0}}'"[..]);
+    let mut lexer = Lexer::from(&br"'{\u{20ac}\u{a0}\u{a0}}'"[..]);
     let interner = &mut Interner::default();
 
     let sym =
@@ -970,7 +921,7 @@ fn string_unicode_escape_with_braces() {
 
     expect_tokens(&mut lexer, &expected, interner);
 
-    lexer = Lexer::new(&br"\u{{a0}"[..]);
+    lexer = Lexer::from(&br"\u{{a0}"[..]);
 
     if let Error::Syntax(_, pos) = lexer
         .next(interner)
@@ -981,7 +932,7 @@ fn string_unicode_escape_with_braces() {
         panic!("invalid error type");
     }
 
-    lexer = Lexer::new(&br"\u{{a0}}"[..]);
+    lexer = Lexer::from(&br"\u{{a0}}"[..]);
 
     if let Error::Syntax(_, pos) = lexer
         .next(interner)
@@ -997,7 +948,7 @@ fn string_unicode_escape_with_braces() {
 fn string_unicode_escape_with_braces_2() {
     let s = r"'\u{20ac}\u{a0}\u{a0}'";
 
-    let mut lexer = Lexer::new(s.as_bytes());
+    let mut lexer = Lexer::from(s.as_bytes());
     let interner = &mut Interner::default();
 
     let sym = interner.get_or_intern_static("\u{20ac}\u{a0}\u{a0}", utf16!("\u{20ac}\u{a0}\u{a0}"));
@@ -1010,7 +961,7 @@ fn string_unicode_escape_with_braces_2() {
 fn string_with_single_escape() {
     let s = r"'\Б'";
 
-    let mut lexer = Lexer::new(s.as_bytes());
+    let mut lexer = Lexer::from(s.as_bytes());
     let interner = &mut Interner::default();
 
     let sym = interner.get_or_intern_static("Б", utf16!("Б"));
@@ -1032,7 +983,7 @@ fn string_legacy_octal_escape() {
     ];
 
     for (s, expected) in &test_cases {
-        let mut lexer = Lexer::new(s.as_bytes());
+        let mut lexer = Lexer::from(s.as_bytes());
         let interner = &mut Interner::default();
 
         let sym = interner.get_or_intern(expected.encode_utf16().collect::<Vec<_>>().as_slice());
@@ -1045,7 +996,7 @@ fn string_legacy_octal_escape() {
     }
 
     for (s, _) in &test_cases {
-        let mut lexer = Lexer::new(s.as_bytes());
+        let mut lexer = Lexer::from(s.as_bytes());
         let interner = &mut Interner::default();
         lexer.set_strict(true);
 
@@ -1065,7 +1016,7 @@ fn string_zero_escape() {
     let test_cases = [(r"'\0'", "\u{0}"), (r"'\0A'", "\u{0}A")];
 
     for (s, expected) in &test_cases {
-        let mut lexer = Lexer::new(s.as_bytes());
+        let mut lexer = Lexer::from(s.as_bytes());
         let interner = &mut Interner::default();
 
         let sym = interner.get_or_intern(expected.encode_utf16().collect::<Vec<_>>().as_slice());
@@ -1080,7 +1031,7 @@ fn string_non_octal_decimal_escape() {
     let test_cases = [(r"'\8'", "8"), (r"'\9'", "9")];
 
     for (s, expected) in &test_cases {
-        let mut lexer = Lexer::new(s.as_bytes());
+        let mut lexer = Lexer::from(s.as_bytes());
         let interner = &mut Interner::default();
 
         let sym = interner.get_or_intern(expected.encode_utf16().collect::<Vec<_>>().as_slice());
@@ -1093,7 +1044,7 @@ fn string_non_octal_decimal_escape() {
     }
 
     for (s, _) in &test_cases {
-        let mut lexer = Lexer::new(s.as_bytes());
+        let mut lexer = Lexer::from(s.as_bytes());
         let interner = &mut Interner::default();
         lexer.set_strict(true);
 
@@ -1112,7 +1063,7 @@ fn string_non_octal_decimal_escape() {
 fn string_line_continuation() {
     let s = "'hello \\\nworld'";
 
-    let mut lexer = Lexer::new(s.as_bytes());
+    let mut lexer = Lexer::from(s.as_bytes());
     let interner = &mut Interner::default();
 
     let sym = interner.get_or_intern_static("hello world", utf16!("hello world"));
@@ -1125,7 +1076,7 @@ mod carriage_return {
     use super::*;
 
     fn expect_tokens_with_lines(lines: usize, src: &str) {
-        let mut lexer = Lexer::new(src.as_bytes());
+        let mut lexer = Lexer::from(src.as_bytes());
         let interner = &mut Interner::default();
 
         let mut expected = Vec::with_capacity(lines + 2);
diff --git a/core/parser/src/lib.rs b/core/parser/src/lib.rs
index 23203c22c3..57373e76eb 100644
--- a/core/parser/src/lib.rs
+++ b/core/parser/src/lib.rs
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@
 pub mod error;
 pub mod lexer;
 pub mod parser;
-mod source;
+pub mod source;
 
 pub use error::Error;
 pub use lexer::Lexer;
diff --git a/core/parser/src/parser/cursor/buffered_lexer/mod.rs b/core/parser/src/parser/cursor/buffered_lexer/mod.rs
index 755634284a..52114da5a3 100644
--- a/core/parser/src/parser/cursor/buffered_lexer/mod.rs
+++ b/core/parser/src/parser/cursor/buffered_lexer/mod.rs
@@ -1,12 +1,12 @@
 use crate::{
     lexer::{InputElement, Lexer, Token, TokenKind},
     parser::ParseResult,
+    source::{ReadChar, UTF8Input},
     Error,
 };
 use boa_ast::Position;
 use boa_interner::Interner;
 use boa_profiler::Profiler;
-use std::io::Read;
 
 #[cfg(test)]
 mod tests;
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ pub(super) struct BufferedLexer<R> {
 
 impl<R> From<Lexer<R>> for BufferedLexer<R>
 where
-    R: Read,
+    R: ReadChar,
 {
     fn from(lexer: Lexer<R>) -> Self {
         Self {
@@ -58,16 +58,22 @@ where
 
 impl<R> From<R> for BufferedLexer<R>
 where
-    R: Read,
+    R: ReadChar,
 {
     fn from(reader: R) -> Self {
         Lexer::new(reader).into()
     }
 }
 
+impl<'a> From<&'a [u8]> for BufferedLexer<UTF8Input<&'a [u8]>> {
+    fn from(reader: &'a [u8]) -> Self {
+        Lexer::from(reader).into()
+    }
+}
+
 impl<R> BufferedLexer<R>
 where
-    R: Read,
+    R: ReadChar,
 {
     /// Sets the goal symbol for the lexer.
     pub(super) fn set_goal(&mut self, elm: InputElement) {
diff --git a/core/parser/src/parser/cursor/mod.rs b/core/parser/src/parser/cursor/mod.rs
index 69a41cee0f..1cf868e137 100644
--- a/core/parser/src/parser/cursor/mod.rs
+++ b/core/parser/src/parser/cursor/mod.rs
@@ -4,12 +4,12 @@ mod buffered_lexer;
 use crate::{
     lexer::{InputElement, Lexer, Token, TokenKind},
     parser::{OrAbrupt, ParseResult},
+    source::ReadChar,
     Error,
 };
 use boa_ast::{Position, Punctuator};
 use boa_interner::Interner;
 use buffered_lexer::BufferedLexer;
-use std::io::Read;
 
 /// The result of a peek for a semicolon.
 #[derive(Debug)]
@@ -41,7 +41,7 @@ pub(super) struct Cursor<R> {
 
 impl<R> Cursor<R>
 where
-    R: Read,
+    R: ReadChar,
 {
     /// Creates a new cursor with the given reader.
     pub(super) fn new(reader: R) -> Self {
diff --git a/core/parser/src/parser/expression/assignment/arrow_function.rs b/core/parser/src/parser/expression/assignment/arrow_function.rs
index 8066046473..d82ab442cd 100644
--- a/core/parser/src/parser/expression/assignment/arrow_function.rs
+++ b/core/parser/src/parser/expression/assignment/arrow_function.rs
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ use crate::{
         name_in_lexically_declared_names, AllowAwait, AllowIn, AllowYield, Cursor, OrAbrupt,
         TokenParser,
     },
+    source::ReadChar,
 };
 use ast::operations::{bound_names, lexically_declared_names};
 use boa_ast::{
@@ -30,7 +31,6 @@ use boa_ast::{
 };
 use boa_interner::Interner;
 use boa_profiler::Profiler;
-use std::io::Read;
 
 /// Arrow function parsing.
 ///
@@ -73,7 +73,7 @@ impl ArrowFunction {
 
 impl<R> TokenParser<R> for ArrowFunction
 where
-    R: Read,
+    R: ReadChar,
 {
     type Output = ast::function::ArrowFunction;
 
@@ -186,7 +186,7 @@ impl ConciseBody {
 
 impl<R> TokenParser<R> for ConciseBody
 where
-    R: Read,
+    R: ReadChar,
 {
     type Output = ast::function::FunctionBody;
 
@@ -236,7 +236,7 @@ impl ExpressionBody {
 
 impl<R> TokenParser<R> for ExpressionBody
 where
-    R: Read,
+    R: ReadChar,
 {
     type Output = Expression;
 
diff --git a/core/parser/src/parser/expression/assignment/async_arrow_function.rs b/core/parser/src/parser/expression/assignment/async_arrow_function.rs
index 3c3ed7cba9..500a7d9d3f 100644
--- a/core/parser/src/parser/expression/assignment/async_arrow_function.rs
+++ b/core/parser/src/parser/expression/assignment/async_arrow_function.rs
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@ use crate::{
         function::{FormalParameters, FunctionBody},
         name_in_lexically_declared_names, AllowIn, AllowYield, Cursor, OrAbrupt, TokenParser,
     },
+    source::ReadChar,
 };
 use ast::{
     operations::{bound_names, contains, lexically_declared_names, ContainsSymbol},
@@ -31,7 +32,6 @@ use boa_ast::{
 };
 use boa_interner::Interner;
 use boa_profiler::Profiler;
-use std::io::Read;
 
 /// Async arrow function parsing.
 ///
@@ -66,7 +66,7 @@ impl AsyncArrowFunction {
 
 impl<R> TokenParser<R> for AsyncArrowFunction
 where
-    R: Read,
+    R: ReadChar,
 {
     type Output = ast::function::AsyncArrowFunction;
 
@@ -174,7 +174,7 @@ impl AsyncConciseBody {
 
 impl<R> TokenParser<R> for AsyncConciseBody
 where
-    R: Read,
+    R: ReadChar,
 {
     type Output = ast::function::FunctionBody;
 
diff --git a/core/parser/src/parser/expression/assignment/conditional.rs b/core/parser/src/parser/expression/assignment/conditional.rs
index 3f305b4592..4258c135ef 100644
--- a/core/parser/src/parser/expression/assignment/conditional.rs
+++ b/core/parser/src/parser/expression/assignment/conditional.rs
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ use crate::{
         expression::{AssignmentExpression, ShortCircuitExpression},
         AllowAwait, AllowIn, AllowYield, Cursor, ParseResult, TokenParser,
     },
+    source::ReadChar,
 };
 use boa_ast::{
     expression::{operator::Conditional, Identifier},
@@ -20,7 +21,6 @@ use boa_ast::{
 };
 use boa_interner::Interner;
 use boa_profiler::Profiler;
-use std::io::Read;
 
