diff --git a/include/gtest/gtest-message.h b/include/gtest/gtest-message.h
index 9b7142f..6336b4a 100644
--- a/include/gtest/gtest-message.h
+++ b/include/gtest/gtest-message.h
@@ -183,11 +183,11 @@
   Message& operator <<(const ::wstring& wstr);
 #endif  // GTEST_HAS_GLOBAL_WSTRING
 
-  // Gets the text streamed to this object so far as a String.
+  // Gets the text streamed to this object so far as an std::string.
   // Each '\0' character in the buffer is replaced with "\\0".
   //
   // INTERNAL IMPLEMENTATION - DO NOT USE IN A USER PROGRAM.
-  internal::String GetString() const {
+  std::string GetString() const {
     return internal::StringStreamToString(ss_.get());
   }
 
diff --git a/include/gtest/gtest-test-part.h b/include/gtest/gtest-test-part.h
index 4615147..77eb844 100644
--- a/include/gtest/gtest-test-part.h
+++ b/include/gtest/gtest-test-part.h
@@ -62,7 +62,7 @@
                  int a_line_number,
                  const char* a_message)
       : type_(a_type),
-        file_name_(a_file_name),
+        file_name_(a_file_name == NULL ? "" : a_file_name),
         line_number_(a_line_number),
         summary_(ExtractSummary(a_message)),
         message_(a_message) {
@@ -73,7 +73,9 @@
 
   // Gets the name of the source file where the test part took place, or
   // NULL if it's unknown.
-  const char* file_name() const { return file_name_.c_str(); }
+  const char* file_name() const {
+    return file_name_.empty() ? NULL : file_name_.c_str();
+  }
 
   // Gets the line in the source file where the test part took place,
   // or -1 if it's unknown.
@@ -102,16 +104,16 @@
 
   // Gets the summary of the failure message by omitting the stack
   // trace in it.
-  static internal::String ExtractSummary(const char* message);
+  static std::string ExtractSummary(const char* message);
 
   // The name of the source file where the test part took place, or
-  // NULL if the source file is unknown.
-  internal::String file_name_;
+  // "" if the source file is unknown.
+  std::string file_name_;
   // The line in the source file where the test part took place, or -1
   // if the line number is unknown.
   int line_number_;
-  internal::String summary_;  // The test failure summary.
-  internal::String message_;  // The test failure message.
+  std::string summary_;  // The test failure summary.
+  std::string message_;  // The test failure message.
 };
 
 // Prints a TestPartResult object.
diff --git a/include/gtest/gtest.h b/include/gtest/gtest.h
index a13cfeb..9ecb145 100644
--- a/include/gtest/gtest.h
+++ b/include/gtest/gtest.h
@@ -160,9 +160,9 @@
 class WindowsDeathTest;
 class UnitTestImpl* GetUnitTestImpl();
 void ReportFailureInUnknownLocation(TestPartResult::Type result_type,
-                                    const String& message);
+                                    const std::string& message);
 
-// Converts a streamable value to a String.  A NULL pointer is
+// Converts a streamable value to an std::string.  A NULL pointer is
 // converted to "(null)".  When the input value is a ::string,
 // ::std::string, ::wstring, or ::std::wstring object, each NUL
 // character in it is replaced with "\\0".
@@ -170,7 +170,7 @@
 // to the definition of the Message class, required by the ARM
 // compiler.
 template <typename T>
-String StreamableToString(const T& streamable) {
+std::string StreamableToString(const T& streamable) {
   return (Message() << streamable).GetString();
 }
 
@@ -495,9 +495,9 @@
 
  private:
   // The key supplied by the user.
-  internal::String key_;
+  std::string key_;
   // The value supplied by the user.
-  internal::String value_;
+  std::string value_;
 };
 
 // The result of a single Test.  This includes a list of
@@ -869,7 +869,7 @@
   void UnshuffleTests();
 
   // Name of the test case.
-  internal::String name_;
+  std::string name_;
   // Name of the parameter type, or NULL if this is not a typed or a
   // type-parameterized test.
   const internal::scoped_ptr<const ::std::string> type_param_;
@@ -1196,8 +1196,8 @@
   void AddTestPartResult(TestPartResult::Type result_type,
                          const char* file_name,
                          int line_number,
-                         const internal::String& message,
-                         const internal::String& os_stack_trace)
+                         const std::string& message,
+                         const std::string& os_stack_trace)
       GTEST_LOCK_EXCLUDED_(mutex_);
 
   // Adds a TestProperty to the current TestResult object. If the result already
@@ -1221,7 +1221,7 @@
   friend internal::UnitTestImpl* internal::GetUnitTestImpl();
   friend void internal::ReportFailureInUnknownLocation(
       TestPartResult::Type result_type,
-      const internal::String& message);
+      const std::string& message);
 
   // Creates an empty UnitTest.
   UnitTest();
@@ -1383,8 +1383,8 @@
 //
 // INTERNAL IMPLEMENTATION - DO NOT USE IN A USER PROGRAM.
 template <typename T1, typename T2>
-String FormatForComparisonFailureMessage(const T1& value,
-                                         const T2& /* other_operand */) {
+std::string FormatForComparisonFailureMessage(
+    const T1& value, const T2& /* other_operand */) {
   return FormatForComparison<T1, T2>::Format(value);
 }
 
@@ -1701,9 +1701,9 @@
         : type(t), file(srcfile), line(line_num), message(msg) { }
 
     TestPartResult::Type const type;
-    const char*        const file;
-    int                const line;
-    String             const message;
+    const char* const file;
+    int const line;
+    std::string const message;
 
    private:
     GTEST_DISALLOW_COPY_AND_ASSIGN_(AssertHelperData);
@@ -1981,7 +1981,7 @@
 # define ASSERT_GT(val1, val2) GTEST_ASSERT_GT(val1, val2)
 #endif
 
-// C String Comparisons.  All tests treat NULL and any non-NULL string
+// C-string Comparisons.  All tests treat NULL and any non-NULL string
 // as different.  Two NULLs are equal.
 //
 //    * {ASSERT|EXPECT}_STREQ(s1, s2):     Tests that s1 == s2
diff --git a/include/gtest/internal/gtest-death-test-internal.h b/include/gtest/internal/gtest-death-test-internal.h
index 22bb97f..2b3a78f 100644
--- a/include/gtest/internal/gtest-death-test-internal.h
+++ b/include/gtest/internal/gtest-death-test-internal.h
@@ -127,11 +127,11 @@
   // the last death test.
   static const char* LastMessage();
 
-  static void set_last_death_test_message(const String& message);
+  static void set_last_death_test_message(const std::string& message);
 
  private:
   // A string containing a description of the outcome of the last death test.
-  static String last_death_test_message_;
+  static std::string last_death_test_message_;
 
   GTEST_DISALLOW_COPY_AND_ASSIGN_(DeathTest);
 };
@@ -233,7 +233,7 @@
 // RUN_ALL_TESTS was called.
 class InternalRunDeathTestFlag {
  public:
-  InternalRunDeathTestFlag(const String& a_file,
+  InternalRunDeathTestFlag(const std::string& a_file,
                            int a_line,
                            int an_index,
                            int a_write_fd)
@@ -245,13 +245,13 @@
       posix::Close(write_fd_);
   }
 
-  String file() const { return file_; }
+  const std::string& file() const { return file_; }
   int line() const { return line_; }
   int index() const { return index_; }
   int write_fd() const { return write_fd_; }
 
  private:
-  String file_;
+  std::string file_;
   int line_;
   int index_;
   int write_fd_;
diff --git a/include/gtest/internal/gtest-filepath.h b/include/gtest/internal/gtest-filepath.h
index b36b3cf..7a13b4b 100644
--- a/include/gtest/internal/gtest-filepath.h
+++ b/include/gtest/internal/gtest-filepath.h
@@ -61,11 +61,7 @@
   FilePath() : pathname_("") { }
   FilePath(const FilePath& rhs) : pathname_(rhs.pathname_) { }
 
-  explicit FilePath(const char* pathname) : pathname_(pathname) {
-    Normalize();
-  }
-
-  explicit FilePath(const String& pathname) : pathname_(pathname) {
+  explicit FilePath(const std::string& pathname) : pathname_(pathname) {
     Normalize();
   }
 
@@ -78,7 +74,7 @@
     pathname_ = rhs.pathname_;
   }
 
-  String ToString() const { return pathname_; }
+  const std::string& string() const { return pathname_; }
   const char* c_str() const { return pathname_.c_str(); }
 
   // Returns the current working directory, or "" if unsuccessful.
@@ -111,8 +107,8 @@
                                          const FilePath& base_name,
                                          const char* extension);
 
-  // Returns true iff the path is NULL or "".
-  bool IsEmpty() const { return c_str() == NULL || *c_str() == '\0'; }
+  // Returns true iff the path is "".
+  bool IsEmpty() const { return pathname_.empty(); }
 
   // If input name has a trailing separator character, removes it and returns
   // the name, otherwise return the name string unmodified.
@@ -201,7 +197,7 @@
   // separators. Returns NULL if no path separator was found.
   const char* FindLastPathSeparator() const;
 
-  String pathname_;
+  std::string pathname_;
 };  // class FilePath
 
 }  // namespace internal
diff --git a/include/gtest/internal/gtest-internal.h b/include/gtest/internal/gtest-internal.h
index a4d1839..6e3dd66 100644
--- a/include/gtest/internal/gtest-internal.h
+++ b/include/gtest/internal/gtest-internal.h
@@ -73,7 +73,7 @@
 // This allows a user to use his own types in Google Test assertions by
 // overloading the << operator.
 //
-// util/gtl/stl_logging-inl.h overloads << for STL containers.  These
+// util/gtl/stl_logging.h overloads << for STL containers.  These
 // overloads cannot be defined in the std namespace, as that will be
 // undefined behavior.  Therefore, they are defined in the global
 // namespace instead.
@@ -163,8 +163,8 @@
 #endif  // GTEST_ELLIPSIS_NEEDS_POD_
 
 // Appends the user-supplied message to the Google-Test-generated message.
-GTEST_API_ String AppendUserMessage(const String& gtest_msg,
-                                    const Message& user_msg);
+GTEST_API_ std::string AppendUserMessage(
+    const std::string& gtest_msg, const Message& user_msg);
 
 // A helper class for creating scoped traces in user programs.
 class GTEST_API_ ScopedTrace {
@@ -185,7 +185,7 @@
                             // c'tor and d'tor.  Therefore it doesn't
                             // need to be used otherwise.
 
