diff --git a/src/libexpr/primops.cc b/src/libexpr/primops.cc
index 829119238..b6476e006 100644
--- a/src/libexpr/primops.cc
+++ b/src/libexpr/primops.cc
@@ -1292,8 +1292,11 @@ drvName, Bindings * attrs, Value & v)
         auto method = ingestionMethod.value_or(FileIngestionMethod::Flat);
 
         DerivationOutput::CAFixed dof {
-            // FIXME non-trivial fixed refs set
-            .ca = contentAddressFromMethodHashAndRefs(method, std::move(h), {}),
+            .ca = ContentAddressWithReferences::fromParts(
+                std::move(method),
+                std::move(h),
+                // FIXME non-trivial fixed refs set
+                {}),
         };
 
         drv.env["out"] = state.store->printStorePath(dof.path(*state.store, drvName, "out"));
@@ -1315,13 +1318,13 @@ drvName, Bindings * attrs, Value & v)
             if (isImpure)
                 drv.outputs.insert_or_assign(i,
                     DerivationOutput::Impure {
-                        .method = method,
+                        .method = method.raw,
                         .hashType = ht,
                     });
             else
                 drv.outputs.insert_or_assign(i,
                     DerivationOutput::CAFloating {
-                        .method = method,
+                        .method = method.raw,
                         .hashType = ht,
                     });
         }
diff --git a/src/libstore/build/local-derivation-goal.cc b/src/libstore/build/local-derivation-goal.cc
index 449ff13e8..7cb80977d 100644
--- a/src/libstore/build/local-derivation-goal.cc
+++ b/src/libstore/build/local-derivation-goal.cc
@@ -2451,12 +2451,12 @@ DrvOutputs LocalDerivationGoal::registerOutputs()
                         break;
                     }
                 },
-            }, outputHash.method);
+            }, outputHash.method.raw);
             auto got = caSink.finish().first;
             ValidPathInfo newInfo0 {
                 worker.store,
                 outputPathName(drv->name, outputName),
-                contentAddressFromMethodHashAndRefs(
+                ContentAddressWithReferences::fromParts(
                     outputHash.method,
                     std::move(got),
                     rewriteRefs()),
@@ -2506,16 +2506,16 @@ DrvOutputs LocalDerivationGoal::registerOutputs()
             },
 
             [&](const DerivationOutput::CAFixed & dof) {
-                auto wanted = getContentAddressHash(dof.ca);
+                auto wanted = dof.ca.getHash();
 
                 auto newInfo0 = newInfoFromCA(DerivationOutputCAFloating {
-                    .method = getContentAddressMethod(dof.ca),
+                    .method = dof.ca.getMethod(),
                     .hashType = wanted.type,
                 });
 
                 /* Check wanted hash */
                 assert(newInfo0.ca);
-                auto got = getContentAddressHash(*newInfo0.ca);
+                auto got = newInfo0.ca->getHash();
                 if (wanted != got) {
                     /* Throw an error after registering the path as
                        valid. */
diff --git a/src/libstore/build/substitution-goal.cc b/src/libstore/build/substitution-goal.cc
index 87fed495c..190fb455a 100644
--- a/src/libstore/build/substitution-goal.cc
+++ b/src/libstore/build/substitution-goal.cc
@@ -97,7 +97,7 @@ void PathSubstitutionGoal::tryNext()
     if (ca) {
         subPath = sub->makeFixedOutputPathFromCA(
             std::string { storePath.name() },
-            caWithoutRefs(*ca));
+            ContentAddressWithReferences::withoutRefs(*ca));
         if (sub->storeDir == worker.store.storeDir)
             assert(subPath == storePath);
     } else if (sub->storeDir != worker.store.storeDir) {
diff --git a/src/libstore/content-address.cc b/src/libstore/content-address.cc
index 2cec4fe05..8c04dd285 100644
--- a/src/libstore/content-address.cc
+++ b/src/libstore/content-address.cc
@@ -9,7 +9,6 @@ std::string FixedOutputHash::printMethodAlgo() const
     return makeFileIngestionPrefix(method) + printHashType(hash.type);
 }
 
-
 std::string makeFileIngestionPrefix(FileIngestionMethod m)
 {
     switch (m) {
@@ -22,17 +21,17 @@ std::string makeFileIngestionPrefix(FileIngestionMethod m)
     }
 }
 
-std::string makeContentAddressingPrefix(ContentAddressMethod m) {
+std::string ContentAddressMethod::renderPrefix() const {
     return std::visit(overloaded {
         [](TextHashMethod) -> std::string { return "text:"; },
         [](FileIngestionMethod m2) {
              /* Not prefixed for back compat with things that couldn't produce text before. */
             return makeFileIngestionPrefix(m2);
         },
-    }, m);
+    }, raw);
 }
 
