diff --git a/src/conversions/std/ipaddr.rs b/src/conversions/std/ipaddr.rs
index 84aacab43a2..5d030b445d8 100755
--- a/src/conversions/std/ipaddr.rs
+++ b/src/conversions/std/ipaddr.rs
@@ -87,7 +87,8 @@ mod test_ipaddr {
                 };
 
                 let pyobj = ip.into_py(py);
-                let repr = pyobj.as_ref(py).repr().unwrap().to_string_lossy();
+                let repr = pyobj.bind(py).repr().unwrap();
+                let repr = repr.to_string_lossy();
                 assert_eq!(repr, format!("{}('{}')", py_cls, ip));
 
                 let ip2: IpAddr = pyobj.extract(py).unwrap();
diff --git a/src/conversions/std/osstr.rs b/src/conversions/std/osstr.rs
index be337959b5f..b9382688589 100644
--- a/src/conversions/std/osstr.rs
+++ b/src/conversions/std/osstr.rs
@@ -68,13 +68,11 @@ impl FromPyObject<'_> for OsString {
 
             // Create an OsStr view into the raw bytes from Python
             #[cfg(target_os = "wasi")]
-            let os_str: &OsStr = std::os::wasi::ffi::OsStrExt::from_bytes(
-                fs_encoded_bytes.as_ref(ob.py()).as_bytes(),
-            );
+            let os_str: &OsStr =
+                std::os::wasi::ffi::OsStrExt::from_bytes(fs_encoded_bytes.as_bytes(ob.py()));
             #[cfg(not(target_os = "wasi"))]
-            let os_str: &OsStr = std::os::unix::ffi::OsStrExt::from_bytes(
-                fs_encoded_bytes.as_ref(ob.py()).as_bytes(),
-            );
+            let os_str: &OsStr =
+                std::os::unix::ffi::OsStrExt::from_bytes(fs_encoded_bytes.as_bytes(ob.py()));
 
             Ok(os_str.to_os_string())
         }
diff --git a/src/conversions/std/slice.rs b/src/conversions/std/slice.rs
index 2d46abe2953..dad27f081cf 100644
--- a/src/conversions/std/slice.rs
+++ b/src/conversions/std/slice.rs
@@ -94,10 +94,10 @@ mod tests {
                 .unwrap_err();
 
             let cow = Cow::<[u8]>::Borrowed(b"foobar").to_object(py);
-            assert!(cow.as_ref(py).is_instance_of::<PyBytes>());
+            assert!(cow.bind(py).is_instance_of::<PyBytes>());
 
             let cow = Cow::<[u8]>::Owned(b"foobar".to_vec()).to_object(py);
-            assert!(cow.as_ref(py).is_instance_of::<PyBytes>());
+            assert!(cow.bind(py).is_instance_of::<PyBytes>());
         });
     }
 }
diff --git a/src/conversions/std/string.rs b/src/conversions/std/string.rs
index ac29d80491c..60e8ff7eb53 100644
--- a/src/conversions/std/string.rs
+++ b/src/conversions/std/string.rs
@@ -159,6 +159,7 @@ impl FromPyObject<'_> for char {
 
 #[cfg(test)]
 mod tests {
+    use crate::types::any::PyAnyMethods;
     use crate::Python;
     use crate::{IntoPy, PyObject, ToPyObject};
     use std::borrow::Cow;
@@ -200,7 +201,7 @@ mod tests {
             let s = "Hello Python";
             let py_string = s.to_object(py);
 