-// Converts a streamable value to a String.  A NULL pointer is
+// Converts a streamable value to an std::string.  A NULL pointer is
 // converted to "(null)".  When the input value is a ::string,
 // ::std::string, ::wstring, or ::std::wstring object, each NUL
 // character in it is replaced with "\\0".
@@ -193,7 +193,7 @@
 // to the definition of the Message class, required by the ARM
 // compiler.
 template <typename T>
-String StreamableToString(const T& streamable);
+std::string StreamableToString(const T& streamable);
 
 // Constructs and returns the message for an equality assertion
 // (e.g. ASSERT_EQ, EXPECT_STREQ, etc) failure.
@@ -212,12 +212,12 @@
 // be inserted into the message.
 GTEST_API_ AssertionResult EqFailure(const char* expected_expression,
                                      const char* actual_expression,
-                                     const String& expected_value,
-                                     const String& actual_value,
+                                     const std::string& expected_value,
+                                     const std::string& actual_value,
                                      bool ignoring_case);
 
 // Constructs a failure message for Boolean assertions such as EXPECT_TRUE.
-GTEST_API_ String GetBoolAssertionFailureMessage(
+GTEST_API_ std::string GetBoolAssertionFailureMessage(
     const AssertionResult& assertion_result,
     const char* expression_text,
     const char* actual_predicate_value,
@@ -563,9 +563,9 @@
 
 // Returns the prefix of 'str' before the first comma in it; returns
 // the entire string if it contains no comma.
-inline String GetPrefixUntilComma(const char* str) {
+inline std::string GetPrefixUntilComma(const char* str) {
   const char* comma = strchr(str, ',');
-  return comma == NULL ? String(str) : String(str, comma - str);
+  return comma == NULL ? str : std::string(str, comma);
 }
 
 // TypeParameterizedTest<Fixture, TestSel, Types>::Register()
@@ -650,7 +650,7 @@
 
 #endif  // GTEST_HAS_TYPED_TEST || GTEST_HAS_TYPED_TEST_P
 
-// Returns the current OS stack trace as a String.
+// Returns the current OS stack trace as an std::string.
 //
 // The maximum number of stack frames to be included is specified by
 // the gtest_stack_trace_depth flag.  The skip_count parameter
@@ -660,8 +660,8 @@
 // For example, if Foo() calls Bar(), which in turn calls
 // GetCurrentOsStackTraceExceptTop(..., 1), Foo() will be included in
 // the trace but Bar() and GetCurrentOsStackTraceExceptTop() won't.
-GTEST_API_ String GetCurrentOsStackTraceExceptTop(UnitTest* unit_test,
-                                                  int skip_count);
+GTEST_API_ std::string GetCurrentOsStackTraceExceptTop(
+    UnitTest* unit_test, int skip_count);
 
 // Helpers for suppressing warnings on unreachable code or constant
 // condition.
diff --git a/include/gtest/internal/gtest-port.h b/include/gtest/internal/gtest-port.h
index e5a4551..c79f12a 100644
--- a/include/gtest/internal/gtest-port.h
+++ b/include/gtest/internal/gtest-port.h
@@ -93,6 +93,7 @@
 //     GTEST_OS_LINUX_ANDROID - Google Android
 //   GTEST_OS_MAC      - Mac OS X
 //     GTEST_OS_IOS    - iOS
+//       GTEST_OS_IOS_SIMULATOR - iOS simulator
 //   GTEST_OS_NACL     - Google Native Client (NaCl)
 //   GTEST_OS_OPENBSD  - OpenBSD
 //   GTEST_OS_QNX      - QNX
@@ -239,12 +240,15 @@
 # define GTEST_OS_MAC 1
 # if TARGET_OS_IPHONE
 #  define GTEST_OS_IOS 1
+#  if TARGET_IPHONE_SIMULATOR
+#   define GTEST_OS_IOS_SIMULATOR 1
+#  endif
 # endif
 #elif defined __linux__
 # define GTEST_OS_LINUX 1
-# ifdef ANDROID
+# if defined __ANDROID__
 #  define GTEST_OS_LINUX_ANDROID 1
-# endif  // ANDROID
+# endif
 #elif defined __MVS__
 # define GTEST_OS_ZOS 1
 #elif defined(__sun) && defined(__SVR4)
@@ -288,9 +292,19 @@
 # include <io.h>
 #endif
 
+#if GTEST_OS_LINUX_ANDROID
+// Used to define __ANDROID_API__ matching the target NDK API level.
+#  include <android/api-level.h>  // NOLINT
+#endif
+
 // Defines this to true iff Google Test can use POSIX regular expressions.
 #ifndef GTEST_HAS_POSIX_RE
-# define GTEST_HAS_POSIX_RE (!GTEST_OS_WINDOWS)
+# if GTEST_OS_LINUX_ANDROID
+// On Android, <regex.h> is only available starting with Gingerbread.
+#  define GTEST_HAS_POSIX_RE (__ANDROID_API__ >= 9)
+# else
+#  define GTEST_HAS_POSIX_RE (!GTEST_OS_WINDOWS)
+# endif
 #endif
 
 #if GTEST_HAS_POSIX_RE
@@ -405,7 +419,16 @@
 # elif defined(__GNUC__) && (GTEST_GCC_VER_ >= 40302)
 
 #  ifdef __GXX_RTTI
-#   define GTEST_HAS_RTTI 1
+// When building against STLport with the Android NDK and with
+// -frtti -fno-exceptions, the build fails at link time with undefined
+// references to __cxa_bad_typeid. Note sure if STL or toolchain bug,
+// so disable RTTI when detected.
+#   if GTEST_OS_LINUX_ANDROID && defined(_STLPORT_MAJOR) && \
+       !defined(__EXCEPTIONS)
+#    define GTEST_HAS_RTTI 0
+#   else
+#    define GTEST_HAS_RTTI 1
+#   endif  // GTEST_OS_LINUX_ANDROID && __STLPORT_MAJOR && !__EXCEPTIONS
 #  else
 #   define GTEST_HAS_RTTI 0
 #  endif  // __GXX_RTTI
@@ -466,8 +489,13 @@
 // this macro to 0 to prevent Google Test from using tuple (any
 // feature depending on tuple with be disabled in this mode).
 #ifndef GTEST_HAS_TR1_TUPLE
+# if GTEST_OS_LINUX_ANDROID && defined(_STLPORT_MAJOR)
+// STLport, provided with the Android NDK, has neither <tr1/tuple> or <tuple>.
+#  define GTEST_HAS_TR1_TUPLE 0
+# else
 // The user didn't tell us not to do it, so we assume it's OK.
-# define GTEST_HAS_TR1_TUPLE 1
+#  define GTEST_HAS_TR1_TUPLE 1
+# endif
 #endif  // GTEST_HAS_TR1_TUPLE
 
 // Determines whether Google Test's own tr1 tuple implementation
@@ -490,10 +518,10 @@
 #  define GTEST_ENV_HAS_TR1_TUPLE_ 1
 # endif
 
-// C++11 specifies that <tuple> provides std::tuple. Users can't use
-// gtest in C++11 mode until their standard library is at least that
-// compliant.
-# if GTEST_LANG_CXX11
+// C++11 specifies that <tuple> provides std::tuple. Use that if gtest is used
+// in C++11 mode and libstdc++ isn't very old (binaries targeting OS X 10.6
+// can build with clang but need to use gcc4.2's libstdc++).
+# if GTEST_LANG_CXX11 && (!defined(__GLIBCXX__) || __GLIBCXX__ > 20110325)
 #  define GTEST_ENV_HAS_STD_TUPLE_ 1
 # endif
 
@@ -578,7 +606,16 @@
 // The user didn't tell us, so we need to figure it out.
 
 # if GTEST_OS_LINUX && !defined(__ia64__)
-#  define GTEST_HAS_CLONE 1
+#  if GTEST_OS_LINUX_ANDROID
+// On Android, clone() is only available on ARM starting with Gingerbread.
+#    if defined(__arm__) && __ANDROID_API__ >= 9
+#     define GTEST_HAS_CLONE 1
+#    else
+#     define GTEST_HAS_CLONE 0
+#    endif
+#  else
+#   define GTEST_HAS_CLONE 1
+#  endif
 # else
 #  define GTEST_HAS_CLONE 0
 # endif  // GTEST_OS_LINUX && !defined(__ia64__)
@@ -602,7 +639,7 @@
 // abort() in a VC 7.1 application compiled as GUI in debug config
 // pops up a dialog window that cannot be suppressed programmatically.
 #if (GTEST_OS_LINUX || GTEST_OS_CYGWIN || GTEST_OS_SOLARIS || \
-     (GTEST_OS_MAC && !GTEST_OS_IOS) || \
+     (GTEST_OS_MAC && !GTEST_OS_IOS) || GTEST_OS_IOS_SIMULATOR || \
      (GTEST_OS_WINDOWS_DESKTOP && _MSC_VER >= 1400) || \
      GTEST_OS_WINDOWS_MINGW || GTEST_OS_AIX || GTEST_OS_HPUX || \
      GTEST_OS_OPENBSD || GTEST_OS_QNX)
@@ -747,8 +784,6 @@
 
 namespace internal {
 
-class String;
-
 // The GTEST_COMPILE_ASSERT_ macro can be used to verify that a compile time
 // expression is true. For example, you could use it to verify the
 // size of a static array:
@@ -931,10 +966,9 @@
  private:
   void Init(const char* regex);
 
-  // We use a const char* instead of a string, as Google Test may be used
-  // where string is not available.  We also do not use Google Test's own
-  // String type here, in order to simplify dependencies between the
-  // files.
+  // We use a const char* instead of an std::string, as Google Test used to be
+  // used where std::string is not available.  TODO(wan@google.com): change to
+  // std::string.
   const char* pattern_;
   bool is_valid_;
 