 /// Conditional expression parsing.
 ///
@@ -63,7 +63,7 @@ impl ConditionalExpression {
 
 impl<R> TokenParser<R> for ConditionalExpression
 where
-    R: Read,
+    R: ReadChar,
 {
     type Output = Expression;
 
diff --git a/core/parser/src/parser/expression/assignment/exponentiation.rs b/core/parser/src/parser/expression/assignment/exponentiation.rs
index 4c7da77257..0dcffe7ef0 100644
--- a/core/parser/src/parser/expression/assignment/exponentiation.rs
+++ b/core/parser/src/parser/expression/assignment/exponentiation.rs
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ use crate::{
         expression::{unary::UnaryExpression, update::UpdateExpression},
         AllowAwait, AllowYield, Cursor, OrAbrupt, ParseResult, TokenParser,
     },
+    source::ReadChar,
 };
 use boa_ast::{
     expression::{
@@ -23,7 +24,6 @@ use boa_ast::{
 };
 use boa_interner::Interner;
 use boa_profiler::Profiler;
-use std::io::Read;
 
 /// Parses an exponentiation expression.
 ///
@@ -62,7 +62,7 @@ impl ExponentiationExpression {
 
 impl<R> TokenParser<R> for ExponentiationExpression
 where
-    R: Read,
+    R: ReadChar,
 {
     type Output = Expression;
 
diff --git a/core/parser/src/parser/expression/assignment/mod.rs b/core/parser/src/parser/expression/assignment/mod.rs
index d84160c7b4..2fd94ff7a9 100644
--- a/core/parser/src/parser/expression/assignment/mod.rs
+++ b/core/parser/src/parser/expression/assignment/mod.rs
@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@ use crate::{
         name_in_lexically_declared_names, AllowAwait, AllowIn, AllowYield, Cursor, OrAbrupt,
         ParseResult, TokenParser,
     },
+    source::ReadChar,
     Error,
 };
 use boa_ast::{
@@ -37,7 +38,6 @@ use boa_ast::{
 };
 use boa_interner::Interner;
 use boa_profiler::Profiler;
-use std::io::Read;
 
 pub(super) use exponentiation::ExponentiationExpression;
 
@@ -92,7 +92,7 @@ impl AssignmentExpression {
 
 impl<R> TokenParser<R> for AssignmentExpression
 where
-    R: Read,
+    R: ReadChar,
 {
     type Output = Expression;
 
diff --git a/core/parser/src/parser/expression/assignment/yield.rs b/core/parser/src/parser/expression/assignment/yield.rs
index 406fe7f48f..babe38836e 100644
--- a/core/parser/src/parser/expression/assignment/yield.rs
+++ b/core/parser/src/parser/expression/assignment/yield.rs
@@ -11,11 +11,11 @@ use super::AssignmentExpression;
 use crate::{
     lexer::TokenKind,
     parser::{cursor::Cursor, AllowAwait, AllowIn, OrAbrupt, ParseResult, TokenParser},
+    source::ReadChar,
 };
 use boa_ast::{expression::Yield, Expression, Keyword, Punctuator};
 use boa_interner::Interner;
 use boa_profiler::Profiler;
-use std::io::Read;
 
 /// `YieldExpression` parsing.
 ///
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@ impl YieldExpression {
 
 impl<R> TokenParser<R> for YieldExpression
 where
-    R: Read,
+    R: ReadChar,
 {
     type Output = Expression;
 
diff --git a/core/parser/src/parser/expression/await_expr.rs b/core/parser/src/parser/expression/await_expr.rs
index 6f44ee9998..cb073443aa 100644
--- a/core/parser/src/parser/expression/await_expr.rs
+++ b/core/parser/src/parser/expression/await_expr.rs
@@ -11,10 +11,10 @@ use super::unary::UnaryExpression;
 use crate::{
     lexer::TokenKind,
     parser::{AllowYield, Cursor, ParseResult, TokenParser},
+    source::ReadChar,
 };
 use boa_ast::{expression::Await, Keyword};
 use boa_interner::Interner;
-use std::io::Read;
 
 /// Parses an await expression.
 ///
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ impl AwaitExpression {
 
 impl<R> TokenParser<R> for AwaitExpression
 where
-    R: Read,
+    R: ReadChar,
 {
     type Output = Await;
 
diff --git a/core/parser/src/parser/expression/identifiers.rs b/core/parser/src/parser/expression/identifiers.rs
index 6be63c3ed7..85e59c19c6 100644
--- a/core/parser/src/parser/expression/identifiers.rs
+++ b/core/parser/src/parser/expression/identifiers.rs
@@ -8,12 +8,12 @@
 use crate::{
     lexer::TokenKind,
     parser::{cursor::Cursor, AllowAwait, AllowYield, OrAbrupt, ParseResult, TokenParser},
+    source::ReadChar,
     Error,
 };
 use boa_ast::expression::Identifier as AstIdentifier;
 use boa_interner::{Interner, Sym};
 use boa_profiler::Profiler;
-use std::io::Read;
 
 /// Identifier reference parsing.
 ///
@@ -44,7 +44,7 @@ impl IdentifierReference {
 
 impl<R> TokenParser<R> for IdentifierReference
 where
-    R: Read,
+    R: ReadChar,
 {
     type Output = AstIdentifier;
 
@@ -98,7 +98,7 @@ impl BindingIdentifier {
 
 impl<R> TokenParser<R> for BindingIdentifier
 where
-    R: Read,
+    R: ReadChar,
 {
     type Output = AstIdentifier;
 
@@ -153,7 +153,7 @@ pub(in crate::parser) struct Identifier;
 
 impl<R> TokenParser<R> for Identifier
 where
-    R: Read,
+    R: ReadChar,
 {
     type Output = AstIdentifier;
 
diff --git a/core/parser/src/parser/expression/left_hand_side/arguments.rs b/core/parser/src/parser/expression/left_hand_side/arguments.rs
index 8a3d679347..e43442418a 100644
--- a/core/parser/src/parser/expression/left_hand_side/arguments.rs
+++ b/core/parser/src/parser/expression/left_hand_side/arguments.rs
@@ -13,12 +13,12 @@ use crate::{
         expression::AssignmentExpression, AllowAwait, AllowYield, Cursor, OrAbrupt, ParseResult,
         TokenParser,
     },
+    source::ReadChar,
     Error,
 };
 use boa_ast::{expression::Spread, Expression, Punctuator};
 use boa_interner::Interner;
 use boa_profiler::Profiler;
-use std::io::Read;
 
 /// Parses a list of arguments.
 ///
@@ -50,7 +50,7 @@ impl Arguments {
 
 impl<R> TokenParser<R> for Arguments
 where
-    R: Read,
+    R: ReadChar,
 {
     type Output = Box<[Expression]>;
 
diff --git a/core/parser/src/parser/expression/left_hand_side/call.rs b/core/parser/src/parser/expression/left_hand_side/call.rs
index b185363b80..5555a2a028 100644
--- a/core/parser/src/parser/expression/left_hand_side/call.rs
+++ b/core/parser/src/parser/expression/left_hand_side/call.rs
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ use crate::{
         expression::{left_hand_side::template::TaggedTemplateLiteral, Expression},
         AllowAwait, AllowYield, Cursor, OrAbrupt, ParseResult, TokenParser,
     },
+    source::ReadChar,
     Error,
 };
 use ast::function::PrivateName;
@@ -27,7 +28,6 @@ use boa_ast::{
 };
 use boa_interner::{Interner, Sym};
 use boa_profiler::Profiler;
-use std::io::Read;
 
 /// Parses a call expression.
 ///
@@ -63,7 +63,7 @@ impl CallExpression {
 
 impl<R> TokenParser<R> for CallExpression
 where
-    R: Read,
+    R: ReadChar,
 {
     type Output = ast::Expression;
 
@@ -115,7 +115,7 @@ impl CallExpressionTail {
 
 impl<R> TokenParser<R> for CallExpressionTail
 where
-    R: Read,
+    R: ReadChar,
 {
     type Output = ast::Expression;
 
diff --git a/core/parser/src/parser/expression/left_hand_side/member.rs b/core/parser/src/parser/expression/left_hand_side/member.rs
index 602958e7cb..daa214b628 100644
--- a/core/parser/src/parser/expression/left_hand_side/member.rs
+++ b/core/parser/src/parser/expression/left_hand_side/member.rs
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ use crate::{
         },
         AllowAwait, AllowYield, Cursor, OrAbrupt, ParseResult, TokenParser,
     },
+    source::ReadChar,
     Error,
 };
 use ast::function::PrivateName;
@@ -29,7 +30,6 @@ use boa_ast::{
 };
 use boa_interner::{Interner, Sym};
 use boa_profiler::Profiler;
-use std::io::Read;
 
 /// Parses a member expression.
 ///
@@ -62,7 +62,7 @@ impl MemberExpression {
 
 impl<R> TokenParser<R> for MemberExpression
 where
-    R: Read,
+    R: ReadChar,
 {
     type Output = ast::Expression;
 
diff --git a/core/parser/src/parser/expression/left_hand_side/mod.rs b/core/parser/src/parser/expression/left_hand_side/mod.rs
index f31d88737a..537ecab04d 100644
--- a/core/parser/src/parser/expression/left_hand_side/mod.rs
+++ b/core/parser/src/parser/expression/left_hand_side/mod.rs
@@ -30,6 +30,7 @@ use crate::{
         },
         AllowAwait, AllowYield, Cursor, ParseResult, TokenParser,
     },
+    source::ReadChar,
     Error,
 };
 use boa_ast::{
@@ -38,7 +39,6 @@ use boa_ast::{
 };
 use boa_interner::Interner;
 use boa_profiler::Profiler;
-use std::io::Read;
 
 /// Parses a left hand side expression.
 ///
@@ -73,7 +73,7 @@ impl LeftHandSideExpression {
 
 impl<R> TokenParser<R> for LeftHandSideExpression
 where
-    R: Read,
+    R: ReadChar,
 {
     type Output = Expression;
 
@@ -87,7 +87,7 @@ where
         /// initialization of `lhs` would make it very hard to return an expression over all
         /// possible branches of the `if let`s. Instead, we extract the check into its own function,
         /// then use it inside the condition of a simple `if ... else` expression.
-        fn is_keyword_call<R: Read>(
+        fn is_keyword_call<R: ReadChar>(
             keyword: Keyword,
             cursor: &mut Cursor<R>,
             interner: &mut Interner,
diff --git a/core/parser/src/parser/expression/left_hand_side/optional/mod.rs b/core/parser/src/parser/expression/left_hand_side/optional/mod.rs
index 42248fd3a3..a79ac502c3 100644
--- a/core/parser/src/parser/expression/left_hand_side/optional/mod.rs
+++ b/core/parser/src/parser/expression/left_hand_side/optional/mod.rs
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ use crate::{
         cursor::Cursor, expression::left_hand_side::arguments::Arguments, expression::Expression,
         AllowAwait, AllowYield, OrAbrupt, ParseResult, TokenParser,
     },
+    source::ReadChar,
     Error,
 };
 use ast::function::PrivateName;
@@ -17,7 +18,6 @@ use boa_ast::{
 };
 use boa_interner::{Interner, Sym};
 use boa_profiler::Profiler;
-use std::io::Read;
 
 /// Parses an optional expression.
 ///
@@ -55,7 +55,7 @@ impl OptionalExpression {
 
 impl<R> TokenParser<R> for OptionalExpression
 where
-    R: Read,
+    R: ReadChar,
 {
     type Output = Optional;
 
diff --git a/core/parser/src/parser/expression/left_hand_side/template.rs b/core/parser/src/parser/expression/left_hand_side/template.rs
index ffd353fe59..352cd20b5a 100644
--- a/core/parser/src/parser/expression/left_hand_side/template.rs
+++ b/core/parser/src/parser/expression/left_hand_side/template.rs
@@ -4,12 +4,12 @@ use crate::{
         cursor::Cursor, expression::Expression, AllowAwait, AllowYield, OrAbrupt, ParseResult,
         TokenParser,
     },
+    source::ReadChar,
     Error,
 };
 use boa_ast::{self as ast, expression::TaggedTemplate, Position, Punctuator};
 use boa_interner::Interner;
 use boa_profiler::Profiler;
-use std::io::Read;
 
