diff --git a/perl/lib/Nix/Store.xs b/perl/lib/Nix/Store.xs
index c412e4640..de60fb939 100644
--- a/perl/lib/Nix/Store.xs
+++ b/perl/lib/Nix/Store.xs
@@ -224,7 +224,7 @@ SV * hashString(char * algo, int base32, char * s)
 SV * convertHash(char * algo, char * s, int toBase32)
     PPCODE:
         try {
-            Hash h(s, parseHashType(algo));
+            auto h = Hash::parseAny(s, parseHashType(algo));
             string s = h.to_string(toBase32 ? Base32 : Base16, false);
             XPUSHs(sv_2mortal(newSVpv(s.c_str(), 0)));
         } catch (Error & e) {
@@ -285,7 +285,7 @@ SV * addToStore(char * srcPath, int recursive, char * algo)
 SV * makeFixedOutputPath(int recursive, char * algo, char * hash, char * name)
     PPCODE:
         try {
-            Hash h(hash, parseHashType(algo));
+            auto h = Hash::parseAny(hash, parseHashType(algo));
             auto method = recursive ? FileIngestionMethod::Recursive : FileIngestionMethod::Flat;
             auto path = store()->makeFixedOutputPath(method, h, name);
             XPUSHs(sv_2mortal(newSVpv(store()->printStorePath(path).c_str(), 0)));
diff --git a/src/libexpr/primops/fetchMercurial.cc b/src/libexpr/primops/fetchMercurial.cc
index fc2a6a1c2..cef85cfef 100644
--- a/src/libexpr/primops/fetchMercurial.cc
+++ b/src/libexpr/primops/fetchMercurial.cc
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ static void prim_fetchMercurial(EvalState & state, const Pos & pos, Value * * ar
                 // be both a revision or a branch/tag name.
                 auto value = state.forceStringNoCtx(*attr.value, *attr.pos);
                 if (std::regex_match(value, revRegex))
-                    rev = Hash(value, htSHA1);
+                    rev = Hash::parseAny(value, htSHA1);
                 else
                     ref = value;
             }
diff --git a/src/libfetchers/fetchers.cc b/src/libfetchers/fetchers.cc
index 28db8aa9c..9c69fc564 100644
--- a/src/libfetchers/fetchers.cc
+++ b/src/libfetchers/fetchers.cc
@@ -200,9 +200,12 @@ std::string Input::getType() const
 
 std::optional<Hash> Input::getNarHash() const
 {
-    if (auto s = maybeGetStrAttr(attrs, "narHash"))
-        // FIXME: require SRI hash.
-        return newHashAllowEmpty(*s, htSHA256);
+    if (auto s = maybeGetStrAttr(attrs, "narHash")) {
+        auto hash = s->empty() ? Hash(htSHA256) : Hash::parseSRI(*s);
+        if (hash.type != htSHA256)
+            throw UsageError("narHash must use SHA-256");
+        return hash;
+    }
     return {};
 }
 
@@ -216,7 +219,7 @@ std::optional<std::string> Input::getRef() const
 std::optional<Hash> Input::getRev() const
 {
     if (auto s = maybeGetStrAttr(attrs, "rev"))
-        return Hash(*s, htSHA1);
+        return Hash::parseAny(*s, htSHA1);
     return {};
 }
 
diff --git a/src/libfetchers/git.cc b/src/libfetchers/git.cc
index 5d38e0c2b..800bca9ed 100644
--- a/src/libfetchers/git.cc
+++ b/src/libfetchers/git.cc
@@ -293,14 +293,14 @@ struct GitInputScheme : InputScheme
 
             if (!input.getRev())
                 input.attrs.insert_or_assign("rev",
-                    Hash(chomp(runProgram("git", true, { "-C", actualUrl, "rev-parse", *input.getRef() })), htSHA1).gitRev());
+                    Hash::parseAny(chomp(runProgram("git", true, { "-C", actualUrl, "rev-parse", *input.getRef() })), htSHA1).gitRev());
 
             repoDir = actualUrl;
 
