diff --git a/core/coreapi/block.go b/core/coreapi/block.go
index 497b0099c84..69f5060c877 100644
--- a/core/coreapi/block.go
+++ b/core/coreapi/block.go
@@ -20,11 +20,11 @@ import (
 type BlockAPI CoreAPI
 
 type BlockStat struct {
-	path coreiface.Path
+	path coreiface.ResolvedPath
 	size int
 }
 
-func (api *BlockAPI) Put(ctx context.Context, src io.Reader, opts ...caopts.BlockPutOption) (coreiface.Path, error) {
+func (api *BlockAPI) Put(ctx context.Context, src io.Reader, opts ...caopts.BlockPutOption) (coreiface.ResolvedPath, error) {
 	settings, err := caopts.BlockPutOptions(opts...)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
@@ -65,11 +65,16 @@ func (api *BlockAPI) Put(ctx context.Context, src io.Reader, opts ...caopts.Bloc
 		return nil, err
 	}
 
-	return ParseCid(b.Cid()), nil
+	return coreiface.IpldPath(b.Cid()), nil
 }
 
 func (api *BlockAPI) Get(ctx context.Context, p coreiface.Path) (io.Reader, error) {
-	b, err := api.node.Blocks.GetBlock(ctx, p.Cid())
+	rp, err := api.core().ResolvePath(ctx, p)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+
+	b, err := api.node.Blocks.GetBlock(ctx, rp.Cid())
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
@@ -78,11 +83,16 @@ func (api *BlockAPI) Get(ctx context.Context, p coreiface.Path) (io.Reader, erro
 }
 
 func (api *BlockAPI) Rm(ctx context.Context, p coreiface.Path, opts ...caopts.BlockRmOption) error {
+	rp, err := api.core().ResolvePath(ctx, p)
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+
 	settings, err := caopts.BlockRmOptions(opts...)
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
-	cids := []*cid.Cid{p.Cid()}
+	cids := []*cid.Cid{rp.Cid()}
 	o := util.RmBlocksOpts{Force: settings.Force}
 
 	out, err := util.RmBlocks(api.node.Blockstore, api.node.Pinning, cids, o)
@@ -111,13 +121,18 @@ func (api *BlockAPI) Rm(ctx context.Context, p coreiface.Path, opts ...caopts.Bl
 }
 
 func (api *BlockAPI) Stat(ctx context.Context, p coreiface.Path) (coreiface.BlockStat, error) {
-	b, err := api.node.Blocks.GetBlock(ctx, p.Cid())
+	rp, err := api.core().ResolvePath(ctx, p)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+
+	b, err := api.node.Blocks.GetBlock(ctx, rp.Cid())
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
 
 	return &BlockStat{
-		path: ParseCid(b.Cid()),
+		path: coreiface.IpldPath(b.Cid()),
 		size: len(b.RawData()),
 	}, nil
 }
@@ -126,6 +141,10 @@ func (bs *BlockStat) Size() int {
 	return bs.size
 }
 
-func (bs *BlockStat) Path() coreiface.Path {
+func (bs *BlockStat) Path() coreiface.ResolvedPath {
 	return bs.path
 }
+
+func (api *BlockAPI) core() coreiface.CoreAPI {
+	return (*CoreAPI)(api)
+}
diff --git a/core/coreapi/coreapi.go b/core/coreapi/coreapi.go
index 22c13b84ecc..e9ec439518a 100644
--- a/core/coreapi/coreapi.go
+++ b/core/coreapi/coreapi.go
@@ -14,17 +14,8 @@ Interfaces here aren't yet completely stable.
 package coreapi
 
 import (
-	"context"
-
 	core "github.com/ipfs/go-ipfs/core"
 	coreiface "github.com/ipfs/go-ipfs/core/coreapi/interface"
-	namesys "github.com/ipfs/go-ipfs/namesys"
-	ipfspath "github.com/ipfs/go-ipfs/path"
-	resolver "github.com/ipfs/go-ipfs/path/resolver"
-	uio "github.com/ipfs/go-ipfs/unixfs/io"
-
-	cid "gx/ipfs/QmYVNvtQkeZ6AKSwDrjQTs432QtL6umrrK41EBq3cu7iSP/go-cid"
-	ipld "gx/ipfs/QmZtNq8dArGfnpCZfx2pUNY7UcjGhVp5qqwQ4hH6mpTMRQ/go-ipld-format"
 )
 
 type CoreAPI struct {
@@ -71,86 +62,3 @@ func (api *CoreAPI) Object() coreiface.ObjectAPI {
 func (api *CoreAPI) Pin() coreiface.PinAPI {
 	return (*PinAPI)(api)
 }
-
-// ResolveNode resolves the path `p` using Unixfx resolver, gets and returns the
-// resolved Node.
-func (api *CoreAPI) ResolveNode(ctx context.Context, p coreiface.Path) (ipld.Node, error) {
-	return resolveNode(ctx, api.node.DAG, api.node.Namesys, p)
-}
-
-func resolveNode(ctx context.Context, ng ipld.NodeGetter, nsys namesys.NameSystem, p coreiface.Path) (ipld.Node, error) {
-	p, err := resolvePath(ctx, ng, nsys, p)
-	if err != nil {
-		return nil, err
-	}
-
-	node, err := ng.Get(ctx, p.Cid())
-	if err != nil {
-		return nil, err
-	}
-	return node, nil
-}
-
-// ResolvePath resolves the path `p` using Unixfs resolver, returns the
-// resolved path.
-// TODO: store all of ipfspath.Resolver.ResolvePathComponents() in Path
-func (api *CoreAPI) ResolvePath(ctx context.Context, p coreiface.Path) (coreiface.Path, error) {
-	return resolvePath(ctx, api.node.DAG, api.node.Namesys, p)
-}
-
-func resolvePath(ctx context.Context, ng ipld.NodeGetter, nsys namesys.NameSystem, p coreiface.Path) (coreiface.Path, error) {
-	if p.Resolved() {
-		return p, nil
-	}
-
-	r := &resolver.Resolver{
-		DAG:         ng,
-		ResolveOnce: uio.ResolveUnixfsOnce,
-	}
-
-	p2 := ipfspath.FromString(p.String())
-	node, err := core.Resolve(ctx, nsys, r, p2)
-	if err == core.ErrNoNamesys {
-		return nil, coreiface.ErrOffline
-	} else if err != nil {
-		return nil, err
-	}
-
-	var root *cid.Cid
-	if p2.IsJustAKey() {
-		root = node.Cid()
-	}
-
-	return ResolvedPath(p.String(), node.Cid(), root), nil
-}
-
-// Implements coreiface.Path
-type path struct {
-	path ipfspath.Path
-	cid  *cid.Cid
-	root *cid.Cid
-}
-
-// ParsePath parses path `p` using ipfspath parser, returns the parsed path.
-func ParsePath(p string) (coreiface.Path, error) {
-	pp, err := ipfspath.ParsePath(p)
-	if err != nil {
-		return nil, err
-	}
-	return &path{path: pp}, nil
-}
-
-// ParseCid parses the path from `c`, returns the parsed path.
-func ParseCid(c *cid.Cid) coreiface.Path {
-	return &path{path: ipfspath.FromCid(c), cid: c, root: c}
-}
-
-// ResolvePath parses path from string `p`, returns parsed path.
-func ResolvedPath(p string, c *cid.Cid, r *cid.Cid) coreiface.Path {
-	return &path{path: ipfspath.FromString(p), cid: c, root: r}
-}
-
-func (p *path) String() string { return p.path.String() }
-func (p *path) Cid() *cid.Cid  { return p.cid }
-func (p *path) Root() *cid.Cid { return p.root }
-func (p *path) Resolved() bool { return p.cid != nil }
diff --git a/core/coreapi/dag.go b/core/coreapi/dag.go
index 9e9be2d9f4e..75416a249d0 100644
--- a/core/coreapi/dag.go
+++ b/core/coreapi/dag.go
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ type DagAPI CoreAPI
 // Put inserts data using specified format and input encoding. Unless used with
 // `WithCodes` or `WithHash`, the defaults "dag-cbor" and "sha256" are used.
 // Returns the path of the inserted data.
-func (api *DagAPI) Put(ctx context.Context, src io.Reader, opts ...caopts.DagPutOption) (coreiface.Path, error) {
+func (api *DagAPI) Put(ctx context.Context, src io.Reader, opts ...caopts.DagPutOption) (coreiface.ResolvedPath, error) {
 	settings, err := caopts.DagPutOptions(opts...)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
@@ -44,7 +44,7 @@ func (api *DagAPI) Put(ctx context.Context, src io.Reader, opts ...caopts.DagPut
 		return nil, err
 	}
 
