diff --git a/docs/source/usertypes.rst b/docs/source/usertypes.rst
index e0cac45c..3428ec01 100644
--- a/docs/source/usertypes.rst
+++ b/docs/source/usertypes.rst
@@ -19,8 +19,10 @@ The examples folder also has a number of really great examples for you to see. T
 	- If you need dynamic callbacks or runtime overridable functions, have a ``std::function`` member variable and get/set it on the usertype object
 	- ``std::function`` works as a member variable or in passing as an argument / returning as a value (you can even use it with ``sol::property``)
 	- You can also create an entirely dynamic object: see the `dynamic_object example`_ for more details
-* (Advanced) You can override the iteration function for Lua 5.2 and above (LuaJIT does not have the capability) `as shown in the pairs example`_
 * You can use :doc:`filters<api/filters>` to control dependencies and streamline return values, as well as apply custom behavior to a functions return
+* You can work with special wrapper types such as ``std::unique_ptr<T>``, ``std::shared_ptr<T>``, and others by default
+    - Extend them using the :doc:`sol::unique_usertype\<T\> traits<api/unique_usertype_traits>`
+* (Advanced) You can override the iteration function for Lua 5.2 and above (LuaJIT does not have the capability) `as shown in the pairs example`_
 * Please note that the colon is necessary to "automatically" pass the ``this``/``self`` argument to Lua methods
 	- ``obj:method_name()`` is how you call "member" methods in Lua
 	- It is purely syntactic sugar that passes the object name as the first argument to the ``method_name`` function
@@ -32,13 +34,13 @@ The examples folder also has a number of really great examples for you to see. T
 	- You can retrieve a usertype from the Lua runtime at any time
 	- Methods and properties will be added to the type only after you register the usertype with the Lua runtime
 	- All methods and properties will appear on all userdata, even if that object was pushed before the usertype (all userdata will be updated)
-* Types either copy once or move once into the memory location, if it is a value type. If it is a pointer, we store only the reference.
-	- This means retrieval of class types (not primitive types like strings or integers) by ``T&`` or ``T*`` allow you to modify the data in Lua directly.
+* Types either copy once or move once into the memory location, if it is a value type. If it is a pointer, we store only the reference
+	- This means retrieval of class types (not primitive types like strings or integers) by ``T&`` or ``T*`` allow you to modify the data in Lua directly
 	- Retrieve a plain ``T`` to get a copy
-	- Return types and passing arguments to ``sol::function``-types use perfect forwarding and reference semantics, which means no copies happen unless you specify a value explicitly. See :ref:`this note for details<function-argument-handling>`.
-*  You can set ``index`` and ``new_index`` freely on any usertype you like to override the default "if a key is missing, find it / set it here" functionality of a specific object of a usertype.
-	- ``new_index`` and ``index`` will not be called if you try to manipulate the named usertype table directly. sol2's will be called to add that function to the usertype's function/variable lookup table.
-	- ``new_index`` and ``index`` will be called if you attempt to call a key that does not exist on an actual userdata object (the C++ object) itself.
+	- Return types and passing arguments to ``sol::function``-types use perfect forwarding and reference semantics, which means no copies happen unless you specify a value explicitly. See :ref:`this note for details<function-argument-handling>`
+*  You can set ``index`` and ``new_index`` freely on any usertype you like to override the default "if a key is missing, find it / set it here" functionality of a specific object of a usertype
+	- ``new_index`` and ``index`` will not be called if you try to manipulate the named usertype table directly. sol2's will be called to add that function to the usertype's function/variable lookup table
+	- ``new_index`` and ``index`` will be called if you attempt to call a key that does not exist on an actual userdata object (the C++ object) itself
 	- If you made a usertype named ``test``, this means ``t = test()``, with ``t.hi = 54`` will call your function, but ``test.hi = function () print ("hi"); end`` will instead set the key ``hi`` to to lookup that function for all ``test`` types
 * The first ``sizeof( void* )`` bytes is always a pointer to the typed C++ memory. What comes after is based on what you've pushed into the system according to :doc:`the memory specification for usertypes<api/usertype_memory>`. This is compatible with a number of systems other than just sol2, making it easy to interop with select other Lua systems.
 * Member methods, properties, variables and functions taking ``self&`` arguments modify data directly
diff --git a/sol/call.hpp b/sol/call.hpp
index c4ace21a..83ac99c7 100644
--- a/sol/call.hpp
+++ b/sol/call.hpp
@@ -302,8 +302,8 @@ namespace sol {
 		};
 