-ContentAddressMethod parseContentAddressingPrefix(std::string_view & m)
+ContentAddressMethod ContentAddressMethod::parsePrefix(std::string_view & m)
 {
     ContentAddressMethod method = FileIngestionMethod::Flat;
     if (splitPrefix(m, "r:"))
@@ -42,35 +41,35 @@ ContentAddressMethod parseContentAddressingPrefix(std::string_view & m)
     return method;
 }
 
-std::string renderContentAddress(ContentAddress ca)
+std::string ContentAddress::render() const
 {
     return std::visit(overloaded {
-        [](TextHash & th) {
+        [](const TextHash & th) {
             return "text:"
                 + th.hash.to_string(Base32, true);
         },
-        [](FixedOutputHash & fsh) {
+        [](const FixedOutputHash & fsh) {
             return "fixed:"
                 + makeFileIngestionPrefix(fsh.method)
                 + fsh.hash.to_string(Base32, true);
         }
-    }, ca);
+    }, raw);
 }
 
-std::string renderContentAddressMethodAndHash(ContentAddressMethod cam, HashType ht)
+std::string ContentAddressMethod::render(HashType ht) const
 {
     return std::visit(overloaded {
-        [&](TextHashMethod & th) {
+        [&](const TextHashMethod & th) {
             return std::string{"text:"} + printHashType(ht);
         },
-        [&](FileIngestionMethod & fim) {
+        [&](const FileIngestionMethod & fim) {
             return "fixed:" + makeFileIngestionPrefix(fim) + printHashType(ht);
         }
-    }, cam);
+    }, raw);
 }
 
-/*
-  Parses content address strings up to the hash.
+/**
+ * Parses content address strings up to the hash.
  */
 static std::pair<ContentAddressMethod, HashType> parseContentAddressMethodPrefix(std::string_view & rest)
 {
@@ -114,7 +113,7 @@ static std::pair<ContentAddressMethod, HashType> parseContentAddressMethodPrefix
         throw UsageError("content address prefix '%s' is unrecognized. Recogonized prefixes are 'text' or 'fixed'", prefix);
 }
 
-ContentAddress parseContentAddress(std::string_view rawCa) {
+ContentAddress ContentAddress::parse(std::string_view rawCa) {
     auto rest = rawCa;
 
     auto [caMethod, hashType_] = parseContentAddressMethodPrefix(rest);
@@ -132,10 +131,10 @@ ContentAddress parseContentAddress(std::string_view rawCa) {
                 .hash = Hash::parseNonSRIUnprefixed(rest, hashType),
             });
         },
-    }, caMethod);
+    }, caMethod.raw);
 }
 
-std::pair<ContentAddressMethod, HashType> parseContentAddressMethod(std::string_view caMethod)
+std::pair<ContentAddressMethod, HashType> ContentAddressMethod::parse(std::string_view caMethod)
 {
     std::string asPrefix = std::string{caMethod} + ":";
     // parseContentAddressMethodPrefix takes its argument by reference
@@ -143,18 +142,20 @@ std::pair<ContentAddressMethod, HashType> parseContentAddressMethod(std::string_
     return parseContentAddressMethodPrefix(asPrefixView);
 }
 
-std::optional<ContentAddress> parseContentAddressOpt(std::string_view rawCaOpt)
+std::optional<ContentAddress> ContentAddress::parseOpt(std::string_view rawCaOpt)
 {
-    return rawCaOpt == "" ? std::optional<ContentAddress>() : parseContentAddress(rawCaOpt);
+    return rawCaOpt == ""
+        ? std::nullopt
+        : std::optional { ContentAddress::parse(rawCaOpt) };
 };
 
 std::string renderContentAddress(std::optional<ContentAddress> ca)
 {
-    return ca ? renderContentAddress(*ca) : "";
+    return ca ? ca->render() : "";
 }
 
-ContentAddressWithReferences contentAddressFromMethodHashAndRefs(
-    ContentAddressMethod method, Hash && hash, StoreReferences && refs)
+ContentAddressWithReferences ContentAddressWithReferences::fromParts(
+    ContentAddressMethod  method, Hash hash, StoreReferences refs)
 {
     return std::visit(overloaded {
         [&](TextHashMethod _) -> ContentAddressWithReferences {
@@ -174,10 +175,10 @@ ContentAddressWithReferences contentAddressFromMethodHashAndRefs(
                 .references = std::move(refs),
             };
         },
-    }, method);
+    }, method.raw);
 }
 
