diff --git a/lib/std/array_list.zig b/lib/std/array_list.zig
index 9144d2c644..ab47510cb7 100644
--- a/lib/std/array_list.zig
+++ b/lib/std/array_list.zig
@@ -59,13 +59,7 @@ pub fn ArrayListAligned(comptime T: type, comptime alignment: ?u29) type {
             self.allocator.free(self.allocatedSlice());
         }
 
-        /// Deprecated: use `items` field directly.
-        /// Return contents as a slice. Only valid while the list
-        /// doesn't change size.
-        pub fn span(self: anytype) @TypeOf(self.items) {
-            return self.items;
-        }
-
+        pub const span = @compileError("deprecated: use `items` field directly");
         pub const toSlice = @compileError("deprecated: use `items` field directly");
         pub const toSliceConst = @compileError("deprecated: use `items` field directly");
         pub const at = @compileError("deprecated: use `list.items[i]`");
@@ -1061,7 +1055,7 @@ test "std.ArrayList(u8) implements outStream" {
     const y: i32 = 1234;
     try buffer.outStream().print("x: {}\ny: {}\n", .{ x, y });
 
-    testing.expectEqualSlices(u8, "x: 42\ny: 1234\n", buffer.span());
+    testing.expectEqualSlices(u8, "x: 42\ny: 1234\n", buffer.items);
 }
 
 test "std.ArrayList/ArrayListUnmanaged.shrink still sets length on error.OutOfMemory" {
diff --git a/lib/std/array_list_sentineled.zig b/lib/std/array_list_sentineled.zig
index d73367327e..31f8f4fd80 100644
--- a/lib/std/array_list_sentineled.zig
+++ b/lib/std/array_list_sentineled.zig
@@ -147,7 +147,7 @@ pub fn ArrayListSentineled(comptime T: type, comptime sentinel: T) type {
 
         pub fn replaceContents(self: *Self, m: []const T) !void {
             try self.resize(m.len);
-            mem.copy(T, self.list.span(), m);
+            mem.copy(T, self.list.items, m);
         }
 
         /// Initializes an OutStream which will append to the list.
diff --git a/lib/std/build.zig b/lib/std/build.zig
index e65d029119..1691ab33bc 100644
--- a/lib/std/build.zig
+++ b/lib/std/build.zig
@@ -386,7 +386,7 @@ pub const Builder = struct {
             }
         }
 
-        for (wanted_steps.span()) |s| {
+        for (wanted_steps.items) |s| {
             try self.makeOneStep(s);
         }
     }
@@ -403,7 +403,7 @@ pub const Builder = struct {
         const uninstall_tls = @fieldParentPtr(TopLevelStep, "step", uninstall_step);
         const self = @fieldParentPtr(Builder, "uninstall_tls", uninstall_tls);
 
-        for (self.installed_files.span()) |installed_file| {
+        for (self.installed_files.items) |installed_file| {
             const full_path = self.getInstallPath(installed_file.dir, installed_file.path);
             if (self.verbose) {
                 warn("rm {}\n", .{full_path});
@@ -421,7 +421,7 @@ pub const Builder = struct {
         }
         s.loop_flag = true;
 
-        for (s.dependencies.span()) |dep| {
+        for (s.dependencies.items) |dep| {
             self.makeOneStep(dep) catch |err| {
                 if (err == error.DependencyLoopDetected) {
                     warn("  {}\n", .{s.name});
@@ -436,7 +436,7 @@ pub const Builder = struct {
     }
 
     fn getTopLevelStepByName(self: *Builder, name: []const u8) !*Step {
-        for (self.top_level_steps.span()) |top_level_step| {
+        for (self.top_level_steps.items) |top_level_step| {
             if (mem.eql(u8, top_level_step.step.name, name)) {
                 return &top_level_step.step;
             }
@@ -550,7 +550,7 @@ pub const Builder = struct {
                 .Scalar => |s| {
                     return self.allocator.dupe([]const u8, &[_][]const u8{s}) catch unreachable;
                 },
-                .List => |lst| return lst.span(),
+                .List => |lst| return lst.items,
             },
         }
     }
@@ -951,7 +951,7 @@ pub const Builder = struct {
     pub fn findProgram(self: *Builder, names: []const []const u8, paths: []const []const u8) ![]const u8 {
         // TODO report error for ambiguous situations
         const exe_extension = @as(CrossTarget, .{}).exeFileExt();
-        for (self.search_prefixes.span()) |search_prefix| {
+        for (self.search_prefixes.items) |search_prefix| {
             for (names) |name| {
                 if (fs.path.isAbsolute(name)) {
                     return name;
@@ -1096,7 +1096,7 @@ pub const Builder = struct {
                 .desc = tok_it.rest(),
             });
         }
-        return list.span();
+        return list.items;
     }
 
     fn getPkgConfigList(self: *Builder) ![]const PkgConfigPkg {
@@ -1504,7 +1504,7 @@ pub const LibExeObjStep = struct {
         if (isLibCLibrary(name)) {
             return self.is_linking_libc;
         }
-        for (self.link_objects.span()) |link_object| {
+        for (self.link_objects.items) |link_object| {
             switch (link_object) {
                 LinkObject.SystemLib => |n| if (mem.eql(u8, n, name)) return true,
                 else => continue,
@@ -1903,7 +1903,7 @@ pub const LibExeObjStep = struct {
         self.include_dirs.append(IncludeDir{ .OtherStep = other }) catch unreachable;
 
