diff --git a/.swiftformat b/.swiftformat
index b27324c..15e5085 100644
--- a/.swiftformat
+++ b/.swiftformat
@@ -18,3 +18,6 @@
 --wrapparameters before-first
 --wrapcollections before-first
 --self remove
+
+# PureYAML uses OpenAPIKit-style `test_...` method names with Swift Testing.
+--disable swiftTestingTestCaseNames
diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 1708836..154e3da 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -18,6 +18,10 @@ and this project adheres to [Semantic Versioning](https://semver.org/spec/v2.0.0
 - Add the internal parse event model with marks, scalar styles, collection
   styles, alias events, anchor/tag metadata, and golden event tests for current
   parser behavior.
+- Add the internal UTF-8 reader and scanner token layer with tests for
+  comments, indentation, block entries, mapping indicators, flow delimiters,
+  quoted scalars, block scalar headers, anchors, aliases, tags, and source
+  marks.
 - Expand tests into focused parsing, dumping, model, validation, and parse-error
   suites.
 - Add macOS, Linux, and WASM verification gates and CI jobs, plus a local Linux
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 9c410dd..48f18c4 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -58,7 +58,7 @@ flowchart TB
   classDef epic fill:#f2e5ff,stroke:#af52de,color:#111827
   classDef todo fill:#f2f4f7,stroke:#8e8e93,color:#111827
   Issue2["#2 Event Model and Golden Tests"]:::done
-  Issue3["#3 UTF-8 Reader and Scanner"]:::todo
+  Issue3["#3 UTF-8 Reader and Scanner"]:::done
   Issue4["#4 Token Stream to Events"]:::todo
   Issue5["#5 Events to PureYAML Values"]:::todo
   Issue6["#6 Scalars Tags and Aliases"]:::todo
diff --git a/Sources/Parsing/BlockScalarStyle.swift b/Sources/Parsing/BlockScalarStyle.swift
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..3addb3d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Sources/Parsing/BlockScalarStyle.swift
@@ -0,0 +1,10 @@
+extension PureYAML.Parsing {
+    enum BlockScalarStyle: String, Equatable, CustomStringConvertible {
+        case literal
+        case folded
+
+        var description: String {
+            rawValue
+        }
+    }
+}
diff --git a/Sources/Parsing/ParseError.swift b/Sources/Parsing/ParseError.swift
index 88c1d94..c36eb73 100644
--- a/Sources/Parsing/ParseError.swift
+++ b/Sources/Parsing/ParseError.swift
@@ -6,6 +6,9 @@ public extension PureYAML.Parsing {
         case unexpectedIndentation(line: Int)
         case mixedCollectionStyles(line: Int)
         case expectedMappingKey(line: Int)
+        case expectedAnchorName(line: Int)
+        case expectedAliasName(line: Int)
+        case unterminatedTag(line: Int)
         case unterminatedQuotedString(line: Int)
 