         } else {
 
             if (auto res = getCache()->lookup(store, mutableAttrs)) {
-                auto rev2 = Hash(getStrAttr(res->first, "rev"), htSHA1);
+                auto rev2 = Hash::parseAny(getStrAttr(res->first, "rev"), htSHA1);
                 if (!input.getRev() || input.getRev() == rev2) {
                     input.attrs.insert_or_assign("rev", rev2.gitRev());
                     return makeResult(res->first, std::move(res->second));
@@ -370,7 +370,7 @@ struct GitInputScheme : InputScheme
             }
 
             if (!input.getRev())
-                input.attrs.insert_or_assign("rev", Hash(chomp(readFile(localRefFile)), htSHA1).gitRev());
+                input.attrs.insert_or_assign("rev", Hash::parseAny(chomp(readFile(localRefFile)), htSHA1).gitRev());
         }
 
         bool isShallow = chomp(runProgram("git", true, { "-C", repoDir, "rev-parse", "--is-shallow-repository" })) == "true";
diff --git a/src/libfetchers/github.cc b/src/libfetchers/github.cc
index 8bb7c2c1d..9f84ffb68 100644
--- a/src/libfetchers/github.cc
+++ b/src/libfetchers/github.cc
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ struct GitArchiveInputScheme : InputScheme
         if (path.size() == 2) {
         } else if (path.size() == 3) {
             if (std::regex_match(path[2], revRegex))
-                rev = Hash(path[2], htSHA1);
+                rev = Hash::parseAny(path[2], htSHA1);
             else if (std::regex_match(path[2], refRegex))
                 ref = path[2];
             else
@@ -41,7 +41,7 @@ struct GitArchiveInputScheme : InputScheme
             if (name == "rev") {
                 if (rev)
                     throw BadURL("URL '%s' contains multiple commit hashes", url.url);
-                rev = Hash(value, htSHA1);
+                rev = Hash::parseAny(value, htSHA1);
             }
             else if (name == "ref") {
                 if (!std::regex_match(value, refRegex))
@@ -191,7 +191,7 @@ struct GitHubInputScheme : GitArchiveInputScheme
             readFile(
                 store->toRealPath(
                     downloadFile(store, url, "source", false).storePath)));
-        auto rev = Hash(std::string { json["sha"] }, htSHA1);
+        auto rev = Hash::parseAny(std::string { json["sha"] }, htSHA1);
         debug("HEAD revision for '%s' is %s", url, rev.gitRev());
         return rev;
     }
@@ -235,7 +235,7 @@ struct GitLabInputScheme : GitArchiveInputScheme
             readFile(
                 store->toRealPath(
                     downloadFile(store, url, "source", false).storePath)));
-        auto rev = Hash(std::string(json[0]["id"]), htSHA1);
+        auto rev = Hash::parseAny(std::string(json[0]["id"]), htSHA1);
         debug("HEAD revision for '%s' is %s", url, rev.gitRev());
         return rev;
     }
diff --git a/src/libfetchers/indirect.cc b/src/libfetchers/indirect.cc
index 91dc83740..b981d4d8e 100644
--- a/src/libfetchers/indirect.cc
+++ b/src/libfetchers/indirect.cc
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ struct IndirectInputScheme : InputScheme
         if (path.size() == 1) {
         } else if (path.size() == 2) {
             if (std::regex_match(path[1], revRegex))
-                rev = Hash(path[1], htSHA1);
+                rev = Hash::parseAny(path[1], htSHA1);
             else if (std::regex_match(path[1], refRegex))
                 ref = path[1];
             else
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ struct IndirectInputScheme : InputScheme
             ref = path[1];
             if (!std::regex_match(path[2], revRegex))
                 throw BadURL("in flake URL '%s', '%s' is not a commit hash", url.url, path[2]);
-            rev = Hash(path[2], htSHA1);
+            rev = Hash::parseAny(path[2], htSHA1);
         } else
             throw BadURL("GitHub URL '%s' is invalid", url.url);
 