 /// Parses a tagged template.
 ///
@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@ impl TaggedTemplateLiteral {
 
 impl<R> TokenParser<R> for TaggedTemplateLiteral
 where
-    R: Read,
+    R: ReadChar,
 {
     type Output = TaggedTemplate;
 
diff --git a/core/parser/src/parser/expression/mod.rs b/core/parser/src/parser/expression/mod.rs
index e8160dd940..adf553c849 100644
--- a/core/parser/src/parser/expression/mod.rs
+++ b/core/parser/src/parser/expression/mod.rs
@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@ use crate::{
         expression::assignment::ExponentiationExpression, AllowAwait, AllowIn, AllowYield, Cursor,
         OrAbrupt, ParseResult, TokenParser,
     },
+    source::ReadChar,
     Error,
 };
 use boa_ast::{
@@ -41,7 +42,6 @@ use boa_ast::{
 };
 use boa_interner::{Interner, Sym};
 use boa_profiler::Profiler;
-use std::io::Read;
 
 pub(super) use self::{assignment::AssignmentExpression, primary::Initializer};
 pub(in crate::parser) use {
@@ -73,7 +73,7 @@ macro_rules! expression {
     ($name:ident, $lower:ident, [$( $op:path ),*], [$( $low_param:ident ),*], $goal:expr ) => {
         impl<R> TokenParser<R> for $name
         where
-            R: Read
+            R: ReadChar
         {
             type Output = ast::Expression;
 
@@ -142,7 +142,7 @@ impl Expression {
 
 impl<R> TokenParser<R> for Expression
 where
-    R: Read,
+    R: ReadChar,
 {
     type Output = ast::Expression;
 
@@ -264,7 +264,7 @@ impl ShortCircuitExpression {
 
 impl<R> TokenParser<R> for ShortCircuitExpression
 where
-    R: Read,
+    R: ReadChar,
 {
     type Output = ast::Expression;
 
@@ -558,7 +558,7 @@ impl RelationalExpression {
 
 impl<R> TokenParser<R> for RelationalExpression
 where
-    R: Read,
+    R: ReadChar,
 {
     type Output = ast::Expression;
 
diff --git a/core/parser/src/parser/expression/primary/array_initializer/mod.rs b/core/parser/src/parser/expression/primary/array_initializer/mod.rs
index 658441467e..3526b3a0b7 100644
--- a/core/parser/src/parser/expression/primary/array_initializer/mod.rs
+++ b/core/parser/src/parser/expression/primary/array_initializer/mod.rs
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@ use crate::{
         expression::AssignmentExpression, AllowAwait, AllowYield, Cursor, OrAbrupt, ParseResult,
         TokenParser,
     },
+    source::ReadChar,
     Error,
 };
 use boa_ast::{
@@ -24,7 +25,6 @@ use boa_ast::{
 };
 use boa_interner::Interner;
 use boa_profiler::Profiler;
-use std::io::Read;
 
 /// Parses an array literal.
 ///
@@ -56,7 +56,7 @@ impl ArrayLiteral {
 
 impl<R> TokenParser<R> for ArrayLiteral
 where
-    R: Read,
+    R: ReadChar,
 {
     type Output = literal::ArrayLiteral;
 
diff --git a/core/parser/src/parser/expression/primary/async_function_expression/mod.rs b/core/parser/src/parser/expression/primary/async_function_expression/mod.rs
index 7b41a95e19..7ea72cd54e 100644
--- a/core/parser/src/parser/expression/primary/async_function_expression/mod.rs
+++ b/core/parser/src/parser/expression/primary/async_function_expression/mod.rs
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ use crate::{
         function::{FormalParameters, FunctionBody},
         name_in_lexically_declared_names, Cursor, OrAbrupt, ParseResult, TokenParser,
     },
+    source::ReadChar,
     Error,
 };
 use boa_ast::{
@@ -18,7 +19,6 @@ use boa_ast::{
 };
 use boa_interner::{Interner, Sym};
 use boa_profiler::Profiler;
-use std::io::Read;
 
 /// Async Function expression parsing.
 ///
@@ -45,7 +45,7 @@ impl AsyncFunctionExpression {
 
 impl<R> TokenParser<R> for AsyncFunctionExpression
 where
-    R: Read,
+    R: ReadChar,
 {
     type Output = AsyncFunction;
 
diff --git a/core/parser/src/parser/expression/primary/async_generator_expression/mod.rs b/core/parser/src/parser/expression/primary/async_generator_expression/mod.rs
index 20f5dfb2a2..76b2bb659f 100644
--- a/core/parser/src/parser/expression/primary/async_generator_expression/mod.rs
+++ b/core/parser/src/parser/expression/primary/async_generator_expression/mod.rs
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ use crate::{
         function::{FormalParameters, FunctionBody},
         name_in_lexically_declared_names, Cursor, OrAbrupt, ParseResult, TokenParser,
     },
+    source::ReadChar,
     Error,
 };
 use boa_ast::{
@@ -27,7 +28,6 @@ use boa_ast::{
 };
 use boa_interner::{Interner, Sym};
 use boa_profiler::Profiler;
-use std::io::Read;
 
 /// Async Generator Expression Parsing
 ///
@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@ impl AsyncGeneratorExpression {
 
 impl<R> TokenParser<R> for AsyncGeneratorExpression
 where
-    R: Read,
+    R: ReadChar,
 {
     //The below needs to be implemented in ast::node
     type Output = AsyncGenerator;
diff --git a/core/parser/src/parser/expression/primary/class_expression/mod.rs b/core/parser/src/parser/expression/primary/class_expression/mod.rs
index 73e3bccbe9..ab6b17c0e8 100644
--- a/core/parser/src/parser/expression/primary/class_expression/mod.rs
+++ b/core/parser/src/parser/expression/primary/class_expression/mod.rs
@@ -4,11 +4,11 @@ use crate::{
         expression::BindingIdentifier, statement::ClassTail, AllowAwait, AllowYield, Cursor,
         OrAbrupt, ParseResult, TokenParser,
     },
+    source::ReadChar,
 };
 use boa_ast::{expression::Identifier, function::Class, Keyword};
 use boa_interner::Interner;
 use boa_profiler::Profiler;
-use std::io::Read;
 
 /// Class expression parsing.
 ///
@@ -41,7 +41,7 @@ impl ClassExpression {
 
 impl<R> TokenParser<R> for ClassExpression
 where
-    R: Read,
+    R: ReadChar,
 {
     type Output = Class;
 
diff --git a/core/parser/src/parser/expression/primary/function_expression/mod.rs b/core/parser/src/parser/expression/primary/function_expression/mod.rs
index e0fb1192a7..01bb6bb3b5 100644
--- a/core/parser/src/parser/expression/primary/function_expression/mod.rs
+++ b/core/parser/src/parser/expression/primary/function_expression/mod.rs
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ use crate::{
         function::{FormalParameters, FunctionBody},
         name_in_lexically_declared_names, Cursor, OrAbrupt, ParseResult, TokenParser,
     },
+    source::ReadChar,
     Error,
 };
 use boa_ast::{
@@ -27,7 +28,6 @@ use boa_ast::{
 };
 use boa_interner::{Interner, Sym};
 use boa_profiler::Profiler;
-use std::io::Read;
 
 /// Function expression parsing.
 ///
@@ -54,7 +54,7 @@ impl FunctionExpression {
 
 impl<R> TokenParser<R> for FunctionExpression
 where
-    R: Read,
+    R: ReadChar,
 {
     type Output = Function;
 
diff --git a/core/parser/src/parser/expression/primary/generator_expression/mod.rs b/core/parser/src/parser/expression/primary/generator_expression/mod.rs
index 913fc81305..27b6f24600 100644
--- a/core/parser/src/parser/expression/primary/generator_expression/mod.rs
+++ b/core/parser/src/parser/expression/primary/generator_expression/mod.rs
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ use crate::{
         function::{FormalParameters, FunctionBody},
         name_in_lexically_declared_names, Cursor, OrAbrupt, ParseResult, TokenParser,
     },
+    source::ReadChar,
     Error,
 };
 use boa_ast::{
@@ -27,7 +28,6 @@ use boa_ast::{
 };
 use boa_interner::{Interner, Sym};
 use boa_profiler::Profiler;
-use std::io::Read;
 
 /// Generator expression parsing.
 ///
@@ -54,7 +54,7 @@ impl GeneratorExpression {
 
 impl<R> TokenParser<R> for GeneratorExpression
 where
-    R: Read,
+    R: ReadChar,
 {
     type Output = Generator;
 
diff --git a/core/parser/src/parser/expression/primary/mod.rs b/core/parser/src/parser/expression/primary/mod.rs
index bddaf46d59..e53c63ba04 100644
--- a/core/parser/src/parser/expression/primary/mod.rs
+++ b/core/parser/src/parser/expression/primary/mod.rs
@@ -39,6 +39,7 @@ use crate::{
         statement::{ArrayBindingPattern, ObjectBindingPattern},
         AllowAwait, AllowYield, Cursor, OrAbrupt, ParseResult, TokenParser,
     },
+    source::ReadChar,
     Error,
 };
 use ast::expression::RegExpLiteral as AstRegExp;
@@ -57,7 +58,6 @@ use boa_ast::{
 };
 use boa_interner::{Interner, Sym};
 use boa_profiler::Profiler;
-use std::io::Read;
 
 pub(in crate::parser) use object_initializer::Initializer;
 
@@ -94,7 +94,7 @@ impl PrimaryExpression {
 
 impl<R> TokenParser<R> for PrimaryExpression
 where
-    R: Read,
+    R: ReadChar,
 {
     type Output = ast::Expression;
 
@@ -312,7 +312,7 @@ impl CoverParenthesizedExpressionAndArrowParameterList {
 
 impl<R> TokenParser<R> for CoverParenthesizedExpressionAndArrowParameterList
 where
-    R: Read,
+    R: ReadChar,
 {
     type Output = ast::Expression;
 
diff --git a/core/parser/src/parser/expression/primary/object_initializer/mod.rs b/core/parser/src/parser/expression/primary/object_initializer/mod.rs
index 58f4c73d58..4f92aeaaed 100644
--- a/core/parser/src/parser/expression/primary/object_initializer/mod.rs
+++ b/core/parser/src/parser/expression/primary/object_initializer/mod.rs
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@ use crate::{
         name_in_lexically_declared_names, AllowAwait, AllowIn, AllowYield, Cursor, OrAbrupt,
         ParseResult, TokenParser,
     },
+    source::ReadChar,
     Error,
 };
 use boa_ast::{
@@ -40,7 +41,6 @@ use boa_ast::{
 use boa_interner::{Interner, Sym};
 use boa_macros::utf16;
 use boa_profiler::Profiler;
-use std::io::Read;
 
 /// Parses an object literal.
 ///
@@ -72,7 +72,7 @@ impl ObjectLiteral {
 
 impl<R> TokenParser<R> for ObjectLiteral
 where
-    R: Read,
+    R: ReadChar,
 {
     type Output = literal::ObjectLiteral;
 
@@ -169,7 +169,7 @@ impl PropertyDefinition {
 
 impl<R> TokenParser<R> for PropertyDefinition
 where
-    R: Read,
+    R: ReadChar,
 {
     type Output = property::PropertyDefinition;
 