         // Inherit dependency on system libraries
-        for (other.link_objects.span()) |link_object| {
+        for (other.link_objects.items) |link_object| {
             switch (link_object) {
                 .SystemLib => |name| self.linkSystemLibrary(name),
                 else => continue,
@@ -1965,7 +1965,7 @@ pub const LibExeObjStep = struct {
         if (self.root_src) |root_src| try zig_args.append(root_src.getPath(builder));
 
         var prev_has_extra_flags = false;
-        for (self.link_objects.span()) |link_object| {
+        for (self.link_objects.items) |link_object| {
             switch (link_object) {
                 .StaticPath => |static_path| {
                     try zig_args.append(builder.pathFromRoot(static_path));
@@ -2035,7 +2035,7 @@ pub const LibExeObjStep = struct {
                 &[_][]const u8{ builder.cache_root, builder.fmt("{}_build_options.zig", .{self.name}) },
             );
             const path_from_root = builder.pathFromRoot(build_options_file);
-            try fs.cwd().writeFile(path_from_root, self.build_options_contents.span());
+            try fs.cwd().writeFile(path_from_root, self.build_options_contents.items);
             try zig_args.append("--pkg-begin");
             try zig_args.append("build_options");
             try zig_args.append(path_from_root);
@@ -2233,11 +2233,11 @@ pub const LibExeObjStep = struct {
             },
         }
 
-        for (self.packages.span()) |pkg| {
+        for (self.packages.items) |pkg| {
             try self.makePackageCmd(pkg, &zig_args);
         }
 
-        for (self.include_dirs.span()) |include_dir| {
+        for (self.include_dirs.items) |include_dir| {
             switch (include_dir) {
                 .RawPath => |include_path| {
                     try zig_args.append("-I");
@@ -2255,18 +2255,18 @@ pub const LibExeObjStep = struct {
             }
         }
 
-        for (self.lib_paths.span()) |lib_path| {
+        for (self.lib_paths.items) |lib_path| {
             try zig_args.append("-L");
             try zig_args.append(lib_path);
         }
 
-        for (self.c_macros.span()) |c_macro| {
+        for (self.c_macros.items) |c_macro| {
             try zig_args.append("-D");
             try zig_args.append(c_macro);
         }
 
         if (self.target.isDarwin()) {
-            for (self.framework_dirs.span()) |dir| {
+            for (self.framework_dirs.items) |dir| {
                 try zig_args.append("-F");
                 try zig_args.append(dir);
             }
@@ -2322,11 +2322,11 @@ pub const LibExeObjStep = struct {
         }
 
         if (self.kind == Kind.Test) {
-            try builder.spawnChild(zig_args.span());
+            try builder.spawnChild(zig_args.items);
         } else {
             try zig_args.append("--enable-cache");
 
-            const output_dir_nl = try builder.execFromStep(zig_args.span(), &self.step);
+            const output_dir_nl = try builder.execFromStep(zig_args.items, &self.step);
             const build_output_dir = mem.trimRight(u8, output_dir_nl, "\r\n");
 
             if (self.output_dir) |output_dir| {
diff --git a/lib/std/build/emit_raw.zig b/lib/std/build/emit_raw.zig
index 75fd7be613..ce2b6dfe2a 100644
--- a/lib/std/build/emit_raw.zig
+++ b/lib/std/build/emit_raw.zig
@@ -79,7 +79,7 @@ const BinaryElfOutput = struct {
                 newSegment.binaryOffset = 0;
                 newSegment.firstSection = null;
 
-                for (self.sections.span()) |section| {
+                for (self.sections.items) |section| {
                     if (sectionWithinSegment(section, phdr)) {
                         if (section.segment) |sectionSegment| {
                             if (sectionSegment.elfOffset > newSegment.elfOffset) {
@@ -99,7 +99,7 @@ const BinaryElfOutput = struct {
             }
         }
 
-        sort.sort(*BinaryElfSegment, self.segments.span(), {}, segmentSortCompare);
+        sort.sort(*BinaryElfSegment, self.segments.items, {}, segmentSortCompare);
 
         if (self.segments.items.len > 0) {
             const firstSegment = self.segments.items[0];
@@ -112,19 +112,19 @@ const BinaryElfOutput = struct {
 
                 const basePhysicalAddress = firstSegment.physicalAddress;
 
-                for (self.segments.span()) |segment| {
+                for (self.segments.items) |segment| {
                     segment.binaryOffset = segment.physicalAddress - basePhysicalAddress;
                 }
             }
         }
 
-        for (self.sections.span()) |section| {
+        for (self.sections.items) |section| {
             if (section.segment) |segment| {
                 section.binaryOffset = segment.binaryOffset + (section.elfOffset - segment.elfOffset);
             }
         }
 
-        sort.sort(*BinaryElfSection, self.sections.span(), {}, sectionSortCompare);
+        sort.sort(*BinaryElfSection, self.sections.items, {}, sectionSortCompare);
 
         return self;
     }
@@ -172,7 +172,7 @@ fn emitRaw(allocator: *Allocator, elf_path: []const u8, raw_path: []const u8) !v
     var binary_elf_output = try BinaryElfOutput.parse(allocator, elf_file);
     defer binary_elf_output.deinit();
 
-    for (binary_elf_output.sections.span()) |section| {
+    for (binary_elf_output.sections.items) |section| {
         try writeBinaryElfSection(elf_file, out_file, section);
     }
 }
diff --git a/lib/std/build/run.zig b/lib/std/build/run.zig
index 71e0d614f5..137d11f9b5 100644
--- a/lib/std/build/run.zig
+++ b/lib/std/build/run.zig
@@ -159,7 +159,7 @@ pub const RunStep = struct {
         const cwd = if (self.cwd) |cwd| self.builder.pathFromRoot(cwd) else self.builder.build_root;
 
         var argv_list = ArrayList([]const u8).init(self.builder.allocator);
-        for (self.argv.span()) |arg| {
+        for (self.argv.items) |arg| {
             switch (arg) {
                 Arg.Bytes => |bytes| try argv_list.append(bytes),
                 Arg.WriteFile => |file| {
@@ -176,7 +176,7 @@ pub const RunStep = struct {
             }
         }
 