@@ -1117,9 +1151,9 @@
 //   GetCapturedStderr - stops capturing stderr and returns the captured string.
 //
 GTEST_API_ void CaptureStdout();
-GTEST_API_ String GetCapturedStdout();
+GTEST_API_ std::string GetCapturedStdout();
 GTEST_API_ void CaptureStderr();
-GTEST_API_ String GetCapturedStderr();
+GTEST_API_ std::string GetCapturedStderr();
 
 #endif  // GTEST_HAS_STREAM_REDIRECTION
 
@@ -1870,7 +1904,7 @@
 #define GTEST_DECLARE_int32_(name) \
     GTEST_API_ extern ::testing::internal::Int32 GTEST_FLAG(name)
 #define GTEST_DECLARE_string_(name) \
-    GTEST_API_ extern ::testing::internal::String GTEST_FLAG(name)
+    GTEST_API_ extern ::std::string GTEST_FLAG(name)
 
 // Macros for defining flags.
 #define GTEST_DEFINE_bool_(name, default_val, doc) \
@@ -1878,7 +1912,7 @@
 #define GTEST_DEFINE_int32_(name, default_val, doc) \
     GTEST_API_ ::testing::internal::Int32 GTEST_FLAG(name) = (default_val)
 #define GTEST_DEFINE_string_(name, default_val, doc) \
-    GTEST_API_ ::testing::internal::String GTEST_FLAG(name) = (default_val)
+    GTEST_API_ ::std::string GTEST_FLAG(name) = (default_val)
 
 // Thread annotations
 #define GTEST_EXCLUSIVE_LOCK_REQUIRED_(locks)
diff --git a/include/gtest/internal/gtest-string.h b/include/gtest/internal/gtest-string.h
index 967b117..472dd05 100644
--- a/include/gtest/internal/gtest-string.h
+++ b/include/gtest/internal/gtest-string.h
@@ -54,30 +54,7 @@
 namespace testing {
 namespace internal {
 
-// String - a UTF-8 string class.
-//
-// For historic reasons, we don't use std::string.
-//
-// TODO(wan@google.com): replace this class with std::string or
-// implement it in terms of the latter.
-//
-// Note that String can represent both NULL and the empty string,
-// while std::string cannot represent NULL.
-//
-// NULL and the empty string are considered different.  NULL is less
-// than anything (including the empty string) except itself.
-//
-// This class only provides minimum functionality necessary for
-// implementing Google Test.  We do not intend to implement a full-fledged
-// string class here.
-//
-// Since the purpose of this class is to provide a substitute for
-// std::string on platforms where it cannot be used, we define a copy
-// constructor and assignment operators such that we don't need
-// conditional compilation in a lot of places.
-//
-// In order to make the representation efficient, the d'tor of String
-// is not virtual.  Therefore DO NOT INHERIT FROM String.
+// String - an abstract class holding static string utilities.
 class GTEST_API_ String {
  public:
   // Static utility methods
@@ -128,7 +105,7 @@
   // NULL will be converted to "(null)".  If an error occurred during
   // the conversion, "(failed to convert from wide string)" is
   // returned.
-  static String ShowWideCString(const wchar_t* wide_c_str);
+  static std::string ShowWideCString(const wchar_t* wide_c_str);
 
   // Compares two wide C strings.  Returns true iff they have the same
   // content.
@@ -162,7 +139,12 @@
   static bool CaseInsensitiveWideCStringEquals(const wchar_t* lhs,
                                                const wchar_t* rhs);
 
-  // Formats a list of arguments to a String, using the same format
+  // Returns true iff the given string ends with the given suffix, ignoring
+  // case. Any string is considered to end with an empty suffix.
+  static bool EndsWithCaseInsensitive(
+      const std::string& str, const std::string& suffix);
+
+  // Formats a list of arguments to an std::string, using the same format
   // spec string as for printf.
   //
   // We do not use the StringPrintf class as it is not universally
@@ -171,156 +153,17 @@
   // The result is limited to 4096 characters (including the tailing
   // 0).  If 4096 characters are not enough to format the input,
   // "<buffer exceeded>" is returned.
-  static String Format(const char* format, ...);
-
-  // C'tors
-
-  // The default c'tor constructs a NULL string.
-  String() : c_str_(NULL), length_(0) {}
-
-  // Constructs a String by cloning a 0-terminated C string.
-  String(const char* a_c_str) {  // NOLINT
-    if (a_c_str == NULL) {
-      c_str_ = NULL;
-      length_ = 0;
-    } else {
-      ConstructNonNull(a_c_str, strlen(a_c_str));
-    }
-  }
-
-  // Constructs a String by copying a given number of chars from a
-  // buffer.  E.g. String("hello", 3) creates the string "hel",
-  // String("a\0bcd", 4) creates "a\0bc", String(NULL, 0) creates "",
-  // and String(NULL, 1) results in access violation.
-  String(const char* buffer, size_t a_length) {
-    ConstructNonNull(buffer, a_length);
-  }
-
-  // The copy c'tor creates a new copy of the string.  The two
-  // String objects do not share content.
-  String(const String& str) : c_str_(NULL), length_(0) { *this = str; }
-
-  // D'tor.  String is intended to be a final class, so the d'tor
-  // doesn't need to be virtual.
-  ~String() { delete[] c_str_; }
-
-  // Allows a String to be implicitly converted to an ::std::string or
-  // ::string, and vice versa.  Converting a String containing a NULL
-  // pointer to ::std::string or ::string is undefined behavior.
-  // Converting a ::std::string or ::string containing an embedded NUL
-  // character to a String will result in the prefix up to the first
-  // NUL character.
-  String(const ::std::string& str) {  // NOLINT
-    ConstructNonNull(str.c_str(), str.length());
-  }
-
-  operator ::std::string() const { return ::std::string(c_str(), length()); }
-
-#if GTEST_HAS_GLOBAL_STRING
-  String(const ::string& str) {  // NOLINT
-    ConstructNonNull(str.c_str(), str.length());
-  }
-
-  operator ::string() const { return ::string(c_str(), length()); }
-#endif  // GTEST_HAS_GLOBAL_STRING
-
-  // Returns true iff this is an empty string (i.e. "").
-  bool empty() const { return (c_str() != NULL) && (length() == 0); }
-
-  // Compares this with another String.
-  // Returns < 0 if this is less than rhs, 0 if this is equal to rhs, or > 0
-  // if this is greater than rhs.
-  int Compare(const String& rhs) const;
-
-  // Returns true iff this String equals the given C string.  A NULL
-  // string and a non-NULL string are considered not equal.
-  bool operator==(const char* a_c_str) const { return Compare(a_c_str) == 0; }
-
-  // Returns true iff this String is less than the given String.  A
-  // NULL string is considered less than "".
-  bool operator<(const String& rhs) const { return Compare(rhs) < 0; }
-
-  // Returns true iff this String doesn't equal the given C string.  A NULL
-  // string and a non-NULL string are considered not equal.
-  bool operator!=(const char* a_c_str) const { return !(*this == a_c_str); }
-
-  // Returns true iff this String ends with the given suffix.  *Any*
-  // String is considered to end with a NULL or empty suffix.
-  bool EndsWith(const char* suffix) const;
-
-  // Returns true iff this String ends with the given suffix, not considering
-  // case. Any String is considered to end with a NULL or empty suffix.
-  bool EndsWithCaseInsensitive(const char* suffix) const;
-
-  // Returns the length of the encapsulated string, or 0 if the
-  // string is NULL.
-  size_t length() const { return length_; }
-
-  // Gets the 0-terminated C string this String object represents.
-  // The String object still owns the string.  Therefore the caller
-  // should NOT delete the return value.
-  const char* c_str() const { return c_str_; }
-
-  // Assigns a C string to this object.  Self-assignment works.
-  const String& operator=(const char* a_c_str) {
-    return *this = String(a_c_str);
-  }
-
-  // Assigns a String object to this object.  Self-assignment works.
-  const String& operator=(const String& rhs) {
-    if (this != &rhs) {
-      delete[] c_str_;
-      if (rhs.c_str() == NULL) {
-        c_str_ = NULL;
-        length_ = 0;
-      } else {
-        ConstructNonNull(rhs.c_str(), rhs.length());
-      }
-    }
-
-    return *this;
-  }
+  static std::string Format(const char* format, ...);
 
  private:
-  // Constructs a non-NULL String from the given content.  This
-  // function can only be called when c_str_ has not been allocated.
-  // ConstructNonNull(NULL, 0) results in an empty string ("").
-  // ConstructNonNull(NULL, non_zero) is undefined behavior.
-  void ConstructNonNull(const char* buffer, size_t a_length) {
-    char* const str = new char[a_length + 1];
-    memcpy(str, buffer, a_length);
-    str[a_length] = '\0';
-    c_str_ = str;
-    length_ = a_length;
-  }
-
-  const char* c_str_;
-  size_t length_;
+  String();  // Not meant to be instantiated.
 };  // class String
 
-// Streams a String to an ostream.  Each '\0' character in the String
-// is replaced with "\\0".
-inline ::std::ostream& operator<<(::std::ostream& os, const String& str) {
-  if (str.c_str() == NULL) {
-    os << "(null)";
-  } else {
-    const char* const c_str = str.c_str();
-    for (size_t i = 0; i != str.length(); i++) {
-      if (c_str[i] == '\0') {
-        os << "\\0";
-      } else {
-        os << c_str[i];
-      }
-    }
-  }
-  return os;
-}
-
-// Gets the content of the stringstream's buffer as a String.  Each '\0'
+// Gets the content of the stringstream's buffer as an std::string.  Each '\0'
 // character in the buffer is replaced with "\\0".
-GTEST_API_ String StringStreamToString(::std::stringstream* stream);
+GTEST_API_ std::string StringStreamToString(::std::stringstream* stream);
 
-// Converts a streamable value to a String.  A NULL pointer is
+// Converts a streamable value to an std::string.  A NULL pointer is
 // converted to "(null)".  When the input value is a ::string,
 // ::std::string, ::wstring, or ::std::wstring object, each NUL
 // character in it is replaced with "\\0".
@@ -329,7 +172,7 @@
 // to the definition of the Message class, required by the ARM
 // compiler.
 template <typename T>
-String StreamableToString(const T& streamable);
+std::string StreamableToString(const T& streamable);
 