@@ -574,7 +574,7 @@ impl PropertyName {
 
 impl<R> TokenParser<R> for PropertyName
 where
-    R: Read,
+    R: ReadChar,
 {
     type Output = property::PropertyName;
 
@@ -650,7 +650,7 @@ impl ClassElementName {
 
 impl<R> TokenParser<R> for ClassElementName
 where
-    R: Read,
+    R: ReadChar,
 {
     type Output = property::ClassElementName;
 
@@ -712,7 +712,7 @@ impl Initializer {
 
 impl<R> TokenParser<R> for Initializer
 where
-    R: Read,
+    R: ReadChar,
 {
     type Output = Expression;
 
@@ -753,7 +753,7 @@ impl GeneratorMethod {
 
 impl<R> TokenParser<R> for GeneratorMethod
 where
-    R: Read,
+    R: ReadChar,
 {
     type Output = (property::ClassElementName, MethodDefinition);
 
@@ -855,7 +855,7 @@ impl AsyncGeneratorMethod {
 
 impl<R> TokenParser<R> for AsyncGeneratorMethod
 where
-    R: Read,
+    R: ReadChar,
 {
     type Output = (property::ClassElementName, MethodDefinition);
 
@@ -971,7 +971,7 @@ impl AsyncMethod {
 
 impl<R> TokenParser<R> for AsyncMethod
 where
-    R: Read,
+    R: ReadChar,
 {
     type Output = (property::ClassElementName, MethodDefinition);
 
@@ -1064,7 +1064,7 @@ impl CoverInitializedName {
 
 impl<R> TokenParser<R> for CoverInitializedName
 where
-    R: Read,
+    R: ReadChar,
 {
     type Output = property::PropertyDefinition;
 
diff --git a/core/parser/src/parser/expression/primary/template/mod.rs b/core/parser/src/parser/expression/primary/template/mod.rs
index 6132037576..c71a5819d9 100644
--- a/core/parser/src/parser/expression/primary/template/mod.rs
+++ b/core/parser/src/parser/expression/primary/template/mod.rs
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@
 use crate::{
     lexer::TokenKind,
     parser::{expression::Expression, AllowAwait, AllowYield, Cursor, ParseResult, TokenParser},
+    source::ReadChar,
     Error,
 };
 use boa_ast::{
@@ -18,7 +19,6 @@ use boa_ast::{
 };
 use boa_interner::{Interner, Sym};
 use boa_profiler::Profiler;
-use std::io::Read;
 
 /// Parses a template literal.
 ///
@@ -54,7 +54,7 @@ impl TemplateLiteral {
 
 impl<R> TokenParser<R> for TemplateLiteral
 where
-    R: Read,
+    R: ReadChar,
 {
     type Output = literal::TemplateLiteral;
 
diff --git a/core/parser/src/parser/expression/unary.rs b/core/parser/src/parser/expression/unary.rs
index a7ede0e968..cab41e151f 100644
--- a/core/parser/src/parser/expression/unary.rs
+++ b/core/parser/src/parser/expression/unary.rs
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ use crate::{
         expression::{await_expr::AwaitExpression, update::UpdateExpression},
         AllowAwait, AllowYield, Cursor, OrAbrupt, ParseResult, TokenParser,
     },
+    source::ReadChar,
     Error,
 };
 use boa_ast::{
@@ -25,7 +26,6 @@ use boa_ast::{
 };
 use boa_interner::Interner;
 use boa_profiler::Profiler;
-use std::io::Read;
 
 /// Parses a unary expression.
 ///
@@ -60,7 +60,7 @@ impl UnaryExpression {
 
 impl<R> TokenParser<R> for UnaryExpression
 where
-    R: Read,
+    R: ReadChar,
 {
     type Output = Expression;
 
diff --git a/core/parser/src/parser/expression/update.rs b/core/parser/src/parser/expression/update.rs
index ebbf1549ef..413ac2bed9 100644
--- a/core/parser/src/parser/expression/update.rs
+++ b/core/parser/src/parser/expression/update.rs
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ use crate::{
         },
         AllowAwait, AllowYield, Cursor, OrAbrupt, ParseResult, TokenParser,
     },
+    source::ReadChar,
     Error,
 };
 use boa_ast::{
@@ -28,7 +29,6 @@ use boa_ast::{
 };
 use boa_interner::Interner;
 use boa_profiler::Profiler;
-use std::io::Read;
 
 /// Parses an update expression.
 ///
@@ -87,7 +87,7 @@ fn as_simple(
 
 impl<R> TokenParser<R> for UpdateExpression
 where
-    R: Read,
+    R: ReadChar,
 {
     type Output = Expression;
 
diff --git a/core/parser/src/parser/function/mod.rs b/core/parser/src/parser/function/mod.rs
index 3d92a5da51..3812964ee8 100644
--- a/core/parser/src/parser/function/mod.rs
+++ b/core/parser/src/parser/function/mod.rs
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ use crate::{
         statement::{ArrayBindingPattern, ObjectBindingPattern, StatementList},
         AllowAwait, AllowYield, Cursor, OrAbrupt, ParseResult, TokenParser,
     },
+    source::ReadChar,
     Error,
 };
 use ast::{
@@ -31,7 +32,6 @@ use boa_ast::{
 };
 use boa_interner::{Interner, Sym};
 use boa_profiler::Profiler;
-use std::io::Read;
 
 /// Formal parameters parsing.
 ///
@@ -63,7 +63,7 @@ impl FormalParameters {
 
 impl<R> TokenParser<R> for FormalParameters
 where
-    R: Read,
+    R: ReadChar,
 {
     type Output = FormalParameterList;
 
@@ -173,7 +173,7 @@ impl UniqueFormalParameters {
 
 impl<R> TokenParser<R> for UniqueFormalParameters
 where
-    R: Read,
+    R: ReadChar,
 {
     type Output = FormalParameterList;
 
@@ -245,7 +245,7 @@ impl BindingRestElement {
 
 impl<R> TokenParser<R> for BindingRestElement
 where
-    R: Read,
+    R: ReadChar,
 {
     type Output = ast::function::FormalParameter;
 
@@ -340,7 +340,7 @@ impl FormalParameter {
 
 impl<R> TokenParser<R> for FormalParameter
 where
-    R: Read,
+    R: ReadChar,
 {
     type Output = ast::function::FormalParameter;
 
@@ -448,7 +448,7 @@ impl FunctionStatementList {
 
 impl<R> TokenParser<R> for FunctionStatementList
 where
-    R: Read,
+    R: ReadChar,
 {
     type Output = ast::function::FunctionBody;
 
diff --git a/core/parser/src/parser/mod.rs b/core/parser/src/parser/mod.rs
index b75d13b114..f0b85938be 100644
--- a/core/parser/src/parser/mod.rs
+++ b/core/parser/src/parser/mod.rs
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@ use crate::{
         cursor::Cursor,
         function::{FormalParameters, FunctionStatementList},
     },
+    source::ReadChar,
     Error, Source,
 };
 use boa_ast::{
@@ -29,7 +30,7 @@ use boa_ast::{
 };
 use boa_interner::Interner;
 use rustc_hash::FxHashSet;
-use std::{io::Read, path::Path};
+use std::path::Path;
 
 use self::statement::ModuleItemList;
 
@@ -38,7 +39,7 @@ use self::statement::ModuleItemList;
 /// This makes it possible to abstract over the underlying implementation of a parser.
 trait TokenParser<R>: Sized
 where
-    R: Read,
+    R: ReadChar,
 {
     /// Output type for the parser.
     type Output; // = Node; waiting for https://github.com/rust-lang/rust/issues/29661
@@ -121,7 +122,7 @@ pub struct Parser<'a, R> {
     cursor: Cursor<R>,
 }
 
-impl<'a, R: Read> Parser<'a, R> {
+impl<'a, R: ReadChar> Parser<'a, R> {
     /// Create a new `Parser` with a `Source` as the input to parse.
     pub fn new(source: Source<'a, R>) -> Self {
         Self {
@@ -152,7 +153,7 @@ impl<'a, R: Read> Parser<'a, R> {
     /// [spec]: https://tc39.es/ecma262/#prod-Module
     pub fn parse_module(&mut self, interner: &mut Interner) -> ParseResult<boa_ast::Module>
     where
-        R: Read,
+        R: ReadChar,
     {
         ModuleParser.parse(&mut self.cursor, interner)
     }
@@ -211,7 +212,7 @@ impl<R> Parser<'_, R> {
     /// Set the parser strict mode to true.
     pub fn set_strict(&mut self)
     where
-        R: Read,
+        R: ReadChar,
     {
         self.cursor.set_strict(true);
     }
@@ -219,7 +220,7 @@ impl<R> Parser<'_, R> {
     /// Set the parser JSON mode to true.
     pub fn set_json_parse(&mut self)
     where
-        R: Read,
+        R: ReadChar,
     {
         self.cursor.set_json_parse(true);
     }
@@ -227,7 +228,7 @@ impl<R> Parser<'_, R> {
     /// Set the unique identifier for the parser.
     pub fn set_identifier(&mut self, identifier: u32)
     where
-        R: Read,
+        R: ReadChar,
     {
         self.cursor.set_identifier(identifier);
     }
@@ -254,7 +255,7 @@ impl ScriptParser {
 
 impl<R> TokenParser<R> for ScriptParser
 where
-    R: Read,
+    R: ReadChar,
 {
     type Output = boa_ast::Script;
 
@@ -315,7 +316,7 @@ impl ScriptBody {
 
 impl<R> TokenParser<R> for ScriptBody
 where
-    R: Read,
+    R: ReadChar,
 {
     type Output = StatementList;
 
@@ -387,7 +388,7 @@ struct ModuleParser;
 
 impl<R> TokenParser<R> for ModuleParser
 where
-    R: Read,
+    R: ReadChar,
 {
     type Output = boa_ast::Module;
 
diff --git a/core/parser/src/parser/statement/block/mod.rs b/core/parser/src/parser/statement/block/mod.rs
index b7fe55b2de..85de83d855 100644
--- a/core/parser/src/parser/statement/block/mod.rs
+++ b/core/parser/src/parser/statement/block/mod.rs
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@ use crate::{
         statement::StatementList, AllowAwait, AllowReturn, AllowYield, Cursor, OrAbrupt,
         ParseResult, TokenParser,
     },
+    source::ReadChar,
     Error,
 };
 use boa_ast::{
@@ -25,7 +26,6 @@ use boa_ast::{
 use boa_interner::Interner;
 use boa_profiler::Profiler;
 use rustc_hash::FxHashMap;
-use std::io::Read;
 
 /// The possible `TokenKind` which indicate the end of a block statement.
 const BLOCK_BREAK_TOKENS: [TokenKind; 1] = [TokenKind::Punctuator(Punctuator::CloseBlock)];
@@ -71,7 +71,7 @@ impl Block {
 
 impl<R> TokenParser<R> for Block
 where
-    R: Read,
+    R: ReadChar,
 {
     type Output = statement::Block;
 
diff --git a/core/parser/src/parser/statement/break_stm/mod.rs b/core/parser/src/parser/statement/break_stm/mod.rs
index 8efb2f982c..d0242a0ff8 100644
--- a/core/parser/src/parser/statement/break_stm/mod.rs
+++ b/core/parser/src/parser/statement/break_stm/mod.rs
@@ -17,11 +17,11 @@ use crate::{
         expression::LabelIdentifier,
         AllowAwait, AllowYield, ParseResult, TokenParser,
     },
+    source::ReadChar,
 };
 use boa_ast::{statement::Break, Keyword, Punctuator};
 use boa_interner::Interner;
 use boa_profiler::Profiler;
-use std::io::Read;
 
