diff --git a/test/stream_test.cc b/test/stream_test.cc
index 4687e97..a276055 100644
--- a/test/stream_test.cc
+++ b/test/stream_test.cc
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 
+#include <boost/assert.hpp>
 #include <gtest/gtest.h>
 #include <sys/socket.h>
 #include <uv.h>
@@ -124,24 +125,41 @@ TEST(PipeTest, largeWriteRead) {
     auto [read, write] = pipe(loop);
 
     for (unsigned i = 0; i < 10; ++i) {
-      co_await write.write(std::string(buffer.data(), buffer.size()));
+      EXPECT_EQ(buffer.size(), co_await write.write(
+                                   std::string(buffer.data(), buffer.size())));
     }
     co_await write.close();
 
     size_t bytesRead{};
 
     while (true) {
-      auto chunk = co_await read.read();
+      // Read random chunk size.
+      auto chunk = co_await read.read(732);
       if (!chunk.has_value()) {
         break;
       }
       bytesRead += chunk->size();
     }
-
+    BOOST_ASSERT(bytesRead == 10240);
     co_await read.close();
   };
 
   run_loop(setup);
 }
 
+TEST(PipeTest, readIntoBuffer) {
+  auto setup = [&](const Loop &loop) -> uvco::Promise<void> {
+    auto [read, write] = pipe(loop);
+
+    co_await write.write("Hello");
+    std::array<char, 32> buffer{};
+    size_t bytesRead = co_await read.read(buffer);
+    EXPECT_EQ(bytesRead, 5);
+    EXPECT_EQ(std::string(buffer.data(), bytesRead), "Hello");
+    co_await read.close();
+    co_await write.close();
+  };
+  run_loop(setup);
+}
+
 } // namespace
diff --git a/test/tcp-broadcaster.exe.cc b/test/tcp-broadcaster.exe.cc
index 4d05933..8db9341 100644
--- a/test/tcp-broadcaster.exe.cc
+++ b/test/tcp-broadcaster.exe.cc
@@ -1,13 +1,19 @@
 
 #include <boost/program_options.hpp>
+#include <boost/program_options/detail/parsers.hpp>
+#include <boost/program_options/options_description.hpp>
+#include <boost/program_options/value_semantic.hpp>
 #include <boost/program_options/variables_map.hpp>
+#include <fmt/core.h>
 #include <fmt/format.h>
 
+#include "uvco/name_resolution.h"
 #include "uvco/promise/multipromise.h"
 #include "uvco/promise/promise.h"
 #include "uvco/run.h"
 #include "uvco/stream.h"
 #include "uvco/tcp.h"
+#include "uvco/tcp_stream.h"
 
 #include <cstdint>
 #include <cstdio>
@@ -16,7 +22,10 @@
 #include <memory>
 #include <optional>
 #include <string>
+#include <string_view>
 #include <unordered_map>
+#include <utility>
+#include <vector>
 
 struct Options {
   const uvco::Loop *loop;
@@ -55,7 +64,7 @@ class Hub {
 
   Promise<void> broadcast(std::string_view from, std::string_view what) {
     const std::string message = fmt::format("{} says: {}", from, what);
-    std::vector<Promise<uv_status>> promises;
+    std::vector<Promise<size_t>> promises;
     promises.reserve(clients_.size());
 
     for (const auto &clientPtr : clients_) {
diff --git a/uvco/stream.cc b/uvco/stream.cc
index 225cb99..fecb59e 100644
--- a/uvco/stream.cc
+++ b/uvco/stream.cc
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 
 #include <boost/assert.hpp>
 #include <fmt/core.h>
+#include <span>
 #include <uv.h>
 #include <uv/unix.h>
 
@@ -46,17 +47,32 @@ TtyStream TtyStream::tty(const Loop &loop, int fd) {
   return TtyStream{std::move(tty)};
 }
 
-Promise<std::optional<std::string>> StreamBase::read() {
+Promise<std::optional<std::string>> StreamBase::read(size_t maxSize) {
   // This is a promise root function, i.e. origin of a promise.
-  InStreamAwaiter_ awaiter{*this};
-  std::optional<std::string> buf = co_await awaiter;
+  std::string buf(maxSize, '\0');
+  InStreamAwaiter_ awaiter{*this, buf};
+  const size_t nRead = co_await awaiter;
+  if (nRead == 0) {
+    // EOF.
+    co_return std::nullopt;
+  }
+  buf.resize(nRead);
   co_return buf;
 }
 