-            let s2: &str = py_string.as_ref(py).extract().unwrap();
+            let s2: &str = py_string.bind(py).extract().unwrap();
             assert_eq!(s, s2);
         })
     }
@@ -210,7 +211,7 @@ mod tests {
         Python::with_gil(|py| {
             let ch = '😃';
             let py_string = ch.to_object(py);
-            let ch2: char = py_string.as_ref(py).extract().unwrap();
+            let ch2: char = py_string.bind(py).extract().unwrap();
             assert_eq!(ch, ch2);
         })
     }
@@ -220,7 +221,7 @@ mod tests {
         Python::with_gil(|py| {
             let s = "Hello Python";
             let py_string = s.to_object(py);
-            let err: crate::PyResult<char> = py_string.as_ref(py).extract();
+            let err: crate::PyResult<char> = py_string.bind(py).extract();
             assert!(err
                 .unwrap_err()
                 .to_string()
diff --git a/src/coroutine.rs b/src/coroutine.rs
index 3a0df983076..b24197ad593 100644
--- a/src/coroutine.rs
+++ b/src/coroutine.rs
@@ -14,8 +14,8 @@ use crate::{
     coroutine::{cancel::ThrowCallback, waker::AsyncioWaker},
     exceptions::{PyAttributeError, PyRuntimeError, PyStopIteration},
     panic::PanicException,
-    types::{PyIterator, PyString},
-    IntoPy, Py, PyAny, PyErr, PyNativeType, PyObject, PyResult, Python,
+    types::{string::PyStringMethods, PyIterator, PyString},
+    IntoPy, Py, PyAny, PyErr, PyObject, PyResult, Python,
 };
 
 pub(crate) mod cancel;
@@ -75,7 +75,7 @@ impl Coroutine {
         };
         // reraise thrown exception it
         match (throw, &self.throw_callback) {
-            (Some(exc), Some(cb)) => cb.throw(exc.as_ref(py)),
+            (Some(exc), Some(cb)) => cb.throw(exc),
             (Some(exc), None) => {
                 self.close();
                 return Err(PyErr::from_value_bound(exc.into_bound(py)));
@@ -135,7 +135,7 @@ impl Coroutine {
     #[getter]
     fn __qualname__(&self, py: Python<'_>) -> PyResult<Py<PyString>> {
         match (&self.name, &self.qualname_prefix) {
-            (Some(name), Some(prefix)) => Ok(format!("{}.{}", prefix, name.as_ref(py).to_str()?)
+            (Some(name), Some(prefix)) => Ok(format!("{}.{}", prefix, name.bind(py).to_cow()?)
                 .as_str()
                 .into_py(py)),
             (Some(name), None) => Ok(name.clone_ref(py)),
diff --git a/src/coroutine/cancel.rs b/src/coroutine/cancel.rs
index 7828986c11e..2b10fb9a438 100644
--- a/src/coroutine/cancel.rs
+++ b/src/coroutine/cancel.rs
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-use crate::{PyAny, PyObject};
+use crate::{Py, PyAny, PyObject};
 use parking_lot::Mutex;
 use std::future::Future;
 use std::pin::Pin;
@@ -68,9 +68,9 @@ impl Future for Cancelled<'_> {
 pub struct ThrowCallback(Arc<Mutex<Inner>>);
 
 impl ThrowCallback {
-    pub(super) fn throw(&self, exc: &PyAny) {
+    pub(super) fn throw(&self, exc: Py<PyAny>) {
         let mut inner = self.0.lock();
-        inner.exception = Some(exc.into());
+        inner.exception = Some(exc);
         if let Some(waker) = inner.waker.take() {
             waker.wake();
         }
diff --git a/src/coroutine/waker.rs b/src/coroutine/waker.rs
index c46654896fc..096146f8292 100644
--- a/src/coroutine/waker.rs
+++ b/src/coroutine/waker.rs
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 use crate::sync::GILOnceCell;
 use crate::types::any::PyAnyMethods;
 use crate::types::PyCFunction;
-use crate::{intern, wrap_pyfunction, Py, PyAny, PyObject, PyResult, Python};
+use crate::{intern, wrap_pyfunction, Bound, Py, PyAny, PyObject, PyResult, Python};
 use pyo3_macros::pyfunction;
 use std::sync::Arc;
 use std::task::Wake;
@@ -25,10 +25,13 @@ impl AsyncioWaker {
         self.0.take();
     }
 
-    pub(super) fn initialize_future<'a>(&'a self, py: Python<'a>) -> PyResult<Option<&'a PyAny>> {
+    pub(super) fn initialize_future<'py>(
+        &self,
+        py: Python<'py>,
+    ) -> PyResult<Option<&Bound<'py, PyAny>>> {
         let init = || LoopAndFuture::new(py).map(Some);
         let loop_and_future = self.0.get_or_try_init(py, init)?.as_ref();
-        Ok(loop_and_future.map(|LoopAndFuture { future, .. }| future.as_ref(py)))
+        Ok(loop_and_future.map(|LoopAndFuture { future, .. }| future.bind(py)))
     }
 }
 