-        const argv = argv_list.span();
+        const argv = argv_list.items;
 
         const child = std.ChildProcess.init(argv, self.builder.allocator) catch unreachable;
         defer child.deinit();
@@ -312,7 +312,7 @@ pub const RunStep = struct {
     }
 
     fn addPathForDynLibs(self: *RunStep, artifact: *LibExeObjStep) void {
-        for (artifact.link_objects.span()) |link_object| {
+        for (artifact.link_objects.items) |link_object| {
             switch (link_object) {
                 .OtherStep => |other| {
                     if (other.target.isWindows() and other.isDynamicLibrary()) {
diff --git a/lib/std/build/translate_c.zig b/lib/std/build/translate_c.zig
index 87e153066d..688a7df419 100644
--- a/lib/std/build/translate_c.zig
+++ b/lib/std/build/translate_c.zig
@@ -86,7 +86,7 @@ pub const TranslateCStep = struct {
 
         try argv_list.append(self.source.getPath(self.builder));
 
-        const output_path_nl = try self.builder.execFromStep(argv_list.span(), &self.step);
+        const output_path_nl = try self.builder.execFromStep(argv_list.items, &self.step);
         const output_path = mem.trimRight(u8, output_path_nl, "\r\n");
 
         self.out_basename = fs.path.basename(output_path);
diff --git a/lib/std/build/write_file.zig b/lib/std/build/write_file.zig
index 17c4b760a1..923df960de 100644
--- a/lib/std/build/write_file.zig
+++ b/lib/std/build/write_file.zig
@@ -64,7 +64,7 @@ pub const WriteFileStep = struct {
         // new random bytes when WriteFileStep implementation is modified
         // in a non-backwards-compatible way.
         hash.update("eagVR1dYXoE7ARDP");
-        for (self.files.span()) |file| {
+        for (self.files.items) |file| {
             hash.update(file.basename);
             hash.update(file.bytes);
             hash.update("|");
@@ -85,7 +85,7 @@ pub const WriteFileStep = struct {
         };
         var dir = try fs.cwd().openDir(self.output_dir, .{});
         defer dir.close();
-        for (self.files.span()) |file| {
+        for (self.files.items) |file| {
             dir.writeFile(file.basename, file.bytes) catch |err| {
                 warn("unable to write {} into {}: {}\n", .{
                     file.basename,
diff --git a/lib/std/coff.zig b/lib/std/coff.zig
index ea3a232187..1fdf3f8893 100644
--- a/lib/std/coff.zig
+++ b/lib/std/coff.zig
@@ -216,7 +216,7 @@ pub const Coff = struct {
         blk: while (i < debug_dir_entry_count) : (i += 1) {
             const debug_dir_entry = try in.readStruct(DebugDirectoryEntry);
             if (debug_dir_entry.type == IMAGE_DEBUG_TYPE_CODEVIEW) {
-                for (self.sections.span()) |*section| {
+                for (self.sections.items) |*section| {
                     const section_start = section.header.virtual_address;
                     const section_size = section.header.misc.virtual_size;
                     const rva = debug_dir_entry.address_of_raw_data;
@@ -282,7 +282,7 @@ pub const Coff = struct {
     }
 
     pub fn getSection(self: *Coff, comptime name: []const u8) ?*Section {
-        for (self.sections.span()) |*sec| {
+        for (self.sections.items) |*sec| {
             if (mem.eql(u8, sec.header.name[0..name.len], name)) {
                 return sec;
             }
diff --git a/lib/std/debug.zig b/lib/std/debug.zig
index a135dde0ff..b3f3bcd712 100644
--- a/lib/std/debug.zig
+++ b/lib/std/debug.zig
@@ -1507,7 +1507,7 @@ pub const ModuleDebugInfo = switch (builtin.os.tag) {
             const mod_index = for (self.sect_contribs) |sect_contrib| {
                 if (sect_contrib.Section > self.coff.sections.items.len) continue;
                 // Remember that SectionContribEntry.Section is 1-based.
-                coff_section = &self.coff.sections.span()[sect_contrib.Section - 1];
+                coff_section = &self.coff.sections.items[sect_contrib.Section - 1];
 
                 const vaddr_start = coff_section.header.virtual_address + sect_contrib.Offset;
                 const vaddr_end = vaddr_start + sect_contrib.Size;
diff --git a/lib/std/dwarf.zig b/lib/std/dwarf.zig
index 1677f0a04c..3ef0540bdd 100644
--- a/lib/std/dwarf.zig
+++ b/lib/std/dwarf.zig
@@ -87,7 +87,7 @@ const Die = struct {
     };
 
     fn getAttr(self: *const Die, id: u64) ?*const FormValue {
-        for (self.attrs.span()) |*attr| {
+        for (self.attrs.items) |*attr| {
             if (attr.id == id) return &attr.value;
         }
         return null;
@@ -371,7 +371,7 @@ fn parseFormValue(allocator: *mem.Allocator, in_stream: anytype, form_id: u64, e
 }
 
 fn getAbbrevTableEntry(abbrev_table: *const AbbrevTable, abbrev_code: u64) ?*const AbbrevTableEntry {
-    for (abbrev_table.span()) |*table_entry| {
+    for (abbrev_table.items) |*table_entry| {
         if (table_entry.abbrev_code == abbrev_code) return table_entry;
     }
     return null;
@@ -395,7 +395,7 @@ pub const DwarfInfo = struct {
     }
 
     pub fn getSymbolName(di: *DwarfInfo, address: u64) ?[]const u8 {
-        for (di.func_list.span()) |*func| {
+        for (di.func_list.items) |*func| {
             if (func.pc_range) |range| {
                 if (address >= range.start and address < range.end) {
                     return func.name;
@@ -584,7 +584,7 @@ pub const DwarfInfo = struct {
     }
 
