diff --git a/src/main/java/org/jboss/netty/buffer/AbstractChannelBuffer.java b/src/main/java/org/jboss/netty/buffer/AbstractChannelBuffer.java
index 19b8bb0aab..0ba46f77ff 100644
--- a/src/main/java/org/jboss/netty/buffer/AbstractChannelBuffer.java
+++ b/src/main/java/org/jboss/netty/buffer/AbstractChannelBuffer.java
@@ -583,6 +583,41 @@ public abstract class AbstractChannelBuffer implements ChannelBuffer {
         return ChannelBuffers.indexOf(this, fromIndex, toIndex, indexFinder);
     }
 
+    public int bytesBefore(byte value) {
+        return bytesBefore(readerIndex(), readableBytes(), value);
+    }
+
+    public int bytesBefore(ChannelBufferIndexFinder indexFinder) {
+        return bytesBefore(readerIndex(), readableBytes(), indexFinder);
+    }
+
+    public int bytesBefore(int length, byte value) {
+        checkReadableBytes(length);
+        return bytesBefore(readerIndex(), length, value);
+    }
+
+    public int bytesBefore(int length, ChannelBufferIndexFinder indexFinder) {
+        checkReadableBytes(length);
+        return bytesBefore(readerIndex(), length, indexFinder);
+    }
+
+    public int bytesBefore(int index, int length, byte value) {
+        int endIndex = indexOf(index, index + length, value);
+        if (endIndex < 0) {
+            return -1;
+        }
+        return endIndex - index;
+    }
+
+    public int bytesBefore(int index, int length,
+            ChannelBufferIndexFinder indexFinder) {
+        int endIndex = indexOf(index, index + length, indexFinder);
+        if (endIndex < 0) {
+            return -1;
+        }
+        return endIndex - index;
+    }
+
     @Override
     public int hashCode() {
         return ChannelBuffers.hashCode(this);
diff --git a/src/main/java/org/jboss/netty/buffer/ChannelBuffer.java b/src/main/java/org/jboss/netty/buffer/ChannelBuffer.java
index 197dfe9724..273452027a 100644
--- a/src/main/java/org/jboss/netty/buffer/ChannelBuffer.java
+++ b/src/main/java/org/jboss/netty/buffer/ChannelBuffer.java
@@ -24,7 +24,6 @@ import java.nio.channels.GatheringByteChannel;
 import java.nio.channels.ScatteringByteChannel;
 import java.nio.charset.Charset;
 import java.nio.charset.UnsupportedCharsetException;
-import java.util.NoSuchElementException;
 
 /**
  * A random and sequential accessible sequence of zero or more bytes (octets).
@@ -176,10 +175,13 @@ import java.util.NoSuchElementException;
  *
  * <h3>Search operations</h3>
  *
- * Various {@code indexOf()} methods help you locate an index of a value which
- * meets a certain criteria.  Complicated dynamic sequential search can be done
- * with {@link ChannelBufferIndexFinder} as well as simple static single byte
- * search.
+ * Various {@link #indexOf(int, int, byte)} methods help you locate an index of
+ * a value which meets a certain criteria.  Complicated dynamic sequential
+ * search can be done with {@link ChannelBufferIndexFinder} as well as simple
+ * static single byte search.
+ * <p>
+ * If you are decoding variable length data such as NUL-terminated string, you
+ * will find {@link #bytesBefore(byte)} also useful.
  *
  * <h3>Mark and reset</h3>
  *
@@ -1080,20 +1082,9 @@ public interface ChannelBuffer extends Comparable<ChannelBuffer> {
     ChannelBuffer readBytes(int length);
 
     /**
-     * Transfers this buffer's data to a newly created buffer starting at
-     * the current {@code readerIndex} until the specified {@code indexFinder}
-     * returns {@code true} and increases the {@code readerIndex}
-     * by the number of the transferred bytes.  The returned buffer's
-     * {@code readerIndex} and {@code writerIndex} are {@code 0} and
-     * the number of the transferred bytes respectively.
-     *
-     * @param indexFinder finds the end index of the sub-region
-     *
-     * @return the newly created buffer which contains the transferred bytes
-     *
-     * @throws NoSuchElementException
-     *         if {@code indexFinder} didn't return {@code true} at all
+     * @deprecated Use {@link #bytesBefore(ChannelBufferIndexFinder)} and {@link #readBytes(int)} instead.
      */
+    @Deprecated
     ChannelBuffer readBytes(ChannelBufferIndexFinder indexFinder);
 