@@ -74,7 +77,7 @@ impl LoopAndFuture {
         let call_soon_threadsafe = self.event_loop.call_method1(
             py,
             intern!(py, "call_soon_threadsafe"),
-            (release_waiter, self.future.as_ref(py)),
+            (release_waiter, self.future.bind(py)),
         );
         if let Err(err) = call_soon_threadsafe {
             // `call_soon_threadsafe` will raise if the event loop is closed;
diff --git a/src/err/mod.rs b/src/err/mod.rs
index b5cd02c0954..0c2637a7389 100644
--- a/src/err/mod.rs
+++ b/src/err/mod.rs
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ use crate::instance::Bound;
 use crate::panic::PanicException;
 use crate::type_object::PyTypeInfo;
 use crate::types::any::PyAnyMethods;
+use crate::types::string::PyStringMethods;
 use crate::types::{PyTraceback, PyType};
 use crate::{
     exceptions::{self, PyBaseException},
@@ -403,7 +404,7 @@ impl PyErr {
         if ptype.as_ptr() == PanicException::type_object_raw(py).cast() {
             let msg = pvalue
                 .as_ref()
-                .and_then(|obj| obj.as_ref(py).str().ok())
+                .and_then(|obj| obj.bind(py).str().ok())
                 .map(|py_str| py_str.to_string_lossy().into())
                 .unwrap_or_else(|| String::from("Unwrapped panic from Python code"));
 
@@ -425,7 +426,7 @@ impl PyErr {
     #[cfg(Py_3_12)]
     fn _take(py: Python<'_>) -> Option<PyErr> {
         let state = PyErrStateNormalized::take(py)?;
-        let pvalue = state.pvalue.as_ref(py);
+        let pvalue = state.pvalue.bind(py);
         if pvalue.get_type().as_ptr() == PanicException::type_object_raw(py).cast() {
             let msg: String = pvalue
                 .str()
@@ -905,7 +906,6 @@ impl std::fmt::Debug for PyErr {
 
 impl std::fmt::Display for PyErr {
     fn fmt(&self, f: &mut std::fmt::Formatter<'_>) -> std::fmt::Result {
-        use crate::types::string::PyStringMethods;
         Python::with_gil(|py| {
             let value = self.value_bound(py);
             let type_name = value.get_type().qualname().map_err(|_| std::fmt::Error)?;
diff --git a/src/instance.rs b/src/instance.rs
index ff553c44324..6af3b74a38e 100644
--- a/src/instance.rs
+++ b/src/instance.rs
@@ -989,7 +989,7 @@ where
     /// Panics if the value is currently mutably borrowed. For a non-panicking variant, use
     /// [`try_borrow`](#method.try_borrow).
     pub fn borrow<'py>(&'py self, py: Python<'py>) -> PyRef<'py, T> {
-        self.as_ref(py).borrow()
+        self.bind(py).borrow()
     }
 
     /// Mutably borrows the value `T`.
@@ -1028,7 +1028,7 @@ where
     where
         T: PyClass<Frozen = False>,
     {
-        self.as_ref(py).borrow_mut()
+        self.bind(py).borrow_mut()
     }
 
     /// Attempts to immutably borrow the value `T`, returning an error if the value is currently mutably borrowed.
@@ -1042,7 +1042,7 @@ where
     /// Equivalent to `self.as_ref(py).borrow_mut()` -
     /// see [`PyCell::try_borrow`](crate::pycell::PyCell::try_borrow).
     pub fn try_borrow<'py>(&'py self, py: Python<'py>) -> Result<PyRef<'py, T>, PyBorrowError> {
-        self.as_ref(py).try_borrow()
+        self.bind(py).try_borrow()
     }
 
     /// Attempts to mutably borrow the value `T`, returning an error if the value is currently borrowed.
@@ -1060,7 +1060,7 @@ where
     where
         T: PyClass<Frozen = False>,
     {
-        self.as_ref(py).try_borrow_mut()
+        self.bind(py).try_borrow_mut()
     }
 
