diff --git a/simdnbt-derive/src/attrs.rs b/simdnbt-derive/src/attrs.rs
index a3a8658..c91b495 100644
--- a/simdnbt-derive/src/attrs.rs
+++ b/simdnbt-derive/src/attrs.rs
@@ -6,6 +6,11 @@ pub struct FieldAttrs {
     pub flatten: bool,
 }
 
+#[derive(Default, Debug)]
+pub struct UnitAttrs {
+    pub rename: Option<String>,
+}
+
 #[derive(Default, Debug)]
 pub struct StructAttrs {
     pub deny_unknown_fields: bool,
@@ -35,6 +40,27 @@ impl Parse for FieldAttrs {
     }
 }
 
+impl Parse for UnitAttrs {
+    fn parse(input: ParseStream) -> syn::Result<Self> {
+        let mut attrs = Self::default();
+
+        while !input.is_empty() {
+            let attr = input.parse::<proc_macro2::Ident>()?;
+            match attr.to_string().as_str() {
+                "rename" => {
+                    input.parse::<syn::Token![=]>()?;
+                    let rename = input.parse::<syn::LitStr>()?;
+
+                    attrs.rename = Some(rename.value());
+                }
+                _ => todo!(),
+            }
+        }
+
+        Ok(attrs)
+    }
+}
+
 impl Parse for StructAttrs {
     fn parse(input: ParseStream) -> syn::Result<Self> {
         let mut attrs = Self::default();
@@ -63,11 +89,29 @@ pub fn parse_field_attrs(attrs: &[syn::Attribute]) -> FieldAttrs {
         if let Some(rename) = new_attr.rename {
             field_attrs.rename = Some(rename);
         }
+        if new_attr.flatten {
+            field_attrs.flatten = true;
+        }
     }
 
     field_attrs
 }
 
+pub fn parse_unit_attrs(attrs: &[syn::Attribute]) -> UnitAttrs {
+    let mut unit_attrs = UnitAttrs::default();
+
+    for attr in attrs.iter().filter(|attr| attr.path().is_ident("simdnbt")) {
+        let new_attr = attr
+            .parse_args::<UnitAttrs>()
+            .expect("invalid simdnbt attr");
+        if let Some(rename) = new_attr.rename {
+            unit_attrs.rename = Some(rename);
+        }
+    }
+
+    unit_attrs
+}
+
 pub fn parse_struct_attrs(attrs: &[syn::Attribute]) -> StructAttrs {
     let mut struct_attrs = StructAttrs::default();
 
diff --git a/simdnbt-derive/src/lib.rs b/simdnbt-derive/src/lib.rs
index b12afc9..356b9ea 100644
--- a/simdnbt-derive/src/lib.rs
+++ b/simdnbt-derive/src/lib.rs
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 mod attrs;
 
-use attrs::parse_field_attrs;
+use attrs::{parse_field_attrs, parse_unit_attrs};
 use quote::quote;
 use syn::{parse_macro_input, DeriveInput};
 
@@ -30,10 +30,12 @@ pub fn deserialize_derive(input: proc_macro::TokenStream) -> proc_macro::TokenSt
                             #struct_field_name: simdnbt::Deserialize::from_compound(nbt)?,
                         })
                     } else {
+                        let debug_ident = format!("{ident}::{struct_field_name}");
+
                         field_deserializers.push(quote! {
                             #struct_field_name: simdnbt::FromNbtTag::from_optional_nbt_tag(
                                 nbt.take(#field_name)
-                            )?.ok_or(simdnbt::DeserializeError::MismatchedFieldType)?
+                            )?.ok_or(simdnbt::DeserializeError::MismatchedFieldType(#debug_ident.to_owned()))?
                         });
                     }
                 }
@@ -46,6 +48,8 @@ pub fn deserialize_derive(input: proc_macro::TokenStream) -> proc_macro::TokenSt
     }
 
     let generics = input.generics;
+    let where_clause = &generics.where_clause;
+
     let struct_attrs = attrs::parse_struct_attrs(&input.attrs);
 
     let extra_checks = if struct_attrs.deny_unknown_fields {
@@ -59,7 +63,7 @@ pub fn deserialize_derive(input: proc_macro::TokenStream) -> proc_macro::TokenSt
     };
 
     let output = quote! {
-        impl #generics simdnbt::Deserialize for #ident #generics {
+        impl #generics simdnbt::Deserialize for #ident #generics #where_clause {
             fn from_compound(mut nbt: simdnbt::owned::NbtCompound) -> Result<Self, simdnbt::DeserializeError> {
                 let value = Self {
                     #(#field_deserializers),*
@@ -109,10 +113,10 @@ pub fn serialize_derive(input: proc_macro::TokenStream) -> proc_macro::TokenStre
     }
 