diff --git a/src/libfetchers/mercurial.cc b/src/libfetchers/mercurial.cc
index c48cb6fd1..3e76ffc4d 100644
--- a/src/libfetchers/mercurial.cc
+++ b/src/libfetchers/mercurial.cc
@@ -209,7 +209,7 @@ struct MercurialInputScheme : InputScheme
         });
 
         if (auto res = getCache()->lookup(store, mutableAttrs)) {
-            auto rev2 = Hash(getStrAttr(res->first, "rev"), htSHA1);
+            auto rev2 = Hash::parseAny(getStrAttr(res->first, "rev"), htSHA1);
             if (!input.getRev() || input.getRev() == rev2) {
                 input.attrs.insert_or_assign("rev", rev2.gitRev());
                 return makeResult(res->first, std::move(res->second));
@@ -252,7 +252,7 @@ struct MercurialInputScheme : InputScheme
             runProgram("hg", true, { "log", "-R", cacheDir, "-r", revOrRef, "--template", "{node} {rev} {branch}" }));
         assert(tokens.size() == 3);
 
-        input.attrs.insert_or_assign("rev", Hash(tokens[0], htSHA1).gitRev());
+        input.attrs.insert_or_assign("rev", Hash::parseAny(tokens[0], htSHA1).gitRev());
         auto revCount = std::stoull(tokens[1]);
         input.attrs.insert_or_assign("ref", tokens[2]);
 
diff --git a/src/libstore/content-address.cc b/src/libstore/content-address.cc
index f83b98a98..749551d1a 100644
--- a/src/libstore/content-address.cc
+++ b/src/libstore/content-address.cc
@@ -1,4 +1,6 @@
+#include "args.hh"
 #include "content-address.hh"
+#include "split.hh"
 
 namespace nix {
 
@@ -40,38 +42,46 @@ std::string renderContentAddress(ContentAddress ca) {
 }
 
 ContentAddress parseContentAddress(std::string_view rawCa) {
-    auto prefixSeparator = rawCa.find(':');
-    if (prefixSeparator != string::npos) {
-        auto prefix = string(rawCa, 0, prefixSeparator);
-        if (prefix == "text") {
-            auto hashTypeAndHash = rawCa.substr(prefixSeparator+1, string::npos);
-            Hash hash = Hash(string(hashTypeAndHash));
-            if (hash.type != htSHA256) {
-                throw Error("parseContentAddress: the text hash should have type SHA256");
-            }
-            return TextHash { hash };
-        } else if (prefix == "fixed") {
-            // This has to be an inverse of makeFixedOutputCA
-            auto methodAndHash = rawCa.substr(prefixSeparator+1, string::npos);
-            if (methodAndHash.substr(0,2) == "r:") {
-                std::string_view hashRaw = methodAndHash.substr(2,string::npos);
-                return FixedOutputHash {
-                    .method = FileIngestionMethod::Recursive,
-                    .hash = Hash(string(hashRaw)),
-                };
-            } else {
-                std::string_view hashRaw = methodAndHash;
-                return FixedOutputHash {
-                    .method = FileIngestionMethod::Flat,
-                    .hash = Hash(string(hashRaw)),
-                };
-            }
-        } else {
-            throw Error("parseContentAddress: format not recognized; has to be text or fixed");
-        }
-    } else {
-        throw Error("Not a content address because it lacks an appropriate prefix");
+    auto rest = rawCa;
+
+    std::string_view prefix;
+    {
+        auto optPrefix = splitPrefixTo(rest, ':');
+        if (!optPrefix)
+            throw UsageError("not a content address because it is not in the form \"<prefix>:<rest>\": %s", rawCa);
+        prefix = *optPrefix;
     }
+
+    auto parseHashType_ = [&](){
+        auto hashTypeRaw = splitPrefixTo(rest, ':');
+        if (!hashTypeRaw)
+            throw UsageError("content address hash must be in form \"<algo>:<hash>\", but found: %s", rawCa);
+        HashType hashType = parseHashType(*hashTypeRaw);
+        return std::move(hashType);
+    };
+
+    // Switch on prefix
+    if (prefix == "text") {
+        // No parsing of the method, "text" only support flat.
+        HashType hashType = parseHashType_();
+        if (hashType != htSHA256)
+            throw Error("text content address hash should use %s, but instead uses %s",
+                printHashType(htSHA256), printHashType(hashType));
+        return TextHash {
+            .hash = Hash::parseNonSRIUnprefixed(rest, std::move(hashType)),
+        };
+    } else if (prefix == "fixed") {
+        // Parse method
+        auto method = FileIngestionMethod::Flat;
+        if (splitPrefix(rest, "r:"))
+            method = FileIngestionMethod::Recursive;
+        HashType hashType = parseHashType_();
+        return FixedOutputHash {
+            .method = method,
+            .hash = Hash::parseNonSRIUnprefixed(rest, std::move(hashType)),
+        };
+    } else
+        throw UsageError("content address prefix \"%s\" is unrecognized. Recogonized prefixes are \"text\" or \"fixed\"", prefix);
 };
 