         public var description: String {
@@ -20,6 +23,12 @@ public extension PureYAML.Parsing {
                 "mapping and sequence entries are mixed at line \(line)"
             case let .expectedMappingKey(line):
                 "expected a mapping key at line \(line)"
+            case let .expectedAnchorName(line):
+                "expected an anchor name at line \(line)"
+            case let .expectedAliasName(line):
+                "expected an alias name at line \(line)"
+            case let .unterminatedTag(line):
+                "unterminated tag at line \(line)"
             case let .unterminatedQuotedString(line):
                 "unterminated quoted string at line \(line)"
             }
diff --git a/Sources/Parsing/Reader.swift b/Sources/Parsing/Reader.swift
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..25ad45d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Sources/Parsing/Reader.swift
@@ -0,0 +1,75 @@
+extension PureYAML.Parsing {
+    struct Reader {
+        private let source: String
+        private var position: String.Index
+        private var line: Int
+        private var column: Int
+        private var utf8Index: Int
+
+        init(_ source: String) {
+            self.source = source
+            position = source.startIndex
+            line = 1
+            column = 1
+            utf8Index = 0
+        }
+
+        var isAtEnd: Bool {
+            position >= source.endIndex
+        }
+
+        var mark: Mark {
+            Mark(line: line, column: column, index: utf8Index)
+        }
+
+        func peek(offset: Int = 0) -> Character? {
+            var cursor = position
+            for _ in 0 ..< offset {
+                guard cursor < source.endIndex else {
+                    return nil
+                }
+                cursor = source.index(after: cursor)
+            }
+            guard cursor < source.endIndex else {
+                return nil
+            }
+            return source[cursor]
+        }
+
+        @discardableResult
+        mutating func advance() -> Character? {
+            guard position < source.endIndex else {
+                return nil
+            }
+            let character = source[position]
+            position = source.index(after: position)
+            utf8Index += String(character).utf8.count
+            if character == "\r\n" {
+                line += 1
+                column = 1
+            } else if character == "\r" {
+                if position < source.endIndex, source[position] == "\n" {
+                    position = source.index(after: position)
+                    utf8Index += 1
+                }
+                line += 1
+                column = 1
+            } else if character == "\n" {
+                line += 1
+                column = 1
+            } else {
+                column += 1
+            }
+            return character
+        }
+
+        mutating func consume(while predicate: (Character) -> Bool) -> String {
+            var output = ""
+            while let character = peek(), predicate(character) {
+                output.append(character)
+                advance()
+            }
+            return output
+        }
+    }
+}
diff --git a/Sources/Parsing/Scanner.Helpers.swift b/Sources/Parsing/Scanner.Helpers.swift
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..0fdd6e1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Sources/Parsing/Scanner.Helpers.swift
@@ -0,0 +1,87 @@
+extension PureYAML.Parsing.Scanner {
+    func isLineBreak(_ character: Character?) -> Bool {
+        character == "\n" || character == "\r" || character == "\r\n"
+    }
+
+    func isBlockEntry(_ reader: PureYAML.Parsing.Reader) -> Bool {
+        reader.peek() == "-" && isIndicatorBoundary(reader.peek(offset: 1))
+    }
+
+    func isIndicatorBoundary(_ character: Character?) -> Bool {
+        guard let character else {
+            return true
+        }
+        return character == " " || isLineBreak(character)
+    }
+
+    func isMappingValueBoundary(_ character: Character?) -> Bool {
+        guard let character else {
+            return true
+        }
+        return character == " "
+            || isLineBreak(character)
+            || character == ","
+            || character == "]"
+            || character == "}"
+    }
+
+    func isTokenTerminator(_ character: Character) -> Bool {
+        character == " "
+            || isLineBreak(character)
+            || character == ","
+            || character == "["
+            || character == "]"
+            || character == "{"
+            || character == "}"
+            || character == "#"
+    }
+
+    func isFlowDelimiter(_ character: Character) -> Bool {
+        character == ","
+            || character == "["
+            || character == "]"
+            || character == "{"
+            || character == "}"
+    }
+
+    func isBlockScalarHeaderCharacter(_ character: Character) -> Bool {
+        character == "+"
+            || character == "-"
+            || character.isNumber
+    }
+
+    func trimTrailingSpaces(_ value: String) -> String {
+        var end = value.endIndex
+        while end > value.startIndex {
+            let previous = value.index(before: end)
+            guard value[previous] == " " else {
+                break
+            }
+            end = previous
+        }
+        return String(value[..<end])
+    }
+
+    func shouldEndPlainScalar(
+        _ character: Character,
+        state: State,
+        accumulated: String,
+    ) -> Bool {
+        if isLineBreak(character) {
+            return true
+        }
+        if character == " ", state.reader.peek(offset: 1) == "#" {
+            return true
+        }
+        if character == "#", accumulated.isEmpty || accumulated.last == " " {
+            return true
+        }
+        if character == ":", isMappingValueBoundary(state.reader.peek(offset: 1)) {
+            return true
+        }
+        if state.flowDepth > 0, isFlowDelimiter(character) {
+            return true
+        }
+        return false
+    }
+}
diff --git a/Sources/Parsing/Scanner.swift b/Sources/Parsing/Scanner.swift
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..3b98cab
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Sources/Parsing/Scanner.swift
@@ -0,0 +1,367 @@
+extension PureYAML.Parsing {
+    struct Scanner {
+        init() {}
+
+        func scan(_ yaml: String) throws -> [Token] {
+            var state = State(reader: Reader(yaml))
+            state.append(.streamStart)
+
+            while !state.reader.isAtEnd {
+                if isLineBreak(state.reader.peek()) {
+                    state.reader.advance()
+                    state.isAtLineStart = true
+                    continue
+                }
+
+                if state.isAtLineStart {
+                    try scanIndentation(&state)
+                    if state.reader.isAtEnd {
+                        break
+                    }
+                    if isLineBreak(state.reader.peek()) {
+                        continue
+                    }
+                    state.isAtLineStart = false
+                }
+
+                try scanToken(&state)
+            }
+
+            closeIndentation(&state)
+            state.append(.streamEnd)
+            return state.tokens
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+extension PureYAML.Parsing.Scanner {
+    struct State {
+        var reader: PureYAML.Parsing.Reader
+        var tokens: [PureYAML.Parsing.Token] = []
+        var indentation: [Int] = [0]
+        var isAtLineStart = true
+        var flowDepth = 0
+
+        mutating func append(_ kind: PureYAML.Parsing.TokenKind) {
+            let mark = reader.mark
+            tokens.append(PureYAML.Parsing.Token(kind: kind, mark: mark, endMark: mark))
+        }
+
+        mutating func append(
+            _ kind: PureYAML.Parsing.TokenKind,
+            mark: PureYAML.Parsing.Mark,
+            endMark: PureYAML.Parsing.Mark,
+        ) {
+            tokens.append(PureYAML.Parsing.Token(kind: kind, mark: mark, endMark: endMark))
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+extension PureYAML.Parsing.Scanner {
+    func scanIndentation(_ state: inout State) throws {
+        let start = state.reader.mark
+        var width = 0
+        while let character = state.reader.peek() {
+            if character == " " {
+                width += 1
+                state.reader.advance()
+            } else if character == "\t" {
+                throw PureYAML.Parsing.ParseError.tabIndentation(line: state.reader.mark.line)
+            } else {
+                break
+            }
+        }
+
+        guard !state.reader.isAtEnd, !isLineBreak(state.reader.peek()) else {
+            return
+        }
+        guard state.reader.peek() != "#" else {
+            return
+        }
+        guard state.flowDepth == 0 else {
+            return
+        }
+
+        let end = state.reader.mark
+        let current = state.indentation.last ?? 0
+        if width > current {
+            state.indentation.append(width)
+            state.append(.indent(width: width), mark: start, endMark: end)
+        } else if width < current {
+            while state.indentation.count > 1, width < (state.indentation.last ?? 0) {
+                state.indentation.removeLast()
+                state.append(.dedent(width: state.indentation.last ?? 0), mark: end, endMark: end)
+            }
+        }
+    }
+
+    func closeIndentation(_ state: inout State) {
+        let mark = state.reader.mark
+        while state.indentation.count > 1 {
+            state.indentation.removeLast()
+            state.append(.dedent(width: state.indentation.last ?? 0), mark: mark, endMark: mark)
+        }
+    }
+
+    func scanToken(_ state: inout State) throws {
+        skipSeparation(&state)
+        guard let character = state.reader.peek(), !isLineBreak(character) else {
+            return
+        }
+
+        if try scanLineIndicatorToken(character, state: &state) {
+            return
+        }
+        if scanFlowToken(character, state: &state) {
+            return
+        }
+        if try scanQuotedOrBlockScalarToken(character, state: &state) {
+            return
+        }
+        if try scanNodePropertyToken(character, state: &state) {
+            return
+        }
+        scanPlainScalar(&state)
+    }
+
+    func scanLineIndicatorToken(
+        _ character: Character,
+        state: inout State,
+    ) throws -> Bool {
+        switch character {
+        case "#":
+            scanComment(&state)
+            return true
+        case "-" where isBlockEntry(state.reader):
+            scanFixedToken(.blockEntry, state: &state)
+            return true
+        case "?" where isIndicatorBoundary(state.reader.peek(offset: 1)):
+            scanFixedToken(.mappingKey, state: &state)
+            return true
+        case ":" where isMappingValueBoundary(state.reader.peek(offset: 1)):
+            scanFixedToken(.mappingValue, state: &state)
+            return true
+        default:
+            return false
+        }
+    }
+
+    func scanFlowToken(
+        _ character: Character,
+        state: inout State,
+    ) -> Bool {
+        switch character {
+        case "[":
+            state.flowDepth += 1
+            scanFixedToken(.flowSequenceStart, state: &state)
+            return true
+        case "]":
+            state.flowDepth = max(0, state.flowDepth - 1)
+            scanFixedToken(.flowSequenceEnd, state: &state)
+            return true
+        case "{":
+            state.flowDepth += 1
+            scanFixedToken(.flowMappingStart, state: &state)
+            return true
+        case "}":
+            state.flowDepth = max(0, state.flowDepth - 1)
+            scanFixedToken(.flowMappingEnd, state: &state)
+            return true
+        case ",":
+            scanFixedToken(.flowEntry, state: &state)
+            return true
+        default:
+            return false
+        }
+    }
+
+    func scanNodePropertyToken(
+        _ character: Character,
+        state: inout State,
+    ) throws -> Bool {
+        switch character {
+        case "&":
+            try scanNamedToken(
+                kind: PureYAML.Parsing.TokenKind.anchor,
+                missingNameError: PureYAML.Parsing.ParseError.expectedAnchorName,
+                state: &state,
+            )
+            return true
+        case "*":
+            try scanNamedToken(
+                kind: PureYAML.Parsing.TokenKind.alias,
+                missingNameError: PureYAML.Parsing.ParseError.expectedAliasName,
+                state: &state,
+            )
+            return true
+        case "!":
+            try scanTag(&state)
+            return true
+        default:
+            return false
+        }
+    }
+
+    func scanQuotedOrBlockScalarToken(
+        _ character: Character,
+        state: inout State,
+    ) throws -> Bool {
+        switch character {
+        case "\"":
+            try scanQuotedScalar(.doubleQuoted, state: &state)
+            return true
+        case "'":
+            try scanQuotedScalar(.singleQuoted, state: &state)
+            return true
+        case "|":
+            scanBlockScalarHeader(.literal, state: &state)
+            return true
+        case ">":
+            scanBlockScalarHeader(.folded, state: &state)
+            return true
+        default:
+            return false
+        }
+    }
+
+    func skipSeparation(_ state: inout State) {
+        while state.reader.peek() == " " {
+            state.reader.advance()
+        }
+    }
+
+    func scanFixedToken(
+        _ kind: PureYAML.Parsing.TokenKind,
+        state: inout State,
+    ) {
+        let start = state.reader.mark
+        state.reader.advance()
+        state.append(kind, mark: start, endMark: state.reader.mark)
+    }
+
+    func scanComment(_ state: inout State) {
+        let start = state.reader.mark
+        state.reader.advance()
+        if state.reader.peek() == " " {
+            state.reader.advance()
+        }
+        let value = state.reader.consume { character in
+            !isLineBreak(character)
+        }
+        state.append(.comment(value), mark: start, endMark: state.reader.mark)
+    }
+
+    func scanQuotedScalar(
+        _ style: PureYAML.Parsing.ScalarStyle,
+        state: inout State,
+    ) throws {
+        let start = state.reader.mark
+        let quote: Character = style == .doubleQuoted ? "\"" : "'"
+        state.reader.advance()
+        var value = ""
+        var previousWasEscape = false
+        while let character = state.reader.peek() {
+            if style == .singleQuoted, character == quote, state.reader.peek(offset: 1) == quote {
+                value.append(character)
+                state.reader.advance()
+                value.append(character)
+                state.reader.advance()
+                continue
+            }
+            if character == quote, !previousWasEscape {
+                break
+            }
+            value.append(character)
+            previousWasEscape = character == "\\" && style == .doubleQuoted && !previousWasEscape
+            state.reader.advance()
+            if character != "\\" {
+                previousWasEscape = false
+            }
+        }
+        guard state.reader.peek() == quote else {
+            throw PureYAML.Parsing.ParseError.unterminatedQuotedString(line: start.line)
+        }
+        state.reader.advance()
+        appendMappingKeyIfNeeded(start: start, state: &state)
+        state.append(.scalar(value: value, style: style), mark: start, endMark: state.reader.mark)
+    }
+
+    func scanBlockScalarHeader(
+        _ style: PureYAML.Parsing.BlockScalarStyle,
+        state: inout State,
+    ) {
+        let start = state.reader.mark
+        state.reader.advance()
+        while let character = state.reader.peek(), isBlockScalarHeaderCharacter(character) {
+            state.reader.advance()
+        }
+        state.append(.blockScalarHeader(style: style), mark: start, endMark: state.reader.mark)
+    }
+
+    func scanNamedToken(
+        kind: (String) -> PureYAML.Parsing.TokenKind,
+        missingNameError: (Int) -> PureYAML.Parsing.ParseError,
+        state: inout State,
+    ) throws {
+        let start = state.reader.mark
+        state.reader.advance()
+        let name = state.reader.consume { character in
+            !isTokenTerminator(character)
+        }
+        guard !name.isEmpty else {
+            throw missingNameError(start.line)
+        }
+        state.append(kind(name), mark: start, endMark: state.reader.mark)
+    }
+
+    func scanTag(_ state: inout State) throws {
+        let start = state.reader.mark
+        state.reader.advance()
+        var value = "!"
+        if state.reader.peek() == "<" {
+            value.append(state.reader.advance() ?? "<")
+            var didClose = false
+            while let character = state.reader.peek() {
+                value.append(character)
+                state.reader.advance()
+                if character == ">" {
+                    didClose = true
+                    break
+                }
+            }
+            guard didClose else {
+                throw PureYAML.Parsing.ParseError.unterminatedTag(line: start.line)
+            }
+        } else {
+            value += state.reader.consume { character in
+                !isTokenTerminator(character)
+            }
+        }
+        state.append(.tag(value), mark: start, endMark: state.reader.mark)
+    }
+
+    func scanPlainScalar(_ state: inout State) {
+        let start = state.reader.mark
+        var value = ""
+        while let character = state.reader.peek() {
+            if shouldEndPlainScalar(character, state: state, accumulated: value) {
+                break
+            }
+            value.append(character)
+            state.reader.advance()
+        }
+        let trimmed = trimTrailingSpaces(value)
+        appendMappingKeyIfNeeded(start: start, state: &state)
+        state.append(.scalar(value: trimmed, style: .plain), mark: start, endMark: state.reader.mark)
+    }
+
+    func appendMappingKeyIfNeeded(
+        start: PureYAML.Parsing.Mark,
+        state: inout State,
+    ) {
+        guard state.reader.peek() == ":", isMappingValueBoundary(state.reader.peek(offset: 1)) else {
+            return
+        }
+        state.append(.mappingKey, mark: start, endMark: start)
+    }
+}
diff --git a/Sources/Parsing/Token.swift b/Sources/Parsing/Token.swift
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..7e34648
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Sources/Parsing/Token.swift
@@ -0,0 +1,98 @@
+extension PureYAML.Parsing {
+    struct Token: Equatable, CustomStringConvertible {
+        var kind: TokenKind
+        var mark: Mark
+        var endMark: Mark
+
+        var description: String {
+            "\(kind) @\(mark)..\(endMark)"
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+extension PureYAML.Parsing {
+    enum TokenKind: Equatable {
+        case streamStart
+        case streamEnd
+        case indent(width: Int)
+        case dedent(width: Int)
+        case blockEntry
+        case mappingKey
+        case mappingValue
+        case flowSequenceStart
+        case flowSequenceEnd
+        case flowMappingStart
+        case flowMappingEnd
+        case flowEntry
+        case scalar(value: String, style: ScalarStyle)
+        case blockScalarHeader(style: BlockScalarStyle)
+        case anchor(String)
+        case alias(String)
+        case tag(String)
+        case comment(String)
+    }
+}
+
+extension PureYAML.Parsing.TokenKind: CustomStringConvertible {
+    var description: String {
+        switch self {
+        case .streamStart:
+            "streamStart"
+        case .streamEnd:
+            "streamEnd"
+        case let .indent(width):
+            "indent width=\(width)"
+        case let .dedent(width):
+            "dedent width=\(width)"
+        case .blockEntry:
+            "blockEntry"
+        case .mappingKey:
+            "mappingKey"
+        case .mappingValue:
+            "mappingValue"
+        case .flowSequenceStart:
+            "flowSequenceStart"
+        case .flowSequenceEnd:
+            "flowSequenceEnd"
+        case .flowMappingStart:
+            "flowMappingStart"
+        case .flowMappingEnd:
+            "flowMappingEnd"
+        case .flowEntry:
+            "flowEntry"
+        case let .scalar(value, style):
+            "scalar value=\"\(escape(value))\" style=\(style)"
+        case let .blockScalarHeader(style):
+            "blockScalarHeader style=\(style)"
+        case let .anchor(value):
+            "anchor name=\(value)"
+        case let .alias(value):
+            "alias name=\(value)"
+        case let .tag(value):
+            "tag value=\(value)"
+        case let .comment(value):
+            "comment value=\"\(escape(value))\""
+        }
+    }
+
+    private func escape(_ value: String) -> String {
+        var output = ""
+        for character in value {
+            switch character {
+            case "\\":
+                output += "\\\\"
+            case "\"":
+                output += "\\\""
+            case "\n":
+                output += "\\n"
+            case "\r":
+                output += "\\r"
+            case "\t":
+                output += "\\t"
+            default:
+                output.append(character)
+            }
+        }
+        return output
+    }
+}
diff --git a/Tests/DumperTests.swift b/Tests/DumperTests.swift
index 5a29004..65e0103 100644
--- a/Tests/DumperTests.swift
+++ b/Tests/DumperTests.swift
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ import Testing
 @Suite("Dumper")
 struct DumperTests {
     @Test("Dumps scalar mapping values")
-    func dumpsScalarMappingValues() {
+    func test_scalarMappingValues() {
         let value = PureYAML.Model.Value.mapping(.init([
             .init(key: "missing", value: .null),
             .init(key: "enabled", value: .bool(true)),
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ struct DumperTests {
     }
 
