diff --git a/examples/basic/index.js b/examples/basic/index.js
index 3acf6320e..a9a802611 100644
--- a/examples/basic/index.js
+++ b/examples/basic/index.js
@@ -10,40 +10,33 @@ import ReactDOM from 'react-dom'
 const state = {
   nodes: [
     {
-      kind: 'node',
       type: 'code',
-      data: {},
       nodes: [
         {
           type: 'text',
           ranges: [
             {
-              text: 'A\nfew\nlines\nof\ncode.',
-              marks: []
+              text: 'A\nfew\nlines\nof\ncode.'
             }
           ]
         }
       ]
     },
     {
-      kind: 'node',
       type: 'paragraph',
-      data: {},
       nodes: [
         {
           type: 'text',
           ranges: [
             {
-              text: 'A ',
-              marks: []
+              text: 'A '
             },
             {
               text: 'simple',
               marks: ['bold']
             },
             {
-              text: ' paragraph of text.',
-              marks: []
+              text: ' paragraph of text.'
             }
           ]
         }
diff --git a/lib/components/content.js b/lib/components/content.js
index 8bd47d5e6..cbc4229a4 100644
--- a/lib/components/content.js
+++ b/lib/components/content.js
@@ -1,9 +1,9 @@
 
+import OffsetKey from '../utils/offset-key'
 import React from 'react'
 import ReactDOM from 'react-dom'
 import Text from './text'
 import TextModel from '../models/text'
-import findSelection from '../utils/find-selection'
 import keycode from 'keycode'
 
 /**
@@ -66,37 +66,28 @@ class Content extends React.Component {
 
     const el = ReactDOM.findDOMNode(this)
     const { anchorNode, anchorOffset, focusNode, focusOffset } = native
-    const anchorIsText = anchorNode.nodeType == 3
-    const focusIsText = focusNode.nodeType == 3
+    const anchor = OffsetKey.findPoint(anchorNode, anchorOffset)
+    const focus = OffsetKey.findPoint(focusNode, focusOffset)
+    const edges = state.filterNodes((node) => {
+      return node.key == anchor.key || node.key == focus.key
+    })
 
-    // If both are text nodes, find their parents and create the selection.
-    if (anchorIsText && focusIsText) {
-      const anchor = findSelection(anchorNode, anchorOffset)
-      const focus = findSelection(focusNode, focusOffset)
-      const { nodes } = state
+    const isBackward = (
+      (edges.size == 2 && edges.first().key == focus.key) ||
+      (edges.size == 1 && anchor.offset > focus.offset)
+    )
 
-      const startAndEnd = state.filterNodes((node) => {
-        return node.key == anchor.key || node.key == focus.key
-      })
+    selection = selection.merge({
+      anchorKey: anchor.key,
+      anchorOffset: anchor.offset,
+      focusKey: focus.key,
+      focusOffset: focus.offset,
+      isBackward: isBackward,
+      isFocused: true
+    })
 
-      const isBackward = (
-        (startAndEnd.size == 2 && startAndEnd.first().key == focus.key) ||
-        (startAndEnd.size == 1 && anchor.offset > focus.offset)
-      )
-
-      selection = selection.merge({
-        anchorKey: anchor.key,
-        anchorOffset: anchor.offset,
-        focusKey: focus.key,
-        focusOffset: focus.offset,
-        isBackward: isBackward,
-        isFocused: true
-      })
-
-      state = state.set('selection', selection)
-      this.onChange(state)
-      return
-    }
+    state = state.set('selection', selection)
+    this.onChange(state)
   }
 
   /**
diff --git a/lib/components/leaf.js b/lib/components/leaf.js
index 5dfd94550..8bd6d76a0 100644
--- a/lib/components/leaf.js
+++ b/lib/components/leaf.js
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 
+import OffsetKey from '../utils/offset-key'
 import React from 'react'
 import ReactDOM from 'react-dom'
 import createOffsetKey from '../utils/create-offset-key'
@@ -96,26 +97,24 @@ class Leaf extends React.Component {
   render() {
     const { node, range } = this.props
     const { text } = range
-    const offsetKey = createOffsetKey(node, range)
     const styles = this.renderStyles()
+    const offsetKey = OffsetKey.stringify({
+      key: node.key,
+      start: range.offset,
+      end: range.offset + range.text.length
+    })
 
     return (
       <span
         style={styles}
-        data-key={offsetKey}
+        data-offset-key={offsetKey}
         data-type='leaf'
       >
-        {text}
+        {text == '' ? <br/> : text}
       </span>
     )
   }
 