-	return ParseCid(nds[0].Cid()), nil
+	return coreiface.IpldPath(nds[0].Cid()), nil
 }
 
 // Get resolves `path` using Unixfs resolver, returns the resolved Node.
@@ -66,7 +66,7 @@ func (api *DagAPI) Tree(ctx context.Context, p coreiface.Path, opts ...caopts.Da
 	paths := n.Tree("", settings.Depth)
 	out := make([]coreiface.Path, len(paths))
 	for n, p2 := range paths {
-		out[n], err = ParsePath(gopath.Join(p.String(), p2))
+		out[n], err = coreiface.ParsePath(gopath.Join(p.String(), p2))
 		if err != nil {
 			return nil, err
 		}
diff --git a/core/coreapi/dag_test.go b/core/coreapi/dag_test.go
index ef7190104b0..773ff0f1a4c 100644
--- a/core/coreapi/dag_test.go
+++ b/core/coreapi/dag_test.go
@@ -6,11 +6,10 @@ import (
 	"strings"
 	"testing"
 
-	coreapi "github.com/ipfs/go-ipfs/core/coreapi"
+	coreiface "github.com/ipfs/go-ipfs/core/coreapi/interface"
+	opt "github.com/ipfs/go-ipfs/core/coreapi/interface/options"
 
 	mh "gx/ipfs/QmPnFwZ2JXKnXgMw8CdBPxn7FWh6LLdjUjxV1fKHuJnkr8/go-multihash"
-
-	opt "github.com/ipfs/go-ipfs/core/coreapi/interface/options"
 )
 
 var (
@@ -74,7 +73,7 @@ func TestPath(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Error(err)
 	}
 
-	p, err := coreapi.ParsePath(path.Join(res.Cid().String(), "lnk"))
+	p, err := coreiface.ParsePath(path.Join(res.Cid().String(), "lnk"))
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Error(err)
 	}
diff --git a/core/coreapi/interface/block.go b/core/coreapi/interface/block.go
index a9e577d7655..468c0094788 100644
--- a/core/coreapi/interface/block.go
+++ b/core/coreapi/interface/block.go
@@ -13,13 +13,13 @@ type BlockStat interface {
 	Size() int
 
 	// Path returns path to the block
-	Path() Path
+	Path() ResolvedPath
 }
 
 // BlockAPI specifies the interface to the block layer
 type BlockAPI interface {
 	// Put imports raw block data, hashing it using specified settings.
-	Put(context.Context, io.Reader, ...options.BlockPutOption) (Path, error)
+	Put(context.Context, io.Reader, ...options.BlockPutOption) (ResolvedPath, error)
 
 	// Get attempts to resolve the path and return a reader for data in the block
 	Get(context.Context, Path) (io.Reader, error)
diff --git a/core/coreapi/interface/coreapi.go b/core/coreapi/interface/coreapi.go
index a77ad636720..82a2ebf4e32 100644
--- a/core/coreapi/interface/coreapi.go
+++ b/core/coreapi/interface/coreapi.go
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ type CoreAPI interface {
 	Object() ObjectAPI
 
 	// ResolvePath resolves the path using Unixfs resolver
-	ResolvePath(context.Context, Path) (Path, error)
+	ResolvePath(context.Context, Path) (ResolvedPath, error)
 
 	// ResolveNode resolves the path (if not resolved already) using Unixfs
 	// resolver, gets and returns the resolved Node
diff --git a/core/coreapi/interface/dag.go b/core/coreapi/interface/dag.go
index 158db7419d5..3f92ebab34c 100644
--- a/core/coreapi/interface/dag.go
+++ b/core/coreapi/interface/dag.go
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ type DagAPI interface {
 	// Put inserts data using specified format and input encoding.
 	// Unless used with WithCodec or WithHash, the defaults "dag-cbor" and
 	// "sha256" are used.
-	Put(ctx context.Context, src io.Reader, opts ...options.DagPutOption) (Path, error)
+	Put(ctx context.Context, src io.Reader, opts ...options.DagPutOption) (ResolvedPath, error)
 
 	// Get attempts to resolve and get the node specified by the path
 	Get(ctx context.Context, path Path) (ipld.Node, error)
diff --git a/core/coreapi/interface/object.go b/core/coreapi/interface/object.go
index a18a38ebe5d..ea9aa59480b 100644
--- a/core/coreapi/interface/object.go
+++ b/core/coreapi/interface/object.go
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@ type ObjectAPI interface {
 	New(context.Context, ...options.ObjectNewOption) (ipld.Node, error)
 
 	// Put imports the data into merkledag
-	Put(context.Context, io.Reader, ...options.ObjectPutOption) (Path, error)
+	Put(context.Context, io.Reader, ...options.ObjectPutOption) (ResolvedPath, error)
 
 	// Get returns the node for the path
 	Get(context.Context, Path) (ipld.Node, error)
@@ -55,14 +55,14 @@ type ObjectAPI interface {
 	// AddLink adds a link under the specified path. child path can point to a
 	// subdirectory within the patent which must be present (can be overridden
 	// with WithCreate option).
-	AddLink(ctx context.Context, base Path, name string, child Path, opts ...options.ObjectAddLinkOption) (Path, error)
+	AddLink(ctx context.Context, base Path, name string, child Path, opts ...options.ObjectAddLinkOption) (ResolvedPath, error)
 
 	// RmLink removes a link from the node
-	RmLink(ctx context.Context, base Path, link string) (Path, error)
+	RmLink(ctx context.Context, base Path, link string) (ResolvedPath, error)
 
 	// AppendData appends data to the node
-	AppendData(context.Context, Path, io.Reader) (Path, error)
+	AppendData(context.Context, Path, io.Reader) (ResolvedPath, error)
 
 	// SetData sets the data contained in the node
-	SetData(context.Context, Path, io.Reader) (Path, error)
+	SetData(context.Context, Path, io.Reader) (ResolvedPath, error)
 }
diff --git a/core/coreapi/interface/path.go b/core/coreapi/interface/path.go
index 51513772fd4..e097ea3b692 100644
--- a/core/coreapi/interface/path.go
+++ b/core/coreapi/interface/path.go
@@ -1,18 +1,176 @@
 package iface
 
 import (
+	ipfspath "github.com/ipfs/go-ipfs/path"
+
 	cid "gx/ipfs/QmYVNvtQkeZ6AKSwDrjQTs432QtL6umrrK41EBq3cu7iSP/go-cid"
 )
 