     /// Provide an immutable borrow of the value `T` without acquiring the GIL.
@@ -1667,7 +1667,7 @@ where
     T::AsRefTarget: std::fmt::Display,
 {
     fn fmt(&self, f: &mut std::fmt::Formatter<'_>) -> std::fmt::Result {
-        Python::with_gil(|py| std::fmt::Display::fmt(self.as_ref(py), f))
+        Python::with_gil(|py| std::fmt::Display::fmt(self.bind(py), f))
     }
 }
 
diff --git a/src/pycell.rs b/src/pycell.rs
index 3744c55f67d..8409c5cc679 100644
--- a/src/pycell.rs
+++ b/src/pycell.rs
@@ -96,7 +96,7 @@
 //!
 //!     // We borrow the guard and then dereference
 //!     // it to get a mutable reference to Number
-//!     let mut guard: PyRefMut<'_, Number> = n.as_ref(py).borrow_mut();
+//!     let mut guard: PyRefMut<'_, Number> = n.bind(py).borrow_mut();
 //!     let n_mutable: &mut Number = &mut *guard;
 //!
 //!     n_mutable.increment();
@@ -105,7 +105,7 @@
 //!     // `PyRefMut` before borrowing again.
 //!     drop(guard);
 //!
-//!     let n_immutable: &Number = &n.as_ref(py).borrow();
+//!     let n_immutable: &Number = &n.bind(py).borrow();
 //!     assert_eq!(n_immutable.inner, 1);
 //!
 //!     Ok(())
diff --git a/src/types/capsule.rs b/src/types/capsule.rs
index 30e77391171..466315ad6c7 100644
--- a/src/types/capsule.rs
+++ b/src/types/capsule.rs
@@ -491,7 +491,7 @@ mod tests {
         });
 
         Python::with_gil(|py| {
-            let f = unsafe { cap.as_ref(py).reference::<fn(u32) -> u32>() };
+            let f = unsafe { cap.bind(py).reference::<fn(u32) -> u32>() };
             assert_eq!(f(123), 123);
         });
     }
@@ -555,7 +555,7 @@ mod tests {
         });
 
         Python::with_gil(|py| {
-            let ctx: &Vec<u8> = unsafe { cap.as_ref(py).reference() };
+            let ctx: &Vec<u8> = unsafe { cap.bind(py).reference() };
             assert_eq!(ctx, &[1, 2, 3, 4]);
         })
     }
@@ -574,7 +574,7 @@ mod tests {
         });
 
         Python::with_gil(|py| {
-            let ctx_ptr: *mut c_void = cap.as_ref(py).context().unwrap();
+            let ctx_ptr: *mut c_void = cap.bind(py).context().unwrap();
             let ctx = unsafe { *Box::from_raw(ctx_ptr.cast::<&Vec<u8>>()) };
             assert_eq!(ctx, &vec![1_u8, 2, 3, 4]);
         })
diff --git a/tests/test_class_basics.rs b/tests/test_class_basics.rs
index ff3555c3107..d19d106d206 100644
--- a/tests/test_class_basics.rs
+++ b/tests/test_class_basics.rs
@@ -235,7 +235,7 @@ fn test_unsendable<T: PyClass + 'static>() -> PyResult<()> {
         // Accessing the value inside this thread should not panic
         let caught_panic =
             std::panic::catch_unwind(std::panic::AssertUnwindSafe(|| -> PyResult<_> {
-                assert_eq!(obj.as_ref(py).getattr("value")?.extract::<usize>()?, 5);
+                assert_eq!(obj.getattr(py, "value")?.extract::<usize>(py)?, 5);
                 Ok(())
             }))
             .is_err();
diff --git a/tests/test_class_conversion.rs b/tests/test_class_conversion.rs
index 27a8f604b3f..217d2d59d45 100644
--- a/tests/test_class_conversion.rs
+++ b/tests/test_class_conversion.rs
@@ -89,7 +89,7 @@ fn test_polymorphic_container_stores_sub_class() {
         .unwrap()
         .to_object(py);
 
-        p.as_ref(py)
+        p.bind(py)
             .setattr(
                 "inner",
                 PyCell::new(
@@ -116,7 +116,7 @@ fn test_polymorphic_container_does_not_accept_other_types() {
         .unwrap()
         .to_object(py);
 