-  renderOffsetKey() {
-    const { node, offset, text } = this.props
-    const key = `${node.key}.${offset}-${offset + text.length}`
-    return key
-  }
-
   renderStyles() {
     const { range, renderMark } = this.props
     const { marks } = range
diff --git a/lib/components/text.js b/lib/components/text.js
index 9d1e94cec..3817baa50 100644
--- a/lib/components/text.js
+++ b/lib/components/text.js
@@ -20,7 +20,9 @@ class Text extends React.Component {
     const { node } = this.props
     const { characters } = node
     const ranges = convertCharactersToRanges(characters)
-    const leaves = ranges.map(range => this.renderLeaf(range))
+    const leaves = ranges.length
+      ? ranges.map(range => this.renderLeaf(range))
+      : this.renderSpacerLeaf()
 
     return (
       <span
@@ -47,6 +49,14 @@ class Text extends React.Component {
     )
   }
 
+  renderSpacerLeaf() {
+    return this.renderLeaf({
+      offset: 0,
+      text: '',
+      marks: []
+    })
+  }
+
 }
 
 /**
diff --git a/lib/models/node.js b/lib/models/node.js
index c490161bf..34882f49c 100644
--- a/lib/models/node.js
+++ b/lib/models/node.js
@@ -128,11 +128,15 @@ class Node extends NodeRecord {
   /**
    * Get the child node after the one by `key`.
    *
-   * @param {String} key
+   * @param {String or Node} key
    * @return {Node or Null}
    */
 
-  getNodeAfter(key) {
+  getNextNode(key) {
+    if (typeof key != 'string') {
+      key = key.key
+    }
+
     const shallow = this.nodes
       .skipUntil(node => node.key == key)
       .rest()
@@ -141,11 +145,61 @@ class Node extends NodeRecord {
     if (shallow != null) return shallow
 
     return this.nodes
-      .map(node => node instanceof Node ? node.getNodeAfter(key) : null)
+      .map(node => node instanceof Node ? node.getNextNode(key) : null)
       .filter(node => node)
       .first()
   }
 
+  /**
+   * Get the child node before the one by `key`.
+   *
+   * @param {String or Node} key
+   * @return {Node or Null}
+   */
+
+  getPreviousNode(key) {
+    if (typeof key != 'string') {
+      key = key.key
+    }
+
+    const matches = this.nodes.get(key)
+
+    if (matches) {
+      return this.nodes
+        .takeUntil(node => node.key == key)
+        .last()
+    }
+
+    return this.nodes
+      .map(node => node instanceof Node ? node.getPreviousNode(key) : null)
+      .filter(node => node)
+      .first()
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * Get the parent of a child node by `key`.
+   *
+   * @param {String or Node} key
+   * @return {Node or Null}
+   */
+
+  getParentNode(key) {
+    if (typeof key != 'string') {
+      key = key.key
+    }
+
+    if (this.nodes.get(key)) return this
+    let node = null
+
+    this.nodes.forEach((child) => {
+      if (!(child instanceof Node)) return
+      const match = child.getParentNode(key)
+      if (match) node = match
+    })
+
+    return node
+  }
+
   /**
    * Get the child text node at `offset`.
    *
@@ -169,46 +223,76 @@ class Node extends NodeRecord {
   }
 
   /**
-   * Get the parent of a child node by `key`.
+   * Recursively check if a child node exists by `key`.
    *
-   * @param {String} key
-   * @return {Node or Null}
+   * @param {String or Node} key
+   * @return {Boolean} true
    */
 
-  getParentOfNode(key) {
-    if (this.nodes.get(key)) return this
-    let node = null
+  hasNode(key) {
+    if (typeof key != 'string') {
+      key = key.key
+    }
 
-    this.nodes.forEach((child) => {
-      if (!(child instanceof Node)) return
-      const match = child.getParentOfNode(key)
-      if (match) node = match
-    })
+    const shallow = this.nodes.has(key)
+    if (shallow) return true
 
-    return node
+    const deep = this.nodes
+      .map(node => node instanceof Node ? node.hasNode(key) : false)
+      .some(has => has)
+    if (deep) return true
+
+    return false
   }
 
   /**
    * Push a new `node` onto the map of nodes.
    *
+   * @param {String or Node} key
    * @param {Node} node
    * @return {Node} node
    */
 