+//TODO: merge with ipfspath so we don't depend on it
+
 // Path is a generic wrapper for paths used in the API. A path can be resolved
 // to a CID using one of Resolve functions in the API.
+//
+// Paths must be prefixed with a valid prefix:
+//
+// * /ipfs - Immutable unixfs path (files)
+// * /ipld - Immutable ipld path (data)
+// * /ipns - Mutable names. Usually resolves to one of the immutable paths
+//TODO: /local (MFS)
 type Path interface {
 	// String returns the path as a string.
 	String() string
-	// Cid returns cid referred to by path
+
+	// Namespace returns the first component of the path.
+	//
+	// For example path "/ipfs/QmHash", calling Namespace() will return "ipfs"
+	Namespace() string
+
+	// Mutable returns false if the data pointed to by this path in guaranteed
+	// to not change.
+	//
+	// Note that resolved mutable path can be immutable.
+	Mutable() bool
+}
+
+// ResolvedPath is a path which was resolved to the last resolvable node
+type ResolvedPath interface {
+	// Cid returns the CID of the node referenced by the path. Remainder of the
+	// path is guaranteed to be within the node.
+	//
+	// Examples:
+	// If you have 3 linked objects: QmRoot -> A -> B:
+	//
+	// cidB := {"foo": {"bar": 42 }}
+	// cidA := {"B": {"/": cidB }}
+	// cidRoot := {"A": {"/": cidA }}
+	//
+	// And resolve paths:
+	// * "/ipfs/${cidRoot}"
+	//   * Calling Cid() will return `cidRoot`
+	//   * Calling Root() will return `cidRoot`
+	//   * Calling Remainder() will return ``
+	//
+	// * "/ipfs/${cidRoot}/A"
+	//   * Calling Cid() will return `cidA`
+	//   * Calling Root() will return `cidRoot`
+	//   * Calling Remainder() will return ``
+	//
+	// * "/ipfs/${cidRoot}/A/B/foo"
+	//   * Calling Cid() will return `cidB`
+	//   * Calling Root() will return `cidRoot`
+	//   * Calling Remainder() will return `foo`
+	//
+	// * "/ipfs/${cidRoot}/A/B/foo/bar"
+	//   * Calling Cid() will return `cidB`
+	//   * Calling Root() will return `cidRoot`
+	//   * Calling Remainder() will return `foo/bar`
 	Cid() *cid.Cid
-	// Root returns cid of root path
+
+	// Root returns the CID of the root object of the path
+	//
+	// Example:
+	// If you have 3 linked objects: QmRoot -> A -> B, and resolve path
+	// "/ipfs/QmRoot/A/B", the Root method will return the CID of object QmRoot
+	//
+	// For more examples see the documentation of Cid() method
 	Root() *cid.Cid
-	// Resolved returns whether path has been fully resolved
-	Resolved() bool
+
+	// Remainder returns unresolved part of the path
+	//
+	// Example:
+	// If you have 2 linked objects: QmRoot -> A, where A is a CBOR node
+	// containing the following data:
+	//
+	// {"foo": {"bar": 42 }}
+	//
+	// When resolving "/ipld/QmRoot/A/foo/bar", Remainder will return "foo/bar"
+	//
+	// For more examples see the documentation of Cid() method
+	Remainder() string
+
+	Path
+}
+
+// path implements coreiface.Path
+type path struct {
+	path ipfspath.Path
+}
+
+// resolvedPath implements coreiface.resolvedPath
+type resolvedPath struct {
+	path
+	cid       *cid.Cid
+	root      *cid.Cid
+	remainder string
+}
+
+// IpfsPath creates new /ipfs path from the provided CID
+func IpfsPath(c *cid.Cid) ResolvedPath {
+	return &resolvedPath{
+		path:      path{ipfspath.Path("/ipfs/" + c.String())},
+		cid:       c,
+		root:      c,
+		remainder: "",
+	}
+}
+
+// IpldPath creates new /ipld path from the provided CID
+func IpldPath(c *cid.Cid) ResolvedPath {
+	return &resolvedPath{
+		path:      path{ipfspath.Path("/ipld/" + c.String())},
+		cid:       c,
+		root:      c,
+		remainder: "",
+	}
+}
+
+// ParsePath parses string path to a Path
+func ParsePath(p string) (Path, error) {
+	pp, err := ipfspath.ParsePath(p)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+
+	return &path{path: pp}, nil
+}
+
+// NewResolvedPath creates new ResolvedPath. This function performs no checks
+// and is intended to be used by resolver implementations. Incorrect inputs may
+// cause panics. Handle with care.
+func NewResolvedPath(ipath ipfspath.Path, c *cid.Cid, root *cid.Cid, remainder string) ResolvedPath {
+	return &resolvedPath{
+		path:      path{ipath},
+		cid:       c,
+		root:      root,
+		remainder: remainder,
+	}
+}
+
+func (p *path) String() string {
+	return p.path.String()
+}
+
+func (p *path) Namespace() string {
+	if len(p.path.Segments()) < 1 {
+		panic("path without namespace") //this shouldn't happen under any scenario
+	}
+	return p.path.Segments()[0]
+}
+
+func (p *path) Mutable() bool {
+	//TODO: MFS: check for /local
+	return p.Namespace() == "ipns"
+}
+
+func (p *resolvedPath) Cid() *cid.Cid {
+	return p.cid
+}
+
+func (p *resolvedPath) Root() *cid.Cid {
+	return p.root
+}
+
+func (p *resolvedPath) Remainder() string {
+	return p.remainder
 }
diff --git a/core/coreapi/interface/pin.go b/core/coreapi/interface/pin.go
index 5994c758686..2e119cbeae8 100644
--- a/core/coreapi/interface/pin.go
+++ b/core/coreapi/interface/pin.go
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ import (
 // Pin holds information about pinned resource
 type Pin interface {
 	// Path to the pinned object
-	Path() Path
+	Path() ResolvedPath
 
 	// Type of the pin
 	Type() string
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ type PinStatus interface {
 // BadPinNode is a node that has been marked as bad by Pin.Verify
 type BadPinNode interface {
 	// Path is the path of the node
-	Path() Path
+	Path() ResolvedPath
 
 	// Err is the reason why the node has been marked as bad
 	Err() error
diff --git a/core/coreapi/interface/unixfs.go b/core/coreapi/interface/unixfs.go
index c59451d002f..1ddc2067444 100644
--- a/core/coreapi/interface/unixfs.go
+++ b/core/coreapi/interface/unixfs.go
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ import (
 // UnixfsAPI is the basic interface to immutable files in IPFS
 type UnixfsAPI interface {
 	// Add imports the data from the reader into merkledag file
-	Add(context.Context, io.Reader) (Path, error)
+	Add(context.Context, io.Reader) (ResolvedPath, error)
 
 	// Cat returns a reader for the file
 	Cat(context.Context, Path) (Reader, error)
diff --git a/core/coreapi/key.go b/core/coreapi/key.go
index 0198f6762b8..e22d70cb424 100644
--- a/core/coreapi/key.go
+++ b/core/coreapi/key.go
@@ -28,7 +28,12 @@ func (k *key) Name() string {
 
 // Path returns the path of the key.
 func (k *key) Path() coreiface.Path {
-	return &path{path: ipfspath.FromString(ipfspath.Join([]string{"/ipns", k.peerId}))}
+	path, err := coreiface.ParsePath(ipfspath.Join([]string{"/ipns", k.peerId}))
+	if err != nil {
+		panic("error parsing path: " + err.Error())
+	}
+
+	return path
 }
 
 // Generate generates new key, stores it in the keystore under the specified
diff --git a/core/coreapi/name.go b/core/coreapi/name.go
index 651d8552318..4e1018b5471 100644
--- a/core/coreapi/name.go
+++ b/core/coreapi/name.go
@@ -129,7 +129,7 @@ func (api *NameAPI) Resolve(ctx context.Context, name string, opts ...caopts.Nam
 		return nil, err
 	}
 
-	return &path{path: output}, nil
+	return coreiface.ParsePath(output.String())
 }
 
 func keylookup(n *core.IpfsNode, k string) (crypto.PrivKey, error) {
diff --git a/core/coreapi/object.go b/core/coreapi/object.go
index 5919a24330a..f0ccecef6fa 100644
--- a/core/coreapi/object.go
+++ b/core/coreapi/object.go
@@ -56,7 +56,7 @@ func (api *ObjectAPI) New(ctx context.Context, opts ...caopts.ObjectNewOption) (
 	return n, nil
 }
 