     @Test("Escapes scalar strings and mapping keys")
-    func escapesScalarStringsAndMappingKeys() {
+    func test_escapesScalarStringsAndMappingKeys() {
         let value = PureYAML.Model.Value.mapping(.init([
             .init(key: "a:b", value: .string("quote \" slash \\ tab\t")),
             .init(key: "hash#key", value: .string("line\nnext")),
@@ -35,10 +35,12 @@ struct DumperTests {
         "hash#key": "line\\nnext"
 
         """)
+        #expect(!PureYAML.dump(value).contains("quote \" slash \\ tab\t"))
+        #expect(!PureYAML.dump(value).contains("line\nnext"))
     }
 
     @Test("Dumps nested sequences and mappings")
-    func dumpsNestedSequencesAndMappings() {
+    func test_nestedSequencesAndMappings() {
         let value = PureYAML.Model.Value.mapping(.init([
             .init(key: "servers", value: .sequence([
                 .mapping(.init([
@@ -58,7 +60,7 @@ struct DumperTests {
     }
 
     @Test("Dumps top-level sequences")
-    func dumpsTopLevelSequences() {
+    func test_topLevelSequences() {
         let value = PureYAML.Model.Value.sequence([
             .string("one"),
             .int(2),
@@ -74,7 +76,7 @@ struct DumperTests {
     }
 
     @Test("Dumps round-trippable YAML")
-    func dumpsRoundTrippableYaml() throws {
+    func test_roundTrippableYaml() throws {
         let original = PureYAML.Model.Value.mapping(.init([
             .init(key: "paths", value: .mapping(.init([
                 .init(key: "/users", value: .mapping(.init([
@@ -88,4 +90,10 @@ struct DumperTests {
 
         #expect(try PureYAML.parse(PureYAML.dump(original)) == original)
     }
+
+    @Test("Dumps empty collections")
+    func test_emptyCollections() {
+        #expect(PureYAML.dump(.mapping(.init())) == "\n")
+        #expect(PureYAML.dump(.sequence([])) == "\n")
+    }
 }
diff --git a/Tests/ModelTests.swift b/Tests/ModelTests.swift
index e480506..286e18d 100644
--- a/Tests/ModelTests.swift
+++ b/Tests/ModelTests.swift
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ import Testing
 @Suite("Model")
 struct ModelTests {
     @Test("Mapping preserves insertion order")
-    func mappingPreservesInsertionOrder() {
+    func test_mappingPreservesInsertionOrder() {
         let mapping = PureYAML.Model.Mapping([
             .init(key: "b", value: .int(2)),
             .init(key: "a", value: .int(1)),
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ struct ModelTests {
     }
 
     @Test("Mapping subscript returns first matching key")
-    func mappingSubscriptReturnsFirstMatchingKey() {
+    func test_mappingSubscriptReturnsFirstMatchingKey() {
         let mapping = PureYAML.Model.Mapping([
             .init(key: "name", value: .string("first")),
             .init(key: "name", value: .string("second")),
@@ -22,4 +22,13 @@ struct ModelTests {
 
         #expect(mapping["name"] == .string("first"))
     }
+
+    @Test("Mapping subscript returns nil for missing key")
+    func test_mappingSubscriptReturnsNilForMissingKey() {
+        let mapping = PureYAML.Model.Mapping([
+            .init(key: "name", value: .string("first")),
+        ])
+
+        #expect(mapping["missing"] == nil)
+    }
 }
diff --git a/Tests/ParsingEventTests.swift b/Tests/ParsingEventTests.swift
index 9849402..83d4427 100644
--- a/Tests/ParsingEventTests.swift
+++ b/Tests/ParsingEventTests.swift
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ import Testing
 @Suite("Parsing Events")
 struct ParsingEventTests {
     @Test("Event model represents aliases anchors tags and flow style")
-    func eventModelRepresentsAliasesAnchorsTagsAndFlowStyle() {
+    func test_eventModelRepresentsAliasesAnchorsTagsAndFlowStyle() {
         let mark = PureYAML.Parsing.Mark(line: 2, column: 3, index: 12)
         let events: [PureYAML.Parsing.Event] = [
             .scalar(value: "value", anchor: "root", tag: "!Thing", style: .singleQuoted, mark: mark),
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ struct ParsingEventTests {
     }
 
     @Test("Emits golden events for mapping scalars and scalar styles")
-    func emitsGoldenEventsForMappingScalarsAndScalarStyles() throws {
+    func test_mappingScalarsAndScalarStyles() throws {
         let events = try PureYAML.Parsing.Parser().parseEvents(
             """
             name: "Example"
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@ struct ParsingEventTests {
     }
 