-  pushNode(node) {
-    let nodes = this.nodes.set(node.key, node)
+  pushNode(key, node) {
+    if (typeof key != 'string') {
+      node = key
+      key = node.key
+    }
+
+    let nodes = this.nodes.set(key, node)
+    return this.merge({ nodes })
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * Remove a `node` from the children node map.
+   *
+   * @param {String or Node} key
+   * @return {Node} node
+   */
+
+  removeNode(key) {
+    if (typeof key != 'string') {
+      key = key.key
+    }
+
+    let nodes = this.nodes.remove(key)
     return this.merge({ nodes })
   }
 
   /**
    * Set a new value for a child node by `key`.
    *
-   * @param {String} key
+   * @param {String or Node} key
    * @param {Node} node
    * @return {Node} node
    */
 
-  setNode(key, node) {
+  updateNode(key, node) {
+    if (typeof key != 'string') {
+      node = key
+      key = node.key
+    }
+
     if (this.nodes.get(key)) {
       const nodes = this.nodes.set(key, node)
       return this.set('nodes', nodes)
@@ -216,7 +300,7 @@ class Node extends NodeRecord {
 
     const nodes = this.nodes.map((child) => {
       return child instanceof Node
-        ? child.setNode(key, node)
+        ? child.updateNode(key, node)
         : child
     })
 
diff --git a/lib/models/selection.js b/lib/models/selection.js
index 22db0b4db..2faa8ffe7 100644
--- a/lib/models/selection.js
+++ b/lib/models/selection.js
@@ -60,31 +60,190 @@ class Selection extends SelectionRecord {
   }
 
   /**
-   * Check whether the selection is at the start of a `state`.
+   * Check whether the selection is at the start of a `node`.
    *
-   * @param {State} state
+   * @param {Node} node
    * @return {Boolean} isAtStart
    */
 
-  isAtStartOf(state) {
-    const { nodes } = state
-    const { startKey } = this
-    const first = nodes.first()
-    return startKey == first.key
+  isAtStartOf(node) {
+    const { startKey, startOffset } = this
+    const first = node.type == 'text' ? node : node.nodes.first()
+    return startKey == first.key && startOffset == 0
   }
 
   /**
-   * Check whether the selection is at the end of a `state`.
+   * Check whether the selection is at the end of a `node`.
    *
-   * @param {State} state
+   * @param {Node} node
    * @return {Boolean} isAtEnd
    */
 
-  isAtEndOf(state) {
-    const { nodes } = state
-    const { endKey } = this
-    const last = nodes.last()
-    return endKey == last.key
+  isAtEndOf(node) {
+    const { endKey, endOffset } = this
+    const last = node.type == 'text' ? node : node.nodes.last()
+    return endKey == last.key && endOffset == last.length
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * Move the selection to a set of `properties`.
+   *
+   * @param {Object} properties
+   * @return {State} state
+   */
+
+  moveTo(properties) {
+    return this.merge(properties)
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * Move the focus point to the anchor point.
+   *
+   * @return {Selection} selection
+   */
+
+  moveToAnchor() {
+    return this.merge({
+      focusKey: this.anchorKey,
+      focusOffset: this.anchorOffset
+    })
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * Move the anchor point to the focus point.
+   *
+   * @return {Selection} selection
+   */
+
+  moveToFocus() {
+    return this.merge({
+      anchorKey: this.focusKey,
+      anchorOffset: this.focusOffset
+    })
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * Move the end point to the start point.
+   *
+   * @return {Selection} selection
+   */
+
+  moveToStart() {
+    return this.isBackward
+      ? this.merge({
+          anchorKey: this.focusKey,
+          anchorOffset: this.focusOffset,
+          isBackward: false
+        })
+      : this.merge({
+          focusKey: this.anchorKey,
+          focusOffset: this.anchorOffset,
+          isBackward: false
+        })
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * Move the start point to the end point.
+   *
+   * @return {Selection} selection
+   */
+
+  moveToEnd() {
+    return this.isBackward
+      ? this.merge({
+          focusKey: this.anchorKey,
+          focusOffset: this.anchorOffset,
+          isBackward: false
+        })
+      : this.merge({
+          anchorKey: this.focusKey,
+          anchorOffset: this.focusOffset,
+          isBackward: false
+        })
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * Move to the start of a `node`.
+   *
+   * @return {Selection} selection
+   */
+
+  moveToStartOf(node) {
+    return this.merge({
+      anchorKey: node.key,
+      anchorOffset: 0,
+      focusKey: node.key,
+      focusOffset: 0,
+      isBackward: false
+    })
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * Move to the end of a `node`.
+   *
+   * @return {Selection} selection
+   */
+
+  moveToEndOf(node) {
+    return this.merge({
+      anchorKey: node.key,
+      anchorOffset: node.length,
+      focusKey: node.key,
+      focusOffset: node.length,
+      isBackward: false
+    })
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * Move to the entire range of a `node`.
+   *
+   * @return {Selection} selection
+   */
+
+  moveToRangeOf(node) {
+    return this.merge({
+      anchorKey: node.key,
+      anchorOffset: 0,
+      focusKey: node.key,
+      focusOffset: node.length,
+      isBackward: false
+    })
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * Move the selection forward `n` characters.
+   *
+   * @param {Number} n
+   * @return {Selection} selection
+   */
+
+  moveForward(n = 1) {
+    if (!this.isCollapsed) {
+      throw new Error('The selection must be collapsed to move forward.')
+    }
+
+    return this.merge({
+      anchorOffset: this.anchorOffset + n,
+      focusOffset: this.focusOffset + n
+    })
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * Move the selection backward `n` characters.
+   *
+   * @param {Number} n
+   * @return {Selection} selection
+   */
+
+  moveBackward(n = 1) {
+    if (!this.isCollapsed) {
+      throw new Error('The selection must be collapsed to move backward.')
+    }
+
+    return this.merge({
+      anchorOffset: this.anchorOffset - n,
+      focusOffset: this.focusOffset - n
+    })
   }
 