 		template <bool is_index, bool is_variable, bool checked, int boost, bool clean_stack, typename C>
-		struct agnostic_lua_call_wrapper<lua_r_CFunction, is_index, is_variable, checked, boost, clean_stack, C> {
-			static int call(lua_State* L, lua_r_CFunction f) {
+		struct agnostic_lua_call_wrapper<lua_CFunction_ref, is_index, is_variable, checked, boost, clean_stack, C> {
+			static int call(lua_State* L, lua_CFunction_ref f) {
 				return f(L);
 			}
 		};
diff --git a/sol/error_handler.hpp b/sol/error_handler.hpp
index aa504d8d..6842f7da 100644
--- a/sol/error_handler.hpp
+++ b/sol/error_handler.hpp
@@ -64,12 +64,33 @@ namespace sol {
 		}
 	};
 
+	template <typename F = void>
 	struct argument_handler {
 		int operator()(lua_State* L, int index, type expected, type actual, const std::string& message) const noexcept(false) {
 			return type_panic_string(L, index, expected, actual, message + " (bad argument to variable or function call)");
 		}
 	};
 
+	template <typename R, typename... Args>
+	struct argument_handler<types<R, Args...>> {
+		int operator()(lua_State* L, int index, type expected, type actual, const std::string& message) const noexcept(false) {
+			std::string addendum = " (bad argument to type expecting '";
+			addendum += detail::demangle<R>();
+			addendum += "(";
+			int marker = 0;
+			auto action = [&addendum, &marker](const std::string& n) {
+				if (marker > 0) {
+					addendum += ", ";
+				}
+				addendum += n;
+				++marker;
+			}
+			(void)detail::swallow{ int(), (action(detail::demangle<Args>()), int())... };
+			addendum += ")')";
+			return type_panic_string(L, index, expected, actual, message + addendum);
+		}
+	};
+
 	// Specify this function as the handler for lua::check if you know there's nothing wrong
 	inline int no_panic(lua_State*, int, type, type, const char* = nullptr) noexcept {
 		return 0;
diff --git a/sol/simple_usertype_metatable.hpp b/sol/simple_usertype_metatable.hpp
index 4f94b36a..fe5d91d1 100644
--- a/sol/simple_usertype_metatable.hpp
+++ b/sol/simple_usertype_metatable.hpp
@@ -184,7 +184,7 @@ namespace sol {
 		void* baseclasscast;
 		bool mustindex;
 		bool secondarymeta;
-		std::array<bool, 29> properties;
+		std::array<bool, 30> properties;
 