     let generics = input.generics;
-    let struct_attrs = attrs::parse_struct_attrs(&input.attrs);
+    let where_clause = &generics.where_clause;
 
     let output = quote! {
-        impl #generics simdnbt::Serialize for #ident #generics {
+        impl #generics simdnbt::Serialize for #ident #generics #where_clause {
             fn to_compound(self) -> simdnbt::owned::NbtCompound {
                 let mut nbt = simdnbt::owned::NbtCompound::new();
                 #(#field_serializers)*
@@ -123,3 +127,106 @@ pub fn serialize_derive(input: proc_macro::TokenStream) -> proc_macro::TokenStre
 
     output.into()
 }
+
+#[proc_macro_derive(FromNbtTag, attributes(simdnbt))]
+pub fn from_nbt_tag_derive(input: proc_macro::TokenStream) -> proc_macro::TokenStream {
+    let input = parse_macro_input!(input as DeriveInput);
+
+    let ident = input.ident;
+
+    let mut matchers = Vec::<proc_macro2::TokenStream>::new();
+
+    match input.data {
+        syn::Data::Struct(_) => panic!("Use #[derive(Deserialize)] instead"),
+        syn::Data::Enum(syn::DataEnum { variants, .. }) => {
+            for variant in variants {
+                match variant.fields {
+                    syn::Fields::Named(_) => todo!(),
+                    syn::Fields::Unnamed(_) => todo!(),
+                    syn::Fields::Unit => {
+                        let enum_variant_name = variant.ident;
+
+                        let mut unit_attrs = parse_unit_attrs(&variant.attrs);
+
+                        let variant_name = unit_attrs
+                            .rename
+                            .take()
+                            .unwrap_or_else(|| enum_variant_name.to_string());
+
+                        matchers.push(quote! {
+                            #variant_name => Some(Self::#enum_variant_name),
+                        });
+                    }
+                }
+            }
+        }
+        syn::Data::Union(_) => todo!(),
+    }
+
+    let generics = input.generics;
+    let where_clause = &generics.where_clause;
+
+    let output = quote! {
+        impl #generics simdnbt::FromNbtTag for #ident #generics #where_clause {
+            fn from_nbt_tag(tag: simdnbt::owned::NbtTag) -> Option<Self> {
+                match tag.string()?.to_str().as_ref() {
+                    #(#matchers)*
+                    _ => None,
+                }
+            }
+        }
+    };
+
+    output.into()
+}
+
+#[proc_macro_derive(ToNbtTag, attributes(simdnbt))]
+pub fn to_nbt_tag_derive(input: proc_macro::TokenStream) -> proc_macro::TokenStream {
+    let input = parse_macro_input!(input as DeriveInput);
+
+    let ident = input.ident;
+
+    let mut field_matchers = Vec::<proc_macro2::TokenStream>::new();
+
+    match input.data {
+        syn::Data::Struct(_) => panic!("Use #[derive(Serialize)] instead"),
+        syn::Data::Enum(syn::DataEnum { variants, .. }) => {
+            for variant in variants {
+                match variant.fields {
+                    syn::Fields::Named(_) => todo!(),
+                    syn::Fields::Unnamed(_) => todo!(),
+                    syn::Fields::Unit => {
+                        let enum_variant_name = variant.ident;
+
+                        let mut unit_attrs = parse_unit_attrs(&variant.attrs);
+
+                        let variant_name = unit_attrs
+                            .rename
+                            .take()
+                            .unwrap_or_else(|| enum_variant_name.to_string());
+
+                        field_matchers.push(quote! {
+                            Self::#enum_variant_name => simdnbt::owned::NbtTag::String(#variant_name.into()),
+                        });
+                    }
+                }
+            }
+        }
+        syn::Data::Union(_) => todo!(),
+    }
+
+    let generics = input.generics;
+    let where_clause = &generics.where_clause;
+
+    let output = quote! {
+        impl #generics simdnbt::ToNbtTag for #ident #generics #where_clause {
+            fn to_nbt_tag(self) -> simdnbt::owned::NbtTag {
+                match self {
+                    #(#field_matchers)*
+                }
+            }
+        }
+    };
+
+    output.into()
+}
diff --git a/simdnbt/examples/hypixel_no_derive.rs b/simdnbt/examples/hypixel_no_derive.rs
index e0de3c2..4660fe5 100644
--- a/simdnbt/examples/hypixel_no_derive.rs
+++ b/simdnbt/examples/hypixel_no_derive.rs
@@ -1,10 +1,6 @@
-use simdnbt::ToNbtTag;
 use std::{collections::HashMap, hint::black_box, io::Cursor};
 
-use simdnbt::{
-    borrow::{BaseNbt, Nbt},
-    owned,
-};
+use simdnbt::borrow::{BaseNbt, Nbt};
 