 }  // namespace internal
 }  // namespace testing
diff --git a/include/gtest/internal/gtest-tuple.h b/include/gtest/internal/gtest-tuple.h
index 399e84d..7b3dfc3 100644
--- a/include/gtest/internal/gtest-tuple.h
+++ b/include/gtest/internal/gtest-tuple.h
@@ -142,52 +142,52 @@
 struct TupleElement;
 
 template <GTEST_10_TYPENAMES_(T)>
-struct TupleElement<true, 0, GTEST_10_TUPLE_(T)> {
+struct TupleElement<true, 0, GTEST_10_TUPLE_(T) > {
   typedef T0 type;
 };
 
 template <GTEST_10_TYPENAMES_(T)>
-struct TupleElement<true, 1, GTEST_10_TUPLE_(T)> {
+struct TupleElement<true, 1, GTEST_10_TUPLE_(T) > {
   typedef T1 type;
 };
 
 template <GTEST_10_TYPENAMES_(T)>
-struct TupleElement<true, 2, GTEST_10_TUPLE_(T)> {
+struct TupleElement<true, 2, GTEST_10_TUPLE_(T) > {
   typedef T2 type;
 };
 
 template <GTEST_10_TYPENAMES_(T)>
-struct TupleElement<true, 3, GTEST_10_TUPLE_(T)> {
+struct TupleElement<true, 3, GTEST_10_TUPLE_(T) > {
   typedef T3 type;
 };
 
 template <GTEST_10_TYPENAMES_(T)>
-struct TupleElement<true, 4, GTEST_10_TUPLE_(T)> {
+struct TupleElement<true, 4, GTEST_10_TUPLE_(T) > {
   typedef T4 type;
 };
 
 template <GTEST_10_TYPENAMES_(T)>
-struct TupleElement<true, 5, GTEST_10_TUPLE_(T)> {
+struct TupleElement<true, 5, GTEST_10_TUPLE_(T) > {
   typedef T5 type;
 };
 
 template <GTEST_10_TYPENAMES_(T)>
-struct TupleElement<true, 6, GTEST_10_TUPLE_(T)> {
+struct TupleElement<true, 6, GTEST_10_TUPLE_(T) > {
   typedef T6 type;
 };
 
 template <GTEST_10_TYPENAMES_(T)>
-struct TupleElement<true, 7, GTEST_10_TUPLE_(T)> {
+struct TupleElement<true, 7, GTEST_10_TUPLE_(T) > {
   typedef T7 type;
 };
 
 template <GTEST_10_TYPENAMES_(T)>
-struct TupleElement<true, 8, GTEST_10_TUPLE_(T)> {
+struct TupleElement<true, 8, GTEST_10_TUPLE_(T) > {
   typedef T8 type;
 };
 
 template <GTEST_10_TYPENAMES_(T)>
-struct TupleElement<true, 9, GTEST_10_TUPLE_(T)> {
+struct TupleElement<true, 9, GTEST_10_TUPLE_(T) > {
   typedef T9 type;
 };
 
@@ -730,57 +730,57 @@
 template <typename Tuple> struct tuple_size;
 
 template <GTEST_0_TYPENAMES_(T)>
-struct tuple_size<GTEST_0_TUPLE_(T)> {
+struct tuple_size<GTEST_0_TUPLE_(T) > {
   static const int value = 0;
 };
 
 template <GTEST_1_TYPENAMES_(T)>
-struct tuple_size<GTEST_1_TUPLE_(T)> {
+struct tuple_size<GTEST_1_TUPLE_(T) > {
   static const int value = 1;
 };
 
 template <GTEST_2_TYPENAMES_(T)>
-struct tuple_size<GTEST_2_TUPLE_(T)> {
+struct tuple_size<GTEST_2_TUPLE_(T) > {
   static const int value = 2;
 };
 
 template <GTEST_3_TYPENAMES_(T)>
-struct tuple_size<GTEST_3_TUPLE_(T)> {
+struct tuple_size<GTEST_3_TUPLE_(T) > {
   static const int value = 3;
 };
 
 template <GTEST_4_TYPENAMES_(T)>
-struct tuple_size<GTEST_4_TUPLE_(T)> {
+struct tuple_size<GTEST_4_TUPLE_(T) > {
   static const int value = 4;
 };
 
 template <GTEST_5_TYPENAMES_(T)>
-struct tuple_size<GTEST_5_TUPLE_(T)> {
+struct tuple_size<GTEST_5_TUPLE_(T) > {
   static const int value = 5;
 };
 
 template <GTEST_6_TYPENAMES_(T)>
-struct tuple_size<GTEST_6_TUPLE_(T)> {
+struct tuple_size<GTEST_6_TUPLE_(T) > {
   static const int value = 6;
 };
 
 template <GTEST_7_TYPENAMES_(T)>
-struct tuple_size<GTEST_7_TUPLE_(T)> {
+struct tuple_size<GTEST_7_TUPLE_(T) > {
   static const int value = 7;
 };
 
 template <GTEST_8_TYPENAMES_(T)>
-struct tuple_size<GTEST_8_TUPLE_(T)> {
+struct tuple_size<GTEST_8_TUPLE_(T) > {
   static const int value = 8;
 };
 
 template <GTEST_9_TYPENAMES_(T)>
-struct tuple_size<GTEST_9_TUPLE_(T)> {
+struct tuple_size<GTEST_9_TUPLE_(T) > {
   static const int value = 9;
 };
 
 template <GTEST_10_TYPENAMES_(T)>
-struct tuple_size<GTEST_10_TUPLE_(T)> {
+struct tuple_size<GTEST_10_TUPLE_(T) > {
   static const int value = 10;
 };
 
@@ -966,8 +966,8 @@
 inline bool operator==(const GTEST_10_TUPLE_(T)& t,
                        const GTEST_10_TUPLE_(U)& u) {
   return gtest_internal::SameSizeTuplePrefixComparator<
-      tuple_size<GTEST_10_TUPLE_(T)>::value,
-      tuple_size<GTEST_10_TUPLE_(U)>::value>::Eq(t, u);
+      tuple_size<GTEST_10_TUPLE_(T) >::value,
+      tuple_size<GTEST_10_TUPLE_(U) >::value>::Eq(t, u);
 }
 
 template <GTEST_10_TYPENAMES_(T), GTEST_10_TYPENAMES_(U)>
diff --git a/include/gtest/internal/gtest-tuple.h.pump b/include/gtest/internal/gtest-tuple.h.pump
index 238e8fc..c7d9e03 100644
--- a/include/gtest/internal/gtest-tuple.h.pump
+++ b/include/gtest/internal/gtest-tuple.h.pump
@@ -118,7 +118,7 @@
 
 $for i [[
 template <GTEST_$(n)_TYPENAMES_(T)>
-struct TupleElement<true, $i, GTEST_$(n)_TUPLE_(T)> {
+struct TupleElement<true, $i, GTEST_$(n)_TUPLE_(T) > {
   typedef T$i type;
 };
 
@@ -221,7 +221,7 @@
 
 $for j [[
 template <GTEST_$(j)_TYPENAMES_(T)>
-struct tuple_size<GTEST_$(j)_TUPLE_(T)> {
+struct tuple_size<GTEST_$(j)_TUPLE_(T) > {
   static const int value = $j;
 };
 
@@ -305,8 +305,8 @@
 inline bool operator==(const GTEST_$(n)_TUPLE_(T)& t,
                        const GTEST_$(n)_TUPLE_(U)& u) {
   return gtest_internal::SameSizeTuplePrefixComparator<
-      tuple_size<GTEST_$(n)_TUPLE_(T)>::value,
-      tuple_size<GTEST_$(n)_TUPLE_(U)>::value>::Eq(t, u);
+      tuple_size<GTEST_$(n)_TUPLE_(T) >::value,
+      tuple_size<GTEST_$(n)_TUPLE_(U) >::value>::Eq(t, u);
 }
 
 template <GTEST_$(n)_TYPENAMES_(T), GTEST_$(n)_TYPENAMES_(U)>
diff --git a/include/gtest/internal/gtest-type-util.h b/include/gtest/internal/gtest-type-util.h
index ed58fce..4a7d946 100644
--- a/include/gtest/internal/gtest-type-util.h
+++ b/include/gtest/internal/gtest-type-util.h
@@ -62,7 +62,7 @@
 // NB: This function is also used in Google Mock, so don't move it inside of
 // the typed-test-only section below.
 template <typename T>
-String GetTypeName() {
+std::string GetTypeName() {
 # if GTEST_HAS_RTTI
 
   const char* const name = typeid(T).name();
@@ -74,7 +74,7 @@
   using abi::__cxa_demangle;
 #   endif  // GTEST_HAS_CXXABI_H_
   char* const readable_name = __cxa_demangle(name, 0, 0, &status);
-  const String name_str(status == 0 ? readable_name : name);
+  const std::string name_str(status == 0 ? readable_name : name);
   free(readable_name);
   return name_str;
 #  else
diff --git a/include/gtest/internal/gtest-type-util.h.pump b/include/gtest/internal/gtest-type-util.h.pump
index cdeb7a4..3638d51 100644
--- a/include/gtest/internal/gtest-type-util.h.pump
+++ b/include/gtest/internal/gtest-type-util.h.pump
@@ -60,7 +60,7 @@
 // NB: This function is also used in Google Mock, so don't move it inside of
 // the typed-test-only section below.
 template <typename T>
-String GetTypeName() {
+std::string GetTypeName() {
 # if GTEST_HAS_RTTI
 
   const char* const name = typeid(T).name();
@@ -72,7 +72,7 @@
   using abi::__cxa_demangle;
 #   endif  // GTEST_HAS_CXXABI_H_
   char* const readable_name = __cxa_demangle(name, 0, 0, &status);
-  const String name_str(status == 0 ? readable_name : name);
+  const std::string name_str(status == 0 ? readable_name : name);
   free(readable_name);
   return name_str;
 #  else
diff --git a/src/gtest-death-test.cc b/src/gtest-death-test.cc
index de50ba7..8b52431 100644
--- a/src/gtest-death-test.cc
+++ b/src/gtest-death-test.cc
@@ -179,7 +179,7 @@
 
 // Generates a textual description of a given exit code, in the format
 // specified by wait(2).
-static String ExitSummary(int exit_code) {
+static std::string ExitSummary(int exit_code) {
   Message m;
 
