diff --git a/vlib/mysql/orm.v b/vlib/mysql/orm.v
index febe9de766..9d17e4dd2c 100644
--- a/vlib/mysql/orm.v
+++ b/vlib/mysql/orm.v
@@ -209,7 +209,7 @@ fn buffer_to_primitive(data_list []&u8, types []int) ?[]orm.Primitive {
 			orm.type_idx['i64'] {
 				primitive = *(unsafe { &i64(data) })
 			}
-			orm.type_idx['byte'] {
+			orm.type_idx['u8'] {
 				primitive = *(unsafe { &u8(data) })
 			}
 			orm.type_idx['u16'] {
@@ -249,7 +249,7 @@ fn buffer_to_primitive(data_list []&u8, types []int) ?[]orm.Primitive {
 
 fn mysql_type_from_v(typ int) ?string {
 	str := match typ {
-		orm.type_idx['i8'], orm.type_idx['byte'] {
+		orm.type_idx['i8'], orm.type_idx['u8'] {
 			'TINYINT'
 		}
 		orm.type_idx['i16'], orm.type_idx['u16'] {
diff --git a/vlib/orm/orm.v b/vlib/orm/orm.v
index 53a2cd87ca..04d869efc3 100644
--- a/vlib/orm/orm.v
+++ b/vlib/orm/orm.v
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ pub const (
 		ast.i8_type_idx,
 		ast.i16_type_idx,
 		ast.int_type_idx,
-		ast.byte_type_idx,
+		ast.u8_type_idx,
 		ast.u16_type_idx,
 		ast.u32_type_idx,
 		ast.bool_type_idx,
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ pub const (
 		'i16':    ast.i16_type_idx
 		'int':    ast.int_type_idx
 		'i64':    ast.i64_type_idx
-		'byte':   ast.byte_type_idx
+		'u8':     ast.u8_type_idx
 		'u16':    ast.u16_type_idx
 		'u32':    ast.u32_type_idx
 		'u64':    ast.u64_type_idx
diff --git a/vlib/pg/orm.v b/vlib/pg/orm.v
index 7fd5250ded..a145667701 100644
--- a/vlib/pg/orm.v
+++ b/vlib/pg/orm.v
@@ -184,7 +184,7 @@ fn pg_stmt_match(mut types []u32, mut vals []&char, mut lens []int, mut formats
 
 fn pg_type_from_v(typ int) ?string {
 	str := match typ {
-		orm.type_idx['i8'], orm.type_idx['i16'], orm.type_idx['byte'], orm.type_idx['u16'] {
+		orm.type_idx['i8'], orm.type_idx['i16'], orm.type_idx['u8'], orm.type_idx['u16'] {
 			'SMALLINT'
 		}
 		orm.type_idx['bool'] {
@@ -240,8 +240,8 @@ fn str_to_primitive(str string, typ int) ?orm.Primitive {
 		orm.type_idx['i64'] {
 			return orm.Primitive(str.i64())
 		}
-		// byte
-		orm.type_idx['byte'] {
+		// u8
+		orm.type_idx['u8'] {
 			data := str.i8()
 			return orm.Primitive(*unsafe { &u8(&data) })
 		}
diff --git a/vlib/v/ast/ast.v b/vlib/v/ast/ast.v
index bc96021211..8011ee9e95 100644
--- a/vlib/v/ast/ast.v
+++ b/vlib/v/ast/ast.v
@@ -2253,7 +2253,7 @@ pub fn (expr Expr) is_literal() bool {
 		CastExpr {
 			return !expr.has_arg && expr.expr.is_literal()
 				&& (expr.typ.is_ptr() || expr.typ.is_pointer()
-				|| expr.typ in [i8_type, i16_type, int_type, i64_type, byte_type, u16_type, u32_type, u64_type, f32_type, f64_type, char_type, bool_type, rune_type])
+				|| expr.typ in [i8_type, i16_type, int_type, i64_type, u8_type, u16_type, u32_type, u64_type, f32_type, f64_type, char_type, bool_type, rune_type])
 		}
 		SizeOf, IsRefType {
 			return expr.is_type || expr.expr.is_literal()
diff --git a/vlib/v/ast/table.v b/vlib/v/ast/table.v
index 4fe2a0a45c..8cd14fac60 100644
--- a/vlib/v/ast/table.v
+++ b/vlib/v/ast/table.v
@@ -1259,7 +1259,7 @@ pub fn (t &Table) value_type(typ Type) Type {
 		return string_type
 	}
 	if sym.kind in [.byteptr, .string] {
-		return byte_type
+		return u8_type
 	}
 	if typ.is_ptr() {
 		// byte* => byte
@@ -1436,7 +1436,7 @@ pub fn (mut t Table) bitsize_to_type(bit_size int) Type {
 			if bit_size % 8 != 0 { // there is no way to do `i2131(32)` so this should never be reached
 				t.panic('compiler bug: bitsizes must be multiples of 8')
 			}
-			return new_type(t.find_or_register_array_fixed(byte_type, bit_size / 8, empty_expr()))
+			return new_type(t.find_or_register_array_fixed(u8_type, bit_size / 8, empty_expr()))
 		}
 	}
 }
diff --git a/vlib/v/ast/types.v b/vlib/v/ast/types.v
index 12906d71a9..380a411426 100644
--- a/vlib/v/ast/types.v
+++ b/vlib/v/ast/types.v
@@ -378,12 +378,12 @@ pub fn (typ Type) is_unsigned() bool {
 