     /**
@@ -1111,17 +1102,9 @@ public interface ChannelBuffer extends Comparable<ChannelBuffer> {
     ChannelBuffer readSlice(int length);
 
     /**
-     * Returns a new slice of this buffer's sub-region starting at the current
-     * {@code readerIndex} and increases the {@code readerIndex} by the size
-     * of the new slice (determined by {@code indexFinder}).
-     *
-     * @param indexFinder finds the end index of the sub-region
-     *
-     * @return the newly created slice
-     *
-     * @throws NoSuchElementException
-     *         if {@code indexFinder} didn't return {@code true} at all
+     * @deprecated Use {@link #bytesBefore(ChannelBufferIndexFinder)} and {@link #readSlice(int)} instead.
      */
+    @Deprecated
     ChannelBuffer readSlice(ChannelBufferIndexFinder indexFinder);
 
     /**
@@ -1246,14 +1229,9 @@ public interface ChannelBuffer extends Comparable<ChannelBuffer> {
     void skipBytes(int length);
 
     /**
-     * Increases the current {@code readerIndex} until the specified
-     * {@code indexFinder} returns {@code true} in this buffer.
-     *
-     * @return the number of skipped bytes
-     *
-     * @throws NoSuchElementException
-     *         if {@code firstIndexFinder} didn't return {@code true} at all
+     * @deprecated Use {@link #bytesBefore(ChannelBufferIndexFinder)} and {@link #skipBytes(int)} instead.
      */
+    @Deprecated
     int  skipBytes(ChannelBufferIndexFinder indexFinder);
 
     /**
@@ -1483,7 +1461,7 @@ public interface ChannelBuffer extends Comparable<ChannelBuffer> {
     int indexOf(int fromIndex, int toIndex, byte value);
 
     /**
-     * Locates the first index where the specified {@code indexFinder}
+     * Locates the first place where the specified {@code indexFinder}
      * returns {@code true}.  The search takes place from the specified
      * {@code fromIndex} (inclusive) to the specified {@code toIndex}
      * (exclusive).
@@ -1495,11 +1473,107 @@ public interface ChannelBuffer extends Comparable<ChannelBuffer> {
      * this buffer.
      *
      * @return the absolute index where the specified {@code indexFinder}
-     *         returned {@code true} if the {@code indexFinder} returned
-     *         {@code true}.  {@code -1} otherwise.
+     *         returned {@code true}.  {@code -1} if the {@code indexFinder}
+     *         did not return {@code true} at all.
      */
     int indexOf(int fromIndex, int toIndex, ChannelBufferIndexFinder indexFinder);
 