-        let setattr = |value: PyObject| p.as_ref(py).setattr("inner", value);
+        let setattr = |value: PyObject| p.bind(py).setattr("inner", value);
 
         assert!(setattr(1i32.into_py(py)).is_err());
         assert!(setattr(py.None()).is_err());
diff --git a/tests/test_field_cfg.rs b/tests/test_field_cfg.rs
index bd671641e5b..be400f2d749 100644
--- a/tests/test_field_cfg.rs
+++ b/tests/test_field_cfg.rs
@@ -22,8 +22,14 @@ fn test_cfg() {
     Python::with_gil(|py| {
         let cfg = CfgClass { b: 3 };
         let py_cfg = Py::new(py, cfg).unwrap();
-        assert!(py_cfg.as_ref(py).getattr("a").is_err());
-        let b: u32 = py_cfg.as_ref(py).getattr("b").unwrap().extract().unwrap();
+        assert!(py_cfg.bind(py).as_any().getattr("a").is_err());
+        let b: u32 = py_cfg
+            .bind(py)
+            .as_any()
+            .getattr("b")
+            .unwrap()
+            .extract()
+            .unwrap();
         assert_eq!(b, 3);
     });
 }
diff --git a/tests/test_inheritance.rs b/tests/test_inheritance.rs
index 6c33dec6a9f..cd728c77bfe 100644
--- a/tests/test_inheritance.rs
+++ b/tests/test_inheritance.rs
@@ -247,7 +247,7 @@ mod inheriting_native_type {
             let item = &py.eval_bound("object()", None, None).unwrap();
             assert_eq!(item.get_refcnt(), 1);
 
-            dict_sub.as_ref(py).set_item("foo", item).unwrap();
+            dict_sub.bind(py).as_any().set_item("foo", item).unwrap();
             assert_eq!(item.get_refcnt(), 2);
 
             drop(dict_sub);
diff --git a/tests/test_mapping.rs b/tests/test_mapping.rs
index 9c99d56467f..9a80ab491a1 100644
--- a/tests/test_mapping.rs
+++ b/tests/test_mapping.rs
@@ -123,7 +123,7 @@ fn mapping_is_not_sequence() {
 
         PyMapping::register::<Mapping>(py).unwrap();
 
-        assert!(m.as_ref(py).downcast::<PyMapping>().is_ok());
-        assert!(m.as_ref(py).downcast::<PySequence>().is_err());
+        assert!(m.bind(py).as_any().downcast::<PyMapping>().is_ok());
+        assert!(m.bind(py).as_any().downcast::<PySequence>().is_err());
     });
 }
diff --git a/tests/test_proto_methods.rs b/tests/test_proto_methods.rs
index 872777bf706..3151fbe5be7 100644
--- a/tests/test_proto_methods.rs
+++ b/tests/test_proto_methods.rs
@@ -191,20 +191,20 @@ pub struct Mapping {
 #[pymethods]
 impl Mapping {
     fn __len__(&self, py: Python<'_>) -> usize {
-        self.values.as_ref(py).len()
+        self.values.bind(py).len()
     }
 
-    fn __getitem__<'a>(&'a self, key: &'a PyAny) -> PyResult<&'a PyAny> {
-        let any: &PyAny = self.values.as_ref(key.py()).as_ref();
+    fn __getitem__<'py>(&self, key: &Bound<'py, PyAny>) -> PyResult<Bound<'py, PyAny>> {
+        let any: &Bound<'py, PyAny> = self.values.bind(key.py());
         any.get_item(key)
     }
 
-    fn __setitem__(&self, key: &PyAny, value: &PyAny) -> PyResult<()> {
-        self.values.as_ref(key.py()).set_item(key, value)
+    fn __setitem__<'py>(&self, key: &Bound<'py, PyAny>, value: &Bound<'py, PyAny>) -> PyResult<()> {
+        self.values.bind(key.py()).set_item(key, value)
     }
 
-    fn __delitem__(&self, key: &PyAny) -> PyResult<()> {
-        self.values.as_ref(key.py()).del_item(key)
+    fn __delitem__(&self, key: &Bound<'_, PyAny>) -> PyResult<()> {
+        self.values.bind(key.py()).del_item(key)
     }
 }
 
@@ -221,7 +221,7 @@ fn mapping() {
         )
         .unwrap();
 