 # if GTEST_OS_WINDOWS
@@ -214,7 +214,7 @@
 // one thread running, or cannot determine the number of threads, prior
 // to executing the given statement.  It is the responsibility of the
 // caller not to pass a thread_count of 1.
-static String DeathTestThreadWarning(size_t thread_count) {
+static std::string DeathTestThreadWarning(size_t thread_count) {
   Message msg;
   msg << "Death tests use fork(), which is unsafe particularly"
       << " in a threaded context. For this test, " << GTEST_NAME_ << " ";
@@ -248,7 +248,7 @@
 // message is propagated back to the parent process.  Otherwise, the
 // message is simply printed to stderr.  In either case, the program
 // then exits with status 1.
-void DeathTestAbort(const String& message) {
+void DeathTestAbort(const std::string& message) {
   // On a POSIX system, this function may be called from a threadsafe-style
   // death test child process, which operates on a very small stack.  Use
   // the heap for any additional non-minuscule memory requirements.
@@ -272,7 +272,7 @@
 # define GTEST_DEATH_TEST_CHECK_(expression) \
   do { \
     if (!::testing::internal::IsTrue(expression)) { \
-      DeathTestAbort(::testing::internal::String::Format( \
+      DeathTestAbort(::testing::internal::String::Format(       \
           "CHECK failed: File %s, line %d: %s", \
           __FILE__, __LINE__, #expression)); \
     } \
@@ -292,15 +292,15 @@
       gtest_retval = (expression); \
     } while (gtest_retval == -1 && errno == EINTR); \
     if (gtest_retval == -1) { \
-      DeathTestAbort(::testing::internal::String::Format( \
+      DeathTestAbort(::testing::internal::String::Format(       \
           "CHECK failed: File %s, line %d: %s != -1", \
           __FILE__, __LINE__, #expression)); \
     } \
   } while (::testing::internal::AlwaysFalse())
 
 // Returns the message describing the last system error in errno.
-String GetLastErrnoDescription() {
-    return String(errno == 0 ? "" : posix::StrError(errno));
+std::string GetLastErrnoDescription() {
+    return errno == 0 ? "" : posix::StrError(errno);
 }
 
 // This is called from a death test parent process to read a failure
@@ -350,11 +350,11 @@
   return last_death_test_message_.c_str();
 }
 
-void DeathTest::set_last_death_test_message(const String& message) {
+void DeathTest::set_last_death_test_message(const std::string& message) {
   last_death_test_message_ = message;
 }
 
-String DeathTest::last_death_test_message_;
+std::string DeathTest::last_death_test_message_;
 
 // Provides cross platform implementation for some death functionality.
 class DeathTestImpl : public DeathTest {
@@ -529,7 +529,7 @@
   if (!spawned())
     return false;
 
-  const String error_message = GetCapturedStderr();
+  const std::string error_message = GetCapturedStderr();
 
   bool success = false;
   Message buffer;
@@ -711,15 +711,12 @@
       FALSE,   // The initial state is non-signalled.
       NULL));  // The even is unnamed.
   GTEST_DEATH_TEST_CHECK_(event_handle_.Get() != NULL);
-  const String filter_flag = String::Format("--%s%s=%s.%s",
-                                            GTEST_FLAG_PREFIX_, kFilterFlag,
-                                            info->test_case_name(),
-                                            info->name());
-  const String internal_flag = String::Format(
-    "--%s%s=%s|%d|%d|%u|%Iu|%Iu",
-      GTEST_FLAG_PREFIX_,
-      kInternalRunDeathTestFlag,
-      file_, line_,
+  const std::string filter_flag =
+      std::string("--") + GTEST_FLAG_PREFIX_ + kFilterFlag + "=" +
+      info->test_case_name() + "." + info->name();
+  const std::string internal_flag =
+      std::string("--") + GTEST_FLAG_PREFIX_ + kInternalRunDeathTestFlag +
+      "=" + file_ + "|" + String::Format("%d|%d|%u|%Iu|%Iu", line_,
       death_test_index,
       static_cast<unsigned int>(::GetCurrentProcessId()),
       // size_t has the same with as pointers on both 32-bit and 64-bit
@@ -734,10 +731,9 @@
                                             executable_path,
                                             _MAX_PATH));
 
-  String command_line = String::Format("%s %s \"%s\"",
-                                       ::GetCommandLineA(),
-                                       filter_flag.c_str(),
-                                       internal_flag.c_str());
+  std::string command_line =
+      std::string(::GetCommandLineA()) + " " + filter_flag + " \"" +
+      internal_flag + "\"";
 
   DeathTest::set_last_death_test_message("");
 
@@ -954,9 +950,8 @@
       UnitTest::GetInstance()->original_working_dir();
   // We can safely call chdir() as it's a direct system call.
   if (chdir(original_dir) != 0) {
-    DeathTestAbort(String::Format("chdir(\"%s\") failed: %s",
-                                  original_dir,
-                                  GetLastErrnoDescription().c_str()));
+    DeathTestAbort(std::string("chdir(\"") + original_dir + "\") failed: " +
+                   GetLastErrnoDescription());
     return EXIT_FAILURE;
   }
 
@@ -966,10 +961,9 @@
   // invoke the test program via a valid path that contains at least
   // one path separator.
   execve(args->argv[0], args->argv, GetEnviron());
-  DeathTestAbort(String::Format("execve(%s, ...) in %s failed: %s",
-                                args->argv[0],
-                                original_dir,
-                                GetLastErrnoDescription().c_str()));
+  DeathTestAbort(std::string("execve(") + args->argv[0] + ", ...) in " +
+                 original_dir + " failed: " +
+                 GetLastErrnoDescription());
   return EXIT_FAILURE;
 }
 #  endif  // !GTEST_OS_QNX
@@ -1020,9 +1014,8 @@
       UnitTest::GetInstance()->original_working_dir();
   // We can safely call chdir() as it's a direct system call.
   if (chdir(original_dir) != 0) {
-    DeathTestAbort(String::Format("chdir(\"%s\") failed: %s",
-                                  original_dir,
-                                  GetLastErrnoDescription().c_str()));
+    DeathTestAbort(std::string("chdir(\"") + original_dir + "\") failed: " +
+                   GetLastErrnoDescription());
     return EXIT_FAILURE;
   }
 
@@ -1120,11 +1113,11 @@
   // it be closed when the child process does an exec:
   GTEST_DEATH_TEST_CHECK_(fcntl(pipe_fd[1], F_SETFD, 0) != -1);
 
-  const String filter_flag =
+  const std::string filter_flag =
       String::Format("--%s%s=%s.%s",
                      GTEST_FLAG_PREFIX_, kFilterFlag,
                      info->test_case_name(), info->name());
-  const String internal_flag =
+  const std::string internal_flag =
       String::Format("--%s%s=%s|%d|%d|%d",
                      GTEST_FLAG_PREFIX_, kInternalRunDeathTestFlag,
                      file_, line_, death_test_index, pipe_fd[1]);
diff --git a/src/gtest-filepath.cc b/src/gtest-filepath.cc
index 9d913b7..4d40cb9 100644
--- a/src/gtest-filepath.cc
+++ b/src/gtest-filepath.cc
@@ -116,9 +116,10 @@
 // FilePath("dir/file"). If a case-insensitive extension is not
 // found, returns a copy of the original FilePath.
 FilePath FilePath::RemoveExtension(const char* extension) const {
-  String dot_extension(String::Format(".%s", extension));
-  if (pathname_.EndsWithCaseInsensitive(dot_extension.c_str())) {
-    return FilePath(String(pathname_.c_str(), pathname_.length() - 4));
+  const std::string dot_extension = std::string(".") + extension;
+  if (String::EndsWithCaseInsensitive(pathname_, dot_extension)) {
+    return FilePath(pathname_.substr(
+        0, pathname_.length() - dot_extension.length()));
   }
   return *this;
 }
@@ -147,7 +148,7 @@
 // On Windows platform, '\' is the path separator, otherwise it is '/'.
 FilePath FilePath::RemoveDirectoryName() const {
   const char* const last_sep = FindLastPathSeparator();
-  return last_sep ? FilePath(String(last_sep + 1)) : *this;
+  return last_sep ? FilePath(last_sep + 1) : *this;
 }
 
 // RemoveFileName returns the directory path with the filename removed.
@@ -158,9 +159,9 @@
 // On Windows platform, '\' is the path separator, otherwise it is '/'.
 FilePath FilePath::RemoveFileName() const {
   const char* const last_sep = FindLastPathSeparator();
-  String dir;
+  std::string dir;
   if (last_sep) {
-    dir = String(c_str(), last_sep + 1 - c_str());
+    dir = std::string(c_str(), last_sep + 1 - c_str());
   } else {
     dir = kCurrentDirectoryString;
   }
@@ -177,11 +178,12 @@
                                 const FilePath& base_name,
                                 int number,
                                 const char* extension) {
-  String file;
+  std::string file;
   if (number == 0) {
-    file = String::Format("%s.%s", base_name.c_str(), extension);
+    file = base_name.string() + "." + extension;
   } else {
-    file = String::Format("%s_%d.%s", base_name.c_str(), number, extension);
+    file = base_name.string() + "_" + String::Format("%d", number).c_str()
+        + "." + extension;
   }
   return ConcatPaths(directory, FilePath(file));
 }
@@ -193,8 +195,7 @@
   if (directory.IsEmpty())
     return relative_path;
   const FilePath dir(directory.RemoveTrailingPathSeparator());
-  return FilePath(String::Format("%s%c%s", dir.c_str(), kPathSeparator,
-                                 relative_path.c_str()));
+  return FilePath(dir.string() + kPathSeparator + relative_path.string());
 }
 