     @Test("Emits golden events for nested sequences and mappings")
-    func emitsGoldenEventsForNestedSequencesAndMappings() throws {
+    func test_nestedSequencesAndMappings() throws {
         let events = try PureYAML.Parsing.Parser().parseEvents(
             """
             servers:
@@ -72,5 +72,19 @@ struct ParsingEventTests {
             "documentEnd @3:25@44",
             "streamEnd @3:25@44",
         ])
+        #expect(!events.map(\.description).contains("scalar value=\"\" anchor=- tag=- style=plain @1:1@0"))
+    }
+
+    @Test("Reports parse-event errors")
+    func test_errorReporting() {
+        expectError(PureYAML.Parsing.ParseError.emptyDocument) {
+            try PureYAML.Parsing.Parser().parseEvents("")
+        }
+        expectError(PureYAML.Parsing.ParseError.unexpectedIndentation(line: 3)) {
+            try PureYAML.Parsing.Parser().parseEvents("root:\n    child: yes\n  wrong: no")
+        }
+        expectError(PureYAML.Parsing.ParseError.expectedMappingKey(line: 3)) {
+            try PureYAML.Parsing.Parser().parseEvents("root:\n  child: value\n  dangling")
+        }
     }
 }
diff --git a/Tests/ParsingTests.swift b/Tests/ParsingTests.swift
index a57a196..ef49802 100644
--- a/Tests/ParsingTests.swift
+++ b/Tests/ParsingTests.swift
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ struct ParsingTests {
     }
 
     @Test("Parses block mappings with common scalars")
-    func parsesBlockMappingWithCommonScalars() throws {
+    func test_blockMappingWithCommonScalars() throws {
         let root = try requireMapping(PureYAML.parse(
             """
             openapi: 3.1.0
@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@ struct ParsingTests {
         #expect(root?["retries"] == .int(3))
         #expect(root?["ratio"] == .double(3.1))
         #expect(root?["missing"] == .null)
+        #expect(root?["unknown"] == nil)
     }
 
     @Test("Parses scalar spellings", arguments: [
@@ -39,14 +40,14 @@ struct ParsingTests {
         ScalarCase(yaml: "value: 1e3", expected: .double(1000)),
         ScalarCase(yaml: "value: plain text", expected: .string("plain text")),
     ])
-    func parsesScalarSpellings(testCase: ScalarCase) throws {
+    func test_scalarSpellings(testCase: ScalarCase) throws {
         let root = try requireMapping(PureYAML.parse(testCase.yaml))
 
         #expect(root?["value"] == testCase.expected)
     }
 
     @Test("Parses quoted strings and escapes")
-    func parsesQuotedStringsAndEscapes() throws {
+    func test_quotedStringsAndEscapes() throws {
         let root = try requireMapping(PureYAML.parse(
             """
             double: "line\\nnext\\tend"
@@ -61,7 +62,7 @@ struct ParsingTests {
     }
 
     @Test("Ignores comments outside quoted strings")
-    func ignoresCommentsOutsideQuotedStrings() throws {
+    func test_commentsOutsideQuotedStrings() throws {
         let root = try requireMapping(PureYAML.parse(
             """
             title: "Keep # inside" # remove outside
@@ -73,10 +74,11 @@ struct ParsingTests {
         #expect(root?["title"] == .string("Keep # inside"))
         #expect(root?["single"] == .string("Keep # inside"))
         #expect(root?["plain"] == .string("value#kept"))
+        #expect(root?["plain"] != .string("value"))
     }
 
     @Test("Parses nested mappings and sequences")
-    func parsesNestedMappingsAndSequences() throws {
+    func test_nestedMappingsAndSequences() throws {
         let root = try requireMapping(PureYAML.parse(
             """
             paths:
@@ -101,7 +103,7 @@ struct ParsingTests {
     }
 
     @Test("Parses sequences of mappings")
-    func parsesSequenceOfMappings() throws {
+    func test_sequenceOfMappings() throws {
         let root = try requireMapping(PureYAML.parse(
             """
             servers:
@@ -129,7 +131,7 @@ struct ParsingTests {
     }
 
     @Test("Parses top-level sequences")
-    func parsesTopLevelSequences() throws {
+    func test_topLevelSequences() throws {
         let value = try PureYAML.parse(
             """
             - one
@@ -146,7 +148,7 @@ struct ParsingTests {
     }
 