+    /**
+     * Locates the first occurrence of the specified {@code value} in this
+     * buffer.  The search takes place from the current {@code readerIndex}
+     * (inclusive) to the current {@code writerIndex} (exclusive).
+     * <p>
+     * This method does not modify {@code readerIndex} or {@code writerIndex} of
+     * this buffer.
+     *
+     * @return the number of bytes between the current {@code readerIndex}
+     *         and the first occurrence if found. {@code -1} otherwise.
+     */
+    int bytesBefore(byte value);
+
+    /**
+     * Locates the first place where the specified {@code indexFinder} returns
+     * {@code true}.  The search takes place from the current {@code readerIndex}
+     * (inclusive) to the current {@code writerIndex}.
+     * <p>
+     * This method does not modify {@code readerIndex} or {@code writerIndex} of
+     * this buffer.
+     *
+     * @return the number of bytes between the current {@code readerIndex}
+     *         and the first place where the {@code indexFinder} returned
+     *         {@code true}.  {@code -1} if the {@code indexFinder} did not
+     *         return {@code true} at all.
+     */
+    int bytesBefore(ChannelBufferIndexFinder indexFinder);
+
+    /**
+     * Locates the first occurrence of the specified {@code value} in this
+     * buffer.  The search starts from the current {@code readerIndex}
+     * (inclusive) and lasts for the specified {@code length}.
+     * <p>
+     * This method does not modify {@code readerIndex} or {@code writerIndex} of
+     * this buffer.
+     *
+     * @return the number of bytes between the current {@code readerIndex}
+     *         and the first occurrence if found. {@code -1} otherwise.
+     *
+     * @throws IndexOutOfBoundsException
+     *         if {@code length} is greater than {@code this.readableBytes}
+     */
+    int bytesBefore(int length, byte value);
+
+    /**
+     * Locates the first place where the specified {@code indexFinder} returns
+     * {@code true}.  The search starts the current {@code readerIndex}
+     * (inclusive) and lasts for the specified {@code length}.
+     * <p>
+     * This method does not modify {@code readerIndex} or {@code writerIndex} of
+     * this buffer.
+     *
+     * @return the number of bytes between the current {@code readerIndex}
+     *         and the first place where the {@code indexFinder} returned
+     *         {@code true}.  {@code -1} if the {@code indexFinder} did not
+     *         return {@code true} at all.
+     *
+     * @throws IndexOutOfBoundsException
+     *         if {@code length} is greater than {@code this.readableBytes}
+     */
+    int bytesBefore(int length, ChannelBufferIndexFinder indexFinder);
+
+    /**
+     * Locates the first occurrence of the specified {@code value} in this
+     * buffer.  The search starts from the specified {@code index} (inclusive)
+     * and lasts for the specified {@code length}.
+     * <p>
+     * This method does not modify {@code readerIndex} or {@code writerIndex} of
+     * this buffer.
+     *
+     * @return the number of bytes between the specified {@code index}
+     *         and the first occurrence if found. {@code -1} otherwise.
+     *
+     * @throws IndexOutOfBoundsException
+     *         if {@code index + length} is greater than {@code this.capacity}
+     */
+    int bytesBefore(int index, int length, byte value);
+
+    /**
+     * Locates the first place where the specified {@code indexFinder} returns
+     * {@code true}.  The search starts the specified {@code index} (inclusive)
+     * and lasts for the specified {@code length}.
+     * <p>
+     * This method does not modify {@code readerIndex} or {@code writerIndex} of
+     * this buffer.
+     *
+     * @return the number of bytes between the specified {@code index}
+     *         and the first place where the {@code indexFinder} returned
+     *         {@code true}.  {@code -1} if the {@code indexFinder} did not
+     *         return {@code true} at all.
+     *
+     * @throws IndexOutOfBoundsException
+     *         if {@code index + length} is greater than {@code this.capacity}
+     */
+    int bytesBefore(int index, int length, ChannelBufferIndexFinder indexFinder);
+
     /**
      * Returns a copy of this buffer's readable bytes.  Modifying the content
      * of the returned buffer or this buffer does not affect each other at all.
@@ -1636,20 +1710,20 @@ public interface ChannelBuffer extends Comparable<ChannelBuffer> {
     String toString(String charsetName);
 
     /**
-     * @deprecated Use {@link #toString(int, int, Charset)} instead.
+     * @deprecated Use {@link #bytesBefore(ChannelBufferIndexFinder)} and {@link #toString(int, int, Charset)} instead.
      */
     @Deprecated
     String toString(
             String charsetName, ChannelBufferIndexFinder terminatorFinder);
 
     /**
-     * @deprecated Use {@link #toString(int, int, Charset)} instead.
+     * @deprecated Use {@link #bytesBefore(int, int, ChannelBufferIndexFinder)} and {@link #toString(int, int, Charset)} instead.
      */
     @Deprecated
     String toString(int index, int length, String charsetName);
 
     /**
-     * @deprecated Use {@link #toString(int, int, Charset)} instead.
+     * @deprecated Use {@link #bytesBefore(int, int, ChannelBufferIndexFinder)} and {@link #toString(int, int, Charset)} instead.
      */
     @Deprecated
     String toString(
diff --git a/src/main/java/org/jboss/netty/buffer/ChannelBufferIndexFinder.java b/src/main/java/org/jboss/netty/buffer/ChannelBufferIndexFinder.java
index 3bab8a9756..d9a393c3b2 100644
--- a/src/main/java/org/jboss/netty/buffer/ChannelBufferIndexFinder.java
+++ b/src/main/java/org/jboss/netty/buffer/ChannelBufferIndexFinder.java
@@ -21,10 +21,8 @@ package org.jboss.netty.buffer;
  * <p>
  * This interface enables the sequential search for the data which meets more
  * complex and dynamic condition than just a simple value matching.  Please
- * refer to {@link ChannelBuffer#indexOf(int, int, ChannelBufferIndexFinder)},
- * {@link ChannelBuffer#readBytes(ChannelBufferIndexFinder)},
- * {@link ChannelBuffer#readSlice(ChannelBufferIndexFinder)}, and
- * {@link ChannelBuffer#skipBytes(ChannelBufferIndexFinder)}
+ * refer to {@link ChannelBuffer#indexOf(int, int, ChannelBufferIndexFinder)} and
+ * {@link ChannelBuffer#bytesBefore(int, int, ChannelBufferIndexFinder)}
  * for more explanation.
  *
  * @author The Netty Project (netty-dev@lists.jboss.org)
diff --git a/src/main/java/org/jboss/netty/handler/codec/replay/ReplayingDecoderBuffer.java b/src/main/java/org/jboss/netty/handler/codec/replay/ReplayingDecoderBuffer.java
index 8abe2a242f..e40abe6fb8 100644
--- a/src/main/java/org/jboss/netty/handler/codec/replay/ReplayingDecoderBuffer.java
+++ b/src/main/java/org/jboss/netty/handler/codec/replay/ReplayingDecoderBuffer.java
@@ -223,6 +223,57 @@ class ReplayingDecoderBuffer implements ChannelBuffer {
         return endIndex;
     }
 