 // Returns true if pathname describes something findable in the file-system,
@@ -338,7 +339,7 @@
 // On Windows platform, uses \ as the separator, other platforms use /.
 FilePath FilePath::RemoveTrailingPathSeparator() const {
   return IsDirectory()
-      ? FilePath(String(pathname_.c_str(), pathname_.length() - 1))
+      ? FilePath(pathname_.substr(0, pathname_.length() - 1))
       : *this;
 }
 
diff --git a/src/gtest-internal-inl.h b/src/gtest-internal-inl.h
index 350ade0..54717c9 100644
--- a/src/gtest-internal-inl.h
+++ b/src/gtest-internal-inl.h
@@ -202,20 +202,20 @@
   bool also_run_disabled_tests_;
   bool break_on_failure_;
   bool catch_exceptions_;
-  String color_;
-  String death_test_style_;
+  std::string color_;
+  std::string death_test_style_;
   bool death_test_use_fork_;
-  String filter_;
-  String internal_run_death_test_;
+  std::string filter_;
+  std::string internal_run_death_test_;
   bool list_tests_;
-  String output_;
+  std::string output_;
   bool print_time_;
   bool pretty_;
   internal::Int32 random_seed_;
   internal::Int32 repeat_;
   bool shuffle_;
   internal::Int32 stack_trace_depth_;
-  String stream_result_to_;
+  std::string stream_result_to_;
   bool throw_on_failure_;
 } GTEST_ATTRIBUTE_UNUSED_;
 
@@ -242,7 +242,7 @@
 // as '(Invalid Unicode 0xXXXXXXXX)'. If the string is in UTF16 encoding
 // and contains invalid UTF-16 surrogate pairs, values in those pairs
 // will be encoded as individual Unicode characters from Basic Normal Plane.
-GTEST_API_ String WideStringToUtf8(const wchar_t* str, int num_chars);
+GTEST_API_ std::string WideStringToUtf8(const wchar_t* str, int num_chars);
 
 // Reads the GTEST_SHARD_STATUS_FILE environment variable, and creates the file
 // if the variable is present. If a file already exists at this location, this
@@ -351,11 +351,11 @@
 
   // Returns true iff the test name of test property matches on key_.
   bool operator()(const TestProperty& test_property) const {
-    return String(test_property.key()).Compare(key_) == 0;
+    return test_property.key() == key_;
   }
 
  private:
-  String key_;
+  std::string key_;
 };
 
 // Class UnitTestOptions.
@@ -373,12 +373,12 @@
   // Functions for processing the gtest_output flag.
 
   // Returns the output format, or "" for normal printed output.
-  static String GetOutputFormat();
+  static std::string GetOutputFormat();
 
   // Returns the absolute path of the requested output file, or the
   // default (test_detail.xml in the original working directory) if
   // none was explicitly specified.
-  static String GetAbsolutePathToOutputFile();
+  static std::string GetAbsolutePathToOutputFile();
 
   // Functions for processing the gtest_filter flag.
 
@@ -391,8 +391,8 @@
 
   // Returns true iff the user-specified filter matches the test case
   // name and the test name.
-  static bool FilterMatchesTest(const String &test_case_name,
-                                const String &test_name);
+  static bool FilterMatchesTest(const std::string &test_case_name,
+                                const std::string &test_name);
 
 #if GTEST_OS_WINDOWS
   // Function for supporting the gtest_catch_exception flag.
@@ -405,7 +405,7 @@
 
   // Returns true if "name" matches the ':' separated list of glob-style
   // filters in "filter".
-  static bool MatchesFilter(const String& name, const char* filter);
+  static bool MatchesFilter(const std::string& name, const char* filter);
 };
 
 // Returns the current application's name, removing directory path if that
@@ -418,13 +418,13 @@
   OsStackTraceGetterInterface() {}
   virtual ~OsStackTraceGetterInterface() {}
 
-  // Returns the current OS stack trace as a String.  Parameters:
+  // Returns the current OS stack trace as an std::string.  Parameters:
   //
   //   max_depth  - the maximum number of stack frames to be included
   //                in the trace.
   //   skip_count - the number of top frames to be skipped; doesn't count
   //                against max_depth.
-  virtual String CurrentStackTrace(int max_depth, int skip_count) = 0;
+  virtual string CurrentStackTrace(int max_depth, int skip_count) = 0;
 
   // UponLeavingGTest() should be called immediately before Google Test calls
   // user code. It saves some information about the current stack that
@@ -440,7 +440,7 @@
  public:
   OsStackTraceGetter() : caller_frame_(NULL) {}
 
-  virtual String CurrentStackTrace(int max_depth, int skip_count)
+  virtual string CurrentStackTrace(int max_depth, int skip_count)
       GTEST_LOCK_EXCLUDED_(mutex_);
 
   virtual void UponLeavingGTest() GTEST_LOCK_EXCLUDED_(mutex_);
@@ -465,7 +465,7 @@
 struct TraceInfo {
   const char* file;
   int line;
-  String message;
+  std::string message;
 };
 
 // This is the default global test part result reporter used in UnitTestImpl.
@@ -610,7 +610,7 @@
   // getter, and returns it.
   OsStackTraceGetterInterface* os_stack_trace_getter();
 
-  // Returns the current OS stack trace as a String.
+  // Returns the current OS stack trace as an std::string.
   //
   // The maximum number of stack frames to be included is specified by
   // the gtest_stack_trace_depth flag.  The skip_count parameter
@@ -620,7 +620,7 @@
   // For example, if Foo() calls Bar(), which in turn calls
   // CurrentOsStackTraceExceptTop(1), Foo() will be included in the
   // trace but Bar() and CurrentOsStackTraceExceptTop() won't.
-  String CurrentOsStackTraceExceptTop(int skip_count) GTEST_NO_INLINE_;
+  std::string CurrentOsStackTraceExceptTop(int skip_count) GTEST_NO_INLINE_;
 
   // Finds and returns a TestCase with the given name.  If one doesn't
   // exist, creates one and returns it.
@@ -953,7 +953,7 @@
 
 // Returns the message describing the last system error, regardless of the
 // platform.
-GTEST_API_ String GetLastErrnoDescription();
+GTEST_API_ std::string GetLastErrnoDescription();
 
 # if GTEST_OS_WINDOWS
 // Provides leak-safe Windows kernel handle ownership.
diff --git a/src/gtest-port.cc b/src/gtest-port.cc
index a0e2d7c..fa8f29c 100644
--- a/src/gtest-port.cc
+++ b/src/gtest-port.cc
@@ -247,7 +247,7 @@
 }
 
 // Helper function used by ValidateRegex() to format error messages.
-String FormatRegexSyntaxError(const char* regex, int index) {
+std::string FormatRegexSyntaxError(const char* regex, int index) {
   return (Message() << "Syntax error at index " << index
           << " in simple regular expression \"" << regex << "\": ").GetString();
 }
@@ -513,7 +513,7 @@
 class CapturedStream {
  public:
   // The ctor redirects the stream to a temporary file.
-  CapturedStream(int fd) : fd_(fd), uncaptured_fd_(dup(fd)) {
+  explicit CapturedStream(int fd) : fd_(fd), uncaptured_fd_(dup(fd)) {
 # if GTEST_OS_WINDOWS
     char temp_dir_path[MAX_PATH + 1] = { '\0' };  // NOLINT
     char temp_file_path[MAX_PATH + 1] = { '\0' };  // NOLINT
@@ -531,11 +531,25 @@
     filename_ = temp_file_path;
 # else
     // There's no guarantee that a test has write access to the current
-    // directory, so we create the temporary file in the /tmp directory instead.
-    // We use /tmp on most systems, and /mnt/sdcard on Android. That's because
-    // Android doesn't have /tmp.
+    // directory, so we create the temporary file in the /tmp directory
+    // instead. We use /tmp on most systems, and /sdcard on Android.
+    // That's because Android doesn't have /tmp.
 #  if GTEST_OS_LINUX_ANDROID
-    char name_template[] = "/mnt/sdcard/gtest_captured_stream.XXXXXX";
+    // Note: Android applications are expected to call the framework's
+    // Context.getExternalStorageDirectory() method through JNI to get
+    // the location of the world-writable SD Card directory. However,
+    // this requires a Context handle, which cannot be retrieved
+    // globally from native code. Doing so also precludes running the
+    // code as part of a regular standalone executable, which doesn't
+    // run in a Dalvik process (e.g. when running it through 'adb shell').
+    //
+    // The location /sdcard is directly accessible from native code
+    // and is the only location (unofficially) supported by the Android
+    // team. It's generally a symlink to the real SD Card mount point
+    // which can be /mnt/sdcard, /mnt/sdcard0, /system/media/sdcard, or
+    // other OEM-customized locations. Never rely on these, and always
+    // use /sdcard.
+    char name_template[] = "/sdcard/gtest_captured_stream.XXXXXX";
 #  else
     char name_template[] = "/tmp/captured_stream.XXXXXX";
 #  endif  // GTEST_OS_LINUX_ANDROID
@@ -551,7 +565,7 @@
     remove(filename_.c_str());
   }
 
-  String GetCapturedString() {
+  std::string GetCapturedString() {
     if (uncaptured_fd_ != -1) {
       // Restores the original stream.
       fflush(NULL);
@@ -561,14 +575,14 @@
     }
 
     FILE* const file = posix::FOpen(filename_.c_str(), "r");
-    const String content = ReadEntireFile(file);
+    const std::string content = ReadEntireFile(file);
     posix::FClose(file);
     return content;
   }
 
  private:
-  // Reads the entire content of a file as a String.
-  static String ReadEntireFile(FILE* file);
+  // Reads the entire content of a file as an std::string.
+  static std::string ReadEntireFile(FILE* file);
 
   // Returns the size (in bytes) of a file.
   static size_t GetFileSize(FILE* file);
@@ -588,7 +602,7 @@
 }
 
 // Reads the entire content of a file as a string.
-String CapturedStream::ReadEntireFile(FILE* file) {
+std::string CapturedStream::ReadEntireFile(FILE* file) {
   const size_t file_size = GetFileSize(file);
   char* const buffer = new char[file_size];
 
@@ -604,7 +618,7 @@
     bytes_read += bytes_last_read;
   } while (bytes_last_read > 0 && bytes_read < file_size);
 
-  const String content(buffer, bytes_read);
+  const std::string content(buffer, bytes_read);
   delete[] buffer;
 
   return content;
@@ -627,8 +641,8 @@
 }
 
 // Stops capturing the output stream and returns the captured string.
-String GetCapturedStream(CapturedStream** captured_stream) {
-  const String content = (*captured_stream)->GetCapturedString();
+std::string GetCapturedStream(CapturedStream** captured_stream) {
+  const std::string content = (*captured_stream)->GetCapturedString();
 
   delete *captured_stream;
   *captured_stream = NULL;
@@ -647,10 +661,14 @@
 }
 
 // Stops capturing stdout and returns the captured string.
-String GetCapturedStdout() { return GetCapturedStream(&g_captured_stdout); }
+std::string GetCapturedStdout() {
+  return GetCapturedStream(&g_captured_stdout);
+}
 