-func (api *ObjectAPI) Put(ctx context.Context, src io.Reader, opts ...caopts.ObjectPutOption) (coreiface.Path, error) {
+func (api *ObjectAPI) Put(ctx context.Context, src io.Reader, opts ...caopts.ObjectPutOption) (coreiface.ResolvedPath, error) {
 	options, err := caopts.ObjectPutOptions(opts...)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
@@ -121,7 +121,7 @@ func (api *ObjectAPI) Put(ctx context.Context, src io.Reader, opts ...caopts.Obj
 		return nil, err
 	}
 
-	return ParseCid(dagnode.Cid()), nil
+	return coreiface.IpfsPath(dagnode.Cid()), nil
 }
 
 func (api *ObjectAPI) Get(ctx context.Context, path coreiface.Path) (ipld.Node, error) {
@@ -180,7 +180,7 @@ func (api *ObjectAPI) Stat(ctx context.Context, path coreiface.Path) (*coreiface
 	return out, nil
 }
 
-func (api *ObjectAPI) AddLink(ctx context.Context, base coreiface.Path, name string, child coreiface.Path, opts ...caopts.ObjectAddLinkOption) (coreiface.Path, error) {
+func (api *ObjectAPI) AddLink(ctx context.Context, base coreiface.Path, name string, child coreiface.Path, opts ...caopts.ObjectAddLinkOption) (coreiface.ResolvedPath, error) {
 	options, err := caopts.ObjectAddLinkOptions(opts...)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
@@ -218,10 +218,10 @@ func (api *ObjectAPI) AddLink(ctx context.Context, base coreiface.Path, name str
 		return nil, err
 	}
 
-	return ParseCid(nnode.Cid()), nil
+	return coreiface.IpfsPath(nnode.Cid()), nil
 }
 
-func (api *ObjectAPI) RmLink(ctx context.Context, base coreiface.Path, link string) (coreiface.Path, error) {
+func (api *ObjectAPI) RmLink(ctx context.Context, base coreiface.Path, link string) (coreiface.ResolvedPath, error) {
 	baseNd, err := api.core().ResolveNode(ctx, base)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
@@ -244,18 +244,18 @@ func (api *ObjectAPI) RmLink(ctx context.Context, base coreiface.Path, link stri
 		return nil, err
 	}
 
-	return ParseCid(nnode.Cid()), nil
+	return coreiface.IpfsPath(nnode.Cid()), nil
 }
 
-func (api *ObjectAPI) AppendData(ctx context.Context, path coreiface.Path, r io.Reader) (coreiface.Path, error) {
+func (api *ObjectAPI) AppendData(ctx context.Context, path coreiface.Path, r io.Reader) (coreiface.ResolvedPath, error) {
 	return api.patchData(ctx, path, r, true)
 }
 
-func (api *ObjectAPI) SetData(ctx context.Context, path coreiface.Path, r io.Reader) (coreiface.Path, error) {
+func (api *ObjectAPI) SetData(ctx context.Context, path coreiface.Path, r io.Reader) (coreiface.ResolvedPath, error) {
 	return api.patchData(ctx, path, r, false)
 }
 
-func (api *ObjectAPI) patchData(ctx context.Context, path coreiface.Path, r io.Reader, appendData bool) (coreiface.Path, error) {
+func (api *ObjectAPI) patchData(ctx context.Context, path coreiface.Path, r io.Reader, appendData bool) (coreiface.ResolvedPath, error) {
 	nd, err := api.core().ResolveNode(ctx, path)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
@@ -281,7 +281,7 @@ func (api *ObjectAPI) patchData(ctx context.Context, path coreiface.Path, r io.R
 		return nil, err
 	}
 
-	return ParseCid(pbnd.Cid()), nil
+	return coreiface.IpfsPath(pbnd.Cid()), nil
 }
 
 func (api *ObjectAPI) core() coreiface.CoreAPI {
diff --git a/core/coreapi/path.go b/core/coreapi/path.go
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..f2f578ed19d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/core/coreapi/path.go
@@ -0,0 +1,84 @@
+package coreapi
+
+import (
+	context "context"
+	fmt "fmt"
+	gopath "path"
+
+	core "github.com/ipfs/go-ipfs/core"
+	coreiface "github.com/ipfs/go-ipfs/core/coreapi/interface"
+	namesys "github.com/ipfs/go-ipfs/namesys"
+	ipfspath "github.com/ipfs/go-ipfs/path"
+	resolver "github.com/ipfs/go-ipfs/path/resolver"
+	uio "github.com/ipfs/go-ipfs/unixfs/io"
+
+	cid "gx/ipfs/QmYVNvtQkeZ6AKSwDrjQTs432QtL6umrrK41EBq3cu7iSP/go-cid"
+	ipld "gx/ipfs/QmZtNq8dArGfnpCZfx2pUNY7UcjGhVp5qqwQ4hH6mpTMRQ/go-ipld-format"
+)
+
+// ResolveNode resolves the path `p` using Unixfs resolver, gets and returns the
+// resolved Node.
+func (api *CoreAPI) ResolveNode(ctx context.Context, p coreiface.Path) (ipld.Node, error) {
+	return resolveNode(ctx, api.node.DAG, api.node.Namesys, p)
+}
+
+// ResolvePath resolves the path `p` using Unixfs resolver, returns the
+// resolved path.
+func (api *CoreAPI) ResolvePath(ctx context.Context, p coreiface.Path) (coreiface.ResolvedPath, error) {
+	return resolvePath(ctx, api.node.DAG, api.node.Namesys, p)
+}
+
+func resolveNode(ctx context.Context, ng ipld.NodeGetter, nsys namesys.NameSystem, p coreiface.Path) (ipld.Node, error) {
+	rp, err := resolvePath(ctx, ng, nsys, p)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+
+	node, err := ng.Get(ctx, rp.Cid())
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	return node, nil
+}
+
+func resolvePath(ctx context.Context, ng ipld.NodeGetter, nsys namesys.NameSystem, p coreiface.Path) (coreiface.ResolvedPath, error) {
+	if _, ok := p.(coreiface.ResolvedPath); ok {
+		return p.(coreiface.ResolvedPath), nil
+	}
+
+	ipath := ipfspath.Path(p.String())
+	ipath, err := core.ResolveIPNS(ctx, nsys, ipath)
+	if err == core.ErrNoNamesys {
+		return nil, coreiface.ErrOffline
+	} else if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+
+	var resolveOnce resolver.ResolveOnce
+
+	switch ipath.Segments()[0] {
+	case "ipfs":
+		resolveOnce = uio.ResolveUnixfsOnce
+	case "ipld":
+		resolveOnce = resolver.ResolveSingle
+	default:
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("unsupported path namespace: %s", p.Namespace())
+	}
+
+	r := &resolver.Resolver{
+		DAG:         ng,
+		ResolveOnce: resolveOnce,
+	}
+
+	node, rest, err := r.ResolveToLastNode(ctx, ipath)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+
+	root, err := cid.Parse(ipath.Segments()[1])
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+
+	return coreiface.NewResolvedPath(ipath, node.Cid(), root, gopath.Join(rest...)), nil
+}
diff --git a/core/coreapi/path_test.go b/core/coreapi/path_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..76e78b5453a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/core/coreapi/path_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,154 @@
+package coreapi_test
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"strings"
+	"testing"
+
+	coreiface "github.com/ipfs/go-ipfs/core/coreapi/interface"
+	"github.com/ipfs/go-ipfs/core/coreapi/interface/options"
+)
+
+func TestMutablePath(t *testing.T) {
+	ctx := context.Background()
+	_, api, err := makeAPI(ctx)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+
+	// get self /ipns path
+	keys, err := api.Key().List(ctx)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+
+	if !keys[0].Path().Mutable() {
+		t.Error("expected self /ipns path to be mutable")
+	}
+
+	blk, err := api.Block().Put(ctx, strings.NewReader(`foo`))
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Error(err)
+	}
+
+	if blk.Mutable() {
+		t.Error("expected /ipld path to be immutable")
+	}
+}
+
+func TestPathRemainder(t *testing.T) {
+	ctx := context.Background()
+	_, api, err := makeAPI(ctx)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+
+	obj, err := api.Dag().Put(ctx, strings.NewReader(`{"foo": {"bar": "baz"}}`))
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+
+	p1, err := coreiface.ParsePath(obj.String() + "/foo/bar")
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Error(err)
+	}
+
+	rp1, err := api.ResolvePath(ctx, p1)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+
+	if rp1.Remainder() != "foo/bar" {
+		t.Error("expected to get path remainder")
+	}
+}
+
+func TestEmptyPathRemainder(t *testing.T) {
+	ctx := context.Background()
+	_, api, err := makeAPI(ctx)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+
+	obj, err := api.Dag().Put(ctx, strings.NewReader(`{"foo": {"bar": "baz"}}`))
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+
+	if obj.Remainder() != "" {
+		t.Error("expected the resolved path to not have a remainder")
+	}
+
+	p1, err := coreiface.ParsePath(obj.String())
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Error(err)
+	}
+
+	rp1, err := api.ResolvePath(ctx, p1)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+
+	if rp1.Remainder() != "" {
+		t.Error("expected the resolved path to not have a remainder")
+	}
+}
+
+func TestInvalidPathRemainder(t *testing.T) {
+	ctx := context.Background()
+	_, api, err := makeAPI(ctx)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+
+	obj, err := api.Dag().Put(ctx, strings.NewReader(`{"foo": {"bar": "baz"}}`))
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+
+	p1, err := coreiface.ParsePath(obj.String() + "/bar/baz")
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Error(err)
+	}
+
+	_, err = api.ResolvePath(ctx, p1)
+	if err == nil || err.Error() != "no such link found" {
+		t.Fatalf("unexpected error: %s", err)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestPathRoot(t *testing.T) {
+	ctx := context.Background()
+	_, api, err := makeAPI(ctx)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+
+	blk, err := api.Block().Put(ctx, strings.NewReader(`foo`), options.Block.Format("raw"))
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Error(err)
+	}
+
+	obj, err := api.Dag().Put(ctx, strings.NewReader(`{"foo": {"/": "`+blk.Cid().String()+`"}}`))
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+
+	p1, err := coreiface.ParsePath(obj.String() + "/foo")
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Error(err)
+	}
+
+	rp, err := api.ResolvePath(ctx, p1)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+
+	if rp.Root().String() != obj.Cid().String() {
+		t.Error("unexpected path root")
+	}
+
+	if rp.Cid().String() != blk.Cid().String() {
+		t.Error("unexpected path cid")
+	}
+}
diff --git a/core/coreapi/pin.go b/core/coreapi/pin.go
index 13013f583c6..6c5a0fbdb71 100644
--- a/core/coreapi/pin.go
+++ b/core/coreapi/pin.go
@@ -9,11 +9,9 @@ import (
 	caopts "github.com/ipfs/go-ipfs/core/coreapi/interface/options"
 	corerepo "github.com/ipfs/go-ipfs/core/corerepo"
 	merkledag "github.com/ipfs/go-ipfs/merkledag"
-	pin "github.com/ipfs/go-ipfs/pin"
 