 /// Break statement parsing
 ///
@@ -53,7 +53,7 @@ impl BreakStatement {
 
 impl<R> TokenParser<R> for BreakStatement
 where
-    R: Read,
+    R: ReadChar,
 {
     type Output = Break;
 
diff --git a/core/parser/src/parser/statement/continue_stm/mod.rs b/core/parser/src/parser/statement/continue_stm/mod.rs
index ad78b12612..cf4e6c51ae 100644
--- a/core/parser/src/parser/statement/continue_stm/mod.rs
+++ b/core/parser/src/parser/statement/continue_stm/mod.rs
@@ -17,11 +17,11 @@ use crate::{
         expression::LabelIdentifier,
         AllowAwait, AllowYield, ParseResult, TokenParser,
     },
+    source::ReadChar,
 };
 use boa_ast::{statement::Continue, Keyword, Punctuator};
 use boa_interner::Interner;
 use boa_profiler::Profiler;
-use std::io::Read;
 
 /// For statement parsing
 ///
@@ -53,7 +53,7 @@ impl ContinueStatement {
 
 impl<R> TokenParser<R> for ContinueStatement
 where
-    R: Read,
+    R: ReadChar,
 {
     type Output = Continue;
 
diff --git a/core/parser/src/parser/statement/declaration/export.rs b/core/parser/src/parser/statement/declaration/export.rs
index b406593fdd..a062465eb5 100644
--- a/core/parser/src/parser/statement/declaration/export.rs
+++ b/core/parser/src/parser/statement/declaration/export.rs
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ use crate::{
         statement::{declaration::ClassDeclaration, variable::VariableStatement},
         Error, OrAbrupt, ParseResult, TokenParser,
     },
+    source::ReadChar,
 };
 use boa_ast::{
     declaration::{ExportDeclaration as AstExportDeclaration, ReExportKind},
@@ -24,7 +25,6 @@ use boa_ast::{
 };
 use boa_interner::{Interner, Sym};
 use boa_profiler::Profiler;
-use std::io::Read;
 
 use super::{
     hoistable::{AsyncFunctionDeclaration, AsyncGeneratorDeclaration, GeneratorDeclaration},
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ pub(in crate::parser) struct ExportDeclaration;
 
 impl<R> TokenParser<R> for ExportDeclaration
 where
-    R: Read,
+    R: ReadChar,
 {
     type Output = AstExportDeclaration;
 
@@ -233,7 +233,7 @@ struct NamedExports;
 
 impl<R> TokenParser<R> for NamedExports
 where
-    R: Read,
+    R: ReadChar,
 {
     type Output = Box<[boa_ast::declaration::ExportSpecifier]>;
 
@@ -298,7 +298,7 @@ pub(super) struct ModuleExportName;
 
 impl<R> TokenParser<R> for ModuleExportName
 where
-    R: Read,
+    R: ReadChar,
 {
     type Output = (Sym, bool);
 
@@ -338,7 +338,7 @@ struct ExportSpecifier;
 
 impl<R> TokenParser<R> for ExportSpecifier
 where
-    R: Read,
+    R: ReadChar,
 {
     type Output = boa_ast::declaration::ExportSpecifier;
 
diff --git a/core/parser/src/parser/statement/declaration/hoistable/async_function_decl/mod.rs b/core/parser/src/parser/statement/declaration/hoistable/async_function_decl/mod.rs
index ea221a9f03..f48f3c4fd1 100644
--- a/core/parser/src/parser/statement/declaration/hoistable/async_function_decl/mod.rs
+++ b/core/parser/src/parser/statement/declaration/hoistable/async_function_decl/mod.rs
@@ -1,13 +1,15 @@
 #[cfg(test)]
 mod tests;
 
-use crate::parser::{
-    statement::declaration::hoistable::{parse_callable_declaration, CallableDeclaration},
-    AllowAwait, AllowDefault, AllowYield, Cursor, ParseResult, TokenParser,
+use crate::{
+    parser::{
+        statement::declaration::hoistable::{parse_callable_declaration, CallableDeclaration},
+        AllowAwait, AllowDefault, AllowYield, Cursor, ParseResult, TokenParser,
+    },
+    source::ReadChar,
 };
 use boa_ast::{function::AsyncFunction, Keyword};
 use boa_interner::Interner;
-use std::io::Read;
 
 /// Async Function declaration parsing.
 ///
@@ -72,7 +74,7 @@ impl CallableDeclaration for AsyncFunctionDeclaration {
 
 impl<R> TokenParser<R> for AsyncFunctionDeclaration
 where
-    R: Read,
+    R: ReadChar,
 {
     type Output = AsyncFunction;
 
diff --git a/core/parser/src/parser/statement/declaration/hoistable/async_generator_decl/mod.rs b/core/parser/src/parser/statement/declaration/hoistable/async_generator_decl/mod.rs
index 986dab02d6..0c3443ebcc 100644
--- a/core/parser/src/parser/statement/declaration/hoistable/async_generator_decl/mod.rs
+++ b/core/parser/src/parser/statement/declaration/hoistable/async_generator_decl/mod.rs
@@ -6,13 +6,15 @@
 #[cfg(test)]
 mod tests;
 
-use crate::parser::{
-    statement::declaration::hoistable::{parse_callable_declaration, CallableDeclaration},
-    AllowAwait, AllowDefault, AllowYield, Cursor, ParseResult, TokenParser,
+use crate::{
+    parser::{
+        statement::declaration::hoistable::{parse_callable_declaration, CallableDeclaration},
+        AllowAwait, AllowDefault, AllowYield, Cursor, ParseResult, TokenParser,
+    },
+    source::ReadChar,
 };
 use boa_ast::{function::AsyncGenerator, Keyword, Punctuator};
 use boa_interner::Interner;
-use std::io::Read;
 
 /// Async Generator Declaration Parser
 ///
@@ -85,7 +87,7 @@ impl CallableDeclaration for AsyncGeneratorDeclaration {
 
 impl<R> TokenParser<R> for AsyncGeneratorDeclaration
 where
-    R: Read,
+    R: ReadChar,
 {
     type Output = AsyncGenerator;
 
diff --git a/core/parser/src/parser/statement/declaration/hoistable/class_decl/mod.rs b/core/parser/src/parser/statement/declaration/hoistable/class_decl/mod.rs
index a4c4e773f6..d65dc3a678 100644
--- a/core/parser/src/parser/statement/declaration/hoistable/class_decl/mod.rs
+++ b/core/parser/src/parser/statement/declaration/hoistable/class_decl/mod.rs
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ use crate::{
         statement::StatementList,
         AllowAwait, AllowDefault, AllowYield, Cursor, OrAbrupt, ParseResult, TokenParser,
     },
+    source::ReadChar,
     Error,
 };
 use ast::{
@@ -31,7 +32,6 @@ use boa_ast::{
 use boa_interner::{Interner, Sym};
 use boa_macros::utf16;
 use rustc_hash::{FxHashMap, FxHashSet};
-use std::io::Read;
 
 /// Class declaration parsing.
 ///
@@ -66,7 +66,7 @@ impl ClassDeclaration {
 
 impl<R> TokenParser<R> for ClassDeclaration
 where
-    R: Read,
+    R: ReadChar,
 {
     type Output = Class;
 
@@ -143,7 +143,7 @@ impl ClassTail {
 
 impl<R> TokenParser<R> for ClassTail
 where
-    R: Read,
+    R: ReadChar,
 {
     type Output = Class;
 
@@ -237,7 +237,7 @@ impl ClassHeritage {
 
 impl<R> TokenParser<R> for ClassHeritage
 where
-    R: Read,
+    R: ReadChar,
 {
     type Output = Expression;
 
@@ -289,7 +289,7 @@ impl ClassBody {
 
 impl<R> TokenParser<R> for ClassBody
 where
-    R: Read,
+    R: ReadChar,
 {
     type Output = (Option<Function>, Vec<function::ClassElement>);
 
@@ -570,7 +570,7 @@ impl ClassElement {
 
 impl<R> TokenParser<R> for ClassElement
 where
-    R: Read,
+    R: ReadChar,
 {
     type Output = (Option<Function>, Option<function::ClassElement>);
 
diff --git a/core/parser/src/parser/statement/declaration/hoistable/function_decl/mod.rs b/core/parser/src/parser/statement/declaration/hoistable/function_decl/mod.rs
index 5d290de005..21f211e067 100644
--- a/core/parser/src/parser/statement/declaration/hoistable/function_decl/mod.rs
+++ b/core/parser/src/parser/statement/declaration/hoistable/function_decl/mod.rs
@@ -1,13 +1,15 @@
 #[cfg(test)]
 mod tests;
 
-use crate::parser::{
-    statement::declaration::hoistable::{parse_callable_declaration, CallableDeclaration},
-    AllowAwait, AllowDefault, AllowYield, Cursor, ParseResult, TokenParser,
+use crate::{
+    parser::{
+        statement::declaration::hoistable::{parse_callable_declaration, CallableDeclaration},
+        AllowAwait, AllowDefault, AllowYield, Cursor, ParseResult, TokenParser,
+    },
+    source::ReadChar,
 };
 use boa_ast::{function::Function, Keyword};
 use boa_interner::Interner;
-use std::io::Read;
 
 /// Function declaration parsing.
 ///
@@ -70,7 +72,7 @@ impl CallableDeclaration for FunctionDeclaration {
 
 impl<R> TokenParser<R> for FunctionDeclaration
 where
-    R: Read,
+    R: ReadChar,
 {
     type Output = Function;
 
diff --git a/core/parser/src/parser/statement/declaration/hoistable/generator_decl/mod.rs b/core/parser/src/parser/statement/declaration/hoistable/generator_decl/mod.rs
index ae942e3c73..880107f216 100644
--- a/core/parser/src/parser/statement/declaration/hoistable/generator_decl/mod.rs
+++ b/core/parser/src/parser/statement/declaration/hoistable/generator_decl/mod.rs
@@ -1,13 +1,15 @@
 #[cfg(test)]
 mod tests;
 
-use crate::parser::{
-    statement::declaration::hoistable::{parse_callable_declaration, CallableDeclaration},
-    AllowAwait, AllowDefault, AllowYield, Cursor, ParseResult, TokenParser,
+use crate::{
+    parser::{
+        statement::declaration::hoistable::{parse_callable_declaration, CallableDeclaration},
+        AllowAwait, AllowDefault, AllowYield, Cursor, ParseResult, TokenParser,
+    },
+    source::ReadChar,
 };
 use boa_ast::{function::Generator, Keyword, Punctuator};
 use boa_interner::Interner;
-use std::io::Read;
 
 /// Generator declaration parsing.
 ///
@@ -72,7 +74,7 @@ impl CallableDeclaration for GeneratorDeclaration {
 
 impl<R> TokenParser<R> for GeneratorDeclaration
 where
-    R: Read,
+    R: ReadChar,
 {
     type Output = Generator;
 
diff --git a/core/parser/src/parser/statement/declaration/hoistable/mod.rs b/core/parser/src/parser/statement/declaration/hoistable/mod.rs
index 0c2a50a469..2f251634b7 100644
--- a/core/parser/src/parser/statement/declaration/hoistable/mod.rs
+++ b/core/parser/src/parser/statement/declaration/hoistable/mod.rs
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@ use crate::{
         statement::LexError,
         AllowAwait, AllowDefault, AllowYield, Cursor, OrAbrupt, ParseResult, TokenParser,
     },
+    source::ReadChar,
     Error,
 };
 use boa_ast::{
@@ -35,7 +36,6 @@ use boa_ast::{
 };
 use boa_interner::{Interner, Sym};
 use boa_profiler::Profiler;
-use std::io::Read;
 
 pub(in crate::parser) use self::{
     async_function_decl::AsyncFunctionDeclaration, async_generator_decl::AsyncGeneratorDeclaration,
@@ -74,7 +74,7 @@ impl HoistableDeclaration {
 
 impl<R> TokenParser<R> for HoistableDeclaration
 where
-    R: Read,
+    R: ReadChar,
 {
     type Output = Declaration;
 