 		template <typename N>
 		void insert(N&& n, object&& o) {
@@ -415,6 +415,13 @@ namespace sol {
 				auto& properties = umx.properties;
 				auto sic = hasindex ? &usertype_detail::simple_index_call<T, true> : &usertype_detail::simple_index_call<T, false>;
 				auto snic = hasnewindex ? &usertype_detail::simple_new_index_call<T, true> : &usertype_detail::simple_new_index_call<T, false>;
+
+				lua_createtable(L, 0, 2);
+				stack_reference type_table(L, -1);
+
+				stack::set_field(L, "name", detail::demangle<T>(), type_table.stack_index());
+				stack::set_field(L, "is", &usertype_detail::is_check<T>, type_table.stack_index());
+
 				auto register_kvp = [&](std::size_t meta_index, stack_reference& t, const std::string& first, object& second) {
 					meta_function mf = meta_function::construct;
 					for (std::size_t j = 1; j < properties.size(); ++j) {
@@ -469,6 +476,8 @@ namespace sol {
 					}
 					luaL_newmetatable(L, metakey);
 					stack_reference t(L, -1);
+					stack::set_field(L, meta_function::type, type_table, t.stack_index());
+
 					for (auto& kvp : varmap.functions) {
 						auto& first = std::get<0>(kvp);
 						auto& second = std::get<1>(kvp);
@@ -514,6 +523,7 @@ namespace sol {
 					// for call constructor purposes and such
 					lua_createtable(L, 0, 2 * static_cast<int>(umx.secondarymeta) + static_cast<int>(umx.callconstructfunc.valid()));
 					stack_reference metabehind(L, -1);
+					stack::set_field(L, meta_function::type, type_table, metabehind.stack_index());
 					if (umx.callconstructfunc.valid()) {
 						stack::set_field(L, sol::meta_function::call_function, umx.callconstructfunc, metabehind.stack_index());
 					}
@@ -538,6 +548,7 @@ namespace sol {
 				// Now for the shim-table that actually gets pushed
 				luaL_newmetatable(L, &usertype_traits<T>::user_metatable()[0]);
 				stack_reference t(L, -1);
+				stack::set_field(L, meta_function::type, type_table, t.stack_index());
 				for (auto& kvp : varmap.functions) {
 					auto& first = std::get<0>(kvp);
 					auto& second = std::get<1>(kvp);
@@ -546,6 +557,7 @@ namespace sol {
 				{
 					lua_createtable(L, 0, 2 + static_cast<int>(umx.callconstructfunc.valid()));
 					stack_reference metabehind(L, -1);
+					stack::set_field(L, meta_function::type, type_table, metabehind.stack_index());
 					if (umx.callconstructfunc.valid()) {
 						stack::set_field(L, sol::meta_function::call_function, umx.callconstructfunc, metabehind.stack_index());
 					}
@@ -570,6 +582,8 @@ namespace sol {
 					metabehind.pop();
 				}
 
+				lua_remove(L, type_table.stack_index());
+
 				// Don't pop the table when we're done;
 				// return it
 				return 1;
diff --git a/sol/stack.hpp b/sol/stack.hpp
index 47e5dcb7..13d13e56 100644
--- a/sol/stack.hpp
+++ b/sol/stack.hpp
@@ -112,8 +112,8 @@ namespace sol {
 			inline decltype(auto) call(types<R>, types<Args...> ta, std::index_sequence<I...> tai, lua_State* L, int start, Fx&& fx, FxArgs&&... args) {
 #ifndef _MSC_VER
 				static_assert(meta::all<meta::is_not_move_only<Args>...>::value, "One of the arguments being bound is a move-only type, and it is not being taken by reference: this will break your code. Please take a reference and std::move it manually if this was your intention.");
-#endif // This compiler make me so fucking sad
-				argument_handler handler{};
+#endif // This compiler make me so sad
+				argument_handler<types<R, Args...>> handler{};
 				multi_check<checkargs, Args...>(L, start, handler);
 				record tracking{};
 				return evaluator{}.eval(ta, tai, L, start, tracking, std::forward<Fx>(fx), std::forward<FxArgs>(args)...);
@@ -124,7 +124,7 @@ namespace sol {
 #ifndef _MSC_VER
 				static_assert(meta::all<meta::is_not_move_only<Args>...>::value, "One of the arguments being bound is a move-only type, and it is not being taken by reference: this will break your code. Please take a reference and std::move it manually if this was your intention.");
 #endif // This compiler make me so fucking sad
-				argument_handler handler{};
+				argument_handler<types<void, Args...>> handler{};
 				multi_check<checkargs, Args...>(L, start, handler);
 				record tracking{};
 				evaluator{}.eval(ta, tai, L, start, tracking, std::forward<Fx>(fx), std::forward<FxArgs>(args)...);
diff --git a/sol/stack_push.hpp b/sol/stack_push.hpp
index b16cc72a..e012392c 100644
--- a/sol/stack_push.hpp
+++ b/sol/stack_push.hpp
@@ -880,7 +880,18 @@ namespace sol {
 				return std::visit(stack_detail::push_function(L), std::move(v));
 			}
 		};
-#endif
+#else
+		template <>
+		struct pusher<string_view> {
+			static int push(lua_State* L, const std::string_view& sv) {
+				return stack::push(L, sv.data(), sv.length());
+			}
+
+			static int push(lua_State* L, const std::string_view& sv, std::size_t len) {
+				return stack::push(L, sv.data(), len);
+			}
+		};
+#endif // C++17 Support
 	} // stack
 } // sol
 