 }
diff --git a/lib/models/state.js b/lib/models/state.js
index 89cd2e1bf..35bb682a5 100644
--- a/lib/models/state.js
+++ b/lib/models/state.js
@@ -14,6 +14,40 @@ const StateRecord = new Record({
   selection: new Selection()
 })
 
+/**
+ * Node-like methods, that should be mixed into the `State` prototype.
+ */
+
+const NODE_LIKE_METHODS = [
+  'filterNodes',
+  'findNode',
+  'getNextNode',
+  'getNode',
+  'getParentNode',
+  'getPreviousNode',
+  'hasNode',
+  'pushNode',
+  'removeNode',
+  'updateNode'
+]
+
+/**
+ * Selection-like methods, that should be mixed into the `State` prototype.
+ */
+
+const SELECTION_LIKE_METHODS = [
+  'moveTo',
+  'moveToAnchor',
+  'moveToEnd',
+  'moveToFocus',
+  'moveToStart',
+  'moveToStartOf',
+  'moveToEndOf',
+  'moveToRangeOf',
+  'moveForward',
+  'moveBackward'
+]
+
 /**
  * State.
  */
@@ -34,15 +68,25 @@ class State extends StateRecord {
   }
 
   /**
+   * Get whether the selection is collapsed.
    *
-   * NODES HELPERS.
-   * ==============
-   *
-   * These are all nodes-like helper functions that help with actions related to
-   * the recursively-nested node tree.
-   *
+   * @return {Boolean} isCollapsed
    */
 
+  get isCollapsed() {
+    return this.selection.isCollapsed
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * Get the length of the concatenated text of all nodes.
+   *
+   * @return {Number} length
+   */
+
+  get length() {
+    return this.text.length
+  }
+
   /**
    * Get the concatenated text of all nodes.
    *
@@ -56,226 +100,182 @@ class State extends StateRecord {
   }
 
   /**
-   * Get a node by `key`.
+   * Get the anchor key.
    *
-   * @param {String} key
-   * @return {Node or Null}
+   * @return {String} anchorKey
    */
 
-  getNode(key) {
-    return this.findNode(node => node.key == key) || null
+  get anchorKey() {
+    return this.selection.anchorKey
   }
 
   /**
-   * Get the child node after the one by `key`.
+   * Get the anchor offset.
    *
-   * @param {String} key
-   * @return {Node or Null}
+   * @return {String} anchorOffset
    */
 
-  getNodeAfter(key) {
-    const shallow = this.nodes
-      .skipUntil(node => node.key == key)
-      .rest()
-      .first()
-
-    if (shallow != null) return shallow
-
-    return this.nodes
-      .map(node => node instanceof Node ? node.getNodeAfter(key) : null)
-      .filter(node => node)
-      .first()
+  get anchorOffset() {
+    return this.selection.anchorOffset
   }
 
   /**
-   * Get the child text node at `offset`.
+   * Get the focus key.
    *
-   * @param {String} offset
-   * @return {Node or Null}
+   * @return {String} focusKey
    */
 