 	offline "gx/ipfs/QmShbyKV9P7QuFecDHXsgrQ4rxxm71MUkGVpwedT4VQ8Bf/go-ipfs-exchange-offline"
 	cid "gx/ipfs/QmYVNvtQkeZ6AKSwDrjQTs432QtL6umrrK41EBq3cu7iSP/go-cid"
-	ipld "gx/ipfs/QmZtNq8dArGfnpCZfx2pUNY7UcjGhVp5qqwQ4hH6mpTMRQ/go-ipld-format"
 )
 
 type PinAPI CoreAPI
@@ -26,7 +24,12 @@ func (api *PinAPI) Add(ctx context.Context, p coreiface.Path, opts ...caopts.Pin
 
 	defer api.node.Blockstore.PinLock().Unlock()
 
-	_, err = corerepo.Pin(api.node, ctx, []string{p.String()}, settings.Recursive)
+	rp, err := api.core().ResolvePath(ctx, p)
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+
+	_, err = corerepo.Pin(api.node, ctx, []string{rp.Cid().String()}, settings.Recursive)
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
@@ -46,7 +49,7 @@ func (api *PinAPI) Ls(ctx context.Context, opts ...caopts.PinLsOption) ([]coreif
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("invalid type '%s', must be one of {direct, indirect, recursive, all}", settings.Type)
 	}
 
-	return pinLsAll(settings.Type, ctx, api.node.Pinning, api.node.DAG)
+	return api.pinLsAll(settings.Type, ctx)
 }
 
 func (api *PinAPI) Rm(ctx context.Context, p coreiface.Path) error {
@@ -64,7 +67,17 @@ func (api *PinAPI) Update(ctx context.Context, from coreiface.Path, to coreiface
 		return err
 	}
 
-	return api.node.Pinning.Update(ctx, from.Cid(), to.Cid(), settings.Unpin)
+	fp, err := api.core().ResolvePath(ctx, from)
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+
+	tp, err := api.core().ResolvePath(ctx, to)
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+
+	return api.node.Pinning.Update(ctx, fp.Cid(), tp.Cid(), settings.Unpin)
 }
 
 type pinStatus struct {
@@ -75,8 +88,8 @@ type pinStatus struct {
 
 // BadNode is used in PinVerifyRes
 type badNode struct {
-	cid *cid.Cid
-	err error
+	path coreiface.ResolvedPath
+	err  error
 }
 
 func (s *pinStatus) Ok() bool {
@@ -87,8 +100,8 @@ func (s *pinStatus) BadNodes() []coreiface.BadPinNode {
 	return s.badNodes
 }
 
-func (n *badNode) Path() coreiface.Path {
-	return ParseCid(n.cid)
+func (n *badNode) Path() coreiface.ResolvedPath {
+	return n.path
 }
 
 func (n *badNode) Err() error {
@@ -112,7 +125,7 @@ func (api *PinAPI) Verify(ctx context.Context) (<-chan coreiface.PinStatus, erro
 		links, err := getLinks(ctx, root)
 		if err != nil {
 			status := &pinStatus{ok: false, cid: root}
-			status.badNodes = []coreiface.BadPinNode{&badNode{cid: root, err: err}}
+			status.badNodes = []coreiface.BadPinNode{&badNode{path: coreiface.IpldPath(root), err: err}}
 			visited[key] = status
 			return status
 		}
@@ -143,18 +156,18 @@ func (api *PinAPI) Verify(ctx context.Context) (<-chan coreiface.PinStatus, erro
 
 type pinInfo struct {
 	pinType string
-	object  *cid.Cid
+	path    coreiface.ResolvedPath
 }
 
-func (p *pinInfo) Path() coreiface.Path {
-	return ParseCid(p.object)
+func (p *pinInfo) Path() coreiface.ResolvedPath {
+	return p.path
 }
 
 func (p *pinInfo) Type() string {
 	return p.pinType
 }
 
-func pinLsAll(typeStr string, ctx context.Context, pinning pin.Pinner, dag ipld.DAGService) ([]coreiface.Pin, error) {
+func (api *PinAPI) pinLsAll(typeStr string, ctx context.Context) ([]coreiface.Pin, error) {
 
 	keys := make(map[string]*pinInfo)
 