 pub fn (typ Type) flip_signedness() Type {
 	return match typ {
-		ast.i8_type { ast.byte_type }
+		ast.i8_type { ast.u8_type }
 		ast.i16_type { ast.u16_type }
 		ast.int_type { ast.u32_type }
 		ast.isize_type { ast.usize_type }
 		ast.i64_type { ast.u64_type }
-		ast.byte_type { ast.i8_type }
+		ast.u8_type { ast.i8_type }
 		ast.u16_type { ast.i16_type }
 		ast.u32_type { ast.int_type }
 		ast.usize_type { ast.isize_type }
@@ -422,7 +422,7 @@ pub const (
 	int_type_idx           = 7
 	i64_type_idx           = 8
 	isize_type_idx         = 9
-	byte_type_idx          = 10
+	u8_type_idx            = 10
 	u16_type_idx           = 11
 	u32_type_idx           = 12
 	u64_type_idx           = 13
@@ -443,7 +443,6 @@ pub const (
 	thread_type_idx        = 28
 	error_type_idx         = 29
 	nil_type_idx           = 30
-		// u8_type_idx            = 30
 )
 
 // Note: builtin_type_names must be in the same order as the idx consts above
@@ -454,21 +453,19 @@ pub const builtin_type_names = ['void', 'voidptr', 'byteptr', 'charptr', 'i8', '
 pub const builtin_type_names_matcher = build_builtin_type_names_matcher()
 
