diff --git a/src/hashes/hasher.js b/src/hashes/hasher.js
index 703e416b..2d1b43d4 100644
--- a/src/hashes/hasher.js
+++ b/src/hashes/hasher.js
@@ -1,5 +1,10 @@
 import * as Digest from './digest.js'
 
+/**
+ * @template T
+ * @typedef {import('./interface').Await<T>} Await<T>
+ */
+
 /**
  * @template {string} Name
  * @template {number} Code
@@ -54,8 +59,3 @@ export class Hasher {
  * @template {number} Alg
  * @typedef {import('./interface').MultihashHasher} MultihashHasher
  */
-
-/**
- * @template T
- * @typedef {Promise<T>|T} Await
- */
diff --git a/src/hashes/interface.ts b/src/hashes/interface.ts
index 721745e8..f89db010 100644
--- a/src/hashes/interface.ts
+++ b/src/hashes/interface.ts
@@ -1,5 +1,7 @@
 // # Multihash
 
+export type Await<T> = Promise<T> | T
+
 /**
  * Represents a multihash digest which carries information about the
  * hashing algorithm and an actual hash digest.
@@ -37,14 +39,30 @@ export interface MultihashDigest<Code extends number = number> {
  */
 export interface MultihashHasher<Code extends number = number> {
   /**
-   * Takes binary `input` and returns it (multi) hash digest. Return value is
+   * Takes binary `input` and returns it multihash digest. Return value is
+   * either promise of a digest or a digest. This way general use can `await`
+   * while performance critical code may asses return value to decide whether
+   * await is needed.
+   *
+   * @param {Uint8Array} input
+   */
+  digest(input: Uint8Array): Await<MultihashDigest>
+
+  /**
+   * Takes binary `input` and returns it plain hash digest. Return value is
    * either promise of a digest or a digest. This way general use can `await`
    * while performance critical code may asses return value to decide whether
    * await is needed.
    *
+   * This is distinct from `digest()` which returns a multihash (prefixed)
+   * digest for this hasher as it only returns the encoded bytes that may
+   * otherwise be obtained from `digest().digest`. Only use `encode()` if you
+   * need to use this hasher as a standard hash digest generator; multihashes
+   * should otherwise be preferred.
+   *
    * @param {Uint8Array} input
    */
-  digest(input: Uint8Array): Promise<MultihashDigest> | MultihashDigest
+  encode(input: Uint8Array): Await<Uint8Array>
 
   /**
    * Name of the multihash
@@ -69,4 +87,5 @@ export interface MultihashHasher<Code extends number = number> {
  */
 export interface SyncMultihashHasher<Code extends number = number> extends MultihashHasher<Code> {
   digest(input: Uint8Array): MultihashDigest
+  encode(input: Uint8Array): Uint8Array
 }
diff --git a/test/ts-use/src/main.ts b/test/ts-use/src/main.ts
index d57c5688..278765d3 100644
--- a/test/ts-use/src/main.ts
+++ b/test/ts-use/src/main.ts
@@ -1,6 +1,11 @@
 import * as Block from 'multiformats/block'
 import { sha256 } from 'multiformats/hashes/sha2'
+import { identity } from 'multiformats/hashes/identity'
 import * as json from 'multiformats/codecs/json'
+import { bytes } from 'multiformats'
+import { MultihashHasher } from 'multiformats/hashes/hasher'
+import { MultihashDigest } from 'multiformats/cid'
+import { SyncMultihashHasher } from 'multiformats/hashes/interface'
 
 const main = async () => {
   const block = await Block.encode({
@@ -10,6 +15,39 @@ const main = async () => {
   })
 
   console.log(block)
+
+  console.log('async hasher')
+  await executeAsyncHasher(sha256, 'hash')
+
+  console.log('sync hasher')
+  executeSyncHasher(identity, 'hash')
+}
+
+async function executeAsyncHasher<Alg extends number> (hasher : MultihashHasher<Alg>, input : string) {
+  const mhdigest : MultihashDigest = await hasher.digest(new TextEncoder().encode(input))
+  const digest : Uint8Array = await hasher.encode(new TextEncoder().encode(input))
+  console.log('multihash:', bytes.toHex(mhdigest.bytes))
+  console.log('digest:   ', bytes.toHex(digest))
+  if (bytes.toHex(mhdigest.digest) !== bytes.toHex(digest)) {
+    throw new Error('busted interface')
+  }
+}
+
+function executeSyncHasher<Alg extends number> (hasher : SyncMultihashHasher<Alg>, input : string) {
+  const mhdigest : MultihashDigest = hasher.digest(new TextEncoder().encode(input))
+  const digest : Uint8Array = hasher.encode(new TextEncoder().encode(input))
+  console.log('multihash:', bytes.toHex(mhdigest.bytes))
+  console.log('digest:   ', bytes.toHex(digest))
+  if (bytes.toHex(mhdigest.digest) !== bytes.toHex(digest)) {
+    throw new Error('busted interface')
+  }
 }
 
 export default main
+
+/*
+main().catch((e) => {
+  console.error(e)
+  process.exit(1)
+})
+*/