diff --git a/sol/state_view.hpp b/sol/state_view.hpp
index ccd03084..e0fff2b5 100644
--- a/sol/state_view.hpp
+++ b/sol/state_view.hpp
@@ -30,19 +30,33 @@
 
 namespace sol {
 	enum class lib : char {
+		// print, assert, and other base functions
 		base,
+		// require and other package functions
 		package,
+		// coroutine functions and utilities
 		coroutine,
+		// string library
 		string,
+		// functionality from the OS
 		os,
+		// all things math
 		math,
+		// the table manipulator and observer functions
 		table,
+		// the debug library
 		debug,
+		// the bit library: different based on which you're using
 		bit32,
+		// input/output library
 		io,
+		// LuaJIT only
 		ffi,
+		// LuaJIT only
 		jit,
+		// library for handling utf8: new to Lua
 		utf8,
+		// do not use
 		count
 	};
 
diff --git a/sol/types.hpp b/sol/types.hpp
index 1cd2d059..551b540f 100644
--- a/sol/types.hpp
+++ b/sol/types.hpp
@@ -186,7 +186,7 @@ namespace sol {
 	struct no_metatable_t {};
 	const no_metatable_t no_metatable = {};
 
-	typedef std::remove_pointer_t<lua_CFunction> lua_r_CFunction;
+	typedef std::remove_pointer_t<lua_CFunction> lua_CFunction_ref;
 
 	template <typename T>
 	struct unique_usertype_traits {
@@ -617,13 +617,15 @@ namespace sol {
 		bitwise_or,
 		bitwise_xor,
 		pairs,
-		next
+		next,
+		type,
+		type_info,
 	};
 
 	typedef meta_function meta_method;
 
-	inline const std::array<std::string, 29>& meta_function_names() {
-		static const std::array<std::string, 29> names = { {
+	inline const std::array<std::string, 31>& meta_function_names() {
+		static const std::array<std::string, 31> names = { {
 				"new",
 				"__index",
 				"__newindex",
@@ -654,7 +656,9 @@ namespace sol {
 				"__bxor",
 
 				"__pairs",
-				"__next"
+				"__next",
+				"__type",
+				"__typeinfo"
 			} };
 		return names;
 	}
diff --git a/sol/usertype_core.hpp b/sol/usertype_core.hpp
index a32d3358..fcbe2bb2 100644
--- a/sol/usertype_core.hpp
+++ b/sol/usertype_core.hpp
@@ -44,6 +44,11 @@ namespace sol {
 			}
 		};
 
+		template <typename T>
+		int is_check(lua_State* L) {
+			return stack::push(L, stack::check<T>(L, 1, &no_panic));
+		}
+
 		template <typename T>
 		inline int member_default_to_string(std::true_type, lua_State* L) {
 			decltype(auto) ts = stack::get<T>(L, 1).to_string();
diff --git a/sol/usertype_metatable.hpp b/sol/usertype_metatable.hpp
index e40cf01e..3901945b 100644
--- a/sol/usertype_metatable.hpp
+++ b/sol/usertype_metatable.hpp
@@ -379,7 +379,7 @@ namespace sol {
 	struct usertype_metatable<T, std::index_sequence<I...>, Tn...> : usertype_metatable_core, usertype_detail::registrar {
 		typedef std::make_index_sequence<sizeof...(I) * 2> indices;
 		typedef std::index_sequence<I...> half_indices;
-		typedef std::array<luaL_Reg, sizeof...(Tn) / 2 + 1 + 29> regs_t;
+		typedef std::array<luaL_Reg, sizeof...(Tn) / 2 + 1 + 31> regs_t;
 		typedef std::tuple<Tn...> RawTuple;
 		typedef std::tuple<clean_type_t<Tn> ...> Tuple;
 		template <std::size_t Idx>
@@ -394,7 +394,7 @@ namespace sol {
 		void* baseclasscheck;
 		void* baseclasscast;
 		bool secondarymeta;
-		std::array<bool, 29> properties;
+		std::array<bool, 30> properties;
 
 		template <std::size_t Idx, meta::enable<std::is_same<lua_CFunction, meta::unqualified_tuple_element<Idx + 1, RawTuple>>> = meta::enabler>
 		lua_CFunction make_func() const {
@@ -676,6 +676,12 @@ namespace sol {
 				}
 				unique_table[lastreg - 1] = { value_table[lastreg - 1].name, detail::unique_destruct<T> };
 