-Promise<uv_status> StreamBase::write(std::string buf) {
+Promise<size_t> StreamBase::read(std::span<char> buffer) {
+  InStreamAwaiter_ awaiter{*this, buffer};
+  size_t n = co_await awaiter;
+  co_return n;
+}
+
+Promise<size_t> StreamBase::write(std::string buf) {
   OutStreamAwaiter_ awaiter{*this, std::move(buf)};
   uv_status status = co_await awaiter;
-  co_return status;
+  if (status < 0) {
+    throw UvcoException{status, "StreamBase::write() encountered error"};
+  }
+  co_return static_cast<size_t>(status);
 }
 
 Promise<void> StreamBase::shutdown() {
@@ -93,7 +109,7 @@ bool StreamBase::InStreamAwaiter_::await_ready() {
     start_read();
     stop_read();
   }
-  return slot_.has_value();
+  return status_.has_value();
 }
 
 bool StreamBase::InStreamAwaiter_::await_suspend(
@@ -106,44 +122,51 @@ bool StreamBase::InStreamAwaiter_::await_suspend(
   return true;
 }
 
-std::optional<std::string> StreamBase::InStreamAwaiter_::await_resume() {
-  if (!slot_ && !stream_.stream_) {
+size_t StreamBase::InStreamAwaiter_::await_resume() {
+  if (!status_ && !stream_.stream_) {
     return {};
   }
-  BOOST_ASSERT(slot_);
-  std::optional<std::string> result = std::move(*slot_);
-  slot_.reset();
+  BOOST_ASSERT(status_);
   stream_.reader_.reset();
-  return result;
+  if (status_ && *status_ == UV_EOF) {
+    return 0;
+  }
+  if (status_ && *status_ < 0) {
+    throw UvcoException{static_cast<uv_status>(*status_),
+                        "StreamBase::read() encountered error"};
+  }
+  BOOST_ASSERT(status_.value() >= 0);
+  return static_cast<size_t>(status_.value());
+}
+
+// Provides the InStreamAwaiter_'s span buffer to libuv.
+void StreamBase::InStreamAwaiter_::allocate(uv_handle_t *handle,
+                                            size_t /*suggested_size*/,
+                                            uv_buf_t *buf) {
+  const InStreamAwaiter_ *awaiter = (InStreamAwaiter_ *)handle->data;
+  BOOST_ASSERT(awaiter != nullptr);
+  buf->base = awaiter->buffer_.data();
+  buf->len = awaiter->buffer_.size();
 }
 
 void StreamBase::InStreamAwaiter_::start_read() {
-  uv_read_start(&stream_.stream(), allocator, onInStreamRead);
+  uv_read_start(&stream_.stream(), StreamBase::InStreamAwaiter_::allocate,
+                StreamBase::InStreamAwaiter_::onInStreamRead);
 }
 
 void StreamBase::InStreamAwaiter_::stop_read() {
   uv_read_stop(&stream_.stream());
 }
 
+// buf is not used, because it is an alias to awaiter->buffer_.
 void StreamBase::InStreamAwaiter_::onInStreamRead(uv_stream_t *stream,
                                                   ssize_t nread,
-                                                  const uv_buf_t *buf) {
+                                                  const uv_buf_t * /*buf*/) {
   auto *awaiter = (InStreamAwaiter_ *)stream->data;
   BOOST_ASSERT(awaiter != nullptr);
   awaiter->stop_read();
+  awaiter->status_ = nread;
 
-  if (nread == UV_EOF) {
-    awaiter->slot_ = std::optional<std::string>{};
-  } else if (nread >= 0) {
-    std::string line{buf->base, static_cast<size_t>(nread)};
-    awaiter->slot_ = std::move(line);
-  } else {
-    // Some error; assume EOF.
-    // TODO: propagate error.
-    awaiter->slot_ = std::optional<std::string>{};
-  }
-
-  freeUvBuf(buf);
   if (awaiter->handle_) {
     auto handle = awaiter->handle_.value();
     awaiter->handle_.reset();
@@ -154,7 +177,7 @@ void StreamBase::InStreamAwaiter_::onInStreamRead(uv_stream_t *stream,
 