 #[derive(Clone, PartialEq, Debug)]
 pub struct Item {
@@ -103,44 +99,12 @@ fn items_from_nbt(nbt: BaseNbt) -> Option<Vec<Option<Item>>> {
     Some(items)
 }
 
-fn nbt_from_items(items: Vec<Option<Item>>) -> owned::BaseNbt {
-    owned::BaseNbt::new("", {
-        let i = {
-            let mut i = Vec::new();
-
-            for item in items {
-                let Some(item) = item else {
-                    i.push(owned::NbtCompound::new());
-                    continue;
-                };
-
-                let mut nbt = {
-                    let mut nbt = owned::NbtCompound::new();
-                    nbt.insert("id", item.id.to_nbt_tag());
-                    nbt.insert("Damage", item.damage.to_nbt_tag());
-                    nbt.insert("Count", item.count.to_nbt_tag());
-                    nbt
-                };
-
-                i.push(nbt);
-            }
-
-            owned::NbtList::Compound(i)
-        };
-
-        let mut nbt = owned::NbtCompound::new();
-        nbt.insert("i", owned::NbtTag::List(i));
-        nbt
-    })
-}
-
 fn main() {
     let input = black_box(include_bytes!("../tests/realworld.nbt"));
 
     for _ in 0..1 {
         let nbt = Nbt::read(&mut Cursor::new(input));
         let nbt = black_box(nbt.unwrap().unwrap());
-        println!("{:?}", items_from_nbt(nbt));
-        // black_box(simdnbt_items_from_nbt(nbt));
+        black_box(items_from_nbt(nbt));
     }
 }
diff --git a/simdnbt/src/borrow/compound.rs b/simdnbt/src/borrow/compound.rs
index f929797..f7c39c1 100644
--- a/simdnbt/src/borrow/compound.rs
+++ b/simdnbt/src/borrow/compound.rs
@@ -127,13 +127,13 @@ impl<'a> NbtCompound<'a> {
                     unsafe {
                         unchecked_extend(data, &int_array.len().to_be_bytes());
                     }
-                    data.extend_from_slice(&int_array.as_big_endian());
+                    data.extend_from_slice(int_array.as_big_endian());
                 }
                 NbtTag::LongArray(long_array) => {
                     unsafe {
                         unchecked_extend(data, &long_array.len().to_be_bytes());
                     }
-                    data.extend_from_slice(&long_array.as_big_endian());
+                    data.extend_from_slice(long_array.as_big_endian());
                 }
             }
         }
diff --git a/simdnbt/src/common.rs b/simdnbt/src/common.rs
index f42db94..5e88780 100644
--- a/simdnbt/src/common.rs
+++ b/simdnbt/src/common.rs
@@ -113,7 +113,7 @@ pub fn slice_i8_into_u8(s: &[i8]) -> &[u8] {
 }
 
 #[inline(always)]
-pub fn write_with_u32_length<'a>(data: &mut Vec<u8>, width: usize, value: &'a [u8]) {
+pub fn write_with_u32_length(data: &mut Vec<u8>, width: usize, value: &[u8]) {
     let length = value.len() / width;
     data.reserve(4 + value.len());
     unsafe {
@@ -171,7 +171,7 @@ pub unsafe fn unchecked_push(data: &mut Vec<u8>, value: u8) {
 /// endian! Use [`slice_into_u8_big_endian`] to get big endian (the endianness that's used in NBT).
 #[inline]
 pub fn slice_into_u8_native_endian<T>(s: &[T]) -> &[u8] {
-    unsafe { slice::from_raw_parts(s.as_ptr() as *const u8, s.len() * std::mem::size_of::<T>()) }
+    unsafe { slice::from_raw_parts(s.as_ptr() as *const u8, std::mem::size_of_val(s)) }
 }
 
 /// Convert a slice of any type into a Vec<u8>. This will return the data as big endian (the
diff --git a/simdnbt/src/error.rs b/simdnbt/src/error.rs
index 4aec5c0..56a18c2 100644
--- a/simdnbt/src/error.rs
+++ b/simdnbt/src/error.rs
@@ -18,8 +18,8 @@ pub enum Error {
 pub enum DeserializeError {
     #[error("Missing field")]
     MissingField,
-    #[error("Mismatched type")]
-    MismatchedFieldType,
+    #[error("Mismatched type for {0}")]
+    MismatchedFieldType(String),
     #[error("Unknown fields {0:?}")]
     UnknownField(Vec<String>),
 }
diff --git a/simdnbt/src/mutf8.rs b/simdnbt/src/mutf8.rs
index ad01043..b35993e 100644
--- a/simdnbt/src/mutf8.rs
+++ b/simdnbt/src/mutf8.rs
@@ -8,12 +8,12 @@ use std::{
 };
 