-  getNodeAtOffset(offset) {
-    let node = null
-    let i
-
-    this.nodes.forEach((child) => {
-      const match = child.text.length > offset + i
-      if (!match) return
-      node = match.type == 'text'
-        ? match
-        : match.getNodeAtOffset(offset - i)
-    })
-
-    return node
+  get focusKey() {
+    return this.selection.focusKey
   }
 
   /**
-   * Get the parent of a child node by `key`.
+   * Get the focus offset.
    *
-   * @param {String} key
-   * @return {Node or Null}
+   * @return {String} focusOffset
    */
 
-  getParentOfNode(key) {
-    if (this.nodes.get(key)) return this
-    let node = null
-
-    this.nodes.forEach((child) => {
-      if (!(child instanceof Node)) return
-      const match = child.getParentOfNode(key)
-      if (match) node = match
-    })
-
-    return node
+  get focusOffset() {
+    return this.selection.focusOffset
   }
 
   /**
-   * Recursively find children nodes by `iterator`.
+   * Get the start key.
    *
-   * @param {Function} iterator
-   * @return {OrderedMap} matches
+   * @return {String} startKey
    */
 
-  findNode(iterator) {
-    const shallow = this.nodes.find(iterator)
-    if (shallow != null) return shallow
-
-    const deep = this.nodes
-      .map(node => node instanceof Node ? node.findNode(iterator) : null)
-      .filter(node => node)
-      .first()
-    return deep
+  get startKey() {
+    return this.selection.startKey
   }
 
   /**
-   * Recursively filter children nodes with `iterator`.
+   * Get the start offset.
    *
-   * @param {Function} iterator
-   * @return {OrderedMap} matches
+   * @return {String} startOffset
    */
 
-  filterNodes(iterator) {
-    const shallow = this.nodes.filter(iterator)
-    const deep = this.nodes
-      .map(node => node instanceof Node ? node.filterNodes(iterator) : null)
-      .filter(node => node)
-      .reduce((all, map) => {
-        return all.concat(map)
-      }, shallow)
-
-    return deep
+  get startOffset() {
+    return this.selection.startOffset
   }
 
   /**
-   * Push a new `node` onto the map of nodes.
+   * Get the end key.
+   *
+   * @return {String} endKey
+   */
+
+  get endKey() {
+    return this.selection.endKey
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * Get the end offset.
+   *
+   * @return {String} endOffset
+   */
+
+  get endOffset() {
+    return this.selection.endOffset
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * Get the anchor node.
    *
-   * @param {Node} node
    * @return {Node} node
    */
 
-  pushNode(node) {
-    let notes = this.notes.set(node.key, node)
-    return this.merge({ notes })
+  get anchorNode() {
+    return this.getNode(this.anchorKey)
   }
 
   /**
-   * Set a new value for a child node by `key`.
+   * Get the focus node.
    *
-   * @param {String} key
-   * @param {Node} node
    * @return {Node} node
    */
 
-  setNode(key, node) {
-    if (this.nodes.get(key)) {
-      const nodes = this.nodes.set(key, node)
-      return this.merge({ nodes })
-    }
-
-    const nodes = this.nodes.map((child) => {
-      return child instanceof Node
-        ? child.setNode(key, node)
-        : child
-    })
-
-    return this.merge({ nodes })
+  get focusNode() {
+    return this.getNode(this.focusKey)
   }
 
   /**
+   * Get the start node.
    *
-   * TRANSFORMS.
-   * -----------
-   *
-   * These are all transform helper functions that map to a specific transform
-   * type that you can apply to a state.
-   *
+   * @return {Node} node
    */
 
+  get startNode() {
+    return this.getNode(this.startKey)
+  }
+
   /**
-   * Backspace a single character.
+   * Get the end node.
+   *
+   * @return {Node} node
+   */
+
+  get endNode() {
+    return this.getNode(this.endKey)
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * Is the selection at the start of `node`?
+   *
+   * @param {Node} node
+   * @return {Boolean} isAtStart
+   */
+
+  isAtStartOf(node) {
+    return this.selection.isAtStartOf(node)
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * Is the selection at the end of `node`?
+   *
+   * @param {Node} node
+   * @return {Boolean} isAtEnd
+   */
+
+  isAtEndOf(node) {
+    return this.selection.isAtEndOf(node)
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * Backspace.
    *
    * @return {State} state
    */
 
   backspace() {
-    const { selection } = this
+    let state = this
 
-    // when not collapsed, remove the entire selection
-    if (!selection.isCollapsed) {
-      return this
-        .removeSelection(selection)
-        .collapseBackward()
+    // When not collapsed, remove the entire selection.
+    if (!state.isCollapsed) {
+      state = state.removeRange()
+      state = state.moveToStart()
+      return state
     }
 