 pub const (
-	integer_type_idxs          = [i8_type_idx, i16_type_idx, int_type_idx, i64_type_idx,
-		byte_type_idx, u16_type_idx, u32_type_idx, u64_type_idx, isize_type_idx, usize_type_idx,
+	integer_type_idxs          = [i8_type_idx, i16_type_idx, int_type_idx, i64_type_idx, u8_type_idx,
+		u16_type_idx, u32_type_idx, u64_type_idx, isize_type_idx, usize_type_idx,
 		int_literal_type_idx, rune_type_idx]
 	signed_integer_type_idxs   = [char_type_idx, i8_type_idx, i16_type_idx, int_type_idx,
 		i64_type_idx, isize_type_idx]
-	unsigned_integer_type_idxs = [byte_type_idx, u16_type_idx, u32_type_idx, u64_type_idx,
+	unsigned_integer_type_idxs = [u8_type_idx, u16_type_idx, u32_type_idx, u64_type_idx,
 		usize_type_idx]
 	// C will promote any type smaller than int to int in an expression
-	int_promoted_type_idxs     = [char_type_idx, i8_type_idx, i16_type_idx, byte_type_idx,
-		u16_type_idx]
+	int_promoted_type_idxs     = [char_type_idx, i8_type_idx, i16_type_idx, u8_type_idx, u16_type_idx]
 	float_type_idxs            = [f32_type_idx, f64_type_idx, float_literal_type_idx]
-	number_type_idxs           = [i8_type_idx, i16_type_idx, int_type_idx, i64_type_idx,
-		byte_type_idx, char_type_idx, u16_type_idx, u32_type_idx, u64_type_idx, isize_type_idx,
-		usize_type_idx, f32_type_idx, f64_type_idx, int_literal_type_idx, float_literal_type_idx,
-		rune_type_idx]
+	number_type_idxs           = [i8_type_idx, i16_type_idx, int_type_idx, i64_type_idx, u8_type_idx,
+		char_type_idx, u16_type_idx, u32_type_idx, u64_type_idx, isize_type_idx, usize_type_idx,
+		f32_type_idx, f64_type_idx, int_literal_type_idx, float_literal_type_idx, rune_type_idx]
 	pointer_type_idxs          = [voidptr_type_idx, byteptr_type_idx, charptr_type_idx]
 	string_type_idxs           = [string_type_idx]
 )
@@ -485,8 +482,7 @@ pub const (
 	i16_type           = new_type(i16_type_idx)
 	i64_type           = new_type(i64_type_idx)
 	isize_type         = new_type(isize_type_idx)
-	byte_type          = new_type(byte_type_idx)
-	// u8_type            = new_type(u8_type_idx)
+	u8_type            = new_type(u8_type_idx)
 	u16_type           = new_type(u16_type_idx)
 	u32_type           = new_type(u32_type_idx)
 	u64_type           = new_type(u64_type_idx)
@@ -518,7 +514,7 @@ fn new_charptr_types() []Type {
 }
 
 fn new_byteptr_types() []Type {
-	return [ast.byteptr_type, new_type(ast.byte_type_idx).set_nr_muls(1)]
+	return [ast.byteptr_type, new_type(ast.u8_type_idx).set_nr_muls(1)]
 }
 
 fn new_voidptr_types() []Type {
diff --git a/vlib/v/ast/types_test.v b/vlib/v/ast/types_test.v
index 67e29459b4..6d0b60edd8 100644
--- a/vlib/v/ast/types_test.v
+++ b/vlib/v/ast/types_test.v
@@ -81,7 +81,7 @@ fn test_derive() {
 }
 