 std::optional<ContentAddress> parseContentAddressOpt(std::string_view rawCaOpt) {
diff --git a/src/libstore/daemon.cc b/src/libstore/daemon.cc
index b9a750425..5e568fc94 100644
--- a/src/libstore/daemon.cc
+++ b/src/libstore/daemon.cc
@@ -698,7 +698,7 @@ static void performOp(TunnelLogger * logger, ref<Store> store,
         auto deriver = readString(from);
         if (deriver != "")
             info.deriver = store->parseStorePath(deriver);
-        info.narHash = Hash(readString(from), htSHA256);
+        info.narHash = Hash::parseAny(readString(from), htSHA256);
         info.references = readStorePaths<StorePathSet>(*store, from);
         from >> info.registrationTime >> info.narSize >> info.ultimate;
         info.sigs = readStrings<StringSet>(from);
diff --git a/src/libstore/derivations.cc b/src/libstore/derivations.cc
index 7d0a5abeb..d552d0bfd 100644
--- a/src/libstore/derivations.cc
+++ b/src/libstore/derivations.cc
@@ -127,7 +127,7 @@ static DerivationOutput parseDerivationOutput(const Store & store, std::istrings
             .output = DerivationOutputFixed {
                 .hash = FixedOutputHash {
                     .method = std::move(method),
-                    .hash = Hash(hash, hashType),
+                    .hash = Hash::parseNonSRIUnprefixed(hash, hashType),
                 },
             }
         };
@@ -435,7 +435,7 @@ static DerivationOutput readDerivationOutput(Source & in, const Store & store)
             .output = DerivationOutputFixed {
                 .hash = FixedOutputHash {
                     .method = std::move(method),
-                    .hash = Hash(hash, hashType),
+                    .hash = Hash::parseNonSRIUnprefixed(hash, hashType),
                 },
             }
         };
diff --git a/src/libstore/legacy-ssh-store.cc b/src/libstore/legacy-ssh-store.cc
index 5d7566121..c6eeab548 100644
--- a/src/libstore/legacy-ssh-store.cc
+++ b/src/libstore/legacy-ssh-store.cc
@@ -113,7 +113,7 @@ struct LegacySSHStore : public Store
 
             if (GET_PROTOCOL_MINOR(conn->remoteVersion) >= 4) {
                 auto s = readString(conn->from);
-                info->narHash = s.empty() ? std::optional<Hash>{} : Hash{s};
+                info->narHash = s.empty() ? std::optional<Hash>{} : Hash::parseAnyPrefixed(s);
                 info->ca = parseContentAddressOpt(readString(conn->from));
                 info->sigs = readStrings<StringSet>(conn->from);
             }
diff --git a/src/libstore/local-store.cc b/src/libstore/local-store.cc
index f908f7d67..6b0548538 100644
--- a/src/libstore/local-store.cc
+++ b/src/libstore/local-store.cc
@@ -640,7 +640,7 @@ void LocalStore::queryPathInfoUncached(const StorePath & path,
             info->id = useQueryPathInfo.getInt(0);
 