 /// A M-UTF8 string slice. This is how strings are represented internally in NBT.
-#[derive(Debug, Eq, PartialEq)]
+#[derive(Eq, PartialEq)]
 pub struct Mutf8Str {
     pub(crate) slice: [u8],
 }
 /// An owned M-UTF8 string.
-#[derive(Debug, Eq, PartialEq, Clone, Default)]
+#[derive(Eq, PartialEq, Clone, Default)]
 pub struct Mutf8String {
     pub(crate) vec: Vec<u8>,
 }
@@ -116,6 +116,10 @@ impl Mutf8Str {
         self.slice.len()
     }
 
+    pub fn is_empty(&self) -> bool {
+        self.slice.is_empty()
+    }
+
     #[inline]
     pub fn as_bytes(&self) -> &[u8] {
         &self.slice
@@ -128,6 +132,18 @@ impl fmt::Display for Mutf8Str {
     }
 }
 
+impl fmt::Debug for Mutf8Str {
+    fn fmt(&self, f: &mut fmt::Formatter<'_>) -> fmt::Result {
+        f.debug_tuple("Mutf8Str").field(&self.to_str()).finish()
+    }
+}
+
+impl fmt::Debug for Mutf8String {
+    fn fmt(&self, f: &mut fmt::Formatter<'_>) -> fmt::Result {
+        f.debug_tuple("Mutf8String").field(&self.to_str()).finish()
+    }
+}
+
 impl ToOwned for Mutf8Str {
     type Owned = Mutf8String;
 
diff --git a/simdnbt/src/owned/compound.rs b/simdnbt/src/owned/compound.rs
index a97b98b..36ff795 100644
--- a/simdnbt/src/owned/compound.rs
+++ b/simdnbt/src/owned/compound.rs
@@ -1,14 +1,9 @@
 use std::{io::Cursor, mem};
 
-use byteorder::{ReadBytesExt, BE};
+use byteorder::ReadBytesExt;
 
 use crate::{
-    common::{
-        read_int_array, read_long_array, read_string, read_with_u32_length,
-        slice_into_u8_big_endian, unchecked_extend, unchecked_push, unchecked_write_string,
-        write_string, BYTE_ARRAY_ID, BYTE_ID, COMPOUND_ID, DOUBLE_ID, END_ID, FLOAT_ID,
-        INT_ARRAY_ID, INT_ID, LIST_ID, LONG_ARRAY_ID, LONG_ID, MAX_DEPTH, SHORT_ID, STRING_ID,
-    },
+    common::{read_string, unchecked_push, unchecked_write_string, END_ID, MAX_DEPTH},
     mutf8::Mutf8String,
     Error, Mutf8Str,
 };
@@ -46,49 +41,7 @@ impl NbtCompound {
             }
             let tag_name = read_string(data)?.to_owned();
 