@@ -162,18 +175,18 @@ func pinLsAll(typeStr string, ctx context.Context, pinning pin.Pinner, dag ipld.
 		for _, c := range keyList {
 			keys[c.String()] = &pinInfo{
 				pinType: typeStr,
-				object:  c,
+				path:    coreiface.IpldPath(c),
 			}
 		}
 	}
 
 	if typeStr == "direct" || typeStr == "all" {
-		AddToResultKeys(pinning.DirectKeys(), "direct")
+		AddToResultKeys(api.node.Pinning.DirectKeys(), "direct")
 	}
 	if typeStr == "indirect" || typeStr == "all" {
 		set := cid.NewSet()
-		for _, k := range pinning.RecursiveKeys() {
-			err := merkledag.EnumerateChildren(ctx, merkledag.GetLinksWithDAG(dag), k, set.Visit)
+		for _, k := range api.node.Pinning.RecursiveKeys() {
+			err := merkledag.EnumerateChildren(ctx, merkledag.GetLinksWithDAG(api.node.DAG), k, set.Visit)
 			if err != nil {
 				return nil, err
 			}
@@ -181,7 +194,7 @@ func pinLsAll(typeStr string, ctx context.Context, pinning pin.Pinner, dag ipld.
 		AddToResultKeys(set.Keys(), "indirect")
 	}
 	if typeStr == "recursive" || typeStr == "all" {
-		AddToResultKeys(pinning.RecursiveKeys(), "recursive")
+		AddToResultKeys(api.node.Pinning.RecursiveKeys(), "recursive")
 	}
 
 	out := make([]coreiface.Pin, 0, len(keys))
@@ -191,3 +204,7 @@ func pinLsAll(typeStr string, ctx context.Context, pinning pin.Pinner, dag ipld.
 
 	return out, nil
 }
+
+func (api *PinAPI) core() coreiface.CoreAPI {
+	return (*CoreAPI)(api)
+}
diff --git a/core/coreapi/pin_test.go b/core/coreapi/pin_test.go
index 936bae3bd40..9bbf16c9cfa 100644
--- a/core/coreapi/pin_test.go
+++ b/core/coreapi/pin_test.go
@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@ func TestPinSimple(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Errorf("unexpected pin list len: %d", len(list))
 	}
 
-	if list[0].Path().String() != p.String() {
+	if list[0].Path().Cid().String() != p.Cid().String() {
 		t.Error("paths don't match")
 	}
 
@@ -156,7 +156,7 @@ func TestPinRecursive(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Errorf("unexpected pin list len: %d", len(list))
 	}
 
-	if list[0].Path().String() != p0.String() {
+	if list[0].Path().Cid().String() != p0.Cid().String() {
 		t.Error("unexpected path")
 	}
 
@@ -195,7 +195,7 @@ func TestPinRecursive(t *testing.T) {
 			t.Fatalf("unexpected badNodes len")
 		}
 
-		if r.BadNodes()[0].Path().String() != p0.String() {
+		if r.BadNodes()[0].Path().Cid().String() != p0.Cid().String() {
 			t.Error("unexpected badNode path")
 		}
 
diff --git a/core/coreapi/unixfs.go b/core/coreapi/unixfs.go
index 51b58404cd8..9cc16ddc596 100644
--- a/core/coreapi/unixfs.go
+++ b/core/coreapi/unixfs.go
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ type UnixfsAPI CoreAPI
 
 // Add builds a merkledag node from a reader, adds it to the blockstore,
 // and returns the key representing that node.
-func (api *UnixfsAPI) Add(ctx context.Context, r io.Reader) (coreiface.Path, error) {
+func (api *UnixfsAPI) Add(ctx context.Context, r io.Reader) (coreiface.ResolvedPath, error) {
 	k, err := coreunix.AddWithContext(ctx, api.node, r)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ func (api *UnixfsAPI) Add(ctx context.Context, r io.Reader) (coreiface.Path, err
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
-	return ParseCid(c), nil
+	return coreiface.IpfsPath(c), nil
 }
 
 // Cat returns the data contained by an IPFS or IPNS object(s) at path `p`.
diff --git a/core/coreapi/unixfs_test.go b/core/coreapi/unixfs_test.go
index c8ea4bc59b8..2e7f15f62eb 100644
--- a/core/coreapi/unixfs_test.go
+++ b/core/coreapi/unixfs_test.go
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ import (
 	core "github.com/ipfs/go-ipfs/core"
 	coreapi "github.com/ipfs/go-ipfs/core/coreapi"
 	coreiface "github.com/ipfs/go-ipfs/core/coreapi/interface"
+	options "github.com/ipfs/go-ipfs/core/coreapi/interface/options"
 	coreunix "github.com/ipfs/go-ipfs/core/coreunix"
 	keystore "github.com/ipfs/go-ipfs/keystore"
 	mdag "github.com/ipfs/go-ipfs/merkledag"
@@ -29,14 +30,11 @@ import (
 const testPeerID = "QmTFauExutTsy4XP6JbMFcw2Wa9645HJt2bTqL6qYDCKfe"
 
 // `echo -n 'hello, world!' | ipfs add`
-var hello = coreapi.ResolvedPath("/ipfs/QmQy2Dw4Wk7rdJKjThjYXzfFJNaRKRHhHP5gHHXroJMYxk", nil, nil)
+var hello = "/ipfs/QmQy2Dw4Wk7rdJKjThjYXzfFJNaRKRHhHP5gHHXroJMYxk"
 var helloStr = "hello, world!"
 
-// `ipfs object new unixfs-dir`
-var emptyDir = coreapi.ResolvedPath("/ipfs/QmUNLLsPACCz1vLxQVkXqqLX5R1X345qqfHbsf67hvA3Nn", nil, nil)
-
 // `echo -n | ipfs add`
-var emptyFile = coreapi.ResolvedPath("/ipfs/QmbFMke1KXqnYyBBWxB74N4c5SBnJMVAiMNRcGu6x1AwQH", nil, nil)
+var emptyFile = "/ipfs/QmbFMke1KXqnYyBBWxB74N4c5SBnJMVAiMNRcGu6x1AwQH"
 
 func makeAPIIdent(ctx context.Context, fullIdentity bool) (*core.IpfsNode, coreiface.CoreAPI, error) {
 	var ident config.Identity
@@ -98,11 +96,11 @@ func TestAdd(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Error(err)
 	}
 
-	if p.String() != hello.String() {
+	if p.String() != hello {
 		t.Fatalf("expected path %s, got: %s", hello, p)
 	}
 
-	r, err := api.Unixfs().Cat(ctx, hello)
+	r, err := api.Unixfs().Cat(ctx, p)
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatal(err)
 	}
@@ -130,7 +128,7 @@ func TestAddEmptyFile(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Error(err)
 	}
 
-	if p.String() != emptyFile.String() {
+	if p.String() != emptyFile {
 		t.Fatalf("expected path %s, got: %s", hello, p)
 	}
 }
@@ -149,11 +147,16 @@ func TestCatBasic(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 	p = "/ipfs/" + p
 
-	if p != hello.String() {
+	if p != hello {
 		t.Fatalf("expected CID %s, got: %s", hello, p)
 	}
 
-	r, err := api.Unixfs().Cat(ctx, hello)
+	helloPath, err := coreiface.ParsePath(hello)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+
+	r, err := api.Unixfs().Cat(ctx, helloPath)
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatal(err)
 	}
@@ -180,7 +183,12 @@ func TestCatEmptyFile(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Fatal(err)
 	}
 
-	r, err := api.Unixfs().Cat(ctx, emptyFile)
+	emptyFilePath, err := coreiface.ParsePath(emptyFile)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+
+	r, err := api.Unixfs().Cat(ctx, emptyFilePath)
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatal(err)
 	}
@@ -206,13 +214,18 @@ func TestCatDir(t *testing.T) {
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Error(err)
 	}
-	p := coreapi.ParseCid(edir.Cid())
+	p := coreiface.IpfsPath(edir.Cid())
 