     pub fn findCompileUnit(di: *DwarfInfo, target_address: u64) !*const CompileUnit {
-        for (di.compile_unit_list.span()) |*compile_unit| {
+        for (di.compile_unit_list.items) |*compile_unit| {
             if (compile_unit.pc_range) |range| {
                 if (target_address >= range.start and target_address < range.end) return compile_unit;
             }
@@ -632,7 +632,7 @@ pub const DwarfInfo = struct {
     /// Gets an already existing AbbrevTable given the abbrev_offset, or if not found,
     /// seeks in the stream and parses it.
     fn getAbbrevTable(di: *DwarfInfo, abbrev_offset: u64) !*const AbbrevTable {
-        for (di.abbrev_table_list.span()) |*header| {
+        for (di.abbrev_table_list.items) |*header| {
             if (header.offset == abbrev_offset) {
                 return &header.table;
             }
@@ -686,7 +686,7 @@ pub const DwarfInfo = struct {
             .attrs = ArrayList(Die.Attr).init(di.allocator()),
         };
         try result.attrs.resize(table_entry.attrs.items.len);
-        for (table_entry.attrs.span()) |attr, i| {
+        for (table_entry.attrs.items) |attr, i| {
             result.attrs.items[i] = Die.Attr{
                 .id = attr.attr_id,
                 .value = try parseFormValue(di.allocator(), in_stream, attr.form_id, di.endian, is_64),
@@ -753,7 +753,7 @@ pub const DwarfInfo = struct {
         }
 
         var file_entries = ArrayList(FileEntry).init(di.allocator());
-        var prog = LineNumberProgram.init(default_is_stmt, include_directories.span(), &file_entries, target_address);
+        var prog = LineNumberProgram.init(default_is_stmt, include_directories.items, &file_entries, target_address);
 
         while (true) {
             const file_name = try in.readUntilDelimiterAlloc(di.allocator(), 0, math.maxInt(usize));
diff --git a/lib/std/fs.zig b/lib/std/fs.zig
index 0b69c6e533..00eec0b823 100644
--- a/lib/std/fs.zig
+++ b/lib/std/fs.zig
@@ -2138,7 +2138,7 @@ pub const Walker = struct {
         while (true) {
             if (self.stack.items.len == 0) return null;
             // `top` becomes invalid after appending to `self.stack`.
-            const top = &self.stack.span()[self.stack.items.len - 1];
+            const top = &self.stack.items[self.stack.items.len - 1];
             const dirname_len = top.dirname_len;
             if (try top.dir_it.next()) |base| {
                 self.name_buffer.shrink(dirname_len);
@@ -2159,8 +2159,8 @@ pub const Walker = struct {
                 }
                 return Entry{
                     .dir = top.dir_it.dir,
-                    .basename = self.name_buffer.span()[dirname_len + 1 ..],
-                    .path = self.name_buffer.span(),
+                    .basename = self.name_buffer.items[dirname_len + 1 ..],
+                    .path = self.name_buffer.items,
                     .kind = base.kind,
                 };
             } else {
diff --git a/lib/std/io/reader.zig b/lib/std/io/reader.zig
index 4090f5a476..4fe473721f 100644
--- a/lib/std/io/reader.zig
+++ b/lib/std/io/reader.zig
@@ -62,7 +62,7 @@ pub fn Reader(
             var start_index: usize = original_len;
             while (true) {
                 array_list.expandToCapacity();
-                const dest_slice = array_list.span()[start_index..];
+                const dest_slice = array_list.items[start_index..];
                 const bytes_read = try self.readAll(dest_slice);
                 start_index += bytes_read;
 
diff --git a/lib/std/json.zig b/lib/std/json.zig
index f6644fef9c..5200f8236c 100644
--- a/lib/std/json.zig
+++ b/lib/std/json.zig
@@ -1270,7 +1270,7 @@ pub const Value = union(enum) {
             .Integer => |inner| try stringify(inner, options, out_stream),
             .Float => |inner| try stringify(inner, options, out_stream),
             .String => |inner| try stringify(inner, options, out_stream),
-            .Array => |inner| try stringify(inner.span(), options, out_stream),
+            .Array => |inner| try stringify(inner.items, options, out_stream),
             .Object => |inner| {
                 try out_stream.writeByte('{');
                 var field_output = false;
@@ -2057,7 +2057,7 @@ pub const Parser = struct {
     }
 
     fn pushToParent(p: *Parser, value: *const Value) !void {
-        switch (p.stack.span()[p.stack.items.len - 1]) {
+        switch (p.stack.items[p.stack.items.len - 1]) {
             // Object Parent -> [ ..., object, <key>, value ]
             Value.String => |key| {
                 _ = p.stack.pop();
diff --git a/lib/std/net.zig b/lib/std/net.zig
index c041c55e19..1935b051e9 100644
--- a/lib/std/net.zig
+++ b/lib/std/net.zig
@@ -796,7 +796,7 @@ pub fn getAddressList(allocator: *mem.Allocator, name: []const u8, port: u16) !*
             result.canon_name = canon.toOwnedSlice();
         }
 
-        for (lookup_addrs.span()) |lookup_addr, i| {
+        for (lookup_addrs.items) |lookup_addr, i| {
             result.addrs[i] = lookup_addr.addr;
             assert(result.addrs[i].getPort() == port);
         }
@@ -849,7 +849,7 @@ fn linuxLookupName(
     // No further processing is needed if there are fewer than 2
     // results or if there are only IPv4 results.
     if (addrs.items.len == 1 or family == os.AF_INET) return;
-    const all_ip4 = for (addrs.span()) |addr| {
+    const all_ip4 = for (addrs.items) |addr| {
         if (addr.addr.any.family != os.AF_INET) break false;
     } else true;
     if (all_ip4) return;
@@ -861,7 +861,7 @@ fn linuxLookupName(
     // So far the label/precedence table cannot be customized.
     // This implementation is ported from musl libc.
     // A more idiomatic "ziggy" implementation would be welcome.
-    for (addrs.span()) |*addr, i| {
+    for (addrs.items) |*addr, i| {
         var key: i32 = 0;
         var sa6: os.sockaddr_in6 = undefined;
         @memset(@ptrCast([*]u8, &sa6), 0, @sizeOf(os.sockaddr_in6));
@@ -926,7 +926,7 @@ fn linuxLookupName(
         key |= (MAXADDRS - @intCast(i32, i)) << DAS_ORDER_SHIFT;
         addr.sortkey = key;
     }
-    std.sort.sort(LookupAddr, addrs.span(), {}, addrCmpLessThan);
+    std.sort.sort(LookupAddr, addrs.items, {}, addrCmpLessThan);
 }
 
 const Policy = struct {
@@ -1361,9 +1361,9 @@ fn resMSendRc(
     defer ns_list.deinit();
 
     try ns_list.resize(rc.ns.items.len);
-    const ns = ns_list.span();
+    const ns = ns_list.items;
 