-            match tag_type {
-                BYTE_ID => values.push((
-                    tag_name,
-                    NbtTag::Byte(data.read_i8().map_err(|_| Error::UnexpectedEof)?),
-                )),
-                SHORT_ID => values.push((
-                    tag_name,
-                    NbtTag::Short(data.read_i16::<BE>().map_err(|_| Error::UnexpectedEof)?),
-                )),
-                INT_ID => values.push((
-                    tag_name,
-                    NbtTag::Int(data.read_i32::<BE>().map_err(|_| Error::UnexpectedEof)?),
-                )),
-                LONG_ID => values.push((
-                    tag_name,
-                    NbtTag::Long(data.read_i64::<BE>().map_err(|_| Error::UnexpectedEof)?),
-                )),
-                FLOAT_ID => values.push((
-                    tag_name,
-                    NbtTag::Float(data.read_f32::<BE>().map_err(|_| Error::UnexpectedEof)?),
-                )),
-                DOUBLE_ID => values.push((
-                    tag_name,
-                    NbtTag::Double(data.read_f64::<BE>().map_err(|_| Error::UnexpectedEof)?),
-                )),
-                BYTE_ARRAY_ID => values.push((
-                    tag_name,
-                    NbtTag::ByteArray(read_with_u32_length(data, 1)?.to_owned()),
-                )),
-                STRING_ID => values.push((tag_name, NbtTag::String(read_string(data)?.to_owned()))),
-                LIST_ID => values.push((tag_name, NbtTag::List(NbtList::read(data, depth + 1)?))),
-                COMPOUND_ID => values.push((
-                    tag_name,
-                    NbtTag::Compound(NbtCompound::read_with_depth(data, depth + 1)?),
-                )),
-                INT_ARRAY_ID => {
-                    values.push((tag_name, NbtTag::IntArray(read_int_array(data)?.to_vec())))
-                }
-                LONG_ARRAY_ID => {
-                    values.push((tag_name, NbtTag::LongArray(read_long_array(data)?.to_vec())))
-                }
-                _ => return Err(Error::UnknownTagId(tag_type)),
-            }
+            values.push((tag_name, NbtTag::read_with_type(data, tag_type, depth)?));
         }
         Ok(Self { values })
     }
@@ -102,53 +55,7 @@ impl NbtCompound {
             unsafe {
                 unchecked_push(data, tag.id());
                 unchecked_write_string(data, name);
-            }
-            match tag {
-                NbtTag::Byte(byte) => unsafe {
-                    unchecked_push(data, *byte as u8);
-                },
-                NbtTag::Short(short) => unsafe {
-                    unchecked_extend(data, &short.to_be_bytes());
-                },
-                NbtTag::Int(int) => unsafe {
-                    unchecked_extend(data, &int.to_be_bytes());
-                },
-                NbtTag::Long(long) => {
-                    data.extend_from_slice(&long.to_be_bytes());
-                }
-                NbtTag::Float(float) => unsafe {
-                    unchecked_extend(data, &float.to_be_bytes());
-                },
-                NbtTag::Double(double) => {
-                    data.extend_from_slice(&double.to_be_bytes());
-                }
-                NbtTag::ByteArray(byte_array) => {
-                    unsafe {
-                        unchecked_extend(data, &byte_array.len().to_be_bytes());
-                    }
-                    data.extend_from_slice(byte_array);
-                }
-                NbtTag::String(string) => {
-                    write_string(data, string);
-                }
-                NbtTag::List(list) => {
-                    list.write(data);
-                }
-                NbtTag::Compound(compound) => {
-                    compound.write(data);
-                }
-                NbtTag::IntArray(int_array) => {
-                    unsafe {
-                        unchecked_extend(data, &int_array.len().to_be_bytes());
-                    }
-                    data.extend_from_slice(&slice_into_u8_big_endian(int_array));
-                }
-                NbtTag::LongArray(long_array) => {
-                    unsafe {
-                        unchecked_extend(data, &long_array.len().to_be_bytes());
-                    }
-                    data.extend_from_slice(&slice_into_u8_big_endian(long_array));
-                }
+                tag.unchecked_write_without_tag_type(data);
             }
         }
         data.push(END_ID);
@@ -301,9 +208,6 @@ impl NbtCompound {
     pub fn values_mut(&mut self) -> impl Iterator<Item = &mut NbtTag> {
         self.values.iter_mut().map(|(_, v)| v)
     }
-    pub fn into_iter(self) -> impl Iterator<Item = (Mutf8String, NbtTag)> {
-        self.values.into_iter()
-    }
     pub fn clear(&mut self) {
         self.values.clear();
     }
@@ -322,3 +226,12 @@ impl NbtCompound {
         None
     }
 }
+
+impl IntoIterator for NbtCompound {
+    type Item = (Mutf8String, NbtTag);
+    type IntoIter = std::vec::IntoIter<Self::Item>;
+
+    fn into_iter(self) -> Self::IntoIter {
+        self.values.into_iter()
+    }
+}
diff --git a/simdnbt/src/owned/mod.rs b/simdnbt/src/owned/mod.rs
index acad17c..dce03b3 100644
--- a/simdnbt/src/owned/mod.rs
+++ b/simdnbt/src/owned/mod.rs
@@ -5,13 +5,14 @@ mod list;
 
 use std::{io::Cursor, ops::Deref};
 
-use byteorder::ReadBytesExt;
+use byteorder::{ReadBytesExt, BE};
 
 use crate::{
     common::{
-        read_string, read_u32, write_string, BYTE_ARRAY_ID, BYTE_ID, COMPOUND_ID, DOUBLE_ID,
-        END_ID, FLOAT_ID, INT_ARRAY_ID, INT_ID, LIST_ID, LONG_ARRAY_ID, LONG_ID, MAX_DEPTH,
-        SHORT_ID, STRING_ID,
+        read_int_array, read_long_array, read_string, read_u32, read_with_u32_length,
+        slice_into_u8_big_endian, unchecked_extend, unchecked_push, write_string, BYTE_ARRAY_ID,
+        BYTE_ID, COMPOUND_ID, DOUBLE_ID, END_ID, FLOAT_ID, INT_ARRAY_ID, INT_ID, LIST_ID,
+        LONG_ARRAY_ID, LONG_ID, MAX_DEPTH, SHORT_ID, STRING_ID,
     },
     mutf8::Mutf8String,
     Error, Mutf8Str,
@@ -52,6 +53,22 @@ impl Nbt {
         Ok(Nbt::Some(BaseNbt { name, tag }))
     }
 