-ContentAddressMethod getContentAddressMethod(const ContentAddressWithReferences & ca)
+ContentAddressMethod ContentAddressWithReferences::getMethod() const
 {
     return std::visit(overloaded {
         [](const TextInfo & th) -> ContentAddressMethod {
@@ -186,19 +187,19 @@ ContentAddressMethod getContentAddressMethod(const ContentAddressWithReferences
         [](const FixedOutputInfo & fsh) -> ContentAddressMethod {
             return fsh.hash.method;
         },
-    }, ca);
+    }, raw);
 }
 
-Hash getContentAddressHash(const ContentAddress & ca)
+const Hash & ContentAddress::getHash() const
 {
     return std::visit(overloaded {
-        [](const TextHash & th) {
+        [](const TextHash & th) -> auto & {
             return th.hash;
         },
-        [](const FixedOutputHash & fsh) {
+        [](const FixedOutputHash & fsh) -> auto & {
             return fsh.hash;
         },
-    }, ca);
+    }, raw);
 }
 
 bool StoreReferences::empty() const
@@ -211,7 +212,7 @@ size_t StoreReferences::size() const
     return (self ? 1 : 0) + others.size();
 }
 
-ContentAddressWithReferences caWithoutRefs(const ContentAddress & ca) {
+ContentAddressWithReferences ContentAddressWithReferences::withoutRefs(const ContentAddress & ca) {
     return std::visit(overloaded {
         [&](const TextHash & h) -> ContentAddressWithReferences {
             return TextInfo {
@@ -225,10 +226,10 @@ ContentAddressWithReferences caWithoutRefs(const ContentAddress & ca) {
                 .references = {},
             };
         },
-    }, ca);
+    }, ca.raw);
 }
 
-Hash getContentAddressHash(const ContentAddressWithReferences & ca)
+Hash ContentAddressWithReferences::getHash() const
 {
     return std::visit(overloaded {
         [](const TextInfo & th) {
@@ -237,12 +238,12 @@ Hash getContentAddressHash(const ContentAddressWithReferences & ca)
         [](const FixedOutputInfo & fsh) {
             return fsh.hash.hash;
         },
-    }, ca);
+    }, raw);
 }
 
-std::string printMethodAlgo(const ContentAddressWithReferences & ca) {
-    return makeContentAddressingPrefix(getContentAddressMethod(ca))
-        + printHashType(getContentAddressHash(ca).type);
+std::string ContentAddressWithReferences::printMethodAlgo() const {
+    return getMethod().renderPrefix()
+        + printHashType(getHash().type);
 }
 
 }
diff --git a/src/libstore/content-address.hh b/src/libstore/content-address.hh
index d173f6027..7704d2f00 100644
--- a/src/libstore/content-address.hh
+++ b/src/libstore/content-address.hh
@@ -45,7 +45,6 @@ enum struct FileIngestionMethod : uint8_t {
  */
 std::string makeFileIngestionPrefix(FileIngestionMethod m);
 
-
 /**
  * An enumeration of all the ways we can serialize file system objects.
  *
@@ -54,25 +53,40 @@ std::string makeFileIngestionPrefix(FileIngestionMethod m);
  * with info on references, and we have `ContentAddressWithReferences`,
  * as defined further below.
  */
-typedef std::variant<
-    TextHashMethod,
-    FileIngestionMethod
-> ContentAddressMethod;
+struct ContentAddressMethod
+{
+    typedef std::variant<
+        TextHashMethod,
+        FileIngestionMethod
+    > Raw;
 
-/* Parse and pretty print the algorithm which indicates how the files
-   were ingested, with the the fixed output case not prefixed for back
-   compat. */
+    Raw raw;
 
-std::string makeContentAddressingPrefix(ContentAddressMethod m);
+    GENERATE_CMP(ContentAddressMethod, me->raw);
 
-ContentAddressMethod parseContentAddressingPrefix(std::string_view & m);
+    /* The moral equivalent of `using Raw::Raw;` */
+    ContentAddressMethod(auto &&... arg)
+        : raw(std::forward<decltype(arg)>(arg)...)
+    { }
 
-/* Parse and pretty print a content addressing method and hash in a
-   nicer way, prefixing both cases. */
 
-std::string renderContentAddressMethodAndHash(ContentAddressMethod cam, HashType ht);
+    /**
+     * Parse and pretty print the algorithm which indicates how the files
+     * were ingested, with the the fixed output case not prefixed for back
+     * compat.
+     */
+    static ContentAddressMethod parsePrefix(std::string_view & m);
 