-        let mapping: &PyMapping = inst.as_ref(py).downcast().unwrap();
+        let mapping: &Bound<'_, PyMapping> = inst.bind(py).as_any().downcast().unwrap();
 
         py_assert!(py, inst, "len(inst) == 0");
 
@@ -323,7 +323,7 @@ fn sequence() {
 
         let inst = Py::new(py, Sequence { values: vec![] }).unwrap();
 
-        let sequence: &PySequence = inst.as_ref(py).downcast().unwrap();
+        let sequence: &Bound<'_, PySequence> = inst.bind(py).as_any().downcast().unwrap();
 
         py_assert!(py, inst, "len(inst) == 0");
 
@@ -350,16 +350,16 @@ fn sequence() {
         // indices.
         assert!(sequence.len().is_err());
         // however regular python len() works thanks to mp_len slot
-        assert_eq!(inst.as_ref(py).len().unwrap(), 0);
+        assert_eq!(inst.bind(py).as_any().len().unwrap(), 0);
 
         py_run!(py, inst, "inst.append(0)");
         sequence.set_item(0, 5).unwrap();
-        assert_eq!(inst.as_ref(py).len().unwrap(), 1);
+        assert_eq!(inst.bind(py).as_any().len().unwrap(), 1);
 
         assert_eq!(sequence.get_item(0).unwrap().extract::<u8>().unwrap(), 5);
         sequence.del_item(0).unwrap();
 
-        assert_eq!(inst.as_ref(py).len().unwrap(), 0);
+        assert_eq!(inst.bind(py).as_any().len().unwrap(), 0);
     });
 }
 
@@ -658,10 +658,10 @@ impl OnceFuture {
     fn __iter__(slf: PyRef<'_, Self>) -> PyRef<'_, Self> {
         slf
     }
-    fn __next__<'py>(&'py mut self, py: Python<'py>) -> Option<&'py PyAny> {
+    fn __next__<'py>(&mut self, py: Python<'py>) -> Option<&Bound<'py, PyAny>> {
         if !self.polled {
             self.polled = true;
-            Some(self.future.as_ref(py))
+            Some(self.future.bind(py))
         } else {
             None
         }
diff --git a/tests/test_pyself.rs b/tests/test_pyself.rs
index 7abec02b0a2..e14d117a639 100644
--- a/tests/test_pyself.rs
+++ b/tests/test_pyself.rs
@@ -63,12 +63,12 @@ impl Iter {
     }
 
     fn __next__(mut slf: PyRefMut<'_, Self>) -> PyResult<Option<PyObject>> {
-        let bytes = slf.keys.as_ref(slf.py()).as_bytes();
+        let bytes = slf.keys.bind(slf.py()).as_bytes();
         match bytes.get(slf.idx) {
             Some(&b) => {
                 slf.idx += 1;
                 let py = slf.py();
-                let reader = slf.reader.as_ref(py);
+                let reader = slf.reader.bind(py);
                 let reader_ref = reader.try_borrow()?;
                 let res = reader_ref
                     .inner
diff --git a/tests/test_sequence.rs b/tests/test_sequence.rs
index d3c84b76c8c..f18323dbdeb 100644
--- a/tests/test_sequence.rs
+++ b/tests/test_sequence.rs
@@ -276,7 +276,7 @@ fn test_generic_list_set() {
             .items
             .iter()
             .zip(&[1u32, 2, 3])
-            .all(|(a, b)| a.as_ref(py).eq(&b.into_py(py)).unwrap()));
+            .all(|(a, b)| a.bind(py).eq(&b.into_py(py)).unwrap()));
     });
 }
 
diff --git a/tests/test_various.rs b/tests/test_various.rs
index d0df8d4a04e..a2ca12fbbda 100644
--- a/tests/test_various.rs
+++ b/tests/test_various.rs
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ fn mut_ref_arg() {
         let inst2 = Py::new(py, MutRefArg { n: 0 }).unwrap();
 
         py_run!(py, inst1 inst2, "inst1.set_other(inst2)");
-        let inst2 = inst2.as_ref(py).borrow();
+        let inst2 = inst2.bind(py).borrow();
         assert_eq!(inst2.n, 100);
     });
 }