-    // when already at the start of the content, there's nothing to do
-    if (selection.isAtStartOf(this)) return this
+    // When already at the start of the content, there's nothing to do.
+    if (state.isAtStartOf(state)) return state
 
-    // otherwise, remove one character behind of the cursor
-    const { startKey, endOffset } = selection
-    const node = this.getNode(startKey)
+    // When at start of a node, merge backwards into the previous node.
+    const { startNode } = state
+    if (state.isAtStartOf(startNode)) {
+      const parent = state.getParentNode(startNode)
+      const previous = state.getPreviousNode(parent).nodes.first()
+      const range = selection.moveToEndOf(previous)
+      state = state.removeRange(range)
+      return state
+    }
+
+    // Otherwise, remove one character behind of the cursor.
+    const { endOffset } = state
     const startOffset = endOffset - 1
-    return this
-      .removeCharacters(node, startOffset, endOffset)
-      .moveTo({
-        anchorOffset: startOffset,
-        focusOffset: startOffset
-      })
-  }
-
-  /**
-   * Collapse the current selection backward, towards it's anchor point.
-   *
-   * @return {State} state
-   */
-
-  collapseBackward() {
-    let { selection } = this
-    let { anchorKey, anchorOffset } = selection
-
-    selection = selection.merge({
-      focusKey: anchorKey,
-      focusOffset: anchorOffset
-    })
-
-    return this.merge({ selection })
-  }
-
-  /**
-   * Collapse the current selection forward, towards it's focus point.
-   *
-   * @return {State} state
-   */
-
-  collapseForward() {
-    let { selection } = this
-    const { focusKey, focusOffset } = selection
-
-    selection = selection.merge({
-      anchorKey: focusKey,
-      anchorOffset: focusOffset
-    })
-
-    return this.merge({ selection })
+    state = state.removeCharacters(startNode.key, startOffset, endOffset)
+    state = state.moveBackward()
+    return state
   }
 
   /**
@@ -285,39 +285,23 @@ class State extends StateRecord {
    */
 
   delete() {
-    const { selection } = this
+    let state = this
 
-    // when not collapsed, remove the entire selection
-    if (!selection.isCollapsed) {
-      return this
-        .removeSelection(selection)
-        .collapseBackward()
+    // When not collapsed, remove the entire selection range.
+    if (!state.isCollapsed) {
+      state = state.removeRange()
+      state = state.moveToStart()
+      return state
     }
 
-    // when already at the end of the content, there's nothing to do
-    if (selection.isAtEndOf(this)) return this
+    // When already at the end of the content, there's nothing to do.
+    if (state.isAtEndOf(state)) return state
 
-    // otherwise, remove one character ahead of the cursor
-    const { startKey, startOffset } = selection
-    const node = this.getNode(startKey)
+    // Otherwise, remove one character ahead of the cursor.
+    const { startOffset, startNode } = state
     const endOffset = startOffset + 1
-    return this.removeCharacters(node, startOffset, endOffset)
-  }
-
-  /**
-   * Move the selection to a specific anchor and focus.
-   *
-   * @param {Object} properties
-   *   @property {String} anchorKey (optional)
-   *   @property {Number} anchorOffset (optional)
-   *   @property {String} focusKey (optional)
-   *   @property {String} focusOffset (optional)
-   * @return {State} state
-   */
-
-  moveTo(properties) {
-    const selection = this.selection.merge(properties)
-    return this.merge({ selection })
+    state = state.removeCharacters(startNode.key, startOffset, endOffset)
+    return state
   }
 
   /**
@@ -370,15 +354,15 @@ class State extends StateRecord {
    */
 
   removeCharacters(key, startOffset, endOffset) {
-    let node = this.getNode(key)
-    let { characters } = node
-
-    characters = node.characters.filterNot((char, i) => {
+    let state = this
+    let node = state.getNode(key)
+    const characters = node.characters.filterNot((char, i) => {
       return startOffset <= i && i < endOffset
     })
 
     node = node.merge({ characters })
-    return this.setNode(key, node)
+    state = state.updateNode(node)
+    return state
   }
 