 // Stops capturing stderr and returns the captured string.
-String GetCapturedStderr() { return GetCapturedStream(&g_captured_stderr); }
+std::string GetCapturedStderr() {
+  return GetCapturedStream(&g_captured_stderr);
+}
 
 #endif  // GTEST_HAS_STREAM_REDIRECTION
 
@@ -688,8 +706,8 @@
 // Returns the name of the environment variable corresponding to the
 // given flag.  For example, FlagToEnvVar("foo") will return
 // "GTEST_FOO" in the open-source version.
-static String FlagToEnvVar(const char* flag) {
-  const String full_flag =
+static std::string FlagToEnvVar(const char* flag) {
+  const std::string full_flag =
       (Message() << GTEST_FLAG_PREFIX_ << flag).GetString();
 
   Message env_var;
@@ -746,7 +764,7 @@
 //
 // The value is considered true iff it's not "0".
 bool BoolFromGTestEnv(const char* flag, bool default_value) {
-  const String env_var = FlagToEnvVar(flag);
+  const std::string env_var = FlagToEnvVar(flag);
   const char* const string_value = posix::GetEnv(env_var.c_str());
   return string_value == NULL ?
       default_value : strcmp(string_value, "0") != 0;
@@ -756,7 +774,7 @@
 // variable corresponding to the given flag; if it isn't set or
 // doesn't represent a valid 32-bit integer, returns default_value.
 Int32 Int32FromGTestEnv(const char* flag, Int32 default_value) {
-  const String env_var = FlagToEnvVar(flag);
+  const std::string env_var = FlagToEnvVar(flag);
   const char* const string_value = posix::GetEnv(env_var.c_str());
   if (string_value == NULL) {
     // The environment variable is not set.
@@ -778,7 +796,7 @@
 // Reads and returns the string environment variable corresponding to
 // the given flag; if it's not set, returns default_value.
 const char* StringFromGTestEnv(const char* flag, const char* default_value) {
-  const String env_var = FlagToEnvVar(flag);
+  const std::string env_var = FlagToEnvVar(flag);
   const char* const value = posix::GetEnv(env_var.c_str());
   return value == NULL ? default_value : value;
 }
diff --git a/src/gtest-test-part.cc b/src/gtest-test-part.cc
index 5ddc67c..c60eef3 100644
--- a/src/gtest-test-part.cc
+++ b/src/gtest-test-part.cc
@@ -48,10 +48,10 @@
 
 // Gets the summary of the failure message by omitting the stack trace
 // in it.
-internal::String TestPartResult::ExtractSummary(const char* message) {
+std::string TestPartResult::ExtractSummary(const char* message) {
   const char* const stack_trace = strstr(message, internal::kStackTraceMarker);
-  return stack_trace == NULL ? internal::String(message) :
-      internal::String(message, stack_trace - message);
+  return stack_trace == NULL ? message :
+      std::string(message, stack_trace);
 }
 
 // Prints a TestPartResult object.
diff --git a/src/gtest-typed-test.cc b/src/gtest-typed-test.cc
index a5cc88f..f0079f4 100644
--- a/src/gtest-typed-test.cc
+++ b/src/gtest-typed-test.cc
@@ -58,10 +58,10 @@
   registered_tests = SkipSpaces(registered_tests);
 
   Message errors;
-  ::std::set<String> tests;
+  ::std::set<std::string> tests;
   for (const char* names = registered_tests; names != NULL;
        names = SkipComma(names)) {
-    const String name = GetPrefixUntilComma(names);
+    const std::string name = GetPrefixUntilComma(names);
     if (tests.count(name) != 0) {
       errors << "Test " << name << " is listed more than once.\n";
       continue;
@@ -93,7 +93,7 @@
     }
   }
 
-  const String& errors_str = errors.GetString();
+  const std::string& errors_str = errors.GetString();
   if (errors_str != "") {
     fprintf(stderr, "%s %s", FormatFileLocation(file, line).c_str(),
             errors_str.c_str());
diff --git a/src/gtest.cc b/src/gtest.cc
index 3b5a28b..0567e83 100644
--- a/src/gtest.cc
+++ b/src/gtest.cc
@@ -364,7 +364,7 @@
 GTEST_API_ GTEST_DEFINE_STATIC_MUTEX_(g_linked_ptr_mutex);
 
 // Application pathname gotten in InitGoogleTest.
-String g_executable_path;
+std::string g_executable_path;
 
 // Returns the current application's name, removing directory path if that
 // is present.
@@ -383,29 +383,29 @@
 // Functions for processing the gtest_output flag.
 
 // Returns the output format, or "" for normal printed output.
-String UnitTestOptions::GetOutputFormat() {
+std::string UnitTestOptions::GetOutputFormat() {
   const char* const gtest_output_flag = GTEST_FLAG(output).c_str();
-  if (gtest_output_flag == NULL) return String("");
+  if (gtest_output_flag == NULL) return std::string("");
 
   const char* const colon = strchr(gtest_output_flag, ':');
   return (colon == NULL) ?
-      String(gtest_output_flag) :
-      String(gtest_output_flag, colon - gtest_output_flag);
+      std::string(gtest_output_flag) :
+      std::string(gtest_output_flag, colon - gtest_output_flag);
 }
 
 // Returns the name of the requested output file, or the default if none
 // was explicitly specified.
-String UnitTestOptions::GetAbsolutePathToOutputFile() {
+std::string UnitTestOptions::GetAbsolutePathToOutputFile() {
   const char* const gtest_output_flag = GTEST_FLAG(output).c_str();
   if (gtest_output_flag == NULL)
-    return String("");
+    return "";
 
   const char* const colon = strchr(gtest_output_flag, ':');
   if (colon == NULL)
-    return String(internal::FilePath::ConcatPaths(
-               internal::FilePath(
-                   UnitTest::GetInstance()->original_working_dir()),
-               internal::FilePath(kDefaultOutputFile)).ToString() );
+    return internal::FilePath::ConcatPaths(
+        internal::FilePath(
+            UnitTest::GetInstance()->original_working_dir()),
+        internal::FilePath(kDefaultOutputFile)).string();
 
   internal::FilePath output_name(colon + 1);
   if (!output_name.IsAbsolutePath())
@@ -418,12 +418,12 @@
         internal::FilePath(colon + 1));
 
   if (!output_name.IsDirectory())
-    return output_name.ToString();
+    return output_name.string();
 
   internal::FilePath result(internal::FilePath::GenerateUniqueFileName(
       output_name, internal::GetCurrentExecutableName(),
       GetOutputFormat().c_str()));
-  return result.ToString();
+  return result.string();
 }
 
 // Returns true iff the wildcard pattern matches the string.  The
@@ -448,7 +448,8 @@
   }
 }
 
-bool UnitTestOptions::MatchesFilter(const String& name, const char* filter) {
+bool UnitTestOptions::MatchesFilter(
+    const std::string& name, const char* filter) {
   const char *cur_pattern = filter;
   for (;;) {
     if (PatternMatchesString(cur_pattern, name.c_str())) {
@@ -468,28 +469,24 @@
   }
 }
 
-// TODO(keithray): move String function implementations to gtest-string.cc.
-
 // Returns true iff the user-specified filter matches the test case
 // name and the test name.
-bool UnitTestOptions::FilterMatchesTest(const String &test_case_name,
-                                        const String &test_name) {
-  const String& full_name = String::Format("%s.%s",
-                                           test_case_name.c_str(),
-                                           test_name.c_str());
+bool UnitTestOptions::FilterMatchesTest(const std::string &test_case_name,
+                                        const std::string &test_name) {
+  const std::string& full_name = test_case_name + "." + test_name.c_str();
 
   // Split --gtest_filter at '-', if there is one, to separate into
   // positive filter and negative filter portions
   const char* const p = GTEST_FLAG(filter).c_str();
   const char* const dash = strchr(p, '-');
-  String positive;
-  String negative;
+  std::string positive;
+  std::string negative;
   if (dash == NULL) {
     positive = GTEST_FLAG(filter).c_str();  // Whole string is a positive filter
-    negative = String("");
+    negative = "";
   } else {
-    positive = String(p, dash - p);  // Everything up to the dash
-    negative = String(dash+1);       // Everything after the dash
+    positive = std::string(p, dash);   // Everything up to the dash
+    negative = std::string(dash + 1);  // Everything after the dash
     if (positive.empty()) {
       // Treat '-test1' as the same as '*-test1'
       positive = kUniversalFilter;
@@ -609,7 +606,7 @@
                               const TestPartResultArray& results,
                               TestPartResult::Type type,
                               const string& substr) {
-  const String expected(type == TestPartResult::kFatalFailure ?
+  const std::string expected(type == TestPartResult::kFatalFailure ?
                         "1 fatal failure" :
                         "1 non-fatal failure");
   Message msg;
@@ -747,7 +744,7 @@
   return SumOverTestCaseList(test_cases_, &TestCase::test_to_run_count);
 }
 
-// Returns the current OS stack trace as a String.
+// Returns the current OS stack trace as an std::string.
 //
 // The maximum number of stack frames to be included is specified by
 // the gtest_stack_trace_depth flag.  The skip_count parameter
@@ -757,9 +754,9 @@
 // For example, if Foo() calls Bar(), which in turn calls
 // CurrentOsStackTraceExceptTop(1), Foo() will be included in the
 // trace but Bar() and CurrentOsStackTraceExceptTop() won't.
-String UnitTestImpl::CurrentOsStackTraceExceptTop(int skip_count) {
+std::string UnitTestImpl::CurrentOsStackTraceExceptTop(int skip_count) {
   (void)skip_count;
-  return String("");
+  return "";
 }
 
 // Returns the current time in milliseconds.
@@ -816,30 +813,7 @@
 
 // Utilities
 
-// class String
-
-// Copies at most length characters from str into a newly-allocated
-// piece of memory of size length+1.  The memory is allocated with new[].
-// A terminating null byte is written to the memory, and a pointer to it
-// is returned.  If str is NULL, NULL is returned.
-static char* CloneString(const char* str, size_t length) {
-  if (str == NULL) {
-    return NULL;
-  } else {
-    char* const clone = new char[length + 1];
-    posix::StrNCpy(clone, str, length);
-    clone[length] = '\0';
-    return clone;
-  }
-}
-
-// Clones a 0-terminated C string, allocating memory using new.  The
-// caller is responsible for deleting[] the return value.  Returns the
-// cloned string, or NULL if the input is NULL.
-const char * String::CloneCString(const char* c_str) {
-  return (c_str == NULL) ?
-                    NULL : CloneString(c_str, strlen(c_str));
-}
+// class String.
 