-    for (rc.ns.span()) |iplit, i| {
+    for (rc.ns.items) |iplit, i| {
         ns[i] = iplit.addr;
         assert(ns[i].getPort() == 53);
         if (iplit.addr.any.family != os.AF_INET) {
diff --git a/lib/std/pdb.zig b/lib/std/pdb.zig
index 91e22307d8..c35ab6f723 100644
--- a/lib/std/pdb.zig
+++ b/lib/std/pdb.zig
@@ -654,7 +654,7 @@ const MsfStream = struct {
         while (true) {
             const byte = try self.reader().readByte();
             if (byte == 0) {
-                return list.span();
+                return list.items;
             }
             try list.append(byte);
         }
diff --git a/lib/std/process.zig b/lib/std/process.zig
index 9e1e76c2d3..b083126b31 100644
--- a/lib/std/process.zig
+++ b/lib/std/process.zig
@@ -519,8 +519,8 @@ pub fn argsAlloc(allocator: *mem.Allocator) ![][:0]u8 {
         try slice_list.append(arg.len);
     }
 
-    const contents_slice = contents.span();
-    const slice_sizes = slice_list.span();
+    const contents_slice = contents.items;
+    const slice_sizes = slice_list.items;
     const contents_size_bytes = try math.add(usize, contents_slice.len, slice_sizes.len);
     const slice_list_bytes = try math.mul(usize, @sizeOf([]u8), slice_sizes.len);
     const total_bytes = try math.add(usize, slice_list_bytes, contents_size_bytes);
diff --git a/lib/std/special/build_runner.zig b/lib/std/special/build_runner.zig
index f861d3159b..be9745e8f7 100644
--- a/lib/std/special/build_runner.zig
+++ b/lib/std/special/build_runner.zig
@@ -130,7 +130,7 @@ pub fn main() !void {
     if (builder.validateUserInputDidItFail())
         return usageAndErr(builder, true, stderr_stream);
 
-    builder.make(targets.span()) catch |err| {
+    builder.make(targets.items) catch |err| {
         switch (err) {
             error.InvalidStepName => {
                 return usageAndErr(builder, true, stderr_stream);
@@ -165,7 +165,7 @@ fn usage(builder: *Builder, already_ran_build: bool, out_stream: anytype) !void
     , .{builder.zig_exe});
 
     const allocator = builder.allocator;
-    for (builder.top_level_steps.span()) |top_level_step| {
+    for (builder.top_level_steps.items) |top_level_step| {
         const name = if (&top_level_step.step == builder.default_step)
             try fmt.allocPrint(allocator, "{} (default)", .{top_level_step.step.name})
         else
@@ -189,7 +189,7 @@ fn usage(builder: *Builder, already_ran_build: bool, out_stream: anytype) !void
     if (builder.available_options_list.items.len == 0) {
         try out_stream.print("  (none)\n", .{});
     } else {
-        for (builder.available_options_list.span()) |option| {
+        for (builder.available_options_list.items) |option| {
             const name = try fmt.allocPrint(allocator, "  -D{}=[{}]", .{
                 option.name,
                 Builder.typeIdName(option.type_id),
diff --git a/lib/std/zig/system.zig b/lib/std/zig/system.zig
index b969fe8d96..071d234be3 100644
--- a/lib/std/zig/system.zig
+++ b/lib/std/zig/system.zig
@@ -128,7 +128,7 @@ pub const NativePaths = struct {
     }
 
     fn deinitArray(array: *ArrayList([:0]u8)) void {
-        for (array.span()) |item| {
+        for (array.items) |item| {
             array.allocator.free(item);
         }
         array.deinit();
diff --git a/src/libc_installation.zig b/src/libc_installation.zig
index 7dd99273f1..0b1029eeb8 100644
--- a/src/libc_installation.zig
+++ b/src/libc_installation.zig
@@ -340,7 +340,7 @@ pub const LibCInstallation = struct {
             result_buf.shrink(0);
             try result_buf.outStream().print("{}\\Include\\{}\\ucrt", .{ search.path, search.version });
 
-            var dir = fs.cwd().openDir(result_buf.span(), .{}) catch |err| switch (err) {
+            var dir = fs.cwd().openDir(result_buf.items, .{}) catch |err| switch (err) {
                 error.FileNotFound,
                 error.NotDir,
                 error.NoDevice,
@@ -386,7 +386,7 @@ pub const LibCInstallation = struct {
             result_buf.shrink(0);
             try result_buf.outStream().print("{}\\Lib\\{}\\ucrt\\{}", .{ search.path, search.version, arch_sub_dir });
 
-            var dir = fs.cwd().openDir(result_buf.span(), .{}) catch |err| switch (err) {
+            var dir = fs.cwd().openDir(result_buf.items, .{}) catch |err| switch (err) {
                 error.FileNotFound,
                 error.NotDir,
                 error.NoDevice,
@@ -441,7 +441,7 @@ pub const LibCInstallation = struct {
             const stream = result_buf.outStream();
             try stream.print("{}\\Lib\\{}\\um\\{}", .{ search.path, search.version, arch_sub_dir });
 
-            var dir = fs.cwd().openDir(result_buf.span(), .{}) catch |err| switch (err) {
+            var dir = fs.cwd().openDir(result_buf.items, .{}) catch |err| switch (err) {
                 error.FileNotFound,
                 error.NotDir,
                 error.NoDevice,
diff --git a/src/main.zig b/src/main.zig
index a901e3bc0c..1a95605733 100644
--- a/src/main.zig
+++ b/src/main.zig
@@ -2505,7 +2505,7 @@ pub fn cmdFmt(gpa: *Allocator, args: []const []const u8) !void {
     defer fmt.seen.deinit();
     defer fmt.out_buffer.deinit();
 