-std::pair<ContentAddressMethod, HashType> parseContentAddressMethod(std::string_view caMethod);
+    std::string renderPrefix() const;
+
+    /**
+     * Parse and pretty print a content addressing method and hash type in a
+     * nicer way, prefixing both cases.
+     */
+    static std::pair<ContentAddressMethod, HashType> parse(std::string_view rawCaMethod);
+
+    std::string render(HashType ht) const;
+};
 
 
 /*
@@ -122,25 +136,43 @@ struct FixedOutputHash {
  * - ‘fixed:<r?>:<ht>:<h>’: For paths computed by
  *   Store::makeFixedOutputPath() / Store::addToStore().
  */
-typedef std::variant<
-    TextHash,
-    FixedOutputHash
-> ContentAddress;
+struct ContentAddress
+{
+    typedef std::variant<
+        TextHash,
+        FixedOutputHash
+    > Raw;
 
-/**
- * Compute the content-addressability assertion (ValidPathInfo::ca) for
- * paths created by Store::makeFixedOutputPath() / Store::addToStore().
- */
-std::string renderContentAddress(ContentAddress ca);
+    Raw raw;
+
+    GENERATE_CMP(ContentAddress, me->raw);
+
+    /* The moral equivalent of `using Raw::Raw;` */
+    ContentAddress(auto &&... arg)
+        : raw(std::forward<decltype(arg)>(arg)...)
+    { }
+
+    /**
+     * Compute the content-addressability assertion (ValidPathInfo::ca) for
+     * paths created by Store::makeFixedOutputPath() / Store::addToStore().
+     */
+    std::string render() const;
+
+    static ContentAddress parse(std::string_view rawCa);
+
+    static std::optional<ContentAddress> parseOpt(std::string_view rawCaOpt);
+
+    const Hash & getHash() const;
+};
 
 std::string renderContentAddress(std::optional<ContentAddress> ca);
 
-ContentAddress parseContentAddress(std::string_view rawCa);
-
-std::optional<ContentAddress> parseContentAddressOpt(std::string_view rawCaOpt);
-
-Hash getContentAddressHash(const ContentAddress & ca);
 
+/*
+ * Full content address
+ *
+ * See the schema for store paths in store-api.cc
+ */
 
 /**
  * A set of references to other store objects.
@@ -174,12 +206,6 @@ struct StoreReferences {
     GENERATE_CMP(StoreReferences, me->self, me->others);
 };
 
-/*
- * Full content address
- *
- * See the schema for store paths in store-api.cc
- */
-
 // This matches the additional info that we need for makeTextPath
 struct TextInfo {
     TextHash hash;
@@ -207,23 +233,47 @@ struct FixedOutputInfo {
  *
  * A ContentAddress without a Hash.
  */
-typedef std::variant<
-    TextInfo,
-    FixedOutputInfo
-> ContentAddressWithReferences;
+struct ContentAddressWithReferences
+{
+    typedef std::variant<
+        TextInfo,
+        FixedOutputInfo
+    > Raw;
 
-/**
- * Create a ContentAddressWithReferences from a mere ContentAddress, by
- * assuming no references in all cases.
- */
-ContentAddressWithReferences caWithoutRefs(const ContentAddress &);
+    Raw raw;
 
-ContentAddressWithReferences contentAddressFromMethodHashAndRefs(
-    ContentAddressMethod method, Hash && hash, StoreReferences && refs);
+    GENERATE_CMP(ContentAddressWithReferences, me->raw);
 
-ContentAddressMethod getContentAddressMethod(const ContentAddressWithReferences & ca);
-Hash getContentAddressHash(const ContentAddressWithReferences & ca);
+    /* The moral equivalent of `using Raw::Raw;` */
+    ContentAddressWithReferences(auto &&... arg)
+        : raw(std::forward<decltype(arg)>(arg)...)
+    { }
 
-std::string printMethodAlgo(const ContentAddressWithReferences &);
+    /**
+     * Create a ContentAddressWithReferences from a mere ContentAddress, by
+     * assuming no references in all cases.
+     */
+    static ContentAddressWithReferences withoutRefs(const ContentAddress &);
+
+    /**
+     * Create a ContentAddressWithReferences from 3 parts:
+     *
+     * @param method Way ingesting the file system data.
+     *
+     * @param hash Hash of ingested file system data.
+     *
+     * @param refs References to other store objects or oneself.
+     *
+     * Do note that not all combinations are supported.
+     */
+    static ContentAddressWithReferences fromParts(
+        ContentAddressMethod method, Hash hash, StoreReferences refs);
+
+    ContentAddressMethod getMethod() const;
+
+    Hash getHash() const;
+
+    std::string printMethodAlgo() const;
+};
 
