diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index d61ee49..98f5076 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -12,13 +12,14 @@ This repository contains an implementation of the [Strobe protocol framework](ht
 
 ```dart
 import 'dart:convert';
+import 'dart:typed_data';
 import 'package:convert/convert.dart';
 import 'package:strobe/strobe.dart';
 
 void main() {
   final Strobe s = Strobe.initStrobe('custom_hash', Security.bit128);
 
-  final List<int> message =
+  final Uint8List message =
       utf8.encode('Hello, Drop a star if you like this repo!');
   s.aD(false, message); // meta = false
 
diff --git a/example/example.dart b/example/example.dart
index decdecd..74abdb5 100644
--- a/example/example.dart
+++ b/example/example.dart
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 import 'dart:convert';
+import 'dart:typed_data';
 
 import 'package:convert/convert.dart';
 import 'package:strobe/strobe.dart';
@@ -6,7 +7,7 @@ import 'package:strobe/strobe.dart';
 void main() {
   final Strobe s = Strobe.initStrobe('custom_hash', Security.bit128);
 
-  final List<int> message =
+  final Uint8List message =
       utf8.encode('Hello, Drop a star if you like this repo!');
   s.aD(false, message); // meta = false
 
diff --git a/lib/src/strobe.dart b/lib/src/strobe.dart
index cf4e91b..11cfd59 100644
--- a/lib/src/strobe.dart
+++ b/lib/src/strobe.dart
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ class Strobe {
 
   /// KEY inserts a key into the state.
   /// It also provides forward secrecy.
-  void key(List<int> key) {
+  void key(Uint8List key) {
     operate(false, 'KEY', key, 0, false);
   }
 
@@ -26,61 +26,61 @@ class Strobe {
   /// PRF provides a hash of length `output_len` of all previous operations
   /// It can also be used to generate random numbers, it is forward secure.
   List<int> prf(int outputLen) {
-    return operate(false, 'PRF', <int>[], outputLen, false);
+    return operate(false, 'PRF', Uint8List(0), outputLen, false);
   }
 
   /// Send_ENC_unauthenticated is used to encrypt some plaintext
   /// it should be followed by Send_MAC in order to protect its integrity
   /// `meta` is used for encrypted framing data.
-  List<int> sendEncUnauthenticated(bool meta, List<int> plaintext) {
+  List<int> sendEncUnauthenticated(bool meta, Uint8List plaintext) {
     return operate(meta, 'send_ENC', plaintext, 0, false);
   }
 
   /// Recv_ENC_unauthenticated is used to decrypt some received ciphertext
   /// it should be followed by Recv_MAC in order to protect its integrity
   /// `meta` is used for decrypting framing data.
-  List<int> recvEncUnauthenticated(bool meta, List<int> ciphertext) {
+  List<int> recvEncUnauthenticated(bool meta, Uint8List ciphertext) {
     return operate(meta, 'recv_ENC', ciphertext, 0, false);
   }
 
   /// AD allows you to authenticate Additional Data
   /// it should be followed by a Send_MAC or Recv_MAC in order to truly work
-  void aD(bool meta, List<int> additionalData) {
+  void aD(bool meta, Uint8List additionalData) {
     operate(meta, 'AD', additionalData, 0, false);
   }
 
   /// Send_CLR allows you to send data in cleartext
   /// `meta` is used to send framing data
-  void sendClr(bool meta, List<int> cleartext) {
+  void sendClr(bool meta, Uint8List cleartext) {
     operate(meta, 'send_CLR', cleartext, 0, false);
   }
 
   /// Recv_CLR allows you to receive data in cleartext.
   /// `meta` is used to receive framing data
-  void recvClr(bool meta, List<int> cleartext) {
+  void recvClr(bool meta, Uint8List cleartext) {
     operate(meta, 'recv_CLR', cleartext, 0, false);
   }
 
   /// Send_MAC allows you to produce an authentication tag.
   /// `meta` is appropriate for checking the integrity of framing data.
   List<int> sendMac(bool meta, int outputLength) {
-    return operate(meta, 'send_MAC', <int>[], outputLength, false);
+    return operate(meta, 'send_MAC', Uint8List(0), outputLength, false);
   }
 
   /// Recv_MAC allows you to verify a received authentication tag.
   /// `meta` is appropriate for checking the integrity of framing data.
-  bool recvMac(bool meta, List<int> mac) {
+  bool recvMac(bool meta, Uint8List mac) {
     return operate(meta, 'recv_MAC', mac, 0, false)[0] == 0;
   }
 
   /// RATCHET allows you to introduce forward secrecy in a protocol.
   void ratchet(int length) {
-    operate(false, 'RATCHET', <int>[], length, false);
+    operate(false, 'RATCHET', Uint8List(0), length, false);
   }
 
   /// Send_AEAD allows you to encrypt data and authenticate additional data
   /// It is similar to AES-GCM.
-  List<int> sendAead(List<int> plaintext, List<int> ad) {
+  List<int> sendAead(Uint8List plaintext, Uint8List ad) {
     List<int> ciphertext = [];
     ciphertext.addAll(sendEncUnauthenticated(false, plaintext));
     aD(false, ad);
@@ -90,7 +90,7 @@ class Strobe {
 
   /// Recv_AEAD allows you to decrypt data and authenticate additional data
   /// It is similar to AES-GCM.
-  (List<int>, bool) recvAead(List<int> ciphertext, List<int> ad) {
+  (List<int>, bool) recvAead(Uint8List ciphertext, Uint8List ad) {
     List<int> plaintext = <int>[];
     bool ok = true;
 
@@ -425,7 +425,7 @@ class Strobe {
   /// Result is always retrieved through the return value. For boolean results,
   /// check that the first index is 0 for true, 1 for false.
   List<int> operate(
-      bool meta, String operation, List<int> dataConst, int length, bool more) {
+      bool meta, String operation, Uint8List dataConst, int length, bool more) {
     // Operation is valid?
     late int flags;
     if (_operationMap.containsKey(operation)) {
@@ -439,7 +439,7 @@ class Strobe {
       flags |= Flag.flagM.bit;
     }
 
-    late final List<int> data;
+    late final Uint8List data;
 
     if (((flags & (Flag.flagI.bit | Flag.flagT.bit)) !=
             (Flag.flagI.bit | Flag.flagT.bit)) &&
@@ -447,13 +447,13 @@ class Strobe {
       if (length == 0) {
         throw Exception('A length should be set for this operation.');
       }
-      data = List<int>.filled(length, 0);
+      data = Uint8List(length);
     } else {
       if (length != 0) {
         throw Exception(
             'Output length must be zero except for PRF, send_MAC, and RATCHET operations.');
       }
-      data = List<int>.from(dataConst);
+      data = Uint8List.fromList(dataConst);
     }
 
     if (more) {
diff --git a/test/strobe_test.dart b/test/strobe_test.dart
index a6ff107..829e15b 100644
--- a/test/strobe_test.dart
+++ b/test/strobe_test.dart
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ import 'package:strobe/strobe.dart';
 import 'package:test/test.dart';
 
 void main() {
-  final List<int> message = utf8.encode("hello, how are you good sir?");
+  final Uint8List message = utf8.encode("hello, how are you good sir?");
   test('Strobe Clone Test', () {
     var s1 = Strobe.initStrobe("myHash", Security.bit128);
     var s2 = s1.clone();