@@ -145,7 +145,7 @@ trait CallableDeclaration {
 }
 
 // This is a helper function to not duplicate code in the individual callable declaration parsers.
-fn parse_callable_declaration<R: Read, C: CallableDeclaration>(
+fn parse_callable_declaration<R: ReadChar, C: CallableDeclaration>(
     c: &C,
     cursor: &mut Cursor<R>,
     interner: &mut Interner,
diff --git a/core/parser/src/parser/statement/declaration/import.rs b/core/parser/src/parser/statement/declaration/import.rs
index 4177c76561..2cd0d1201b 100644
--- a/core/parser/src/parser/statement/declaration/import.rs
+++ b/core/parser/src/parser/statement/declaration/import.rs
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@ use crate::{
         statement::{declaration::FromClause, BindingIdentifier},
         Error, OrAbrupt, ParseResult, TokenParser,
     },
+    source::ReadChar,
 };
 use boa_ast::{
     declaration::{
@@ -27,7 +28,6 @@ use boa_ast::{
 };
 use boa_interner::{Interner, Sym};
 use boa_profiler::Profiler;
-use std::io::Read;
 
 /// Parses an import declaration.
 ///
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@ pub(in crate::parser) struct ImportDeclaration;
 
 impl ImportDeclaration {
     /// Tests if the next node is an `ImportDeclaration`.
-    pub(in crate::parser) fn test<R: Read>(
+    pub(in crate::parser) fn test<R: ReadChar>(
         cursor: &mut Cursor<R>,
         interner: &mut Interner,
     ) -> ParseResult<bool> {
@@ -71,7 +71,7 @@ impl ImportDeclaration {
 
 impl<R> TokenParser<R> for ImportDeclaration
 where
-    R: Read,
+    R: ReadChar,
 {
     type Output = AstImportDeclaration;
 
@@ -171,7 +171,7 @@ struct ImportedBinding;
 
 impl<R> TokenParser<R> for ImportedBinding
 where
-    R: Read,
+    R: ReadChar,
 {
     type Output = Identifier;
 
@@ -192,7 +192,7 @@ struct NamedImports;
 
 impl<R> TokenParser<R> for NamedImports
 where
-    R: Read,
+    R: ReadChar,
 {
     type Output = Box<[AstImportSpecifier]>;
 
@@ -288,7 +288,7 @@ struct ImportSpecifier;
 
 impl<R> TokenParser<R> for ImportSpecifier
 where
-    R: Read,
+    R: ReadChar,
 {
     type Output = AstImportSpecifier;
 
@@ -373,7 +373,7 @@ struct NameSpaceImport;
 
 impl<R> TokenParser<R> for NameSpaceImport
 where
-    R: Read,
+    R: ReadChar,
 {
     type Output = Identifier;
 
diff --git a/core/parser/src/parser/statement/declaration/lexical.rs b/core/parser/src/parser/statement/declaration/lexical.rs
index 30a00130a1..a0e27aa6ba 100644
--- a/core/parser/src/parser/statement/declaration/lexical.rs
+++ b/core/parser/src/parser/statement/declaration/lexical.rs
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ use crate::{
         statement::{ArrayBindingPattern, BindingIdentifier, ObjectBindingPattern},
         AllowAwait, AllowIn, AllowYield, OrAbrupt, ParseResult, TokenParser,
     },
+    source::ReadChar,
     Error,
 };
 use ast::operations::bound_names;
@@ -22,7 +23,6 @@ use boa_ast::{self as ast, declaration::Variable, pattern::Pattern, Keyword, Pun
 use boa_interner::{Interner, Sym};
 use boa_profiler::Profiler;
 use rustc_hash::FxHashSet;
-use std::io::Read;
 
 /// Parses a lexical declaration.
 ///
@@ -62,7 +62,7 @@ impl LexicalDeclaration {
 
 impl<R> TokenParser<R> for LexicalDeclaration
 where
-    R: Read,
+    R: ReadChar,
 {
     type Output = ast::declaration::LexicalDeclaration;
 
@@ -167,7 +167,7 @@ impl BindingList {
 
 impl<R> TokenParser<R> for BindingList
 where
-    R: Read,
+    R: ReadChar,
 {
     type Output = ast::declaration::LexicalDeclaration;
 
@@ -276,7 +276,7 @@ impl LexicalBinding {
 
 impl<R> TokenParser<R> for LexicalBinding
 where
-    R: Read,
+    R: ReadChar,
 {
     type Output = Variable;
 
diff --git a/core/parser/src/parser/statement/declaration/mod.rs b/core/parser/src/parser/statement/declaration/mod.rs
index 04dad6f400..51b91228f3 100644
--- a/core/parser/src/parser/statement/declaration/mod.rs
+++ b/core/parser/src/parser/statement/declaration/mod.rs
@@ -25,12 +25,12 @@ pub(in crate::parser) use self::{
 use crate::{
     lexer::TokenKind,
     parser::{AllowAwait, AllowYield, Cursor, OrAbrupt, ParseResult, TokenParser},
+    source::ReadChar,
     Error,
 };
 use boa_ast::{self as ast, Keyword};
 use boa_interner::{Interner, Sym};
 use boa_profiler::Profiler;
-use std::io::Read;
 
 /// Parses a declaration.
 ///
@@ -61,7 +61,7 @@ impl Declaration {
 
 impl<R> TokenParser<R> for Declaration
 where
-    R: Read,
+    R: ReadChar,
 {
     type Output = ast::Declaration;
 
@@ -116,7 +116,7 @@ impl FromClause {
 
 impl<R> TokenParser<R> for FromClause
 where
-    R: Read,
+    R: ReadChar,
 {
     type Output = ast::declaration::ModuleSpecifier;
 
diff --git a/core/parser/src/parser/statement/expression/mod.rs b/core/parser/src/parser/statement/expression/mod.rs
index 60a7c2e031..c932c4910d 100644
--- a/core/parser/src/parser/statement/expression/mod.rs
+++ b/core/parser/src/parser/statement/expression/mod.rs
@@ -3,12 +3,12 @@ use crate::{
     parser::{
         expression::Expression, AllowAwait, AllowYield, Cursor, OrAbrupt, ParseResult, TokenParser,
     },
+    source::ReadChar,
     Error,
 };
 use boa_ast::{Keyword, Punctuator, Statement};
 use boa_interner::Interner;
 use boa_profiler::Profiler;
-use std::io::Read;
 
 /// Expression statement parsing.
 ///
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@ impl ExpressionStatement {
 
 impl<R> TokenParser<R> for ExpressionStatement
 where
-    R: Read,
+    R: ReadChar,
 {
     type Output = Statement;
 
diff --git a/core/parser/src/parser/statement/if_stm/mod.rs b/core/parser/src/parser/statement/if_stm/mod.rs
index 0b0bbe25ce..0b94972937 100644
--- a/core/parser/src/parser/statement/if_stm/mod.rs
+++ b/core/parser/src/parser/statement/if_stm/mod.rs
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ use crate::{
         statement::{declaration::FunctionDeclaration, Statement},
         AllowAwait, AllowReturn, AllowYield, Cursor, OrAbrupt, ParseResult, TokenParser,
     },
+    source::ReadChar,
     Error,
 };
 use boa_ast::{
@@ -16,7 +17,6 @@ use boa_ast::{
 };
 use boa_interner::Interner;
 use boa_profiler::Profiler;
-use std::io::Read;
 
 /// If statement parsing.
 ///
@@ -53,7 +53,7 @@ impl IfStatement {
 
 impl<R> TokenParser<R> for IfStatement
 where
-    R: Read,
+    R: ReadChar,
 {
     type Output = If;
 
diff --git a/core/parser/src/parser/statement/iteration/do_while_statement.rs b/core/parser/src/parser/statement/iteration/do_while_statement.rs
index 57f252cf5e..d48805ec6b 100644
--- a/core/parser/src/parser/statement/iteration/do_while_statement.rs
+++ b/core/parser/src/parser/statement/iteration/do_while_statement.rs
@@ -13,12 +13,12 @@ use crate::{
         expression::Expression, statement::Statement, AllowAwait, AllowReturn, AllowYield, Cursor,
         OrAbrupt, ParseResult, TokenParser,
     },
+    source::ReadChar,
     Error,
 };
 use boa_ast::{statement::DoWhileLoop, Keyword, Punctuator};
 use boa_interner::Interner;
 use boa_profiler::Profiler;
-use std::io::Read;
 
 /// Do...while statement parsing
 ///
@@ -57,7 +57,7 @@ impl DoWhileStatement {
 
 impl<R> TokenParser<R> for DoWhileStatement
 where
-    R: Read,
+    R: ReadChar,
 {
     type Output = DoWhileLoop;
 
diff --git a/core/parser/src/parser/statement/iteration/for_statement.rs b/core/parser/src/parser/statement/iteration/for_statement.rs
index 7808876d46..84488436b8 100644
--- a/core/parser/src/parser/statement/iteration/for_statement.rs
+++ b/core/parser/src/parser/statement/iteration/for_statement.rs
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ use crate::{
         statement::{variable::VariableDeclarationList, Statement},
         AllowAwait, AllowReturn, AllowYield, Cursor, OrAbrupt, ParseResult, TokenParser,
     },
+    source::ReadChar,
     Error,
 };
 use ast::{
@@ -32,7 +33,6 @@ use boa_ast::{
 use boa_interner::{Interner, Sym};
 use boa_profiler::Profiler;
 use rustc_hash::FxHashSet;
-use std::io::Read;
 
 /// For statement parsing
 ///
@@ -71,7 +71,7 @@ impl ForStatement {
 
 impl<R> TokenParser<R> for ForStatement
 where
-    R: Read,
+    R: ReadChar,
 {
     type Output = ast::Statement;
 
diff --git a/core/parser/src/parser/statement/iteration/while_statement.rs b/core/parser/src/parser/statement/iteration/while_statement.rs
index 3a1a97ae29..e6188462e4 100644
--- a/core/parser/src/parser/statement/iteration/while_statement.rs
+++ b/core/parser/src/parser/statement/iteration/while_statement.rs
@@ -3,12 +3,12 @@ use crate::{
         expression::Expression, statement::Statement, AllowAwait, AllowReturn, AllowYield, Cursor,
         OrAbrupt, ParseResult, TokenParser,
     },
+    source::ReadChar,
     Error,
 };
 use boa_ast::{statement::WhileLoop, Keyword, Punctuator};
 use boa_interner::Interner;
 use boa_profiler::Profiler;
-use std::io::Read;
 
 /// While statement parsing
 ///
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@ impl WhileStatement {
 
 impl<R> TokenParser<R> for WhileStatement
 where
-    R: Read,
+    R: ReadChar,
 {
     type Output = WhileLoop;
 
diff --git a/core/parser/src/parser/statement/labelled_stm/mod.rs b/core/parser/src/parser/statement/labelled_stm/mod.rs
index 16026ef60d..b61fd3cb53 100644
--- a/core/parser/src/parser/statement/labelled_stm/mod.rs
+++ b/core/parser/src/parser/statement/labelled_stm/mod.rs
@@ -6,12 +6,12 @@ use crate::{
         statement::{declaration::FunctionDeclaration, AllowAwait, AllowReturn, Statement},
         AllowYield, OrAbrupt, ParseResult, TokenParser,
     },
+    source::ReadChar,
     Error,
 };
 use boa_ast::{self as ast, Keyword, Punctuator};
 use boa_interner::Interner;
 use boa_profiler::Profiler;
-use std::io::Read;
 