+    pub fn read_unnamed(data: &mut Cursor<&[u8]>) -> Result<Nbt, Error> {
+        let root_type = data.read_u8().map_err(|_| Error::UnexpectedEof)?;
+        if root_type == END_ID {
+            return Ok(Nbt::None);
+        }
+        if root_type != COMPOUND_ID {
+            return Err(Error::InvalidRootType(root_type));
+        }
+        let tag = NbtCompound::read_with_depth(data, 0)?;
+
+        Ok(Nbt::Some(BaseNbt {
+            name: Mutf8String::from(""),
+            tag,
+        }))
+    }
+
     pub fn write(&self, data: &mut Vec<u8>) {
         match self {
             Nbt::Some(nbt) => nbt.write(data),
@@ -61,6 +78,15 @@ impl Nbt {
         }
     }
 
+    pub fn write_unnamed(&self, data: &mut Vec<u8>) {
+        match self {
+            Nbt::Some(nbt) => nbt.write_unnamed(data),
+            Nbt::None => {
+                data.push(END_ID);
+            }
+        }
+    }
+
     pub fn unwrap(self) -> BaseNbt {
         match self {
             Nbt::Some(nbt) => nbt,
@@ -68,6 +94,13 @@ impl Nbt {
         }
     }
 
+    pub fn unwrap_or<'a>(&'a self, default: &'a BaseNbt) -> &'a BaseNbt {
+        match self {
+            Nbt::Some(nbt) => nbt,
+            Nbt::None => default,
+        }
+    }
+
     pub fn is_some(&self) -> bool {
         match self {
             Nbt::Some(_) => true,
@@ -80,7 +113,7 @@ impl Nbt {
     }
 
     pub fn iter(&self) -> impl Iterator<Item = (&Mutf8Str, &NbtTag)> {
-        const EMPTY: &'static NbtCompound = &NbtCompound { values: Vec::new() };
+        const EMPTY: &NbtCompound = &NbtCompound { values: Vec::new() };
 
         if let Nbt::Some(nbt) = self {
             nbt.iter()
@@ -88,21 +121,12 @@ impl Nbt {
             EMPTY.iter()
         }
     }
-
-    pub fn into_iter(self) -> impl Iterator<Item = (Mutf8String, NbtTag)> {
-        const EMPTY: NbtCompound = NbtCompound { values: Vec::new() };
-
-        match self {
-            Nbt::Some(nbt) => nbt.tag.into_iter(),
-            Nbt::None => EMPTY.into_iter(),
-        }
-    }
 }
 impl Deref for Nbt {
     type Target = BaseNbt;
 
     fn deref(&self) -> &Self::Target {
-        const EMPTY: &'static BaseNbt = &BaseNbt {
+        const EMPTY: &BaseNbt = &BaseNbt {
             name: Mutf8String { vec: Vec::new() },
             tag: NbtCompound { values: Vec::new() },
         };
@@ -114,6 +138,20 @@ impl Deref for Nbt {
     }
 }
 
+impl IntoIterator for Nbt {
+    type Item = (Mutf8String, NbtTag);
+    type IntoIter = std::vec::IntoIter<Self::Item>;
+
+    fn into_iter(self) -> Self::IntoIter {
+        const EMPTY: NbtCompound = NbtCompound { values: Vec::new() };
+
+        match self {
+            Nbt::Some(nbt) => nbt.tag.into_iter(),
+            Nbt::None => EMPTY.into_iter(),
+        }
+    }
+}
+
 impl BaseNbt {
     pub fn new(name: impl Into<Mutf8String>, tag: NbtCompound) -> Self {
         let name = name.into();
@@ -132,14 +170,25 @@ impl BaseNbt {
         self.tag.write(data);
     }
 
-    pub fn into_iter(self) -> impl Iterator<Item = (Mutf8String, NbtTag)> {
-        self.tag.into_iter()
+    pub fn write_unnamed(&self, data: &mut Vec<u8>) {
+        data.push(COMPOUND_ID);
+        self.tag.write(data);
     }
 
     pub fn into_inner(self) -> NbtCompound {
         self.tag
     }
 }
+
+impl IntoIterator for BaseNbt {
+    type Item = (Mutf8String, NbtTag);
+    type IntoIter = std::vec::IntoIter<Self::Item>;
+
+    fn into_iter(self) -> Self::IntoIter {
+        self.tag.into_iter()
+    }
+}
+
 impl Deref for BaseNbt {
     type Target = NbtCompound;
 
@@ -176,6 +225,109 @@ impl NbtTag {
         unsafe { *<*const _>::from(self).cast::<u8>() }
     }
 