-	if p.String() != emptyDir.String() {
-		t.Fatalf("expected path %s, got: %s", emptyDir, p)
+	emptyDir, err := api.Object().New(ctx, options.Object.Type("unixfs-dir"))
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Error(err)
 	}
 
-	_, err = api.Unixfs().Cat(ctx, emptyDir)
+	if p.String() != coreiface.IpfsPath(emptyDir.Cid()).String() {
+		t.Fatalf("expected path %s, got: %s", emptyDir.Cid(), p.String())
+	}
+
+	_, err = api.Unixfs().Cat(ctx, coreiface.IpfsPath(emptyDir.Cid()))
 	if err != coreiface.ErrIsDir {
 		t.Fatalf("expected ErrIsDir, got: %s", err)
 	}
@@ -231,7 +244,7 @@ func TestCatNonUnixfs(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Error(err)
 	}
 
-	_, err = api.Unixfs().Cat(ctx, coreapi.ParseCid(nd.Cid()))
+	_, err = api.Unixfs().Cat(ctx, coreiface.IpfsPath(nd.Cid()))
 	if !strings.Contains(err.Error(), "proto: required field") {
 		t.Fatalf("expected protobuf error, got: %s", err)
 	}
@@ -244,7 +257,11 @@ func TestCatOffline(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Error(err)
 	}
 
-	_, err = api.Unixfs().Cat(ctx, coreapi.ResolvedPath("/ipns/Qmfoobar", nil, nil))
+	p, err := coreiface.ParsePath("/ipns/Qmfoobar")
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Error(err)
+	}
+	_, err = api.Unixfs().Cat(ctx, p)
 	if err != coreiface.ErrOffline {
 		t.Fatalf("expected ErrOffline, got: %s", err)
 	}
@@ -266,7 +283,10 @@ func TestLs(t *testing.T) {
 	if len(parts) != 2 {
 		t.Errorf("unexpected path: %s", k)
 	}
-	p := coreapi.ResolvedPath("/ipfs/"+parts[0], nil, nil)
+	p, err := coreiface.ParsePath("/ipfs/" + parts[0])
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Error(err)
+	}
 
 	links, err := api.Unixfs().Ls(ctx, p)
 	if err != nil {
@@ -299,7 +319,12 @@ func TestLsEmptyDir(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Error(err)
 	}
 
-	links, err := api.Unixfs().Ls(ctx, emptyDir)
+	emptyDir, err := api.Object().New(ctx, options.Object.Type("unixfs-dir"))
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Error(err)
+	}
+
+	links, err := api.Unixfs().Ls(ctx, coreiface.IpfsPath(emptyDir.Cid()))
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Error(err)
 	}
@@ -327,7 +352,7 @@ func TestLsNonUnixfs(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Error(err)
 	}
 
-	links, err := api.Unixfs().Ls(ctx, coreapi.ParseCid(nd.Cid()))
+	links, err := api.Unixfs().Ls(ctx, coreiface.IpfsPath(nd.Cid()))
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Error(err)
 	}
diff --git a/core/corehttp/gateway_handler.go b/core/corehttp/gateway_handler.go
index a53c71f2a19..1236b30f576 100644
--- a/core/corehttp/gateway_handler.go
+++ b/core/corehttp/gateway_handler.go
@@ -13,7 +13,6 @@ import (
 	"time"
 
 	core "github.com/ipfs/go-ipfs/core"
-	coreapi "github.com/ipfs/go-ipfs/core/coreapi"
 	coreiface "github.com/ipfs/go-ipfs/core/coreapi/interface"
 	"github.com/ipfs/go-ipfs/importer"
 	dag "github.com/ipfs/go-ipfs/merkledag"
@@ -160,7 +159,7 @@ func (i *gatewayHandler) getOrHeadHandler(ctx context.Context, w http.ResponseWr
 		ipnsHostname = true
 	}
 
-	parsedPath, err := coreapi.ParsePath(urlPath)
+	parsedPath, err := coreiface.ParsePath(urlPath)
 	if err != nil {
 		webError(w, "invalid ipfs path", err, http.StatusBadRequest)
 		return
@@ -288,7 +287,7 @@ func (i *gatewayHandler) getOrHeadHandler(ctx context.Context, w http.ResponseWr
 			return
 		}
 
-		dr, err := i.api.Unixfs().Cat(ctx, coreapi.ParseCid(ixnd.Cid()))
+		dr, err := i.api.Unixfs().Cat(ctx, coreiface.IpfsPath(ixnd.Cid()))
 		if err != nil {
 			internalWebError(w, err)
 			return
diff --git a/core/corehttp/gateway_test.go b/core/corehttp/gateway_test.go
index 900020cbab6..e8ac707837b 100644
--- a/core/corehttp/gateway_test.go
+++ b/core/corehttp/gateway_test.go
@@ -171,7 +171,7 @@ func TestGatewayGet(t *testing.T) {
 		{"working.example.com", "/", http.StatusOK, "fnord"},
 		{"double.example.com", "/", http.StatusOK, "fnord"},
 		{"triple.example.com", "/", http.StatusOK, "fnord"},
-		{"working.example.com", "/ipfs/" + k, http.StatusNotFound, "ipfs resolve -r /ipns/working.example.com/ipfs/" + k + ": no link named \"ipfs\" under " + k + "\n"},
+		{"working.example.com", "/ipfs/" + k, http.StatusNotFound, "ipfs resolve -r /ipns/working.example.com/ipfs/" + k + ": no link by that name\n"},
 		{"broken.example.com", "/", http.StatusNotFound, "ipfs resolve -r /ipns/broken.example.com/: " + namesys.ErrResolveFailed.Error() + "\n"},
 		{"broken.example.com", "/ipfs/" + k, http.StatusNotFound, "ipfs resolve -r /ipns/broken.example.com/ipfs/" + k + ": " + namesys.ErrResolveFailed.Error() + "\n"},
 	} {
diff --git a/core/pathresolver.go b/core/pathresolver.go
index ea5ea7d9c1b..7fbb47d6a7f 100644
--- a/core/pathresolver.go
+++ b/core/pathresolver.go
@@ -19,10 +19,8 @@ import (
 var ErrNoNamesys = errors.New(
 	"core/resolve: no Namesys on IpfsNode - can't resolve ipns entry")
 
-// Resolve resolves the given path by parsing out protocol-specific
-// entries (e.g. /ipns/<node-key>) and then going through the /ipfs/
-// entries and returning the final node.
-func Resolve(ctx context.Context, nsys namesys.NameSystem, r *resolver.Resolver, p path.Path) (ipld.Node, error) {
+// ResolveIPNS resolves /ipns paths
+func ResolveIPNS(ctx context.Context, nsys namesys.NameSystem, p path.Path) (path.Path, error) {
 	if strings.HasPrefix(p.String(), "/ipns/") {
 		evt := log.EventBegin(ctx, "resolveIpnsPath")
 		defer evt.Done()
@@ -31,36 +29,47 @@ func Resolve(ctx context.Context, nsys namesys.NameSystem, r *resolver.Resolver,
 		// TODO(cryptix): we should be able to query the local cache for the path
 		if nsys == nil {
 			evt.Append(logging.LoggableMap{"error": ErrNoNamesys.Error()})
-			return nil, ErrNoNamesys
+			return "", ErrNoNamesys
 		}
 
 		seg := p.Segments()
 
 		if len(seg) < 2 || seg[1] == "" { // just "/<protocol/>" without further segments
 			evt.Append(logging.LoggableMap{"error": path.ErrNoComponents.Error()})
-			return nil, path.ErrNoComponents
+			return "", path.ErrNoComponents
 		}
 
 		extensions := seg[2:]
 		resolvable, err := path.FromSegments("/", seg[0], seg[1])
 		if err != nil {
 			evt.Append(logging.LoggableMap{"error": err.Error()})
-			return nil, err
+			return "", err
 		}
 
 		respath, err := nsys.Resolve(ctx, resolvable.String())
 		if err != nil {
 			evt.Append(logging.LoggableMap{"error": err.Error()})
-			return nil, err
+			return "", err
 		}
 
 		segments := append(respath.Segments(), extensions...)
 		p, err = path.FromSegments("/", segments...)
 		if err != nil {
 			evt.Append(logging.LoggableMap{"error": err.Error()})
-			return nil, err
+			return "", err
 		}
 	}
+	return p, nil
+}
+
+// Resolve resolves the given path by parsing out protocol-specific
+// entries (e.g. /ipns/<node-key>) and then going through the /ipfs/
+// entries and returning the final node.
+func Resolve(ctx context.Context, nsys namesys.NameSystem, r *resolver.Resolver, p path.Path) (ipld.Node, error) {
+	p, err := ResolveIPNS(ctx, nsys, p)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
 