     @Test("Reports exact parser errors")
-    func reportsExactParserErrors() {
+    func test_errorReporting() {
         expectParseError("", .emptyDocument)
         expectParseError("# comment only", .emptyDocument)
         expectParseError("\tkey: value", .tabIndentation(line: 1))
@@ -156,4 +158,17 @@ struct ParsingTests {
         expectParseError("name: \"open", .unterminatedQuotedString(line: 1))
         expectParseError("name: 'open", .unterminatedQuotedString(line: 1))
     }
+
+    @Test("Parser errors describe returned failures")
+    func test_errorDescriptions() {
+        #expect(PureYAML.Parsing.ParseError.emptyDocument.description == "document is empty")
+        #expect(PureYAML.Parsing.ParseError.tabIndentation(line: 2).description == "tabs are not allowed for indentation at line 2")
+        #expect(PureYAML.Parsing.ParseError.unexpectedIndentation(line: 3).description == "unexpected indentation at line 3")
+        #expect(PureYAML.Parsing.ParseError.mixedCollectionStyles(line: 4).description == "mapping and sequence entries are mixed at line 4")
+        #expect(PureYAML.Parsing.ParseError.expectedMappingKey(line: 5).description == "expected a mapping key at line 5")
+        #expect(PureYAML.Parsing.ParseError.expectedAnchorName(line: 6).description == "expected an anchor name at line 6")
+        #expect(PureYAML.Parsing.ParseError.expectedAliasName(line: 7).description == "expected an alias name at line 7")
+        #expect(PureYAML.Parsing.ParseError.unterminatedTag(line: 8).description == "unterminated tag at line 8")
+        #expect(PureYAML.Parsing.ParseError.unterminatedQuotedString(line: 9).description == "unterminated quoted string at line 9")
+    }
 }
diff --git a/Tests/ScannerTests.swift b/Tests/ScannerTests.swift
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..cba4648
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Tests/ScannerTests.swift
@@ -0,0 +1,300 @@
+@testable import PureYAML
+import Testing
+
+@Suite("Scanner")
+struct ScannerTests {
+    @Test("Scans comments indentation block entries and mapping keys")
+    func test_commentsIndentationBlockEntriesAndMappingKeys() throws {
+        let tokens = try scanKinds(
+            """
+            # leading
+            root:
+              - name: "one" # inline
+                enabled: true
+            """,
+        )
+
+        expectKinds(tokens, [
+            "streamStart",
+            "comment value=\"leading\"",
+            "mappingKey",
+            "scalar value=\"root\" style=plain",
+            "mappingValue",
+            "indent width=2",
+            "blockEntry",
+            "mappingKey",
+            "scalar value=\"name\" style=plain",
+            "mappingValue",
+            "scalar value=\"one\" style=doubleQuoted",
+            "comment value=\"inline\"",
+            "indent width=4",
+            "mappingKey",
+            "scalar value=\"enabled\" style=plain",
+            "mappingValue",
+            "scalar value=\"true\" style=plain",
+            "dedent width=2",
+            "dedent width=0",
+            "streamEnd",
+        ])
+        expectDoesNotContain(tokens, [
+            "flowSequenceStart",
+            "flowMappingStart",
+            "tag value=!Thing",
+        ])
+    }
+
+    @Test("Scans explicit mapping keys and lower-indent dedents")
+    func test_explicitMappingKeysAndLowerIndentDedents() throws {
+        let tokens = try scanKinds(
+            """
+            root:
+              nested:
+                value: yes
+            ? explicit
+            : answer
+            """,
+        )
+
+        expectKinds(tokens, [
+            "streamStart",
+            "mappingKey",
+            "scalar value=\"root\" style=plain",
+            "mappingValue",
+            "indent width=2",
+            "mappingKey",
+            "scalar value=\"nested\" style=plain",
+            "mappingValue",
+            "indent width=4",
+            "mappingKey",
+            "scalar value=\"value\" style=plain",
+            "mappingValue",
+            "scalar value=\"yes\" style=plain",
+            "dedent width=2",
+            "dedent width=0",
+            "mappingKey",
+            "scalar value=\"explicit\" style=plain",
+            "mappingValue",
+            "scalar value=\"answer\" style=plain",
+            "streamEnd",
+        ])
+        expectContains(tokens, [
+            "dedent width=2",
+            "dedent width=0",
+            "mappingKey",
+            "mappingValue",
+        ])
+    }
+
+    @Test("Scans flow delimiters quoted scalars anchors aliases tags and block scalar headers")
+    func test_flowDelimitersQuotedScalarsAnchorsAliasesTagsAndBlockScalarHeaders() throws {
+        let tokens = try scanKinds(
+            """
+            flow: [!Thing &item "value", *item, {tagged: !<tag:example.com,2026:thing> 'it''s'}]
+            text: |+
+              line
+            folded: >-
+              line
+            """,
+        )
+
+        expectFlowAndBlockScalarKinds(tokens)
+        expectFlowAndBlockScalarRequiredKinds(tokens)
+        expectFlowAndBlockScalarForbiddenKinds(tokens)
+    }
+
+    @Test("Plain scalars keep non-indicator hash and colon characters")
+    func test_plainScalarsKeepNonIndicatorHashAndColonCharacters() throws {
+        let tokens = try scanKinds(
+            """
+            url: https://example.com/a:b
+            fragment: value#kept # removed
+            """,
+        )
+
+        expectKinds(tokens, [
+            "streamStart",
+            "mappingKey",
+            "scalar value=\"url\" style=plain",
+            "mappingValue",
+            "scalar value=\"https://example.com/a:b\" style=plain",
+            "mappingKey",
+            "scalar value=\"fragment\" style=plain",
+            "mappingValue",
+            "scalar value=\"value#kept\" style=plain",
+            "comment value=\"removed\"",
+            "streamEnd",
+        ])
+        expectContains(tokens, [
+            "scalar value=\"https://example.com/a:b\" style=plain",
+            "scalar value=\"value#kept\" style=plain",
+            "comment value=\"removed\"",
+        ])
+        expectDoesNotContain(tokens, [
+            "scalar value=\"https\" style=plain",
+            "comment value=\"kept # removed\"",
+        ])
+    }
+
+    @Test("Tracks UTF-8 source marks")
+    func test_utf8SourceMarks() throws {
+        let tokens = try PureYAML.Parsing.Scanner().scan("caf\u{00E9}: yes")
+        guard let key = tokens.first(where: {
+            $0.kind == .scalar(value: "caf\u{00E9}", style: .plain)
+        }) else {
+            recordIssue("expected cafe scalar")
+            return
+        }
+        guard let value = tokens.first(where: {
+            $0.kind == .scalar(value: "yes", style: .plain)
+        }) else {
+            recordIssue("expected yes scalar")
+            return
+        }
+
+        expectMarks(key, start: .init(line: 1, column: 1, index: 0), end: .init(line: 1, column: 5, index: 5))
+        expectMarks(value, start: .init(line: 1, column: 7, index: 7), end: .init(line: 1, column: 10, index: 10))
+    }
+
+    @Test("Reader advances UTF-8 marks across line breaks")
+    func test_readerAdvancesUTF8MarksAcrossLineBreaks() {
+        var reader = PureYAML.Parsing.Reader("a\u{00E9}\n\u{03B2}\r\nz")
+
+        expectReaderMark(&reader, line: 1, column: 1, index: 0)
+        expectReaderMark(&reader, line: 1, column: 2, index: 1)
+        expectReaderMark(&reader, line: 1, column: 3, index: 3)
+        expectReaderMark(&reader, line: 2, column: 1, index: 4)
+        expectReaderMark(&reader, line: 2, column: 2, index: 6)
+        expectReaderMark(&reader, line: 3, column: 1, index: 8)
+        expectReaderMark(&reader, line: 3, column: 2, index: 9, advanceAfterCheck: false)
+    }
+
+    @Test("Reports scanner errors")
+    func test_errorReporting() {
+        expectScannerError("\tname: value", .tabIndentation(line: 1))
+        expectScannerError("name: \"open", .unterminatedQuotedString(line: 1))
+        expectScannerError("name: 'open", .unterminatedQuotedString(line: 1))
+        expectScannerError("anchor: &", .expectedAnchorName(line: 1))
+        expectScannerError("alias: *", .expectedAliasName(line: 1))
+        expectScannerError("tag: !<tag:example.com,2026:thing", .unterminatedTag(line: 1))
+    }
+}
+
+private func scanKinds(_ yaml: String) throws -> [String] {
+    try PureYAML.Parsing.Scanner().scan(yaml).map(\.kind.description)
+}
+
+private func expectKinds(
+    _ actual: [String],
+    _ expected: [String],
+) {
+    #expect(actual == expected)
+}
+
+private func expectContains(
+    _ actual: [String],
+    _ required: [String],
+) {
+    for item in required {
+        #expect(actual.contains(item))
+    }
+}
+
+private func expectDoesNotContain(
+    _ actual: [String],
+    _ forbidden: [String],
+) {
+    for item in forbidden {
+        #expect(!actual.contains(item))
+    }
+}
+
+private func expectMarks(
+    _ token: PureYAML.Parsing.Token,
+    start: PureYAML.Parsing.Mark,
+    end: PureYAML.Parsing.Mark,
+) {
+    #expect(token.mark == start)
+    #expect(token.endMark == end)
+}
+
+private func expectFlowAndBlockScalarKinds(_ tokens: [String]) {
+    expectKinds(tokens, [
+        "streamStart",
+        "mappingKey",
+        "scalar value=\"flow\" style=plain",
+        "mappingValue",
+        "flowSequenceStart",
+        "tag value=!Thing",
+        "anchor name=item",
+        "scalar value=\"value\" style=doubleQuoted",
+        "flowEntry",
+        "alias name=item",
+        "flowEntry",
+        "flowMappingStart",
+        "mappingKey",
+        "scalar value=\"tagged\" style=plain",
+        "mappingValue",
+        "tag value=!<tag:example.com,2026:thing>",
+        "scalar value=\"it''s\" style=singleQuoted",
+        "flowMappingEnd",
+        "flowSequenceEnd",
+        "mappingKey",
+        "scalar value=\"text\" style=plain",
+        "mappingValue",
+        "blockScalarHeader style=literal",
+        "indent width=2",
+        "scalar value=\"line\" style=plain",
+        "dedent width=0",
+        "mappingKey",
+        "scalar value=\"folded\" style=plain",
+        "mappingValue",
+        "blockScalarHeader style=folded",
+        "indent width=2",
+        "scalar value=\"line\" style=plain",
+        "dedent width=0",
+        "streamEnd",
+    ])
+}
+
+private func expectFlowAndBlockScalarRequiredKinds(_ tokens: [String]) {
+    expectContains(tokens, [
+        "flowSequenceStart",
+        "flowSequenceEnd",
+        "flowMappingStart",
+        "flowMappingEnd",
+        "tag value=!Thing",
+        "anchor name=item",
+        "alias name=item",
+        "blockScalarHeader style=literal",
+        "blockScalarHeader style=folded",
+    ])
+}
+
+private func expectFlowAndBlockScalarForbiddenKinds(_ tokens: [String]) {
+    expectDoesNotContain(tokens, [
+        "comment value=\"removed\"",
+        "scalar value=\"tag:example.com,2026:thing\" style=plain",
+    ])
+}
+
+private func expectReaderMark(
+    _ reader: inout PureYAML.Parsing.Reader,
+    line: Int,
+    column: Int,
+    index: Int,
+    advanceAfterCheck: Bool = true,
+) {
+    #expect(reader.mark == PureYAML.Parsing.Mark(line: line, column: column, index: index))
+    if advanceAfterCheck {
+        reader.advance()
+    }
+}
+
+private func expectScannerError(
+    _ yaml: String,
+    _ expected: PureYAML.Parsing.ParseError,
+) {
+    expectError(expected) {
+        try PureYAML.Parsing.Scanner().scan(yaml)
+    }
+}
diff --git a/Tests/TestSupport.swift b/Tests/TestSupport.swift
index 7e23d5e..c56e92f 100644
--- a/Tests/TestSupport.swift
+++ b/Tests/TestSupport.swift
@@ -35,10 +35,19 @@ func expectParseError(
     _ yaml: String,
     _ expected: PureYAML.Parsing.ParseError,
 ) {
-    do {
+    expectError(expected) {
         _ = try PureYAML.parse(yaml)
-        recordIssue("expected parse error \(expected)")
-    } catch let error as PureYAML.Parsing.ParseError {
+    }
+}
+
+func expectError<ExpectedError: Swift.Error & Equatable>(
+    _ expected: ExpectedError,
+    operation: () throws -> some Any,
+) {
+    do {
+        _ = try operation()
+        recordIssue("expected error \(expected)")
+    } catch let error as ExpectedError {
         #expect(error == expected)
     } catch {
         recordIssue("unexpected error \(error)")
diff --git a/Tests/ValidationTests.swift b/Tests/ValidationTests.swift
index aee3ba5..2a8fb65 100644
--- a/Tests/ValidationTests.swift
+++ b/Tests/ValidationTests.swift
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ import Testing
 @Suite("Validation")
 struct ValidationTests {
     @Test("Validates documents with default rules")
-    func validatesDocumentsWithDefaultRules() throws {
+    func test_documentsWithDefaultRules() throws {
         let value = try PureYAML.parse(
             """
             title: Example
@@ -16,16 +16,13 @@ struct ValidationTests {
     }
 