+    fn read_with_type(data: &mut Cursor<&[u8]>, tag_type: u8, depth: usize) -> Result<Self, Error> {
+        match tag_type {
+            BYTE_ID => Ok(NbtTag::Byte(
+                data.read_i8().map_err(|_| Error::UnexpectedEof)?,
+            )),
+            SHORT_ID => Ok(NbtTag::Short(
+                data.read_i16::<BE>().map_err(|_| Error::UnexpectedEof)?,
+            )),
+            INT_ID => Ok(NbtTag::Int(
+                data.read_i32::<BE>().map_err(|_| Error::UnexpectedEof)?,
+            )),
+            LONG_ID => Ok(NbtTag::Long(
+                data.read_i64::<BE>().map_err(|_| Error::UnexpectedEof)?,
+            )),
+            FLOAT_ID => Ok(NbtTag::Float(
+                data.read_f32::<BE>().map_err(|_| Error::UnexpectedEof)?,
+            )),
+            DOUBLE_ID => Ok(NbtTag::Double(
+                data.read_f64::<BE>().map_err(|_| Error::UnexpectedEof)?,
+            )),
+            BYTE_ARRAY_ID => Ok(NbtTag::ByteArray(read_with_u32_length(data, 1)?.to_owned())),
+            STRING_ID => Ok(NbtTag::String(read_string(data)?.to_owned())),
+            LIST_ID => Ok(NbtTag::List(NbtList::read(data, depth + 1)?)),
+            COMPOUND_ID => Ok(NbtTag::Compound(NbtCompound::read_with_depth(
+                data,
+                depth + 1,
+            )?)),
+            INT_ARRAY_ID => Ok(NbtTag::IntArray(read_int_array(data)?.to_vec())),
+            LONG_ARRAY_ID => Ok(NbtTag::LongArray(read_long_array(data)?.to_vec())),
+            _ => Err(Error::UnknownTagId(tag_type)),
+        }
+    }
+
+    pub fn read(data: &mut Cursor<&[u8]>) -> Result<Self, Error> {
+        let tag_type = data.read_u8().map_err(|_| Error::UnexpectedEof)?;
+        Self::read_with_type(data, tag_type, 0)
+    }
+
+    /// Write to the data without checking that there's enough space in it.
+    ///
+    /// # Safety
+    ///
+    /// This function is unsafe because it doesn't check that there's enough space in the data.
+    /// 4 bytes MUST be reserved before calling this function.
+    unsafe fn unchecked_write_without_tag_type(&self, data: &mut Vec<u8>) {
+        match self {
+            NbtTag::Byte(byte) => unsafe {
+                unchecked_push(data, *byte as u8);
+            },
+            NbtTag::Short(short) => unsafe {
+                unchecked_extend(data, &short.to_be_bytes());
+            },
+            NbtTag::Int(int) => unsafe {
+                unchecked_extend(data, &int.to_be_bytes());
+            },
+            NbtTag::Long(long) => {
+                data.extend_from_slice(&long.to_be_bytes());
+            }
+            NbtTag::Float(float) => unsafe {
+                unchecked_extend(data, &float.to_be_bytes());
+            },
+            NbtTag::Double(double) => {
+                data.extend_from_slice(&double.to_be_bytes());
+            }
+            NbtTag::ByteArray(byte_array) => {
+                unsafe {
+                    unchecked_extend(data, &byte_array.len().to_be_bytes());
+                }
+                data.extend_from_slice(byte_array);
+            }
+            NbtTag::String(string) => {
+                write_string(data, string);
+            }
+            NbtTag::List(list) => {
+                list.write(data);
+            }
+            NbtTag::Compound(compound) => {
+                compound.write(data);
+            }
+            NbtTag::IntArray(int_array) => {
+                unsafe {
+                    unchecked_extend(data, &int_array.len().to_be_bytes());
+                }
+                data.extend_from_slice(&slice_into_u8_big_endian(int_array));
+            }
+            NbtTag::LongArray(long_array) => {
+                unsafe {
+                    unchecked_extend(data, &long_array.len().to_be_bytes());
+                }
+                data.extend_from_slice(&slice_into_u8_big_endian(long_array));
+            }
+        }
+    }
+
+    pub fn write(&self, data: &mut Vec<u8>) {
+        data.reserve(1 + 4);
+        // SAFETY: We just reserved enough space for the tag ID and 4 bytes of tag data.
+        unsafe {
+            unchecked_push(data, self.id());
+            self.unchecked_write_without_tag_type(data);
+        }
+    }
+
     pub fn byte(&self) -> Option<i8> {
         match self {
             NbtTag::Byte(byte) => Some(*byte),
diff --git a/simdnbt/src/raw_list.rs b/simdnbt/src/raw_list.rs
index e91d17e..ea22f3d 100644
--- a/simdnbt/src/raw_list.rs
+++ b/simdnbt/src/raw_list.rs
@@ -20,6 +20,10 @@ impl<'a, T> RawList<'a, T> {
     pub fn len(&self) -> usize {
         self.data.len() / std::mem::size_of::<T>()
     }
+
+    pub fn is_empty(&self) -> bool {
+        self.data.is_empty()
+    }
 }
 
 impl<T: SwappableNumber> RawList<'_, T> {
diff --git a/simdnbt/src/traits.rs b/simdnbt/src/traits.rs
index 5ddf90c..bf3a289 100644
--- a/simdnbt/src/traits.rs
+++ b/simdnbt/src/traits.rs
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-use std::{collections::HashMap, fmt::Display, hash::Hash, hash::Hasher, str::FromStr};
+use std::{collections::HashMap, fmt::Display, hash::Hash, str::FromStr};
 
 use crate::DeserializeError;
 