 	// ok, we have an IPFS path now (or what we'll treat as one)
 	return r.ResolvePath(ctx, p)
diff --git a/path/path.go b/path/path.go
index 5622a6d0517..1608b6ca3c0 100644
--- a/path/path.go
+++ b/path/path.go
@@ -59,10 +59,11 @@ func (p Path) String() string {
 	return string(p)
 }
 
-// IsJustAKey returns true if the path is of the form <key> or /ipfs/<key>.
+// IsJustAKey returns true if the path is of the form <key> or /ipfs/<key>, or
+// /ipld/<key>
 func (p Path) IsJustAKey() bool {
 	parts := p.Segments()
-	return len(parts) == 2 && parts[0] == "ipfs"
+	return len(parts) == 2 && (parts[0] == "ipfs" || parts[0] == "ipld")
 }
 
 // PopLastSegment returns a new Path without its final segment, and the final
@@ -120,7 +121,7 @@ func ParsePath(txt string) (Path, error) {
 		if _, err := ParseCidToPath(parts[2]); err != nil {
 			return "", err
 		}
-	} else if parts[1] != "ipns" {
+	} else if parts[1] != "ipns" && parts[1] != "ipld" { //TODO: make this smarter
 		return "", ErrBadPath
 	}
 
@@ -161,7 +162,7 @@ func SplitList(pth string) []string {
 // must be a Multihash) and return it separately.
 func SplitAbsPath(fpath Path) (*cid.Cid, []string, error) {
 	parts := fpath.Segments()
-	if parts[0] == "ipfs" {
+	if parts[0] == "ipfs" || parts[0] == "ipld" {
 		parts = parts[1:]
 	}
 
diff --git a/path/path_test.go b/path/path_test.go
index b095ffd98e7..db28193c8da 100644
--- a/path/path_test.go
+++ b/path/path_test.go
@@ -9,6 +9,9 @@ func TestPathParsing(t *testing.T) {
 		"/ipfs/QmdfTbBqBPQ7VNxZEYEj14VmRuZBkqFbiwReogJgS1zR1n":             true,
 		"/ipfs/QmdfTbBqBPQ7VNxZEYEj14VmRuZBkqFbiwReogJgS1zR1n/a":           true,
 		"/ipfs/QmdfTbBqBPQ7VNxZEYEj14VmRuZBkqFbiwReogJgS1zR1n/a/b/c/d/e/f": true,
+		"/ipld/QmdfTbBqBPQ7VNxZEYEj14VmRuZBkqFbiwReogJgS1zR1n":             true,
+		"/ipld/QmdfTbBqBPQ7VNxZEYEj14VmRuZBkqFbiwReogJgS1zR1n/a":           true,
+		"/ipld/QmdfTbBqBPQ7VNxZEYEj14VmRuZBkqFbiwReogJgS1zR1n/a/b/c/d/e/f": true,
 		"/ipns/QmdfTbBqBPQ7VNxZEYEj14VmRuZBkqFbiwReogJgS1zR1n/a/b/c/d/e/f": true,
 		"/ipns/QmdfTbBqBPQ7VNxZEYEj14VmRuZBkqFbiwReogJgS1zR1n":             true,
 		"QmdfTbBqBPQ7VNxZEYEj14VmRuZBkqFbiwReogJgS1zR1n/a/b/c/d/e/f":       true,
@@ -36,6 +39,8 @@ func TestIsJustAKey(t *testing.T) {
 		"/ipfs/QmdfTbBqBPQ7VNxZEYEj14VmRuZBkqFbiwReogJgS1zR1n/a":   false,
 		"/ipfs/QmdfTbBqBPQ7VNxZEYEj14VmRuZBkqFbiwReogJgS1zR1n/a/b": false,
 		"/ipns/QmdfTbBqBPQ7VNxZEYEj14VmRuZBkqFbiwReogJgS1zR1n":     false,
+		"/ipld/QmdfTbBqBPQ7VNxZEYEj14VmRuZBkqFbiwReogJgS1zR1n/a/b": false,
+		"/ipld/QmdfTbBqBPQ7VNxZEYEj14VmRuZBkqFbiwReogJgS1zR1n":     true,
 	}
 
 	for p, expected := range cases {
@@ -57,6 +62,7 @@ func TestPopLastSegment(t *testing.T) {
 		"/ipfs/QmdfTbBqBPQ7VNxZEYEj14VmRuZBkqFbiwReogJgS1zR1n/a":     []string{"/ipfs/QmdfTbBqBPQ7VNxZEYEj14VmRuZBkqFbiwReogJgS1zR1n", "a"},
 		"/ipfs/QmdfTbBqBPQ7VNxZEYEj14VmRuZBkqFbiwReogJgS1zR1n/a/b":   []string{"/ipfs/QmdfTbBqBPQ7VNxZEYEj14VmRuZBkqFbiwReogJgS1zR1n/a", "b"},
 		"/ipns/QmdfTbBqBPQ7VNxZEYEj14VmRuZBkqFbiwReogJgS1zR1n/x/y/z": []string{"/ipns/QmdfTbBqBPQ7VNxZEYEj14VmRuZBkqFbiwReogJgS1zR1n/x/y", "z"},
+		"/ipld/QmdfTbBqBPQ7VNxZEYEj14VmRuZBkqFbiwReogJgS1zR1n/x/y/z": []string{"/ipld/QmdfTbBqBPQ7VNxZEYEj14VmRuZBkqFbiwReogJgS1zR1n/x/y", "z"},
 	}
 
 	for p, expected := range cases {
diff --git a/path/resolver/resolver.go b/path/resolver/resolver.go
index 8c7b28b1c0c..05341655a33 100644
--- a/path/resolver/resolver.go
+++ b/path/resolver/resolver.go
@@ -34,6 +34,9 @@ func (e ErrNoLink) Error() string {
 	return fmt.Sprintf("no link named %q under %s", e.Name, e.Node.String())
 }
 
+// ResolveOnce resolves path through a single node
+type ResolveOnce func(ctx context.Context, ds ipld.NodeGetter, nd ipld.Node, names []string) (*ipld.Link, []string, error)
+
 // Resolver provides path resolution to IPFS
 // It has a pointer to a DAGService, which is uses to resolve nodes.
 // TODO: now that this is more modular, try to unify this code with the
@@ -41,7 +44,7 @@ func (e ErrNoLink) Error() string {
 type Resolver struct {
 	DAG ipld.NodeGetter
 
-	ResolveOnce func(ctx context.Context, ds ipld.NodeGetter, nd ipld.Node, names []string) (*ipld.Link, []string, error)
+	ResolveOnce ResolveOnce
 }
 
 // NewBasicResolver constructs a new basic resolver.