     @Test("Reports duplicate mapping keys")
-    func reportsDuplicateMappingKeys() throws {
+    func test_duplicateMappingKeyError() {
         let value = PureYAML.Model.Value.mapping(.init([
             .init(key: "title", value: .string("First")),
             .init(key: "title", value: .string("Second")),
         ]))
 
-        do {
-            try PureYAML.validate(value)
-            recordIssue("expected duplicate key validation failure")
-        } catch let collection as PureYAML.Validation.Issue.Collection {
+        expectValidationError(value) { collection in
             #expect(collection.issues == [
                 PureYAML.Validation.Issue(
                     severity: .error,
@@ -33,13 +30,11 @@ struct ValidationTests {
                     path: .init([.key("title")]),
                 ),
             ])
-        } catch {
-            recordIssue("unexpected error \(error)")
         }
     }
 
     @Test("Reports nested validation paths")
-    func reportsNestedValidationPaths() throws {
+    func test_nestedValidationPaths() throws {
         let value = try PureYAML.parse(
             """
             routes:
@@ -54,7 +49,7 @@ struct ValidationTests {
     }
 
     @Test("Blank validator disables default rules")
-    func blankValidatorDisablesDefaultRules() throws {
+    func test_blankValidatorDisablesDefaultRules() throws {
         let value = PureYAML.Model.Value.mapping(.init([
             .init(key: "title", value: .string("First")),
             .init(key: "title", value: .string("Second")),
@@ -64,7 +59,7 @@ struct ValidationTests {
     }
 
     @Test("Custom validation rules can be added")
-    func customValidationRulesCanBeAdded() throws {
+    func test_customValidationRuleError() throws {
         let value = try PureYAML.parse(
             """
             mode: legacy
@@ -72,34 +67,24 @@ struct ValidationTests {
         )
         let validator = PureYAML.Validation.Validator.blank.validating(legacyModeRule(severity: .error))
 
-        do {
-            try PureYAML.validate(value, using: validator)
-            recordIssue("expected custom validation failure")
-        } catch let collection as PureYAML.Validation.Issue.Collection {
+        expectValidationError(value, using: validator) { collection in
             #expect(collection.issues.map(\.path.description) == ["$.mode"])
             #expect(collection.issues.map(\.reason) == ["Legacy mode is not allowed"])
-        } catch {
-            recordIssue("unexpected error \(error)")
         }
     }
 