 }
diff --git a/src/libstore/daemon.cc b/src/libstore/daemon.cc
index 7cb378e12..0e2169035 100644
--- a/src/libstore/daemon.cc
+++ b/src/libstore/daemon.cc
@@ -401,12 +401,12 @@ static void performOp(TunnelLogger * logger, ref<Store> store,
             logger->startWork();
             auto pathInfo = [&]() {
                 // NB: FramedSource must be out of scope before logger->stopWork();
-                auto [contentAddressMethod, hashType_] = parseContentAddressMethod(camStr);
+                auto [contentAddressMethod, hashType_] = ContentAddressMethod::parse(camStr);
                 auto hashType = hashType_; // work around clang bug
                 FramedSource source(from);
                 // TODO this is essentially RemoteStore::addCAToStore. Move it up to Store.
                 return std::visit(overloaded {
-                    [&](TextHashMethod &) {
+                    [&](const TextHashMethod &) {
                         if (hashType != htSHA256)
                             throw UnimplementedError("Only SHA-256 is supported for adding text-hashed data, but '%1' was given",
                                 printHashType(hashType));
@@ -415,11 +415,11 @@ static void performOp(TunnelLogger * logger, ref<Store> store,
                         auto path = store->addTextToStore(name, contents, refs, repair);
                         return store->queryPathInfo(path);
                     },
-                    [&](FileIngestionMethod & fim) {
+                    [&](const FileIngestionMethod & fim) {
                         auto path = store->addToStoreFromDump(source, name, fim, hashType, repair, refs);
                         return store->queryPathInfo(path);
                     },
-                }, contentAddressMethod);
+                }, contentAddressMethod.raw);
             }();
             logger->stopWork();
 