             try {
-                info->narHash = Hash(useQueryPathInfo.getStr(1));
+                info->narHash = Hash::parseAnyPrefixed(useQueryPathInfo.getStr(1));
             } catch (BadHash & e) {
                 throw Error("in valid-path entry for '%s': %s", printStorePath(path), e.what());
             }
diff --git a/src/libstore/nar-info-disk-cache.cc b/src/libstore/nar-info-disk-cache.cc
index 9ddb9957f..92da14e23 100644
--- a/src/libstore/nar-info-disk-cache.cc
+++ b/src/libstore/nar-info-disk-cache.cc
@@ -193,9 +193,9 @@ public:
             narInfo->url = queryNAR.getStr(2);
             narInfo->compression = queryNAR.getStr(3);
             if (!queryNAR.isNull(4))
-                narInfo->fileHash = Hash(queryNAR.getStr(4));
+                narInfo->fileHash = Hash::parseAnyPrefixed(queryNAR.getStr(4));
             narInfo->fileSize = queryNAR.getInt(5);
-            narInfo->narHash = Hash(queryNAR.getStr(6));
+            narInfo->narHash = Hash::parseAnyPrefixed(queryNAR.getStr(6));
             narInfo->narSize = queryNAR.getInt(7);
             for (auto & r : tokenizeString<Strings>(queryNAR.getStr(8), " "))
                 narInfo->references.insert(StorePath(r));
diff --git a/src/libstore/nar-info.cc b/src/libstore/nar-info.cc
index ca471463c..5812aa4ac 100644
--- a/src/libstore/nar-info.cc
+++ b/src/libstore/nar-info.cc
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ NarInfo::NarInfo(const Store & store, const std::string & s, const std::string &
 
     auto parseHashField = [&](const string & s) {
         try {
-            return Hash(s);
+            return Hash::parseAnyPrefixed(s);
         } catch (BadHash &) {
             throw corrupt();
         }
diff --git a/src/libstore/remote-store.cc b/src/libstore/remote-store.cc
index 0c65bcd29..33d1e431b 100644
--- a/src/libstore/remote-store.cc
+++ b/src/libstore/remote-store.cc
@@ -422,7 +422,7 @@ void RemoteStore::queryPathInfoUncached(const StorePath & path,
             info = std::make_shared<ValidPathInfo>(StorePath(path));
             auto deriver = readString(conn->from);
             if (deriver != "") info->deriver = parseStorePath(deriver);
-            info->narHash = Hash(readString(conn->from), htSHA256);
+            info->narHash = Hash::parseAny(readString(conn->from), htSHA256);
             info->references = readStorePaths<StorePathSet>(*this, conn->from);
             conn->from >> info->registrationTime >> info->narSize;
             if (GET_PROTOCOL_MINOR(conn->daemonVersion) >= 16) {
diff --git a/src/libstore/store-api.cc b/src/libstore/store-api.cc
index fb9e30597..ea666f098 100644
--- a/src/libstore/store-api.cc
+++ b/src/libstore/store-api.cc
@@ -876,7 +876,7 @@ std::optional<ValidPathInfo> decodeValidPathInfo(const Store & store, std::istre
     if (hashGiven) {
         string s;
         getline(str, s);
-        info.narHash = Hash(s, htSHA256);
+        info.narHash = Hash::parseAny(s, htSHA256);
         getline(str, s);
         if (!string2Int(s, info.narSize)) throw Error("number expected");
     }
diff --git a/src/libutil/hash.cc b/src/libutil/hash.cc
index 2b0390da4..dfb3668f1 100644
--- a/src/libutil/hash.cc
+++ b/src/libutil/hash.cc
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@
 #include "args.hh"
 #include "hash.hh"
 #include "archive.hh"
+#include "split.hh"
 #include "util.hh"
 
 #include <sys/types.h>
@@ -15,6 +16,7 @@
 
 namespace nix {
 
+
 static size_t regularHashSize(HashType type) {
     switch (type) {
     case htMD5: return md5HashSize;
@@ -25,10 +27,11 @@ static size_t regularHashSize(HashType type) {
     abort();
 }
 
+
 std::set<std::string> hashTypes = { "md5", "sha1", "sha256", "sha512" };
 