 /// Labelled Statement Parsing
 ///
@@ -45,7 +45,7 @@ impl LabelledStatement {
 
 impl<R> TokenParser<R> for LabelledStatement
 where
-    R: Read,
+    R: ReadChar,
 {
     type Output = ast::statement::Labelled;
 
diff --git a/core/parser/src/parser/statement/mod.rs b/core/parser/src/parser/statement/mod.rs
index 0e6fe17d5d..ac4352ea57 100644
--- a/core/parser/src/parser/statement/mod.rs
+++ b/core/parser/src/parser/statement/mod.rs
@@ -44,6 +44,7 @@ use crate::{
         expression::{BindingIdentifier, Initializer, PropertyName},
         AllowAwait, AllowReturn, AllowYield, Cursor, OrAbrupt, ParseResult, TokenParser,
     },
+    source::ReadChar,
     Error,
 };
 use ast::{
@@ -58,7 +59,6 @@ use boa_ast::{
 use boa_interner::Interner;
 use boa_macros::utf16;
 use boa_profiler::Profiler;
-use std::io::Read;
 
 pub(in crate::parser) use declaration::ClassTail;
 
@@ -113,7 +113,7 @@ impl Statement {
 
 impl<R> TokenParser<R> for Statement
 where
-    R: Read,
+    R: ReadChar,
 {
     type Output = ast::Statement;
 
@@ -273,7 +273,7 @@ impl StatementList {
 
 impl<R> TokenParser<R> for StatementList
 where
-    R: Read,
+    R: ReadChar,
 {
     type Output = ast::StatementList;
 
@@ -404,7 +404,7 @@ impl StatementListItem {
 
 impl<R> TokenParser<R> for StatementListItem
 where
-    R: Read,
+    R: ReadChar,
 {
     type Output = ast::StatementListItem;
 
@@ -474,7 +474,7 @@ impl ObjectBindingPattern {
 
 impl<R> TokenParser<R> for ObjectBindingPattern
 where
-    R: Read,
+    R: ReadChar,
 {
     type Output = Vec<ObjectPatternElement>;
 
@@ -719,7 +719,7 @@ impl ArrayBindingPattern {
 
 impl<R> TokenParser<R> for ArrayBindingPattern
 where
-    R: Read,
+    R: ReadChar,
 {
     type Output = Vec<ArrayPatternElement>;
 
@@ -905,7 +905,7 @@ pub(super) struct ModuleItemList;
 
 impl<R> TokenParser<R> for ModuleItemList
 where
-    R: Read,
+    R: ReadChar,
 {
     type Output = boa_ast::ModuleItemList;
 
@@ -955,7 +955,7 @@ struct ModuleItem;
 
 impl<R> TokenParser<R> for ModuleItem
 where
-    R: Read,
+    R: ReadChar,
 {
     type Output = boa_ast::ModuleItem;
 
diff --git a/core/parser/src/parser/statement/return_stm/mod.rs b/core/parser/src/parser/statement/return_stm/mod.rs
index 6d8afc070a..83b971d24e 100644
--- a/core/parser/src/parser/statement/return_stm/mod.rs
+++ b/core/parser/src/parser/statement/return_stm/mod.rs
@@ -5,11 +5,11 @@ use crate::{
         expression::Expression,
         AllowAwait, AllowYield, ParseResult, TokenParser,
     },
+    source::ReadChar,
 };
 use boa_ast::{statement::Return, Keyword, Punctuator};
 use boa_interner::Interner;
 use boa_profiler::Profiler;
-use std::io::Read;
 
 /// Return statement parsing
 ///
@@ -41,7 +41,7 @@ impl ReturnStatement {
 
 impl<R> TokenParser<R> for ReturnStatement
 where
-    R: Read,
+    R: ReadChar,
 {
     type Output = Return;
 
diff --git a/core/parser/src/parser/statement/switch/mod.rs b/core/parser/src/parser/statement/switch/mod.rs
index 0d4f9a3343..de16fee08b 100644
--- a/core/parser/src/parser/statement/switch/mod.rs
+++ b/core/parser/src/parser/statement/switch/mod.rs
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ use crate::{
         expression::Expression, statement::StatementList, AllowAwait, AllowReturn, AllowYield,
         Cursor, OrAbrupt, ParseResult, TokenParser,
     },
+    source::ReadChar,
     Error,
 };
 use ast::operations::{lexically_declared_names_legacy, var_declared_names};
@@ -14,7 +15,6 @@ use boa_ast::{self as ast, statement, statement::Switch, Keyword, Punctuator};
 use boa_interner::Interner;
 use boa_profiler::Profiler;
 use rustc_hash::FxHashMap;
-use std::io::Read;
 
 /// The possible `TokenKind` which indicate the end of a case statement.
 const CASE_BREAK_TOKENS: [TokenKind; 3] = [
@@ -56,7 +56,7 @@ impl SwitchStatement {
 
 impl<R> TokenParser<R> for SwitchStatement
 where
-    R: Read,
+    R: ReadChar,
 {
     type Output = Switch;
 
@@ -141,7 +141,7 @@ impl CaseBlock {
 
 impl<R> TokenParser<R> for CaseBlock
 where
-    R: Read,
+    R: ReadChar,
 {
     type Output = Box<[statement::Case]>;
 
diff --git a/core/parser/src/parser/statement/throw/mod.rs b/core/parser/src/parser/statement/throw/mod.rs
index 8957496c4a..40c0f69291 100644
--- a/core/parser/src/parser/statement/throw/mod.rs
+++ b/core/parser/src/parser/statement/throw/mod.rs
@@ -4,11 +4,11 @@ mod tests;
 use crate::{
     lexer::TokenKind,
     parser::{expression::Expression, AllowAwait, AllowYield, Cursor, ParseResult, TokenParser},
+    source::ReadChar,
 };
 use boa_ast::{statement::Throw, Keyword, Punctuator};
 use boa_interner::Interner;
 use boa_profiler::Profiler;
-use std::io::Read;
 
 /// For statement parsing
 ///
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@ impl ThrowStatement {
 
 impl<R> TokenParser<R> for ThrowStatement
 where
-    R: Read,
+    R: ReadChar,
 {
     type Output = Throw;
 
diff --git a/core/parser/src/parser/statement/try_stm/catch.rs b/core/parser/src/parser/statement/try_stm/catch.rs
index 92e8a5af68..e43b0c627e 100644
--- a/core/parser/src/parser/statement/try_stm/catch.rs
+++ b/core/parser/src/parser/statement/try_stm/catch.rs
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ use crate::{
         statement::{block::Block, ArrayBindingPattern, BindingIdentifier, ObjectBindingPattern},
         AllowAwait, AllowReturn, AllowYield, Cursor, OrAbrupt, ParseResult, TokenParser,
     },
+    source::ReadChar,
     Error,
 };
 use boa_ast::{
@@ -14,7 +15,6 @@ use boa_ast::{
 use boa_interner::Interner;
 use boa_profiler::Profiler;
 use rustc_hash::FxHashSet;
-use std::io::Read;
 
 /// Catch parsing
 ///
@@ -49,7 +49,7 @@ impl Catch {
 
 impl<R> TokenParser<R> for Catch
 where
-    R: Read,
+    R: ReadChar,
 {
     type Output = statement::Catch;
 
@@ -149,7 +149,7 @@ impl CatchParameter {
 
 impl<R> TokenParser<R> for CatchParameter
 where
-    R: Read,
+    R: ReadChar,
 {
     type Output = Binding;
 
diff --git a/core/parser/src/parser/statement/try_stm/finally.rs b/core/parser/src/parser/statement/try_stm/finally.rs
index b1a6672728..a186009a3b 100644
--- a/core/parser/src/parser/statement/try_stm/finally.rs
+++ b/core/parser/src/parser/statement/try_stm/finally.rs
@@ -1,10 +1,13 @@
-use crate::parser::{
-    statement::block::Block, AllowAwait, AllowReturn, AllowYield, Cursor, ParseResult, TokenParser,
+use crate::{
+    parser::{
+        statement::block::Block, AllowAwait, AllowReturn, AllowYield, Cursor, ParseResult,
+        TokenParser,
+    },
+    source::ReadChar,
 };
 use boa_ast::{statement, Keyword};
 use boa_interner::Interner;
 use boa_profiler::Profiler;
-use std::io::Read;
 
 /// Finally parsing
 ///
@@ -39,7 +42,7 @@ impl Finally {
 
 impl<R> TokenParser<R> for Finally
 where
-    R: Read,
+    R: ReadChar,
 {
     type Output = statement::Finally;
 
diff --git a/core/parser/src/parser/statement/try_stm/mod.rs b/core/parser/src/parser/statement/try_stm/mod.rs
index 471dc3fde9..9b210eb39c 100644
--- a/core/parser/src/parser/statement/try_stm/mod.rs
+++ b/core/parser/src/parser/statement/try_stm/mod.rs
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ use super::block::Block;
 use crate::{
     lexer::TokenKind,
     parser::{AllowAwait, AllowReturn, AllowYield, Cursor, OrAbrupt, ParseResult, TokenParser},
+    source::ReadChar,
     Error,
 };
 use boa_ast::{
@@ -17,7 +18,6 @@ use boa_ast::{
 };
 use boa_interner::Interner;
 use boa_profiler::Profiler;
-use std::io::Read;
 
 /// Try...catch statement parsing
 ///
@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@ impl TryStatement {
 
 impl<R> TokenParser<R> for TryStatement
 where
-    R: Read,
+    R: ReadChar,
 {
     type Output = Try;
 
diff --git a/core/parser/src/parser/statement/variable/mod.rs b/core/parser/src/parser/statement/variable/mod.rs
index 54f6241d59..e1499ff77a 100644
--- a/core/parser/src/parser/statement/variable/mod.rs
+++ b/core/parser/src/parser/statement/variable/mod.rs
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ use crate::{
         statement::{ArrayBindingPattern, BindingIdentifier, ObjectBindingPattern},
         AllowAwait, AllowIn, AllowYield, OrAbrupt, ParseResult, TokenParser,
     },
+    source::ReadChar,
 };
 use boa_ast::{
     declaration::{VarDeclaration, Variable},
@@ -15,7 +16,7 @@ use boa_ast::{
 };
 use boa_interner::Interner;
 use boa_profiler::Profiler;
-use std::{convert::TryInto, io::Read};
+use std::convert::TryInto;
 
 /// Variable statement parsing.
 ///
@@ -49,7 +50,7 @@ impl VariableStatement {
 
 impl<R> TokenParser<R> for VariableStatement
 where
-    R: Read,
+    R: ReadChar,
 {
     type Output = VarDeclaration;
 
@@ -103,7 +104,7 @@ impl VariableDeclarationList {
 
 impl<R> TokenParser<R> for VariableDeclarationList
 where
-    R: Read,
+    R: ReadChar,
 {
     type Output = VarDeclaration;
 
@@ -158,7 +159,7 @@ impl VariableDeclaration {
 
 impl<R> TokenParser<R> for VariableDeclaration
 where
-    R: Read,
+    R: ReadChar,
 {
     type Output = Variable;
 
diff --git a/core/parser/src/parser/statement/with/mod.rs b/core/parser/src/parser/statement/with/mod.rs
index 12596c845d..ef6fccdae9 100644
--- a/core/parser/src/parser/statement/with/mod.rs
+++ b/core/parser/src/parser/statement/with/mod.rs
@@ -5,12 +5,12 @@ use crate::{
         cursor::Cursor, expression::Expression, statement::Statement, AllowAwait, AllowReturn,
         AllowYield, ParseResult, TokenParser,
     },
+    source::ReadChar,
     Error,
 };
 use boa_ast::{statement::With, Keyword, Punctuator};
 use boa_interner::Interner;
 use boa_profiler::Profiler;
-use std::io::Read;
 