+    public int bytesBefore(byte value) {
+        int bytes = buffer.bytesBefore(value);
+        if (bytes < 0) {
+            throw REPLAY;
+        }
+        return bytes;
+    }
+
+    public int bytesBefore(ChannelBufferIndexFinder indexFinder) {
+        int bytes = buffer.bytesBefore(indexFinder);
+        if (bytes < 0) {
+            throw REPLAY;
+        }
+        return bytes;
+    }
+
+    public int bytesBefore(int length, byte value) {
+        checkReadableBytes(length);
+        int bytes = buffer.bytesBefore(length, value);
+        if (bytes < 0) {
+            throw REPLAY;
+        }
+        return bytes;
+    }
+
+    public int bytesBefore(int length, ChannelBufferIndexFinder indexFinder) {
+        checkReadableBytes(length);
+        int bytes = buffer.bytesBefore(length, indexFinder);
+        if (bytes < 0) {
+            throw REPLAY;
+        }
+        return bytes;
+    }
+
+    public int bytesBefore(int index, int length, byte value) {
+        int bytes = buffer.bytesBefore(index, length, value);
+        if (bytes < 0) {
+            throw REPLAY;
+        }
+        return bytes;
+    }
+
+    public int bytesBefore(int index, int length,
+            ChannelBufferIndexFinder indexFinder) {
+        int bytes = buffer.bytesBefore(index, length, indexFinder);
+        if (bytes < 0) {
+            throw REPLAY;
+        }
+        return bytes;
+    }
+
     public void markReaderIndex() {
         buffer.markReaderIndex();
     }
diff --git a/src/test/java/org/jboss/netty/buffer/AbstractChannelBufferTest.java b/src/test/java/org/jboss/netty/buffer/AbstractChannelBufferTest.java
index 2d5de9fdb6..6c2f2a7ff9 100644
--- a/src/test/java/org/jboss/netty/buffer/AbstractChannelBufferTest.java
+++ b/src/test/java/org/jboss/netty/buffer/AbstractChannelBufferTest.java
@@ -1199,6 +1199,7 @@ public abstract class AbstractChannelBufferTest {
     }
 
     @Test
+    @SuppressWarnings("deprecation")
     public void testSequentialCopiedBufferTransfer2() {
         buffer.clear();
         buffer.writeZero(buffer.capacity());
@@ -1249,6 +1250,7 @@ public abstract class AbstractChannelBufferTest {
     }
 
     @Test
+    @SuppressWarnings("deprecation")
     public void testSequentialSlice2() {
         buffer.clear();
         buffer.writeZero(buffer.capacity());
@@ -1641,6 +1643,7 @@ public abstract class AbstractChannelBufferTest {
     }
 
     @Test
+    @SuppressWarnings("deprecation")
     public void testSkipBytes2() {
         buffer.clear();
         buffer.writeZero(buffer.capacity());
diff --git a/src/test/java/org/jboss/netty/handler/codec/replay/ReplayingDecoderTest.java b/src/test/java/org/jboss/netty/handler/codec/replay/ReplayingDecoderTest.java
index 0414ca03dc..6d7a4118c1 100644
--- a/src/test/java/org/jboss/netty/handler/codec/replay/ReplayingDecoderTest.java
+++ b/src/test/java/org/jboss/netty/handler/codec/replay/ReplayingDecoderTest.java
@@ -63,7 +63,8 @@ public class ReplayingDecoderTest {
         @Override
         protected Object decode(ChannelHandlerContext ctx, Channel channel,
                 ChannelBuffer buffer, VoidEnum state) throws Exception {
-            ChannelBuffer msg = buffer.readBytes(ChannelBufferIndexFinder.LF);
+            ChannelBuffer msg = buffer.readBytes(
+                    buffer.bytesBefore(ChannelBufferIndexFinder.LF));
             buffer.skipBytes(1);
             return msg;
         }