-    for (input_files.span()) |file_path| {
+    for (input_files.items) |file_path| {
         // Get the real path here to avoid Windows failing on relative file paths with . or .. in them.
         const real_path = fs.realpathAlloc(gpa, file_path) catch |err| {
             fatal("unable to open '{}': {}", .{ file_path, err });
@@ -2685,7 +2685,7 @@ fn printErrMsgToFile(
     defer text_buf.deinit();
     const out_stream = text_buf.outStream();
     try parse_error.render(tree.token_ids, out_stream);
-    const text = text_buf.span();
+    const text = text_buf.items;
 
     const stream = file.outStream();
     try stream.print("{}:{}:{}: error: {}\n", .{ path, start_loc.line + 1, start_loc.column + 1, text });
@@ -2834,7 +2834,7 @@ pub const ClangArgIterator = struct {
             defer resp_arg_list.deinit();
             {
                 errdefer {
-                    for (resp_arg_list.span()) |item| {
+                    for (resp_arg_list.items) |item| {
                         allocator.free(mem.span(item));
                     }
                 }
diff --git a/src/translate_c.zig b/src/translate_c.zig
index ac66240322..cfd656f5ec 100644
--- a/src/translate_c.zig
+++ b/src/translate_c.zig
@@ -6564,7 +6564,7 @@ fn parseCUnaryExpr(c: *Context, m: *MacroCtx, scope: *Scope) ParseError!*ast.Nod
 
 fn tokenSlice(c: *Context, token: ast.TokenIndex) []u8 {
     const tok = c.token_locs.items[token];
-    const slice = c.source_buffer.span()[tok.start..tok.end];
+    const slice = c.source_buffer.items[tok.start..tok.end];
     return if (mem.startsWith(u8, slice, "@\""))
         slice[2 .. slice.len - 1]
     else
diff --git a/test/src/compare_output.zig b/test/src/compare_output.zig
index 110eb6068e..f78d6744e1 100644
--- a/test/src/compare_output.zig
+++ b/test/src/compare_output.zig
@@ -91,7 +91,7 @@ pub const CompareOutputContext = struct {
         const b = self.b;
 
         const write_src = b.addWriteFiles();
-        for (case.sources.span()) |src_file| {
+        for (case.sources.items) |src_file| {
             write_src.add(src_file.filename, src_file.source);
         }
 
@@ -105,7 +105,7 @@ pub const CompareOutputContext = struct {
                 }
 
                 const exe = b.addExecutable("test", null);
-                exe.addAssemblyFileFromWriteFileStep(write_src, case.sources.span()[0].filename);
+                exe.addAssemblyFileFromWriteFileStep(write_src, case.sources.items[0].filename);
 
                 const run = exe.run();
                 run.addArgs(case.cli_args);
@@ -125,7 +125,7 @@ pub const CompareOutputContext = struct {
                         if (mem.indexOf(u8, annotated_case_name, filter) == null) continue;
                     }
 
-                    const basename = case.sources.span()[0].filename;
+                    const basename = case.sources.items[0].filename;
                     const exe = b.addExecutableFromWriteFileStep("test", write_src, basename);
                     exe.setBuildMode(mode);
                     if (case.link_libc) {
@@ -146,7 +146,7 @@ pub const CompareOutputContext = struct {
                     if (mem.indexOf(u8, annotated_case_name, filter) == null) return;
                 }
 
-                const basename = case.sources.span()[0].filename;
+                const basename = case.sources.items[0].filename;
                 const exe = b.addExecutableFromWriteFileStep("test", write_src, basename);
                 if (case.link_libc) {
                     exe.linkSystemLibrary("c");
diff --git a/test/src/run_translated_c.zig b/test/src/run_translated_c.zig
index 74c841a1f3..c544bcbb2c 100644
--- a/test/src/run_translated_c.zig
+++ b/test/src/run_translated_c.zig
@@ -82,13 +82,13 @@ pub const RunTranslatedCContext = struct {
         }
 
         const write_src = b.addWriteFiles();
-        for (case.sources.span()) |src_file| {
+        for (case.sources.items) |src_file| {
             write_src.add(src_file.filename, src_file.source);
         }
         const translate_c = b.addTranslateC(.{
             .write_file = .{
                 .step = write_src,
-                .basename = case.sources.span()[0].filename,
+                .basename = case.sources.items[0].filename,
             },
         });
         translate_c.step.name = b.fmt("{} translate-c", .{annotated_case_name});
diff --git a/test/src/translate_c.zig b/test/src/translate_c.zig
index 7b0a98f845..405c5954ba 100644
--- a/test/src/translate_c.zig
+++ b/test/src/translate_c.zig
@@ -105,20 +105,20 @@ pub const TranslateCContext = struct {
         }
 
         const write_src = b.addWriteFiles();
-        for (case.sources.span()) |src_file| {
+        for (case.sources.items) |src_file| {
             write_src.add(src_file.filename, src_file.source);
         }
 
         const translate_c = b.addTranslateC(.{
             .write_file = .{
                 .step = write_src,
-                .basename = case.sources.span()[0].filename,
+                .basename = case.sources.items[0].filename,
             },
         });
         translate_c.step.name = annotated_case_name;
         translate_c.setTarget(case.target);
 
-        const check_file = translate_c.addCheckFile(case.expected_lines.span());
+        const check_file = translate_c.addCheckFile(case.expected_lines.items);
 
         self.step.dependOn(&check_file.step);
     }
diff --git a/test/standalone/brace_expansion/main.zig b/test/standalone/brace_expansion/main.zig
index 8abe39a428..572be0624e 100644
--- a/test/standalone/brace_expansion/main.zig
+++ b/test/standalone/brace_expansion/main.zig
@@ -131,7 +131,7 @@ fn expandString(input: []const u8, output: *ArrayListSentineled(u8, 0)) !void {
     try expandNode(root, &result_list);
 
     try output.resize(0);
-    for (result_list.span()) |buf, i| {
+    for (result_list.items) |buf, i| {
         if (i != 0) {
             try output.append(' ');
         }
@@ -157,8 +157,8 @@ fn expandNode(node: Node, output: *ArrayList(ArrayListSentineled(u8, 0))) Expand
             var child_list_b = ArrayList(ArrayListSentineled(u8, 0)).init(global_allocator);
             try expandNode(b_node, &child_list_b);
 