@@ -884,7 +884,7 @@ static void performOp(TunnelLogger * logger, ref<Store> store,
         info.references = worker_proto::read(*store, from, Phantom<StorePathSet> {});
         from >> info.registrationTime >> info.narSize >> info.ultimate;
         info.sigs = readStrings<StringSet>(from);
-        info.ca = parseContentAddressOpt(readString(from));
+        info.ca = ContentAddress::parseOpt(readString(from));
         from >> repair >> dontCheckSigs;
         if (!trusted && dontCheckSigs)
             dontCheckSigs = false;
diff --git a/src/libstore/derivations.cc b/src/libstore/derivations.cc
index 6a3a904e2..aaae864f4 100644
--- a/src/libstore/derivations.cc
+++ b/src/libstore/derivations.cc
@@ -215,7 +215,7 @@ static DerivationOutput parseDerivationOutput(const Store & store,
     std::string_view pathS, std::string_view hashAlgo, std::string_view hashS)
 {
     if (hashAlgo != "") {
-        ContentAddressMethod method = parseContentAddressingPrefix(hashAlgo);
+        ContentAddressMethod method = ContentAddressMethod::parsePrefix(hashAlgo);
         const auto hashType = parseHashType(hashAlgo);
         if (hashS == "impure") {
             experimentalFeatureSettings.require(Xp::ImpureDerivations);
@@ -228,9 +228,11 @@ static DerivationOutput parseDerivationOutput(const Store & store,
             validatePath(pathS);
             auto hash = Hash::parseNonSRIUnprefixed(hashS, hashType);
             return DerivationOutput::CAFixed {
-                // FIXME non-trivial fixed refs set
-                .ca = contentAddressFromMethodHashAndRefs(
-                    method, std::move(hash), {}),
+                .ca = ContentAddressWithReferences::fromParts(
+                    std::move(method),
+                    std::move(hash),
+                    // FIXME non-trivial fixed refs set
+                    {}),
             };
         } else {
             experimentalFeatureSettings.require(Xp::CaDerivations);
@@ -381,12 +383,12 @@ std::string Derivation::unparse(const Store & store, bool maskOutputs,
             },
             [&](const DerivationOutput::CAFixed & dof) {
                 s += ','; printUnquotedString(s, maskOutputs ? "" : store.printStorePath(dof.path(store, name, i.first)));
-                s += ','; printUnquotedString(s, printMethodAlgo(dof.ca));
-                s += ','; printUnquotedString(s, getContentAddressHash(dof.ca).to_string(Base16, false));
+                s += ','; printUnquotedString(s, dof.ca.printMethodAlgo());
+                s += ','; printUnquotedString(s, dof.ca.getHash().to_string(Base16, false));
             },
             [&](const DerivationOutput::CAFloating & dof) {
                 s += ','; printUnquotedString(s, "");
-                s += ','; printUnquotedString(s, makeContentAddressingPrefix(dof.method) + printHashType(dof.hashType));
+                s += ','; printUnquotedString(s, dof.method.renderPrefix() + printHashType(dof.hashType));
                 s += ','; printUnquotedString(s, "");
             },
             [&](const DerivationOutput::Deferred &) {
@@ -397,7 +399,7 @@ std::string Derivation::unparse(const Store & store, bool maskOutputs,
             [&](const DerivationOutputImpure & doi) {
                 // FIXME
                 s += ','; printUnquotedString(s, "");
-                s += ','; printUnquotedString(s, makeContentAddressingPrefix(doi.method) + printHashType(doi.hashType));
+                s += ','; printUnquotedString(s, doi.method.renderPrefix() + printHashType(doi.hashType));
                 s += ','; printUnquotedString(s, "impure");
             }
         }, i.second.raw());
@@ -614,8 +616,8 @@ DrvHash hashDerivationModulo(Store & store, const Derivation & drv, bool maskOut
         for (const auto & i : drv.outputs) {
             auto & dof = std::get<DerivationOutput::CAFixed>(i.second.raw());
             auto hash = hashString(htSHA256, "fixed:out:"
-                + printMethodAlgo(dof.ca) + ":"
-                + getContentAddressHash(dof.ca).to_string(Base16, false) + ":"
+                + dof.ca.printMethodAlgo() + ":"
+                + dof.ca.getHash().to_string(Base16, false) + ":"
                 + store.printStorePath(dof.path(store, drv.name, i.first)));
             outputHashes.insert_or_assign(i.first, std::move(hash));
         }
@@ -765,12 +767,12 @@ void writeDerivation(Sink & out, const Store & store, const BasicDerivation & dr
             },
             [&](const DerivationOutput::CAFixed & dof) {
                 out << store.printStorePath(dof.path(store, drv.name, i.first))
-                    << printMethodAlgo(dof.ca)
-                    << getContentAddressHash(dof.ca).to_string(Base16, false);
+                    << dof.ca.printMethodAlgo()
+                    << dof.ca.getHash().to_string(Base16, false);
             },
             [&](const DerivationOutput::CAFloating & dof) {
                 out << ""
-                    << (makeContentAddressingPrefix(dof.method) + printHashType(dof.hashType))
+                    << (dof.method.renderPrefix() + printHashType(dof.hashType))
                     << "";
             },
             [&](const DerivationOutput::Deferred &) {
@@ -780,7 +782,7 @@ void writeDerivation(Sink & out, const Store & store, const BasicDerivation & dr
             },
             [&](const DerivationOutput::Impure & doi) {
                 out << ""
-                    << (makeContentAddressingPrefix(doi.method) + printHashType(doi.hashType))
+                    << (doi.method.renderPrefix() + printHashType(doi.hashType))
                     << "impure";
             },
         }, i.second.raw());
@@ -898,16 +900,16 @@ nlohmann::json DerivationOutput::toJSON(
         },
         [&](const DerivationOutput::CAFixed & dof) {
             res["path"] = store.printStorePath(dof.path(store, drvName, outputName));
-            res["hashAlgo"] = printMethodAlgo(dof.ca);
-            res["hash"] = getContentAddressHash(dof.ca).to_string(Base16, false);
+            res["hashAlgo"] = dof.ca.printMethodAlgo();
+            res["hash"] = dof.ca.getHash().to_string(Base16, false);
             // FIXME print refs?
         },
         [&](const DerivationOutput::CAFloating & dof) {
-            res["hashAlgo"] = makeContentAddressingPrefix(dof.method) + printHashType(dof.hashType);
+            res["hashAlgo"] = dof.method.renderPrefix() + printHashType(dof.hashType);
         },
         [&](const DerivationOutput::Deferred &) {},
         [&](const DerivationOutput::Impure & doi) {
-            res["hashAlgo"] = makeContentAddressingPrefix(doi.method) + printHashType(doi.hashType);
+            res["hashAlgo"] = doi.method.renderPrefix() + printHashType(doi.hashType);
             res["impure"] = true;
         },
     }, raw());
diff --git a/src/libstore/legacy-ssh-store.cc b/src/libstore/legacy-ssh-store.cc
index 98322b045..a1c38d180 100644
--- a/src/libstore/legacy-ssh-store.cc
+++ b/src/libstore/legacy-ssh-store.cc
@@ -156,7 +156,7 @@ struct LegacySSHStore : public virtual LegacySSHStoreConfig, public virtual Stor
                     throw Error("NAR hash is now mandatory");
                 info->narHash = Hash::parseAnyPrefixed(s);
             }
-            info->ca = parseContentAddressOpt(readString(conn->from));
+            info->ca = ContentAddress::parseOpt(readString(conn->from));
             info->sigs = readStrings<StringSet>(conn->from);
 