     @Test("Strict validation treats warnings as failures")
-    func strictValidationTreatsWarningsAsFailures() throws {
+    func test_strictValidationTreatsWarningsAsFailures() throws {
         let value = try PureYAML.parse("mode: legacy")
         let validator = PureYAML.Validation.Validator.blank.validating(legacyModeRule(severity: .warning))
 
-        do {
-            try PureYAML.validate(value, using: validator)
-            recordIssue("expected warning to fail strict validation")
-        } catch let collection as PureYAML.Validation.Issue.Collection {
+        expectValidationError(value, using: validator) { collection in
             #expect(collection.issues.map(\.severity) == [.warning])
-        } catch {
-            recordIssue("unexpected error \(error)")
         }
     }
 
     @Test("Non-strict validation returns warnings")
-    func nonStrictValidationReturnsWarnings() throws {
+    func test_nonStrictValidationReturnsWarnings() throws {
         let value = try PureYAML.parse("mode: legacy")
         let validator = PureYAML.Validation.Validator.blank.validating(legacyModeRule(severity: .warning))
 
@@ -115,7 +100,7 @@ struct ValidationTests {
     }
 
     @Test("Validation result separates errors and warnings")
-    func validationResultSeparatesErrorsAndWarnings() {
+    func test_validationResultSeparatesErrorsAndWarnings() {
         let result = PureYAML.Validation.Result([
             .init(severity: .error, reason: "error"),
             .init(severity: .warning, reason: "warning"),
@@ -127,7 +112,7 @@ struct ValidationTests {
     }
 
     @Test("Validation paths describe roots, keys, and indexes")
-    func validationPathsDescribeRootsKeysAndIndexes() {
+    func test_validationPathsDescribeRootsKeysAndIndexes() {
         let path = PureYAML.Validation.Path.root
             .appending(.key("routes"))
             .appending(.index(1))
@@ -139,7 +124,7 @@ struct ValidationTests {
     }
 
     @Test("Validation issue descriptions include severity reason and path")
-    func validationIssueDescriptionsIncludeSeverityReasonAndPath() {
+    func test_validationIssueDescriptionsIncludeSeverityReasonAndPath() {
         let issue = PureYAML.Validation.Issue(
             severity: .error,
             reason: "Duplicate mapping key 'title'",
@@ -149,6 +134,19 @@ struct ValidationTests {
         #expect(issue.description == "error: Duplicate mapping key 'title' at $.title")
     }
 
+    @Test("Validation issue collection describes all failures")
+    func test_validationIssueCollectionDescription() {
+        let collection = PureYAML.Validation.Issue.Collection([
+            .init(severity: .error, reason: "first", path: .root),
+            .init(severity: .warning, reason: "second", path: .init([.key("name")])),
+        ])
+
+        #expect(collection.description == """
+        error: first at root
+        warning: second at $.name
+        """)
+    }
+
     private func legacyModeRule(severity: PureYAML.Validation.Severity) -> PureYAML.Validation.Rule {
         PureYAML.Validation.Rule(description: "Mode must not be legacy") { context in
             guard case .string("legacy") = context.subject else {
@@ -164,3 +162,18 @@ struct ValidationTests {
         }
     }
 }
+
+private func expectValidationError(
+    _ value: PureYAML.Model.Value,
+    using validator: PureYAML.Validation.Validator = .init(),
+    check: (PureYAML.Validation.Issue.Collection) -> Void,
+) {
+    do {
+        try PureYAML.validate(value, using: validator)
+        recordIssue("expected validation failure")
+    } catch let collection as PureYAML.Validation.Issue.Collection {
+        check(collection)
+    } catch {
+        recordIssue("unexpected error \(error)")
+    }
+}
diff --git a/docs/DESIGN.md b/docs/DESIGN.md
index cba96cd..2337b74 100644
--- a/docs/DESIGN.md
+++ b/docs/DESIGN.md
@@ -39,6 +39,9 @@ PureYAML
 │   └── Pair
 ├── Parsing
 │   ├── Parser
+│   ├── Reader
+│   ├── Scanner
+│   ├── Token
 │   ├── Event
 │   ├── Mark
 │   ├── Line
@@ -76,6 +79,14 @@ marks plus scalar and collection styles. Anchors and tags are carried as event
 metadata so the later scanner/composer work can add YAML feature coverage
 without changing the event shape.
 
+The parser layer now also has an internal reader/scanner contract.
+`Parsing.Reader` advances through Swift `String` input while tracking UTF-8 byte
+indexes, lines, and columns. `Parsing.Scanner` emits lexical `Parsing.Token`
+values for comments, indentation, block entries, mapping indicators, flow
+delimiters, quoted scalar starts, block scalar headers, anchors, aliases, tags,
+and source mark ranges. The scanner is not yet wired into `parse(_:)`; the next
+roadmap slice composes scanner tokens into parser events.
+
 The initial dumper emits block-style YAML from the model.
 
 The initial validator traverses parsed YAML values and reports path-aware
diff --git a/docs/rules/testing.md b/docs/rules/testing.md
index 6c58e18..5fb1bd2 100644
--- a/docs/rules/testing.md
+++ b/docs/rules/testing.md
@@ -8,6 +8,27 @@ The `withDependencies` overrides shown in the patterns below assume the Point-Fr
 
 ## Core rules
 
+### Rule 0: OpenAPIKit discipline, Swift Testing syntax
+
+PureYAML tests must follow the OpenAPIKit testing approach, translated to Swift
+Testing instead of XCTest:
+
+- Use focused `test_...` method names inside `@Suite` groups.
+- Use direct equality checks for concrete values, rendered output, token/event
+  descriptions, paths, and error values.
+- Use helper functions for repeated assertions and round-trip/error checks.
+- Cover success and expected-failure behavior for every supported surface.
+- For parser/scanner/emitter/model tests, assert all relevant dimensions:
+  what output must be present, what output must be absent, what must succeed,
+  what must fail, and the exact value or error returned.
+- Error tests must pin concrete error cases and descriptions where the error is
+  user-facing; do not stop at "throws".
+- Keep table-driven/argument tests for families of related cases.
+- Keep tests fixture-like and realistic enough that a stub implementation cannot
+  satisfy them accidentally.
+- Do not add XCTest-style `XCTestCase`, `XCTAssert...`, or mixed XCTest helpers
+  to new PureYAML tests.
+
 ### Rule 1: Swift Testing framework usage
 
 Use modern Swift Testing:
@@ -28,7 +49,8 @@ Control dependencies in tests:
 
 Structure tests clearly:
 - MUST use `@Suite` for logical grouping
-- MUST name tests descriptively
+- MUST name test methods with the `test_...` convention used by OpenAPIKit
+- MUST keep `@Test("...")` descriptions clear and user-readable
 - MUST test one behavior per test
 - MUST NOT create kitchen sink tests