 fn test_flip_signedness() {
-	assert ast.i8_type.flip_signedness() == ast.byte_type
+	assert ast.i8_type.flip_signedness() == ast.u8_type
 	assert ast.u16_type.flip_signedness() == ast.i16_type
 	assert ast.isize_type.flip_signedness() == ast.usize_type
 }
diff --git a/vlib/v/checker/check_types.v b/vlib/v/checker/check_types.v
index 97aca546fe..d5420627b9 100644
--- a/vlib/v/checker/check_types.v
+++ b/vlib/v/checker/check_types.v
@@ -113,7 +113,7 @@ pub fn (mut c Checker) check_types(got ast.Type, expected ast.Type) bool {
 		return true
 	}
 	if exp_idx == ast.voidptr_type_idx || exp_idx == ast.byteptr_type_idx
-		|| (expected.is_ptr() && expected.deref().idx() == ast.byte_type_idx) {
+		|| (expected.is_ptr() && expected.deref().idx() == ast.u8_type_idx) {
 		if got.is_ptr() || got.is_pointer() {
 			return true
 		}
@@ -126,7 +126,7 @@ pub fn (mut c Checker) check_types(got ast.Type, expected ast.Type) bool {
 		}
 	}
 	if got_idx == ast.voidptr_type_idx || got_idx == ast.byteptr_type_idx
-		|| (got_idx == ast.byte_type_idx && got.is_ptr()) {
+		|| (got_idx == ast.u8_type_idx && got.is_ptr()) {
 		if expected.is_ptr() || expected.is_pointer() {
 			return true
 		}
@@ -150,9 +150,9 @@ pub fn (mut c Checker) check_types(got ast.Type, expected ast.Type) bool {
 		return false
 	}
 	if got.is_number() && expected.is_number() {
-		if got == ast.rune_type && expected == ast.byte_type {
+		if got == ast.rune_type && expected == ast.u8_type {
 			return true
-		} else if expected == ast.rune_type && got == ast.byte_type {
+		} else if expected == ast.rune_type && got == ast.u8_type {
 			return true
 		}
 		if c.promote_num(expected, got) != expected {
@@ -215,11 +215,11 @@ pub fn (mut c Checker) check_expected_call_arg(got ast.Type, expected_ ast.Type,
 		}
 		muls_got := got.nr_muls()
 		muls_expected := expected.nr_muls()
-		if idx_got == ast.byteptr_type_idx && idx_expected == ast.byte_type_idx
+		if idx_got == ast.byteptr_type_idx && idx_expected == ast.u8_type_idx
 			&& muls_got + 1 == muls_expected {
 			return
 		}
-		if idx_expected == ast.byteptr_type_idx && idx_got == ast.byte_type_idx
+		if idx_expected == ast.byteptr_type_idx && idx_got == ast.u8_type_idx
 			&& muls_expected + 1 == muls_got {
 			return
 		}
@@ -478,7 +478,7 @@ fn (mut c Checker) check_shift(mut node ast.InfixExpr, left_type ast.Type, right
 						ast.int_type { 31 }
 						ast.i64_type { 63 }
 						//
-						ast.byte_type { 7 }
+						ast.u8_type { 7 }
 						// ast.u8_type { 7 }
 						ast.u16_type { 15 }
 						ast.u32_type { 31 }
@@ -567,12 +567,12 @@ fn (c &Checker) promote_num(left_type ast.Type, right_type ast.Type) ast.Type {
 		} else { // f64, float_literal
 			return type_hi
 		}
-	} else if idx_lo >= ast.byte_type_idx { // both operands are unsigned
+	} else if idx_lo >= ast.u8_type_idx { // both operands are unsigned
 		return type_hi
 	} else if idx_lo >= ast.i8_type_idx
 		&& (idx_hi <= ast.isize_type_idx || idx_hi == ast.rune_type_idx) { // both signed
 		return if idx_lo == ast.i64_type_idx { type_lo } else { type_hi }
-	} else if idx_hi - idx_lo < (ast.byte_type_idx - ast.i8_type_idx) {
+	} else if idx_hi - idx_lo < (ast.u8_type_idx - ast.i8_type_idx) {
 		return type_lo // conversion unsigned -> signed if signed type is larger
 	} else if c.pref.translated {
 		return type_hi
diff --git a/vlib/v/checker/checker.v b/vlib/v/checker/checker.v
index 4e90fdbbde..55008bfdd3 100644
--- a/vlib/v/checker/checker.v
+++ b/vlib/v/checker/checker.v
@@ -2274,7 +2274,7 @@ pub fn (mut c Checker) expr(node_ ast.Expr) ast.Type {
 		ast.StringLiteral {
 			if node.language == .c {
 				// string literal starts with "c": `C.printf(c'hello')`
-				return ast.byte_type.set_nr_muls(1)
+				return ast.u8_type.set_nr_muls(1)
 			}
 			return c.string_lit(mut node)
 		}
@@ -2464,7 +2464,7 @@ pub fn (mut c Checker) cast_expr(mut node ast.CastExpr) ast.Type {
 	}
 