-            for (child_list_a.span()) |buf_a| {
-                for (child_list_b.span()) |buf_b| {
+            for (child_list_a.items) |buf_a| {
+                for (child_list_b.items) |buf_b| {
                     var combined_buf = try ArrayListSentineled(u8, 0).initFromBuffer(buf_a);
                     try combined_buf.appendSlice(buf_b.span());
                     try output.append(combined_buf);
@@ -166,11 +166,11 @@ fn expandNode(node: Node, output: *ArrayList(ArrayListSentineled(u8, 0))) Expand
             }
         },
         Node.List => |list| {
-            for (list.span()) |child_node| {
+            for (list.items) |child_node| {
                 var child_list = ArrayList(ArrayListSentineled(u8, 0)).init(global_allocator);
                 try expandNode(child_node, &child_list);
 
-                for (child_list.span()) |buf| {
+                for (child_list.items) |buf| {
                     try output.append(buf);
                 }
             }
diff --git a/tools/merge_anal_dumps.zig b/tools/merge_anal_dumps.zig
index 3cd23f6246..9f1298d5c6 100644
--- a/tools/merge_anal_dumps.zig
+++ b/tools/merge_anal_dumps.zig
@@ -183,13 +183,13 @@ const Dump = struct {
         try mergeSameStrings(&self.zig_version, zig_version);
         try mergeSameStrings(&self.root_name, root_name);
 
-        for (params.get("builds").?.value.Array.span()) |json_build| {
+        for (params.get("builds").?.value.Array.items) |json_build| {
             const target = json_build.Object.get("target").?.value.String;
             try self.targets.append(target);
         }
 
         // Merge files. If the string matches, it's the same file.
-        const other_files = root.Object.get("files").?.value.Array.span();
+        const other_files = root.Object.get("files").?.value.Array.items;
         var other_file_to_mine = std.AutoHashMap(usize, usize).init(self.a());
         for (other_files) |other_file, i| {
             const gop = try self.file_map.getOrPut(other_file.String);
@@ -201,7 +201,7 @@ const Dump = struct {
         }
 
         // Merge AST nodes. If the file id, line, and column all match, it's the same AST node.
-        const other_ast_nodes = root.Object.get("astNodes").?.value.Array.span();
+        const other_ast_nodes = root.Object.get("astNodes").?.value.Array.items;
         var other_ast_node_to_mine = std.AutoHashMap(usize, usize).init(self.a());
         for (other_ast_nodes) |other_ast_node_json, i| {
             const other_file_id = jsonObjInt(other_ast_node_json, "file");
@@ -221,9 +221,9 @@ const Dump = struct {
         // convert fields lists
         for (other_ast_nodes) |other_ast_node_json, i| {
             const my_node_index = other_ast_node_to_mine.get(i).?.value;
-            const my_node = &self.node_list.span()[my_node_index];
+            const my_node = &self.node_list.items[my_node_index];
             if (other_ast_node_json.Object.get("fields")) |fields_json_kv| {
-                const other_fields = fields_json_kv.value.Array.span();
+                const other_fields = fields_json_kv.value.Array.items;
                 my_node.fields = try self.a().alloc(usize, other_fields.len);
                 for (other_fields) |other_field_index, field_i| {
                     const other_index = @intCast(usize, other_field_index.Integer);
@@ -233,7 +233,7 @@ const Dump = struct {
         }
 
         // Merge errors. If the AST Node matches, it's the same error value.
-        const other_errors = root.Object.get("errors").?.value.Array.span();
+        const other_errors = root.Object.get("errors").?.value.Array.items;
         var other_error_to_mine = std.AutoHashMap(usize, usize).init(self.a());
         for (other_errors) |other_error_json, i| {
             const other_src_id = jsonObjInt(other_error_json, "src");
@@ -253,7 +253,7 @@ const Dump = struct {
         // First we identify all the simple types and merge those.
         // Example: void, type, noreturn
         // We can also do integers and floats.
-        const other_types = root.Object.get("types").?.value.Array.span();
+        const other_types = root.Object.get("types").?.value.Array.items;
         var other_types_to_mine = std.AutoHashMap(usize, usize).init(self.a());
         for (other_types) |other_type_json, i| {
             const type_kind = jsonObjInt(other_type_json, "kind");
@@ -336,7 +336,7 @@ const Dump = struct {
 
         try jw.objectField("builds");
         try jw.beginArray();
-        for (self.targets.span()) |target| {
+        for (self.targets.items) |target| {
             try jw.arrayElem();
             try jw.beginObject();
             try jw.objectField("target");
@@ -349,7 +349,7 @@ const Dump = struct {
 
         try jw.objectField("types");
         try jw.beginArray();
-        for (self.type_list.span()) |t| {
+        for (self.type_list.items) |t| {
             try jw.arrayElem();
             try jw.beginObject();
 
@@ -379,7 +379,7 @@ const Dump = struct {
 
         try jw.objectField("errors");
         try jw.beginArray();
-        for (self.error_list.span()) |zig_error| {
+        for (self.error_list.items) |zig_error| {
             try jw.arrayElem();
             try jw.beginObject();
 
@@ -395,7 +395,7 @@ const Dump = struct {
 
         try jw.objectField("astNodes");
         try jw.beginArray();
-        for (self.node_list.span()) |node| {
+        for (self.node_list.items) |node| {
             try jw.arrayElem();
             try jw.beginObject();
 