+				lua_createtable(L, 0, 2);
+				stack_reference type_table(L, -1);
+
+				stack::set_field(L, "name", detail::demangle<T>(), type_table.stack_index());
+				stack::set_field(L, "is", &usertype_detail::is_check<T>, type_table.stack_index());
+
 				// Now use um
 				const bool& mustindex = umc.mustindex;
 				for (std::size_t i = 0; i < 3; ++i) {
@@ -699,6 +705,7 @@ namespace sol {
 					}
 					luaL_newmetatable(L, metakey);
 					stack_reference t(L, -1);
+					stack::set_field(L, meta_function::type, type_table, t.stack_index());
 					int upvalues = 0;
 					upvalues += stack::push(L, nullptr);
 					upvalues += stack::push(L, make_light(um));
@@ -735,6 +742,9 @@ namespace sol {
 						stack::set_field(L, meta_function::index, make_closure(umt_t::index_call, nullptr, make_light(um), make_light(umc)), metabehind.stack_index());
 						stack::set_field(L, meta_function::new_index, make_closure(umt_t::new_index_call, nullptr, make_light(um), make_light(umc)), metabehind.stack_index());
 					}
+					// type information needs to be present on the behind-tables too
+					stack::set_field(L, meta_function::type, type_table, metabehind.stack_index());
+					
 					stack::set_field(L, metatable_key, metabehind, t.stack_index());
 					metabehind.pop();
 					// We want to just leave the table
@@ -745,6 +755,7 @@ namespace sol {
 				// Now for the shim-table that actually gets assigned to the name
 				luaL_newmetatable(L, &usertype_traits<T>::user_metatable()[0]);
 				stack_reference t(L, -1);
+				stack::set_field(L, meta_function::type, type_table, t.stack_index());
 				int upvalues = 0;
 				upvalues += stack::push(L, nullptr);
 				upvalues += stack::push(L, make_light(um));
@@ -758,11 +769,14 @@ namespace sol {
 					
 					stack::set_field(L, meta_function::index, make_closure(umt_t::index_call, nullptr, make_light(um), make_light(umc), nullptr, usertype_detail::toplevel_magic), metabehind.stack_index());
 					stack::set_field(L, meta_function::new_index, make_closure(umt_t::new_index_call, nullptr, make_light(um), make_light(umc), nullptr, usertype_detail::toplevel_magic), metabehind.stack_index());
-					
 					stack::set_field(L, metatable_key, metabehind, t.stack_index());
+					// type information needs to be present on the behind-tables too
+					stack::set_field(L, meta_function::type, type_table, metabehind.stack_index());
 					metabehind.pop();
 				}
 
+				lua_remove(L, type_table.stack_index());
+
 				return 1;
 			}
 		};
diff --git a/test_simple_usertypes.cpp b/test_simple_usertypes.cpp
index 4ddb49b4..aa72aaf1 100644
--- a/test_simple_usertypes.cpp
+++ b/test_simple_usertypes.cpp
@@ -888,3 +888,35 @@ TEST_CASE("simple_usertype/indexing", "make sure simple usertypes can be indexed
 		REQUIRE(val == 50);
 	}
 }
+
+TEST_CASE("simple_usertype/basic type information", "check that we can query some basic type information") {
+	struct my_thing {};
+
+	sol::state lua;
+	lua.open_libraries(sol::lib::base);
+
+	lua.new_usertype<my_thing>("my_thing");
+
+	lua.safe_script("obj = my_thing.new()");
+
+	lua.safe_script("assert(my_thing.__type.is(obj))");
+	lua.safe_script("assert(not my_thing.__type.is(1))");
+	lua.safe_script("assert(not my_thing.__type.is(\"not a thing\"))");
+	lua.safe_script("print(my_thing.__type.name)");
+
+	lua.safe_script("assert(obj.__type.is(obj))");
+	lua.safe_script("assert(not obj.__type.is(1))");
+	lua.safe_script("assert(not obj.__type.is(\"not a thing\"))");
+	lua.safe_script("print(obj.__type.name)");
+
+	lua.safe_script("assert(getmetatable(my_thing).__type.is(obj))");
+	lua.safe_script("assert(not getmetatable(my_thing).__type.is(1))");
+	lua.safe_script("assert(not getmetatable(my_thing).__type.is(\"not a thing\"))");
+	lua.safe_script("print(getmetatable(my_thing).__type.name)");
+
+	lua.safe_script("assert(getmetatable(obj).__type.is(obj))");
+	lua.safe_script("assert(not getmetatable(obj).__type.is(1))");
+	lua.safe_script("assert(not getmetatable(obj).__type.is(\"not a thing\"))");
+	lua.safe_script("print(getmetatable(obj).__type.name)");
+}
+
diff --git a/test_strings.cpp b/test_strings.cpp
index 90c496b7..95c7eb0c 100644
--- a/test_strings.cpp
+++ b/test_strings.cpp
@@ -115,8 +115,23 @@ TEST_CASE("object/string-pushers", "test some basic string pushers with in_place
 