   /**
@@ -388,12 +372,13 @@ class State extends StateRecord {
    */
 
   split() {
-    let { selection } = this
-    let state = this.splitSelection(selection)
-    let { anchorKey } = state.selection
-    let parent = state.getParentOfNode(anchorKey)
-    let node = state.getNodeAfter(parent.key)
-    let text = node.nodes.first()
+    let state = this
+    const { selection } = state
+    state = state.splitRange(selection)
+    const { anchorKey } = state.selection
+    const parent = state.getParentNode(anchorKey)
+    const next = state.getNextNode(parent)
+    const text = next.nodes.first()
     return state.moveTo({
       anchorKey: text.key,
       anchorOffset: 0,
@@ -409,12 +394,12 @@ class State extends StateRecord {
    * @return {State} state
    */
 
-  splitSelection(selection) {
+  splitRange(selection) {
     let state = this
 
     // if there's an existing selection, remove it first
     if (!selection.isCollapsed) {
-      state = state.removeSelection(selection)
+      state = state.removeRange(selection)
       selection = selection.merge({
         focusKey: selection.anchorKey,
         focusOffset: selection.anchorOffset
@@ -424,7 +409,7 @@ class State extends StateRecord {
     // then split the node at the selection
     const { startKey, startOffset } = selection
     const text = state.getNode(startKey)
-    const parent = state.getParentOfNode(text.key)
+    const parent = state.getParentNode(text)
 
     // split the characters
     const { characters , length } = text
@@ -433,7 +418,7 @@ class State extends StateRecord {
 
     // Create a new first node with only the first set of characters.
     const firstText = text.set('characters', firstCharacters)
-    const firstNode = parent.setNode(firstText.key, firstText)
+    const firstNode = parent.updateNode(firstText)
 
     // Create a brand new second node with the second set of characters.
     let secondText = Text.create({})
@@ -446,7 +431,7 @@ class State extends StateRecord {
     secondNode = secondNode.pushNode(secondText)
 
     // Replace the old parent node in the grandparent with the two new ones.
-    let grandparent = state.getParentOfNode(parent.key)
+    let grandparent = state.getParentNode(parent)
     const befores = grandparent.nodes.takeUntil(node => node.key == parent.key)
     const afters = grandparent.nodes.skipUntil(node => node.key == parent.key).rest()
     const nodes = befores
@@ -458,14 +443,79 @@ class State extends StateRecord {
       state = state.merge({ nodes })
     } else {
       grandparent = grandparent.merge({ nodes })
-      state = state.setNode(grandparent.key, grandparent)
+      state = state.updateNode(grandparent)
     }
 
     return state
   }
 
+  /**
+   * Merge the nodes between `selection`.
+   *
+   * @param {Selection} selection (optional)
+   * @return {State} state
+   */
+
+  removeRange(selection = this.selection) {
+    let state = this
+
+    // If the selection is collapsed, there's nothing to do.
+    if (selection.isCollapsed) return state
+
+    // If the start and end nodes are the same, just remove the matching text.
+    const { startKey, startOffset, endKey, endOffset } = selection
+    if (startKey == endKey) {
+      return state.removeCharacters(startKey, startOffset, endOffset)
+    }
+
+    // Otherwise, remove the text from the first and last nodes...
+    let startText = state.getNode(startKey)
+    state = state.removeCharacters(startKey, startOffset, startText.length)
+    state = state.removeCharacters(endKey, 0, endOffset)
+
+    // Then remove any nodes in between the top-most start and end nodes...
+    let startNode = state.getParentNode(startKey)
+    let endNode = state.getParentNode(endKey)
+    const startParent = state.nodes.find(node => node == startNode || node.hasNode(startNode))
+    const endParent = state.nodes.find(node => node == endNode || node.hasNode(endNode))
+
+    const nodes = state.nodes
+      .takeUntil(node => node == startParent)
+      .set(startParent.key, startParent)
+      .concat(state.nodes.skipUntil(node => node == endParent))
+
+    state = state.merge({ nodes })
+
+    // Then bring the end text node into the start node.
+    let endText = state.getNode(endKey)
+    startNode = startNode.pushNode(endText)
+    endNode = endNode.removeNode(endText)
+    state = state.updateNode(startNode)
+    state = state.updateNode(endNode)
+    return state
+  }
+
 }
 
+/**
+ * Mix in node-like methods.
+ */
+
+NODE_LIKE_METHODS.forEach((method) => {
+  State.prototype[method] = Node.prototype[method]
+})
+
+/**
+ * Mix in selection-like methods.
+ */
+
+SELECTION_LIKE_METHODS.forEach((method) => {
+  State.prototype[method] = function (...args) {
+    let selection = this.selection[method](...args)
+    return this.merge({ selection })
+  }
+})
+
 /**
  * Export.
  */
diff --git a/lib/models/text.js b/lib/models/text.js
index d958a8b0a..d90cae625 100644
--- a/lib/models/text.js
+++ b/lib/models/text.js
@@ -55,6 +55,16 @@ class Text extends TextRecord {
       .join('')
   }
 