@@ -425,7 +425,7 @@ const Dump = struct {
 
         try jw.objectField("files");
         try jw.beginArray();
-        for (self.file_list.span()) |file| {
+        for (self.file_list.items) |file| {
             try jw.arrayElem();
             try jw.emitString(file);
         }
diff --git a/tools/process_headers.zig b/tools/process_headers.zig
index d3486c0693..999b62e715 100644
--- a/tools/process_headers.zig
+++ b/tools/process_headers.zig
@@ -325,7 +325,7 @@ pub fn main() !void {
             },
             .os = .linux,
         };
-        search: for (search_paths.span()) |search_path| {
+        search: for (search_paths.items) |search_path| {
             var sub_path: []const []const u8 = undefined;
             switch (vendor) {
                 .musl => {
@@ -416,7 +416,7 @@ pub fn main() !void {
                 try contents_list.append(contents);
             }
         }
-        std.sort.sort(*Contents, contents_list.span(), {}, Contents.hitCountLessThan);
+        std.sort.sort(*Contents, contents_list.items, {}, Contents.hitCountLessThan);
         const best_contents = contents_list.popOrNull().?;
         if (best_contents.hit_count > 1) {
             // worth it to make it generic
diff --git a/tools/update_clang_options.zig b/tools/update_clang_options.zig
index 3d8e4eed44..0a5f99cd97 100644
--- a/tools/update_clang_options.zig
+++ b/tools/update_clang_options.zig
@@ -374,7 +374,7 @@ pub fn main() anyerror!void {
     }
     // Some options have multiple matches. As an example, "-Wl,foo" matches both
     // "W" and "Wl,". So we sort this list in order of descending priority.
-    std.sort.sort(*json.ObjectMap, all_objects.span(), {}, objectLessThan);
+    std.sort.sort(*json.ObjectMap, all_objects.items, {}, objectLessThan);
 
     var stdout_bos = std.io.bufferedOutStream(std.io.getStdOut().outStream());
     const stdout = stdout_bos.outStream();
@@ -386,12 +386,12 @@ pub fn main() anyerror!void {
         \\
     );
 
-    for (all_objects.span()) |obj| {
+    for (all_objects.items) |obj| {
         const name = obj.get("Name").?.String;
         var pd1 = false;
         var pd2 = false;
         var pslash = false;
-        for (obj.get("Prefixes").?.Array.span()) |prefix_json| {
+        for (obj.get("Prefixes").?.Array.items) |prefix_json| {
             const prefix = prefix_json.String;
             if (std.mem.eql(u8, prefix, "-")) {
                 pd1 = true;
@@ -502,7 +502,7 @@ const Syntax = union(enum) {
 
 fn objSyntax(obj: *json.ObjectMap) Syntax {
     const num_args = @intCast(u8, obj.get("NumArgs").?.Integer);
-    for (obj.get("!superclasses").?.Array.span()) |superclass_json| {
+    for (obj.get("!superclasses").?.Array.items) |superclass_json| {
         const superclass = superclass_json.String;
         if (std.mem.eql(u8, superclass, "Joined")) {
             return .joined;
@@ -548,7 +548,7 @@ fn objSyntax(obj: *json.ObjectMap) Syntax {
     }
     const key = obj.get("!name").?.String;
     std.debug.warn("{} (key {}) has unrecognized superclasses:\n", .{ name, key });
-    for (obj.get("!superclasses").?.Array.span()) |superclass_json| {
+    for (obj.get("!superclasses").?.Array.items) |superclass_json| {
         std.debug.warn(" {}\n", .{superclass_json.String});
     }
     std.process.exit(1);
diff --git a/tools/update_glibc.zig b/tools/update_glibc.zig
index a8aeef0799..c0f61d6c65 100644
--- a/tools/update_glibc.zig
+++ b/tools/update_glibc.zig
@@ -225,15 +225,15 @@ pub fn main() !void {
         var list = std.ArrayList([]const u8).init(allocator);
         var it = global_fn_set.iterator();
         while (it.next()) |entry| try list.append(entry.key);
-        std.sort.sort([]const u8, list.span(), {}, strCmpLessThan);
-        break :blk list.span();
+        std.sort.sort([]const u8, list.items, {}, strCmpLessThan);
+        break :blk list.items;
     };
     const global_ver_list = blk: {
         var list = std.ArrayList([]const u8).init(allocator);
         var it = global_ver_set.iterator();
         while (it.next()) |entry| try list.append(entry.key);
-        std.sort.sort([]const u8, list.span(), {}, versionLessThan);
-        break :blk list.span();
+        std.sort.sort([]const u8, list.items, {}, versionLessThan);
+        break :blk list.items;
     };
     {
         const vers_txt_path = try fs.path.join(allocator, &[_][]const u8{ glibc_out_dir, "vers.txt" });
@@ -266,13 +266,13 @@ pub fn main() !void {
     for (abi_lists) |*abi_list, abi_index| {
         const entry = target_functions.getEntry(@ptrToInt(abi_list)).?;
         const fn_vers_list = &entry.value.fn_vers_list;
-        for (entry.value.list.span()) |*ver_fn| {
+        for (entry.value.list.items) |*ver_fn| {
             const gop = try fn_vers_list.getOrPut(ver_fn.name);
             if (!gop.found_existing) {
                 gop.entry.value = std.ArrayList(usize).init(allocator);
             }
             const ver_index = global_ver_set.getEntry(ver_fn.ver).?.value;
-            if (std.mem.indexOfScalar(usize, gop.entry.value.span(), ver_index) == null) {
+            if (std.mem.indexOfScalar(usize, gop.entry.value.items, ver_index) == null) {
                 try gop.entry.value.append(ver_index);
             }
         }
@@ -299,7 +299,7 @@ pub fn main() !void {
                     try abilist_txt.writeByte('\n');
                     continue;
                 };
-                for (entry.value.span()) |ver_index, it_i| {
+                for (entry.value.items) |ver_index, it_i| {
                     if (it_i != 0) try abilist_txt.writeByte(' ');
                     try abilist_txt.print("{d}", .{ver_index});
                 }