 	if to_type == ast.string_type {
-		if from_type in [ast.byte_type, ast.bool_type] {
+		if from_type in [ast.u8_type, ast.bool_type] {
 			snexpr := node.expr.str()
 			ft := c.table.type_to_str(from_type)
 			c.error('cannot cast type `$ft` to string, use `${snexpr}.str()` instead.',
diff --git a/vlib/v/checker/comptime.v b/vlib/v/checker/comptime.v
index f44132e7d5..3e2d5e8709 100644
--- a/vlib/v/checker/comptime.v
+++ b/vlib/v/checker/comptime.v
@@ -205,7 +205,7 @@ fn (mut c Checker) eval_comptime_const_expr(expr ast.Expr, nlevel int) ?ast.Comp
 				return cast_expr_value.i64() or { return none }
 			}
 			//
-			if expr.typ == ast.byte_type {
+			if expr.typ == ast.u8_type {
 				return cast_expr_value.u8() or { return none }
 			}
 			if expr.typ == ast.u16_type {
diff --git a/vlib/v/checker/fn.v b/vlib/v/checker/fn.v
index bbb503408a..2219379458 100644
--- a/vlib/v/checker/fn.v
+++ b/vlib/v/checker/fn.v
@@ -1924,7 +1924,7 @@ fn (mut c Checker) array_builtin_method_call(mut node ast.CallExpr, left_type as
 					'\ne.g. `users.sort(a.id < b.id)`', node.pos)
 			}
 		} else if !(c.table.sym(elem_typ).has_method('<')
-			|| c.table.unalias_num_type(elem_typ) in [ast.int_type, ast.int_type.ref(), ast.string_type, ast.string_type.ref(), ast.i8_type, ast.i16_type, ast.i64_type, ast.byte_type, ast.rune_type, ast.u16_type, ast.u32_type, ast.u64_type, ast.f32_type, ast.f64_type, ast.char_type, ast.bool_type, ast.float_literal_type, ast.int_literal_type]) {
+			|| c.table.unalias_num_type(elem_typ) in [ast.int_type, ast.int_type.ref(), ast.string_type, ast.string_type.ref(), ast.i8_type, ast.i16_type, ast.i64_type, ast.u8_type, ast.rune_type, ast.u16_type, ast.u32_type, ast.u64_type, ast.f32_type, ast.f64_type, ast.char_type, ast.bool_type, ast.float_literal_type, ast.int_literal_type]) {
 			c.error('custom sorting condition must be supplied for type `${c.table.type_to_str(elem_typ)}`',
 				node.pos)
 		}
diff --git a/vlib/v/checker/for.v b/vlib/v/checker/for.v
index eb0346a12f..22c8f76d07 100644
--- a/vlib/v/checker/for.v
+++ b/vlib/v/checker/for.v
@@ -113,7 +113,7 @@ fn (mut c Checker) for_in_stmt(mut node ast.ForInStmt) {
 			}
 			mut value_type := c.table.value_type(typ)
 			if sym.kind == .string {
-				value_type = ast.byte_type
+				value_type = ast.u8_type
 			}
 			if value_type == ast.void_type || typ.has_flag(.optional) {
 				if typ != ast.void_type {
diff --git a/vlib/v/eval/expr.v b/vlib/v/eval/expr.v
index d4a2ecd47f..9c60ad46c4 100644
--- a/vlib/v/eval/expr.v
+++ b/vlib/v/eval/expr.v
@@ -533,7 +533,7 @@ fn (e Eval) type_to_size(typ ast.Type) u64 {
 		ast.i8_type_idx, ast.i16_type_idx, ast.int_type_idx, ast.i64_type_idx {
 			return u64(math.exp2(f64(typ - 2))) // this formula converts the type number to the bitsize
 		}
-		ast.byte_type_idx, ast.u16_type_idx, ast.u32_type_idx, ast.u64_type_idx {
+		ast.u8_type_idx, ast.u16_type_idx, ast.u32_type_idx, ast.u64_type_idx {
 			return u64(math.exp2(f64(typ - 6))) // this formula converts the type number to the bitsize
 		}
 		ast.int_literal_type_idx, ast.float_literal_type_idx {
diff --git a/vlib/v/gen/c/auto_str_methods.v b/vlib/v/gen/c/auto_str_methods.v
index f4e92f51af..31c3c2056e 100644
--- a/vlib/v/gen/c/auto_str_methods.v
+++ b/vlib/v/gen/c/auto_str_methods.v
@@ -761,7 +761,7 @@ fn (mut g Gen) gen_str_for_map(info ast.Map, styp string, str_fn_name string) {
 }
 