@@ -42,12 +42,16 @@ impl<K: Display + FromStr + Eq + Hash, V: FromNbtTag> Deserialize for HashMap<K,
         let mut hashmap = HashMap::with_capacity(compound.values.len());
 
         for (k, v) in compound.values {
-            hashmap.insert(
-                k.to_str()
-                    .parse()
-                    .map_err(|_| DeserializeError::MismatchedFieldType)?,
-                V::from_nbt_tag(v).ok_or(DeserializeError::MismatchedFieldType)?,
-            );
+            let k_str = k.to_str();
+            let k_parsed = k_str
+                .parse()
+                .map_err(|_| DeserializeError::MismatchedFieldType("key".to_owned()))?;
+
+            let v_parsed = V::from_nbt_tag(v).ok_or_else(|| {
+                DeserializeError::MismatchedFieldType(format!("value for key {k_str}"))
+            })?;
+
+            hashmap.insert(k_parsed, v_parsed);
         }
 
         Ok(hashmap)
@@ -89,6 +93,17 @@ impl<T: Serialize> ToNbtTag for T {
     }
 }
 
+impl FromNbtTag for crate::owned::NbtTag {
+    fn from_nbt_tag(tag: crate::owned::NbtTag) -> Option<Self> {
+        Some(tag)
+    }
+}
+impl ToNbtTag for crate::owned::NbtTag {
+    fn to_nbt_tag(self) -> crate::owned::NbtTag {
+        self
+    }
+}
+
 // standard nbt types
 impl FromNbtTag for i8 {
     fn from_nbt_tag(tag: crate::owned::NbtTag) -> Option<Self> {
@@ -167,6 +182,51 @@ impl ToNbtTag for String {
     }
 }
 
+// unsigned integers
+impl FromNbtTag for u8 {
+    fn from_nbt_tag(tag: crate::owned::NbtTag) -> Option<Self> {
+        tag.byte().map(|b| b as u8)
+    }
+}
+impl ToNbtTag for u8 {
+    fn to_nbt_tag(self) -> crate::owned::NbtTag {
+        crate::owned::NbtTag::Byte(self as i8)
+    }
+}
+
+impl FromNbtTag for u16 {
+    fn from_nbt_tag(tag: crate::owned::NbtTag) -> Option<Self> {
+        tag.short().map(|s| s as u16)
+    }
+}
+impl ToNbtTag for u16 {
+    fn to_nbt_tag(self) -> crate::owned::NbtTag {
+        crate::owned::NbtTag::Short(self as i16)
+    }
+}
+
+impl FromNbtTag for u32 {
+    fn from_nbt_tag(tag: crate::owned::NbtTag) -> Option<Self> {
+        tag.int().map(|i| i as u32)
+    }
+}
+impl ToNbtTag for u32 {
+    fn to_nbt_tag(self) -> crate::owned::NbtTag {
+        crate::owned::NbtTag::Int(self as i32)
+    }
+}
+
+impl FromNbtTag for u64 {
+    fn from_nbt_tag(tag: crate::owned::NbtTag) -> Option<Self> {
+        tag.long().map(|l| l as u64)
+    }
+}
+impl ToNbtTag for u64 {
+    fn to_nbt_tag(self) -> crate::owned::NbtTag {
+        crate::owned::NbtTag::Long(self as i64)
+    }
+}
+
 // lists
 impl FromNbtTag for Vec<String> {
     fn from_nbt_tag(tag: crate::owned::NbtTag) -> Option<Self> {
@@ -203,10 +263,7 @@ impl<T: ToNbtTag> ToNbtTag for Option<T> {
         panic!("Called to_nbt_tag on Option<T>. Use to_optional_nbt_tag instead.")
     }
     fn to_optional_nbt_tag(self) -> Option<crate::owned::NbtTag> {
-        match self {
-            Some(t) => Some(t.to_nbt_tag()),
-            None => None,
-        }
+        self.map(|t| t.to_nbt_tag())
     }
 }
 
@@ -263,3 +320,8 @@ impl FromNbtTag for bool {
         tag.byte().map(|b| b != 0)
     }
 }
+impl ToNbtTag for bool {
+    fn to_nbt_tag(self) -> crate::owned::NbtTag {
+        crate::owned::NbtTag::Byte(if self { 1 } else { 0 })
+    }
+}