 
-void Hash::init()
+Hash::Hash(HashType type) : type(type)
 {
     hashSize = regularHashSize(type);
     assert(hashSize <= maxHashSize);
@@ -133,57 +136,89 @@ std::string Hash::to_string(Base base, bool includeType) const
     return s;
 }
 
-Hash::Hash(std::string_view s, HashType type) : Hash(s, std::optional { type }) { }
-Hash::Hash(std::string_view s) : Hash(s, std::optional<HashType>{}) { }
-
-Hash::Hash(std::string_view original, std::optional<HashType> optType)
-{
+Hash Hash::parseSRI(std::string_view original) {
     auto rest = original;
 
-    size_t pos = 0;
+    // Parse the has type before the separater, if there was one.
+    auto hashRaw = splitPrefixTo(rest, '-');
+    if (!hashRaw)
+        throw BadHash("hash '%s' is not SRI", original);
+    HashType parsedType = parseHashType(*hashRaw);
+
+    return Hash(rest, parsedType, true);
+}
+
+// Mutates the string to eliminate the prefixes when found
+static std::pair<std::optional<HashType>, bool> getParsedTypeAndSRI(std::string_view & rest) {
     bool isSRI = false;
 
     // Parse the has type before the separater, if there was one.
     std::optional<HashType> optParsedType;
     {
-        auto sep = rest.find(':');
-        if (sep == std::string_view::npos) {
-            sep = rest.find('-');
-            if (sep != std::string_view::npos)
+        auto hashRaw = splitPrefixTo(rest, ':');
+
+        if (!hashRaw) {
+            hashRaw = splitPrefixTo(rest, '-');
+            if (hashRaw)
                 isSRI = true;
         }
-        if (sep != std::string_view::npos) {
-            auto hashRaw = rest.substr(0, sep);
-            optParsedType = parseHashType(hashRaw);
-            rest = rest.substr(sep + 1);
-        }
+        if (hashRaw)
+            optParsedType = parseHashType(*hashRaw);
     }
 
+    return {optParsedType, isSRI};
+}
+
+Hash Hash::parseAnyPrefixed(std::string_view original)
+{
+    auto rest = original;
+    auto [optParsedType, isSRI] = getParsedTypeAndSRI(rest);
+
     // Either the string or user must provide the type, if they both do they
     // must agree.
-    if (!optParsedType && !optType) {
+    if (!optParsedType)
+        throw BadHash("hash '%s' does not include a type", rest);
+
+    return Hash(rest, *optParsedType, isSRI);
+}
+
+Hash Hash::parseAny(std::string_view original, std::optional<HashType> optType)
+{
+    auto rest = original;
+    auto [optParsedType, isSRI] = getParsedTypeAndSRI(rest);
+
+    // Either the string or user must provide the type, if they both do they
+    // must agree.
+    if (!optParsedType && !optType)
         throw BadHash("hash '%s' does not include a type, nor is the type otherwise known from context.", rest);
-    } else {
-        this->type = optParsedType ? *optParsedType : *optType;
-        if (optParsedType && optType && *optParsedType != *optType)
-            throw BadHash("hash '%s' should have type '%s'", original, printHashType(*optType));
-    }
+    else if (optParsedType && optType && *optParsedType != *optType)
+        throw BadHash("hash '%s' should have type '%s'", original, printHashType(*optType));
 
-    init();
+    HashType hashType = optParsedType ? *optParsedType : *optType;
+    return Hash(rest, hashType, isSRI);
+}
 
+Hash Hash::parseNonSRIUnprefixed(std::string_view s, HashType type)
+{
+    return Hash(s, type, false);
+}
+
+Hash::Hash(std::string_view rest, HashType type, bool isSRI)
+    : Hash(type)
+{
     if (!isSRI && rest.size() == base16Len()) {
 
         auto parseHexDigit = [&](char c) {
             if (c >= '0' && c <= '9') return c - '0';
             if (c >= 'A' && c <= 'F') return c - 'A' + 10;
             if (c >= 'a' && c <= 'f') return c - 'a' + 10;
-            throw BadHash("invalid base-16 hash '%s'", original);
+            throw BadHash("invalid base-16 hash '%s'", rest);
         };
 
         for (unsigned int i = 0; i < hashSize; i++) {
             hash[i] =
-                parseHexDigit(rest[pos + i * 2]) << 4
-                | parseHexDigit(rest[pos + i * 2 + 1]);
+                parseHexDigit(rest[i * 2]) << 4
+                | parseHexDigit(rest[i * 2 + 1]);
         }
     }
 