             auto s = readString(conn->from);
diff --git a/src/libstore/local-store.cc b/src/libstore/local-store.cc
index d31d2d130..63039e6ad 100644
--- a/src/libstore/local-store.cc
+++ b/src/libstore/local-store.cc
@@ -944,7 +944,7 @@ std::shared_ptr<const ValidPathInfo> LocalStore::queryPathInfoInternal(State & s
     if (s) info->sigs = tokenizeString<StringSet>(s, " ");
 
     s = (const char *) sqlite3_column_text(state.stmts->QueryPathInfo, 7);
-    if (s) info->ca = parseContentAddressOpt(s);
+    if (s) info->ca = ContentAddress::parseOpt(s);
 
     /* Get the references. */
     auto useQueryReferences(state.stmts->QueryReferences.use()(info->id));
@@ -1150,7 +1150,7 @@ void LocalStore::querySubstitutablePathInfos(const StorePathCAMap & paths, Subst
             if (path.second) {
                 subPath = makeFixedOutputPathFromCA(
                     path.first.name(),
-                    caWithoutRefs(*path.second));
+                    ContentAddressWithReferences::withoutRefs(*path.second));
                 if (sub->storeDir == storeDir)
                     assert(subPath == path.first);
                 if (subPath != path.first)
@@ -1329,7 +1329,7 @@ void LocalStore::addToStore(const ValidPathInfo & info, Source & source,
                     printStorePath(info.path), info.narSize, hashResult.second);
 
             if (info.ca) {
-                if (auto foHash = std::get_if<FixedOutputHash>(&*info.ca)) {
+                if (auto foHash = std::get_if<FixedOutputHash>(&info.ca->raw)) {
                     auto actualFoHash = hashCAPath(
                         foHash->method,
                         foHash->hash.type,
@@ -1342,7 +1342,7 @@ void LocalStore::addToStore(const ValidPathInfo & info, Source & source,
                             actualFoHash.hash.to_string(Base32, true));
                     }
                 }
-                if (auto textHash = std::get_if<TextHash>(&*info.ca)) {
+                if (auto textHash = std::get_if<TextHash>(&info.ca->raw)) {
                     auto actualTextHash = hashString(htSHA256, readFile(realPath));
                     if (textHash->hash != actualTextHash) {
                         throw Error("ca hash mismatch importing path '%s';\n  specified: %s\n  got:       %s",
diff --git a/src/libstore/misc.cc b/src/libstore/misc.cc
index 63bbe5491..39bdfec6e 100644
--- a/src/libstore/misc.cc
+++ b/src/libstore/misc.cc
@@ -100,7 +100,7 @@ std::optional<ContentAddress> getDerivationCA(const BasicDerivation & drv)
                     return std::nullopt;
                 return fi.hash;
             },
-        }, dof->ca);
+        }, dof->ca.raw);
     }
     return std::nullopt;
 }
diff --git a/src/libstore/nar-info-disk-cache.cc b/src/libstore/nar-info-disk-cache.cc
index 2645f468b..c7176d30f 100644
--- a/src/libstore/nar-info-disk-cache.cc
+++ b/src/libstore/nar-info-disk-cache.cc
@@ -273,7 +273,7 @@ public:
                 narInfo->deriver = StorePath(queryNAR.getStr(9));
             for (auto & sig : tokenizeString<Strings>(queryNAR.getStr(10), " "))
                 narInfo->sigs.insert(sig);
-            narInfo->ca = parseContentAddressOpt(queryNAR.getStr(11));
+            narInfo->ca = ContentAddress::parseOpt(queryNAR.getStr(11));
 
             return {oValid, narInfo};
         });
diff --git a/src/libstore/nar-info.cc b/src/libstore/nar-info.cc
index 071d8355e..274cd861c 100644
--- a/src/libstore/nar-info.cc
+++ b/src/libstore/nar-info.cc
@@ -74,7 +74,7 @@ NarInfo::NarInfo(const Store & store, const std::string & s, const std::string &
         else if (name == "CA") {
             if (ca) throw corrupt();
             // FIXME: allow blank ca or require skipping field?
-            ca = parseContentAddressOpt(value);
+            ca = ContentAddress::parseOpt(value);
         }
 
         pos = eol + 1;
diff --git a/src/libstore/path-info.cc b/src/libstore/path-info.cc
index 76cab63e0..e60d7abe0 100644
--- a/src/libstore/path-info.cc
+++ b/src/libstore/path-info.cc
@@ -49,7 +49,7 @@ std::optional<ContentAddressWithReferences> ValidPathInfo::contentAddressWithRef
                 },
             };
         },
-    }, *ca);
+    }, ca->raw);
 }
 
 bool ValidPathInfo::isContentAddressed(const Store & store) const
@@ -116,7 +116,7 @@ ValidPathInfo::ValidPathInfo(
                 this->references.insert(path);
             this->ca = std::move((FixedOutputHash &&) foi);
         },
-    }, std::move(ca));
+    }, std::move(ca).raw);
 }
 