 	sol::object ocs(lua, sol::in_place, "bark\0bark", 9);
 	sol::object os(lua, sol::in_place_type<std::string>, std::string("bark\0bark", 9), 8);
-	bool test1 = os.as<std::string>() == std::string("bark\0bar", 8);
-	bool test2 = ocs.as<std::string>() == std::string("bark\0bark", 9);
+	sol::object osv(lua, sol::in_place_type<sol::string_view>, std::string_view("woofwoof", 8), 8);
+	bool test1 = ocs.as<std::string>() == std::string("bark\0bark", 9);
+	bool test2 = os.as<std::string>() == std::string("bark\0bar", 8);
+	bool test3 = osv.as<std::string>() == std::string("woofwoof", 8);
+	REQUIRE(ocs.get_type() == sol::type::string);
+	REQUIRE(ocs.is<std::string>());
+	REQUIRE(ocs.is<sol::string_view>());
+
+	REQUIRE(os.get_type() == sol::type::string);
+	REQUIRE(os.is<std::string>());
+	REQUIRE(os.is<sol::string_view>());
+
+	REQUIRE(osv.get_type() == sol::type::string);
+	REQUIRE(osv.is<std::string>());
+	REQUIRE(osv.is<sol::string_view>());
+
 	REQUIRE(test1);
 	REQUIRE(test2);
+	REQUIRE(test3);
 }
diff --git a/test_usertypes.cpp b/test_usertypes.cpp
index a08f1f90..2b16b569 100644
--- a/test_usertypes.cpp
+++ b/test_usertypes.cpp
@@ -1764,3 +1764,34 @@ TEST_CASE("usertype/noexcept-methods", "make sure noexcept functinos and methods
 	REQUIRE(v1 == 0x61);
 	REQUIRE(v2 == 0x62);
 }
+
+TEST_CASE("usertype/basic type information", "check that we can query some basic type information") {
+	struct my_thing {};
+
+	sol::state lua;
+	lua.open_libraries(sol::lib::base);
+
+	lua.new_simple_usertype<my_thing>("my_thing");
+
+	lua.safe_script("obj = my_thing.new()");
+
+	lua.safe_script("assert(my_thing.__type.is(obj))");
+	lua.safe_script("assert(not my_thing.__type.is(1))");
+	lua.safe_script("assert(not my_thing.__type.is(\"not a thing\"))");
+	lua.safe_script("print(my_thing.__type.name)");
+
+	lua.safe_script("assert(obj.__type.is(obj))");
+	lua.safe_script("assert(not obj.__type.is(1))");
+	lua.safe_script("assert(not obj.__type.is(\"not a thing\"))");
+	lua.safe_script("print(obj.__type.name)");
+
+	lua.safe_script("assert(getmetatable(my_thing).__type.is(obj))");
+	lua.safe_script("assert(not getmetatable(my_thing).__type.is(1))");
+	lua.safe_script("assert(not getmetatable(my_thing).__type.is(\"not a thing\"))");
+	lua.safe_script("print(getmetatable(my_thing).__type.name)");
+
+	lua.safe_script("assert(getmetatable(obj).__type.is(obj))");
+	lua.safe_script("assert(not getmetatable(obj).__type.is(1))");
+	lua.safe_script("assert(not getmetatable(obj).__type.is(\"not a thing\"))");
+	lua.safe_script("print(getmetatable(obj).__type.name)");
+}