@@ -195,7 +230,7 @@ Hash::Hash(std::string_view original, std::optional<HashType> optType)
             for (digit = 0; digit < base32Chars.size(); ++digit) /* !!! slow */
                 if (base32Chars[digit] == c) break;
             if (digit >= 32)
-                throw BadHash("invalid base-32 hash '%s'", original);
+                throw BadHash("invalid base-32 hash '%s'", rest);
             unsigned int b = n * 5;
             unsigned int i = b / 8;
             unsigned int j = b % 8;
@@ -205,7 +240,7 @@ Hash::Hash(std::string_view original, std::optional<HashType> optType)
                 hash[i + 1] |= digit >> (8 - j);
             } else {
                 if (digit >> (8 - j))
-                    throw BadHash("invalid base-32 hash '%s'", original);
+                    throw BadHash("invalid base-32 hash '%s'", rest);
             }
         }
     }
@@ -213,7 +248,7 @@ Hash::Hash(std::string_view original, std::optional<HashType> optType)
     else if (isSRI || rest.size() == base64Len()) {
         auto d = base64Decode(rest);
         if (d.size() != hashSize)
-            throw BadHash("invalid %s hash '%s'", isSRI ? "SRI" : "base-64", original);
+            throw BadHash("invalid %s hash '%s'", isSRI ? "SRI" : "base-64", rest);
         assert(hashSize);
         memcpy(hash, d.data(), hashSize);
     }
@@ -231,7 +266,7 @@ Hash newHashAllowEmpty(std::string hashStr, std::optional<HashType> ht)
         warn("found empty hash, assuming '%s'", h.to_string(SRI, true));
         return h;
     } else
-        return Hash(hashStr, ht);
+        return Hash::parseAny(hashStr, ht);
 }
 
 
diff --git a/src/libutil/hash.hh b/src/libutil/hash.hh
index abcd58f24..00ce7bb6f 100644
--- a/src/libutil/hash.hh
+++ b/src/libutil/hash.hh
@@ -34,21 +34,31 @@ struct Hash
     HashType type;
 
     /* Create a zero-filled hash object. */
-    Hash(HashType type) : type(type) { init(); };
+    Hash(HashType type);
 
-    /* Initialize the hash from a string representation, in the format
+    /* Parse the hash from a string representation in the format
        "[<type>:]<base16|base32|base64>" or "<type>-<base64>" (a
        Subresource Integrity hash expression). If the 'type' argument
        is not present, then the hash type must be specified in the
        string. */
-    Hash(std::string_view s, std::optional<HashType> type);
-    // type must be provided
-    Hash(std::string_view s, HashType type);
-    // hash type must be part of string
-    Hash(std::string_view s);
+    static Hash parseAny(std::string_view s, std::optional<HashType> type);
 
-    void init();
+    /* Parse a hash from a string representation like the above, except the
+       type prefix is mandatory is there is no separate arguement. */
+    static Hash parseAnyPrefixed(std::string_view s);
 
+    /* Parse a plain hash that musst not have any prefix indicating the type.
+       The type is passed in to disambiguate. */
+    static Hash parseNonSRIUnprefixed(std::string_view s, HashType type);
+
+    static Hash parseSRI(std::string_view original);
+
+private:
+    /* The type must be provided, the string view must not include <type>
+       prefix. `isSRI` helps disambigate the various base-* encodings. */
+    Hash(std::string_view s, HashType type, bool isSRI);
+
+public:
     /* Check whether a hash is set. */
     operator bool () const { return (bool) type; }
 