 
@@ -136,7 +136,7 @@ ValidPathInfo ValidPathInfo::read(Source & source, const Store & store, unsigned
     if (format >= 16) {
         source >> info.ultimate;
         info.sigs = readStrings<StringSet>(source);
-        info.ca = parseContentAddressOpt(readString(source));
+        info.ca = ContentAddress::parseOpt(readString(source));
     }
     return info;
 }
diff --git a/src/libstore/remote-store.cc b/src/libstore/remote-store.cc
index 6336044b5..1c6b8530d 100644
--- a/src/libstore/remote-store.cc
+++ b/src/libstore/remote-store.cc
@@ -44,7 +44,7 @@ void write(const Store & store, Sink & out, const StorePath & storePath)
 
 ContentAddress read(const Store & store, Source & from, Phantom<ContentAddress> _)
 {
-    return parseContentAddress(readString(from));
+    return ContentAddress::parse(readString(from));
 }
 
 void write(const Store & store, Sink & out, const ContentAddress & ca)
@@ -134,7 +134,7 @@ void write(const Store & store, Sink & out, const std::optional<StorePath> & sto
 
 std::optional<ContentAddress> read(const Store & store, Source & from, Phantom<std::optional<ContentAddress>> _)
 {
-    return parseContentAddressOpt(readString(from));
+    return ContentAddress::parseOpt(readString(from));
 }
 
 void write(const Store & store, Sink & out, const std::optional<ContentAddress> & caOpt)
@@ -546,7 +546,7 @@ ref<const ValidPathInfo> RemoteStore::addCAToStore(
         conn->to
             << wopAddToStore
             << name
-            << renderContentAddressMethodAndHash(caMethod, hashType);
+            << caMethod.render(hashType);
         worker_proto::write(*this, conn->to, references);
         conn->to << repair;
 
@@ -607,7 +607,7 @@ ref<const ValidPathInfo> RemoteStore::addCAToStore(
                 }
 
             }
-        }, caMethod);
+        }, caMethod.raw);
         auto path = parseStorePath(readString(conn->from));
         // Release our connection to prevent a deadlock in queryPathInfo().
         conn_.reset();
diff --git a/src/libstore/store-api.cc b/src/libstore/store-api.cc
index fed38e2dd..78b0d907e 100644
--- a/src/libstore/store-api.cc
+++ b/src/libstore/store-api.cc
@@ -221,7 +221,7 @@ StorePath Store::makeFixedOutputPathFromCA(std::string_view name, const ContentA
         [&](const FixedOutputInfo & foi) {
             return makeFixedOutputPath(name, foi);
         }
-    }, ca);
+    }, ca.raw);
 }
 
 
diff --git a/src/nix-store/nix-store.cc b/src/nix-store/nix-store.cc
index 26febb6e3..3d2dc49fd 100644
--- a/src/nix-store/nix-store.cc
+++ b/src/nix-store/nix-store.cc
@@ -970,7 +970,7 @@ static void opServe(Strings opFlags, Strings opArgs)
                 info.references = worker_proto::read(*store, in, Phantom<StorePathSet> {});
                 in >> info.registrationTime >> info.narSize >> info.ultimate;
                 info.sigs = readStrings<StringSet>(in);
-                info.ca = parseContentAddressOpt(readString(in));
+                info.ca = ContentAddress::parseOpt(readString(in));
 
                 if (info.narSize == 0)
                     throw Error("narInfo is too old and missing the narSize field");
diff --git a/src/nix/prefetch.cc b/src/nix/prefetch.cc
index b06b8a320..56e7bbb6e 100644
--- a/src/nix/prefetch.cc
+++ b/src/nix/prefetch.cc
@@ -124,7 +124,7 @@ std::tuple<StorePath, Hash> prefetchFile(
         auto info = store->addToStoreSlow(*name, tmpFile, ingestionMethod, hashType, expectedHash);
         storePath = info.path;
         assert(info.ca);
-        hash = getContentAddressHash(*info.ca);
+        hash = info.ca->getHash();
     }
 
     return {storePath.value(), hash.value()};