 fn (g &Gen) type_to_fmt(typ ast.Type) StrIntpType {
-	if typ == ast.byte_type_idx {
+	if typ == ast.u8_type_idx {
 		return .si_u8
 	}
 	if typ == ast.char_type_idx {
diff --git a/vlib/v/gen/c/index.v b/vlib/v/gen/c/index.v
index f92fb8f759..83938014f4 100644
--- a/vlib/v/gen/c/index.v
+++ b/vlib/v/gen/c/index.v
@@ -31,14 +31,14 @@ fn (mut g Gen) index_expr(node ast.IndexExpr) {
 					tmp_opt := g.new_tmp_var()
 					cur_line := g.go_before_stmt(0)
 					g.out.write_string(util.tabs(g.indent))
-					opt_elem_type := g.typ(ast.byte_type.set_flag(.optional))
+					opt_elem_type := g.typ(ast.u8_type.set_flag(.optional))
 					g.write('$opt_elem_type $tmp_opt = string_at_with_check(')
 					g.expr(node.left)
 					g.write(', ')
 					g.expr(node.index)
 					g.writeln(');')
 					if !node.is_option {
-						g.or_block(tmp_opt, node.or_expr, ast.byte_type)
+						g.or_block(tmp_opt, node.or_expr, ast.u8_type)
 					}
 					g.write('\n$cur_line*(byte*)&${tmp_opt}.data')
 				} else {
diff --git a/vlib/v/gen/c/str_intp.v b/vlib/v/gen/c/str_intp.v
index 9544a56ec4..d88eddb949 100644
--- a/vlib/v/gen/c/str_intp.v
+++ b/vlib/v/gen/c/str_intp.v
@@ -86,7 +86,7 @@ fn (mut g Gen) str_format(node ast.StringInterLiteral, i int) (u64, string) {
 		} else {
 			match typ {
 				ast.i8_type { fmt_type = .si_i8 }
-				ast.byte_type { fmt_type = .si_u8 }
+				ast.u8_type { fmt_type = .si_u8 }
 				ast.i16_type { fmt_type = .si_i16 }
 				ast.u16_type { fmt_type = .si_u16 }
 				ast.i64_type { fmt_type = .si_i64 }
diff --git a/vlib/v/gen/js/auto_str_methods.v b/vlib/v/gen/js/auto_str_methods.v
index d465ba5011..e1903eac3e 100644
--- a/vlib/v/gen/js/auto_str_methods.v
+++ b/vlib/v/gen/js/auto_str_methods.v
@@ -645,7 +645,7 @@ fn (mut g JsGen) gen_str_for_map(info ast.Map, styp string, str_fn_name string)
 }
 
 fn (g &JsGen) type_to_fmt(typ ast.Type) StrIntpType {
-	if typ == ast.byte_type_idx {
+	if typ == ast.u8_type_idx {
 		return .si_u8
 	}
 	if typ == ast.char_type_idx {
diff --git a/vlib/v/gen/js/js.v b/vlib/v/gen/js/js.v
index f55ef531dd..3ad9bd9671 100644
--- a/vlib/v/gen/js/js.v
+++ b/vlib/v/gen/js/js.v
@@ -3229,8 +3229,8 @@ fn (mut g JsGen) greater_typ(left ast.Type, right ast.Type) ast.Type {
 		if ast.i16_type_idx in lr {
 			return ast.Type(ast.i16_type_idx)
 		}
-		if ast.byte_type_idx in lr {
-			return ast.Type(ast.byte_type_idx)
+		if ast.u8_type_idx in lr {
+			return ast.Type(ast.u8_type_idx)
 		}
 		if ast.i8_type_idx in lr {
 			return ast.Type(ast.i8_type_idx)
diff --git a/vlib/v/parser/parse_type.v b/vlib/v/parser/parse_type.v
index 6d2860ae0a..273871a729 100644
--- a/vlib/v/parser/parse_type.v
+++ b/vlib/v/parser/parse_type.v
@@ -578,7 +578,7 @@ pub fn (mut p Parser) parse_any_type(language ast.Language, is_ptr bool, check_d
 						ret = ast.i64_type
 					}
 					'u8' {
-						ret = ast.byte_type
+						ret = ast.u8_type
 					}
 					'u16' {
 						ret = ast.u16_type