diff --git a/src/libutil/split.hh b/src/libutil/split.hh
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..d19d7d8ed
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/libutil/split.hh
@@ -0,0 +1,33 @@
+#pragma once
+
+#include <optional>
+#include <string_view>
+
+#include "util.hh"
+
+namespace nix {
+
+// If `separator` is found, we return the portion of the string before the
+// separator, and modify the string argument to contain only the part after the
+// separator. Otherwise, wer return `std::nullopt`, and we leave the argument
+// string alone.
+static inline std::optional<std::string_view> splitPrefixTo(std::string_view & string, char separator) {
+    auto sepInstance = string.find(separator);
+
+    if (sepInstance != std::string_view::npos) {
+        auto prefix = string.substr(0, sepInstance);
+        string.remove_prefix(sepInstance+1);
+        return prefix;
+    }
+
+    return std::nullopt;
+}
+
+static inline bool splitPrefix(std::string_view & string, std::string_view prefix) {
+    bool res = hasPrefix(string, prefix);
+    if (res)
+        string.remove_prefix(prefix.length());
+    return res;
+}
+
+}
diff --git a/src/libutil/util.cc b/src/libutil/util.cc
index 8bc60ec2d..c0b9698ee 100644
--- a/src/libutil/util.cc
+++ b/src/libutil/util.cc
@@ -1450,7 +1450,7 @@ string base64Decode(std::string_view s)
 
         char digit = decode[(unsigned char) c];
         if (digit == -1)
-            throw Error("invalid character in Base64 string");
+            throw Error("invalid character in Base64 string: '%c'", c);
 
         bits += 6;
         d = d << 6 | digit;
diff --git a/src/nix-prefetch-url/nix-prefetch-url.cc b/src/nix-prefetch-url/nix-prefetch-url.cc
index 65d8ec6b6..1001f27af 100644
--- a/src/nix-prefetch-url/nix-prefetch-url.cc
+++ b/src/nix-prefetch-url/nix-prefetch-url.cc
@@ -157,7 +157,7 @@ static int _main(int argc, char * * argv)
         Hash hash(ht);
         std::optional<StorePath> storePath;
         if (args.size() == 2) {
-            expectedHash = Hash(args[1], ht);
+            expectedHash = Hash::parseAny(args[1], ht);
             const auto recursive = unpack ? FileIngestionMethod::Recursive : FileIngestionMethod::Flat;
             storePath = store->makeFixedOutputPath(recursive, *expectedHash, name);
             if (store->isValidPath(*storePath))
diff --git a/src/nix-store/nix-store.cc b/src/nix-store/nix-store.cc
index 7b26970ef..2996e36c4 100644
--- a/src/nix-store/nix-store.cc
+++ b/src/nix-store/nix-store.cc
@@ -208,7 +208,7 @@ static void opPrintFixedPath(Strings opFlags, Strings opArgs)
     string hash = *i++;
     string name = *i++;
 
-    cout << fmt("%s\n", store->printStorePath(store->makeFixedOutputPath(recursive, Hash(hash, hashAlgo), name)));
+    cout << fmt("%s\n", store->printStorePath(store->makeFixedOutputPath(recursive, Hash::parseAny(hash, hashAlgo), name)));
 }
 
 
@@ -948,7 +948,7 @@ static void opServe(Strings opFlags, Strings opArgs)
                 auto deriver = readString(in);
                 if (deriver != "")
                     info.deriver = store->parseStorePath(deriver);
-                info.narHash = Hash(readString(in), htSHA256);
+                info.narHash = Hash::parseAny(readString(in), htSHA256);
                 info.references = readStorePaths<StorePathSet>(*store, in);
                 in >> info.registrationTime >> info.narSize >> info.ultimate;
                 info.sigs = readStrings<StringSet>(in);
diff --git a/src/nix/hash.cc b/src/nix/hash.cc
index b94751e45..0eca4f8ea 100644
--- a/src/nix/hash.cc
+++ b/src/nix/hash.cc
@@ -107,7 +107,7 @@ struct CmdToBase : Command
     void run() override
     {
         for (auto s : args)
-            logger->stdout(Hash(s, ht).to_string(base, base == SRI));
+            logger->stdout(Hash::parseAny(s, ht).to_string(base, base == SRI));
     }
 };