+  /**
+   * Immutable type to match other nodes.
+   *
+   * @return {String} type
+   */
+
+  get type() {
+    return 'text'
+  }
+
 }
 
 /**
diff --git a/lib/utils/find-offset-key.js b/lib/utils/find-offset-key.js
deleted file mode 100644
index dc2cd7d42..000000000
--- a/lib/utils/find-offset-key.js
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,24 +0,0 @@
-
-/**
- * Find the nearest parent of a `node` and return their offset key.
- *
- * @param {Node} node
- * @return {String} key
- */
-
-export default function findOffsetKey(node) {
-  let match = node
-
-  while (match && match != document.documentElement) {
-    if (
-      match instanceof Element &&
-      match.hasAttribute('data-key')
-    ) {
-      return match.getAttribute('data-key')
-    }
-
-    match = match.parentNode
-  }
-
-  return null
-}
diff --git a/lib/utils/find-selection.js b/lib/utils/find-selection.js
deleted file mode 100644
index 01e899853..000000000
--- a/lib/utils/find-selection.js
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,35 +0,0 @@
-
-import findOffsetKey from './find-offset-key'
-
-/**
- * Offset key splitter.
- */
-
-const SPLITTER = /^(\w+)(?:\.(\d+)-(\d+))?$/
-
-/**
- * Find the selection anchor properties from a `node`.
- *
- * @param {Node} node
- * @param {Number} nodeOffset
- * @return {Object} anchor
- *   @property {String} anchorKey
- *   @property {Number} anchorOffset
- */
-
-export default function findSelection(node, nodeOffset) {
-  const offsetKey = findOffsetKey(node)
-  if (!offsetKey) return null
-
-  const matches = SPLITTER.exec(offsetKey)
-  if (!matches) throw new Error(`Unknown offset key "${offsetKey}".`)
-
-  let [ all, key, offsetStart, offsetEnd ] = matches
-  offsetStart = parseInt(offsetStart, 10)
-  offsetEnd = parseInt(offsetEnd, 10)
-
-  return {
-    key: key,
-    offset: offsetStart + nodeOffset
-  }
-}
diff --git a/lib/utils/offset-key.js b/lib/utils/offset-key.js
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..0a97c7c9a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lib/utils/offset-key.js
@@ -0,0 +1,90 @@
+
+/**
+ * Offset key parser regex.
+ */
+
+const PARSER = /^(\w+)(?::(\d+)-(\d+))?$/
+
+/**
+ * Offset key attribute name.
+ */
+
+const ATTRIBUTE = 'data-offset-key'
+
+/**
+ * From a `node`, find the closest parent's offset key.
+ *
+ * @param {Node} node
+ * @return {String} key
+ */
+
+function findKey(node) {
+  if (node.nodeType == 3) node = node.parentNode
+  const parent = node.closest(`[${ATTRIBUTE}]`)
+  if (!parent) return null
+  return parent.getAttribute(ATTRIBUTE)
+}
+
+/**
+ * From a `node` and `offset`, find the closest parent's point.
+ *
+ * @param {Node} node
+ * @param {Offset} offset
+ * @return {String} key
+ */
+
+function findPoint(node, offset) {
+  const key = findKey(node)
+  const parsed = parse(key)
+  return {
+    key: parsed.key,
+    offset: parsed.start + offset
+  }
+}
+
+/**
+ * Parse an offset key `string`.
+ *
+ * @param {String} string
+ * @return {Object} parsed
+ */
+
+function parse(string) {
+  const matches = PARSER.exec(string)
+  if (!matches) throw new Error(`Invalid offset key string "${string}".`)
+
+  let [ original, key, start, end ] = matches
+  start = parseInt(start, 10)
+  end = parseInt(end, 10)
+
+  return {
+    key,
+    start,
+    end
+  }
+}
+
+/**
+ * Stringify an offset key `object`.
+ *
+ * @param {Object} object
+ *   @property {String} key
+ *   @property {Number} start
+ *   @property {Number} end
+ * @return {String} key
+ */
+
+function stringify(object) {
+  return `${object.key}:${object.start}-${object.end}`
+}
+
+/**
+ * Export.
+ */
+
+export default {
+  findKey,
+  findPoint,
+  parse,
+  stringify
+}