 /// With statement parsing.
 ///
@@ -49,7 +49,7 @@ impl WithStatement {
 
 impl<R> TokenParser<R> for WithStatement
 where
-    R: Read,
+    R: ReadChar,
 {
     type Output = With;
 
diff --git a/core/parser/src/source.rs b/core/parser/src/source/mod.rs
similarity index 62%
rename from core/parser/src/source.rs
rename to core/parser/src/source/mod.rs
index fb37e50ce1..19409f107d 100644
--- a/core/parser/src/source.rs
+++ b/core/parser/src/source/mod.rs
@@ -1,9 +1,17 @@
+//! Boa parser input source types.
+
+mod utf16;
+mod utf8;
+
 use std::{
     fs::File,
     io::{self, BufReader, Read},
     path::Path,
 };
 
+pub use utf16::UTF16Input;
+pub use utf8::UTF8Input;
+
 /// A source of ECMAScript code.
 ///
 /// [`Source`]s can be created from plain [`str`]s, file [`Path`]s or more generally, any [`Read`]
@@ -14,7 +22,7 @@ pub struct Source<'path, R> {
     pub(crate) path: Option<&'path Path>,
 }
 
-impl<'bytes> Source<'static, &'bytes [u8]> {
+impl<'bytes> Source<'static, UTF8Input<&'bytes [u8]>> {
     /// Creates a new `Source` from any type equivalent to a slice of bytes e.g. [`&str`][str],
     /// <code>[Vec]<[u8]></code>, <code>[Box]<[\[u8\]][slice]></code> or a plain slice
     /// <code>[&\[u8\]][slice]</code>.
@@ -30,13 +38,34 @@ impl<'bytes> Source<'static, &'bytes [u8]> {
     /// [slice]: std::slice
     pub fn from_bytes<T: AsRef<[u8]> + ?Sized>(source: &'bytes T) -> Self {
         Self {
-            reader: source.as_ref(),
+            reader: UTF8Input::new(source.as_ref()),
+            path: None,
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+impl<'input> Source<'static, UTF16Input<'input>> {
+    /// Creates a new `Source` from a UTF-16 encoded slice e.g. <code>[&\[u16\]][slice]</code>.
+    ///
+    /// # Examples
+    ///
+    /// ```
+    /// # use boa_parser::Source;
+    /// let utf16: Vec<u16> = "var array = [5, 4, 3, 2, 1];".encode_utf16().collect();
+    /// let source = Source::from_utf16(&utf16);
+    /// ```
+    ///
+    /// [slice]: std::slice
+    #[must_use]
+    pub fn from_utf16(input: &'input [u16]) -> Self {
+        Self {
+            reader: UTF16Input::new(input),
             path: None,
         }
     }
 }
 
-impl<'path> Source<'path, BufReader<File>> {
+impl<'path> Source<'path, UTF8Input<BufReader<File>>> {
     /// Creates a new `Source` from a `Path` to a file.
     ///
     /// # Errors
@@ -57,13 +86,13 @@ impl<'path> Source<'path, BufReader<File>> {
     pub fn from_filepath(source: &'path Path) -> io::Result<Self> {
         let reader = File::open(source)?;
         Ok(Self {
-            reader: BufReader::new(reader),
+            reader: UTF8Input::new(BufReader::new(reader)),
             path: Some(source),
         })
     }
 }
 
-impl<'path, R: Read> Source<'path, R> {
+impl<'path, R: Read> Source<'path, UTF8Input<R>> {
     /// Creates a new `Source` from a [`Read`] instance and an optional [`Path`].
     ///
     /// # Examples
@@ -82,11 +111,24 @@ impl<'path, R: Read> Source<'path, R> {
     /// #    Ok(())
     /// # }
     /// ```
-    pub const fn from_reader(reader: R, path: Option<&'path Path>) -> Self {
-        Self { reader, path }
+    pub fn from_reader(reader: R, path: Option<&'path Path>) -> Self {
+        Self {
+            reader: UTF8Input::new(reader),
+            path,
+        }
     }
 }
 
+/// This trait is used to abstract over the different types of input readers.
+pub trait ReadChar {
+    /// Retrieves the next unicode code point. Returns `None` if the end of the input is reached.
+    ///
+    /// # Errors
+    ///
+    /// Returns an error if the next input in the input is not a valid unicode code point.
+    fn next_char(&mut self) -> io::Result<Option<u32>>;
+}
+
 #[cfg(test)]
 mod tests {
     use super::*;
@@ -99,7 +141,9 @@ mod tests {
         assert!(source.path.is_none());
 
         let mut content = String::new();
-        source.reader.read_to_string(&mut content).unwrap();
+        while let Some(c) = source.reader.next_char().unwrap() {
+            content.push(char::from_u32(c).unwrap());
+        }
 
         assert_eq!(content, "'Hello' + 'World';");
     }
@@ -113,7 +157,9 @@ mod tests {
         assert_eq!(source.path, Some(&*filepath));
 
         let mut content = String::new();
-        source.reader.read_to_string(&mut content).unwrap();
+        while let Some(c) = source.reader.next_char().unwrap() {
+            content.push(char::from_u32(c).unwrap());
+        }
 
         assert_eq!(content, "\"Hello\" + \"World\";\n");
     }
@@ -126,7 +172,9 @@ mod tests {
         assert!(source.path.is_none());
 
         let mut content = String::new();
-        source.reader.read_to_string(&mut content).unwrap();
+        while let Some(c) = source.reader.next_char().unwrap() {
+            content.push(char::from_u32(c).unwrap());
+        }
 
         assert_eq!(content, "'Hello' + 'World';");
 
@@ -137,7 +185,9 @@ mod tests {
         assert_eq!(source.path, Some("test.js".as_ref()));
 
         let mut content = String::new();
-        source.reader.read_to_string(&mut content).unwrap();
+        while let Some(c) = source.reader.next_char().unwrap() {
+            content.push(char::from_u32(c).unwrap());
+        }
 
         assert_eq!(content, "'Hello' + 'World';");
     }
diff --git a/core/parser/src/source/utf16.rs b/core/parser/src/source/utf16.rs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..16434ce1d2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/core/parser/src/source/utf16.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,65 @@
+use super::ReadChar;
+use std::io;
+
+/// Input for UTF-16 encoded sources.
+#[derive(Debug)]
+pub struct UTF16Input<'a> {
+    input: &'a [u16],
+    index: usize,
+}
+
+impl<'a> UTF16Input<'a> {
+    /// Creates a new `UTF16Input` from a UTF-16 encoded slice e.g. <code>[&\[u16\]][slice]</code>.
+    ///
+    /// [slice]: std::slice
+    #[must_use]
+    pub const fn new(input: &'a [u16]) -> Self {
+        Self { input, index: 0 }
+    }
+}
+
+impl ReadChar for UTF16Input<'_> {
+    /// Retrieves the next unchecked char in u32 code point.
+    fn next_char(&mut self) -> io::Result<Option<u32>> {
+        let Some(u1) = self.input.get(self.index).copied() else {
+            return Ok(None);
+        };
+
+        self.index += 1;
+
+        // If the code unit is not a high surrogate, it is not the start of a surrogate pair.
+        if !is_high_surrogate(u1) {
+            return Ok(Some(u1.into()));
+        }
+
+        let Some(u2) = self.input.get(self.index).copied() else {
+            return Ok(Some(u1.into()));
+        };
+
+        // If the code unit is not a low surrogate, it is not a surrogate pair.
+        if !is_low_surrogate(u2) {
+            return Ok(Some(u1.into()));
+        }
+
+        self.index += 1;
+
+        Ok(Some(code_point_from_surrogates(u1, u2)))
+    }
+}
+
+const SURROGATE_HIGH_START: u16 = 0xD800;
+const SURROGATE_HIGH_END: u16 = 0xDBFF;
+const SURROGATE_LOW_START: u16 = 0xDC00;
+const SURROGATE_LOW_END: u16 = 0xDFFF;
+
+fn is_high_surrogate(b: u16) -> bool {
+    (SURROGATE_HIGH_START..=SURROGATE_HIGH_END).contains(&b)
+}
+
+fn is_low_surrogate(b: u16) -> bool {
+    (SURROGATE_LOW_START..=SURROGATE_LOW_END).contains(&b)
+}
+
+fn code_point_from_surrogates(high: u16, low: u16) -> u32 {
+    ((u32::from(high & 0x3ff)) << 10 | u32::from(low & 0x3ff)) + 0x1_0000
+}
diff --git a/core/parser/src/source/utf8.rs b/core/parser/src/source/utf8.rs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..41c8404b1c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/core/parser/src/source/utf8.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,72 @@
+use super::ReadChar;
+use std::io::{self, Bytes, Read};
+
+/// Input for UTF-8 encoded sources.
+#[derive(Debug)]
+pub struct UTF8Input<R> {
+    input: Bytes<R>,
+}
+
+impl<R: Read> UTF8Input<R> {
+    /// Creates a new `UTF8Input` from a UTF-8 encoded source.
+    pub(crate) fn new(iter: R) -> Self {
+        Self {
+            input: iter.bytes(),
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+impl<R: Read> UTF8Input<R> {
+    /// Retrieves the next byte
+    fn next_byte(&mut self) -> io::Result<Option<u8>> {
+        self.input.next().transpose()
+    }
+}
+
+impl<R: Read> ReadChar for UTF8Input<R> {
+    /// Retrieves the next unchecked char in u32 code point.
+    fn next_char(&mut self) -> io::Result<Option<u32>> {
+        // Decode UTF-8
+        let x = match self.next_byte()? {
+            Some(b) if b >= 128 => b,         // UTF-8 codepoint
+            b => return Ok(b.map(u32::from)), // ASCII or None
+        };
+
+        // Multibyte case follows
+        // Decode from a byte combination out of: [[[x y] z] w]
+        // NOTE: Performance is sensitive to the exact formulation here
+        let init = utf8_first_byte(x, 2);
+        let y = self.next_byte()?.unwrap_or(0);
+        let mut ch = utf8_acc_cont_byte(init, y);
+        if x >= 0xE0 {
+            // [[x y z] w] case
+            // 5th bit in 0xE0 .. 0xEF is always clear, so `init` is still valid
+            let z = self.next_byte()?.unwrap_or(0);
+            let y_z = utf8_acc_cont_byte(u32::from(y & CONT_MASK), z);
+            ch = init << 12 | y_z;
+            if x >= 0xF0 {
+                // [x y z w] case
+                // use only the lower 3 bits of `init`
+                let w = self.next_byte()?.unwrap_or(0);
+                ch = (init & 7) << 18 | utf8_acc_cont_byte(y_z, w);
+            }
+        };
+
+        Ok(Some(ch))
+    }
+}
+
+/// Mask of the value bits of a continuation byte.
+const CONT_MASK: u8 = 0b0011_1111;
+
+/// Returns the initial codepoint accumulator for the first byte.
+/// The first byte is special, only want bottom 5 bits for width 2, 4 bits
+/// for width 3, and 3 bits for width 4.
+fn utf8_first_byte(byte: u8, width: u32) -> u32 {
+    u32::from(byte & (0x7F >> width))
+}
+
+/// Returns the value of `ch` updated with continuation byte `byte`.
+fn utf8_acc_cont_byte(ch: u32, byte: u8) -> u32 {
+    (ch << 6) | u32::from(byte & CONT_MASK)
+}