 StreamBase::OutStreamAwaiter_::OutStreamAwaiter_(StreamBase &stream,
                                                  std::string_view buffer)
-    : stream_{stream}, buffer_{buffer}, write_{} {}
+    : buffer_{buffer}, write_{}, stream_{stream} {}
 
 std::array<uv_buf_t, 1> StreamBase::OutStreamAwaiter_::prepare_buffers() const {
   std::array<uv_buf_t, 1> bufs{};
diff --git a/uvco/stream.h b/uvco/stream.h
index 48e970b..b748c04 100644
--- a/uvco/stream.h
+++ b/uvco/stream.h
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@
 
 #include <boost/assert.hpp>
 #include <fmt/core.h>
+#include <span>
 #include <string_view>
 #include <uv.h>
 #include <uv/unix.h>
@@ -39,18 +40,26 @@ class StreamBase {
   StreamBase &operator=(StreamBase &&) = default;
   virtual ~StreamBase();
 
-  /// Read available data (up to 4 kB) from stream. Returns an empty optional on
-  /// EOF or closed handle (`close()`).
+  static constexpr size_t defaultMaxReadSize = 4096;
+
+  /// Read available data (up to `maxSize` bytes) from stream. Returns
+  /// `std::nullopt` on EOF or closed handle (`close()`).
+  ///
+  /// Throws `UvcoException` on error.
   ///
-  /// Implementation note: the actual read start occurs in the awaiter,
-  /// whereas most other types of I/O start in the promise root function.
-  /// For streams it is more convenient to do it like this, but there is no
-  /// deeper reason.
+  /// NOTE: Consider using `read(std::span<char>)` for better performance.
   ///
   /// NOTE: only one reader is allowed to be active at a time. If a read is
   /// started while another is still active, uvco will abort the process (in
   /// Debug mode), or ignore the first read (in Release mode).
-  [[nodiscard]] Promise<std::optional<std::string>> read();
+  [[nodiscard]] Promise<std::optional<std::string>>
+  read(size_t maxSize = defaultMaxReadSize);
+
+  /// Read available data (up to `buffer.size()` bytes) from stream. Returns
+  /// the number of bytes read, or 0 on EOF or closed handle (`close()`).
+  ///
+  /// Throws `UvcoException` on error.
+  Promise<size_t> read(std::span<char> buffer);
 
   /// Write a buffer to the stream. A copy of `buf` is taken because it is
   /// undetermined when the actual write will occur. Await the result if the
@@ -60,7 +69,7 @@ class StreamBase {
   /// NOTE: only one writer is allowed to be active at a time. If two writes
   /// are started simultaneously, the process will be aborted in Debug mode, or
   /// the first `write()` coroutine will not return in Release mode.
-  [[nodiscard]] Promise<uv_status> write(std::string buf);
+  [[nodiscard]] Promise<size_t> write(std::string buf);
 
   /// Shut down stream for writing. This is a half-close; the other side
   /// can still write. The result of `shutdown()` *must be `co_await`ed*.
@@ -105,20 +114,24 @@ class StreamBase {
   };
 
   struct InStreamAwaiter_ {
-    explicit InStreamAwaiter_(StreamBase &stream) : stream_{stream} {}
+    explicit InStreamAwaiter_(StreamBase &stream, std::span<char> buffer)
+        : stream_{stream}, buffer_{buffer} {}
 
     bool await_ready();
     bool await_suspend(std::coroutine_handle<> handle);
-    std::optional<std::string> await_resume();
+    size_t await_resume();
 
     void start_read();
     void stop_read();
 
+    static void allocate(uv_handle_t *handle, size_t suggested_size,
+                         uv_buf_t *buf);
     static void onInStreamRead(uv_stream_t *stream, ssize_t nread,
                                const uv_buf_t *buf);
 
     StreamBase &stream_;
-    std::optional<std::optional<std::string>> slot_;
+    std::span<char> buffer_;
+    std::optional<ssize_t> status_;
     std::optional<std::coroutine_handle<>> handle_;
   };