 #if GTEST_OS_WINDOWS_MOBILE
 // Creates a UTF-16 wide string from the given ANSI string, allocating
@@ -896,11 +870,6 @@
 // encoding, and streams the result to the given Message object.
 static void StreamWideCharsToMessage(const wchar_t* wstr, size_t length,
                                      Message* msg) {
-  // TODO(wan): consider allowing a testing::String object to
-  // contain '\0'.  This will make it behave more like std::string,
-  // and will allow ToUtf8String() to return the correct encoding
-  // for '\0' s.t. we can get rid of the conditional here (and in
-  // several other places).
   for (size_t i = 0; i != length; ) {  // NOLINT
     if (wstr[i] != L'\0') {
       *msg << WideStringToUtf8(wstr + i, static_cast<int>(length - i));
@@ -987,8 +956,8 @@
 // be inserted into the message.
 AssertionResult EqFailure(const char* expected_expression,
                           const char* actual_expression,
-                          const String& expected_value,
-                          const String& actual_value,
+                          const std::string& expected_value,
+                          const std::string& actual_value,
                           bool ignoring_case) {
   Message msg;
   msg << "Value of: " << actual_expression;
@@ -1008,10 +977,11 @@
 }
 
 // Constructs a failure message for Boolean assertions such as EXPECT_TRUE.
-String GetBoolAssertionFailureMessage(const AssertionResult& assertion_result,
-                                      const char* expression_text,
-                                      const char* actual_predicate_value,
-                                      const char* expected_predicate_value) {
+std::string GetBoolAssertionFailureMessage(
+    const AssertionResult& assertion_result,
+    const char* expression_text,
+    const char* actual_predicate_value,
+    const char* expected_predicate_value) {
   const char* actual_message = assertion_result.message();
   Message msg;
   msg << "Value of: " << expression_text
@@ -1357,7 +1327,7 @@
 
 # endif  // GTEST_OS_WINDOWS_MOBILE
 
-  const String error_hex(String::Format("0x%08X ", hr));
+  const std::string error_hex(String::Format("0x%08X ", hr));
   return ::testing::AssertionFailure()
       << "Expected: " << expr << " " << expected << ".\n"
       << "  Actual: " << error_hex << error_text << "\n";
@@ -1491,7 +1461,7 @@
 // as '(Invalid Unicode 0xXXXXXXXX)'. If the string is in UTF16 encoding
 // and contains invalid UTF-16 surrogate pairs, values in those pairs
 // will be encoded as individual Unicode characters from Basic Normal Plane.
-String WideStringToUtf8(const wchar_t* str, int num_chars) {
+std::string WideStringToUtf8(const wchar_t* str, int num_chars) {
   if (num_chars == -1)
     num_chars = static_cast<int>(wcslen(str));
 
@@ -1515,12 +1485,12 @@
   return StringStreamToString(&stream);
 }
 
-// Converts a wide C string to a String using the UTF-8 encoding.
+// Converts a wide C string to an std::string using the UTF-8 encoding.
 // NULL will be converted to "(null)".
-String String::ShowWideCString(const wchar_t * wide_c_str) {
-  if (wide_c_str == NULL) return String("(null)");
+std::string String::ShowWideCString(const wchar_t * wide_c_str) {
+  if (wide_c_str == NULL)  return "(null)";
 
-  return String(internal::WideStringToUtf8(wide_c_str, -1).c_str());
+  return internal::WideStringToUtf8(wide_c_str, -1);
 }
 
 // Compares two wide C strings.  Returns true iff they have the same
@@ -1616,59 +1586,18 @@
 #endif  // OS selector
 }
 
-// Compares this with another String.
-// Returns < 0 if this is less than rhs, 0 if this is equal to rhs, or > 0
-// if this is greater than rhs.
-int String::Compare(const String & rhs) const {
-  const char* const lhs_c_str = c_str();
-  const char* const rhs_c_str = rhs.c_str();
-
-  if (lhs_c_str == NULL) {
-    return rhs_c_str == NULL ? 0 : -1;  // NULL < anything except NULL
-  } else if (rhs_c_str == NULL) {
-    return 1;
-  }
-
-  const size_t shorter_str_len =
-      length() <= rhs.length() ? length() : rhs.length();
-  for (size_t i = 0; i != shorter_str_len; i++) {
-    if (lhs_c_str[i] < rhs_c_str[i]) {
-      return -1;
-    } else if (lhs_c_str[i] > rhs_c_str[i]) {
-      return 1;
-    }
-  }
-  return (length() < rhs.length()) ? -1 :
-      (length() > rhs.length()) ? 1 : 0;
+// Returns true iff str ends with the given suffix, ignoring case.
+// Any string is considered to end with an empty suffix.
+bool String::EndsWithCaseInsensitive(
+    const std::string& str, const std::string& suffix) {
+  const size_t str_len = str.length();
+  const size_t suffix_len = suffix.length();
+  return (str_len >= suffix_len) &&
+         CaseInsensitiveCStringEquals(str.c_str() + str_len - suffix_len,
+                                      suffix.c_str());
 }
 
-// Returns true iff this String ends with the given suffix.  *Any*
-// String is considered to end with a NULL or empty suffix.
-bool String::EndsWith(const char* suffix) const {
-  if (suffix == NULL || CStringEquals(suffix, "")) return true;
-
-  if (c_str() == NULL) return false;
-
-  const size_t this_len = strlen(c_str());
-  const size_t suffix_len = strlen(suffix);
-  return (this_len >= suffix_len) &&
-         CStringEquals(c_str() + this_len - suffix_len, suffix);
-}
-
-// Returns true iff this String ends with the given suffix, ignoring case.
-// Any String is considered to end with a NULL or empty suffix.
-bool String::EndsWithCaseInsensitive(const char* suffix) const {
-  if (suffix == NULL || CStringEquals(suffix, "")) return true;
-
-  if (c_str() == NULL) return false;
-
-  const size_t this_len = strlen(c_str());
-  const size_t suffix_len = strlen(suffix);
-  return (this_len >= suffix_len) &&
-         CaseInsensitiveCStringEquals(c_str() + this_len - suffix_len, suffix);
-}
-
-// Formats a list of arguments to a String, using the same format
+// Formats a list of arguments to an std::string, using the same format
 // spec string as for printf.
 //
 // We do not use the StringPrintf class as it is not universally
@@ -1678,7 +1607,7 @@
 // If 4096 characters are not enough to format the input, or if
 // there's an error, "<formatting error or buffer exceeded>" is
 // returned.
-String String::Format(const char * format, ...) {
+std::string String::Format(const char * format, ...) {
   va_list args;
   va_start(args, format);
 
@@ -1705,46 +1634,42 @@
   // always returns a negative value.  For simplicity, we lump the two
   // error cases together.
   if (size < 0 || size >= kBufferSize) {
-    return String("<formatting error or buffer exceeded>");
+    return "<formatting error or buffer exceeded>";
   } else {
-    return String(buffer, size);
+    return std::string(buffer, size);
   }
 }
 
-// Converts the buffer in a stringstream to a String, converting NUL
+// Converts the buffer in a stringstream to an std::string, converting NUL
 // bytes to "\\0" along the way.
-String StringStreamToString(::std::stringstream* ss) {
+std::string StringStreamToString(::std::stringstream* ss) {
   const ::std::string& str = ss->str();
   const char* const start = str.c_str();
   const char* const end = start + str.length();
 
-  // We need to use a helper stringstream to do this transformation
-  // because String doesn't support push_back().
-  ::std::stringstream helper;
+  std::string result;
+  result.reserve(2 * (end - start));
   for (const char* ch = start; ch != end; ++ch) {
     if (*ch == '\0') {
-      helper << "\\0";  // Replaces NUL with "\\0";
+      result += "\\0";  // Replaces NUL with "\\0";
     } else {
-      helper.put(*ch);
+      result += *ch;
     }
   }
 
-  return String(helper.str().c_str());
+  return result;
 }
 
 // Appends the user-supplied message to the Google-Test-generated message.
-String AppendUserMessage(const String& gtest_msg,
-                         const Message& user_msg) {
+std::string AppendUserMessage(const std::string& gtest_msg,
+                              const Message& user_msg) {
   // Appends the user message if it's non-empty.
-  const String user_msg_string = user_msg.GetString();
+  const std::string user_msg_string = user_msg.GetString();
   if (user_msg_string.empty()) {
     return gtest_msg;
   }
 
-  Message msg;
-  msg << gtest_msg << "\n" << user_msg_string;
-
-  return msg.GetString();
+  return gtest_msg + "\n" + user_msg_string;
 }
 
 }  // namespace internal
@@ -1810,7 +1735,7 @@
 // Adds a failure if the key is a reserved attribute of Google Test
 // testcase tags.  Returns true if the property is valid.
 bool TestResult::ValidateTestProperty(const TestProperty& test_property) {
-  internal::String key(test_property.key());
+  const std::string& key = test_property.key();
   if (key == "name" || key == "status" || key == "time" || key == "classname") {
     ADD_FAILURE()
         << "Reserved key used in RecordProperty(): "
@@ -1911,7 +1836,7 @@
 namespace internal {
 
 void ReportFailureInUnknownLocation(TestPartResult::Type result_type,
-                                    const String& message) {
+                                    const std::string& message) {
   // This function is a friend of UnitTest and as such has access to
   // AddTestPartResult.
   UnitTest::GetInstance()->AddTestPartResult(
@@ -1919,7 +1844,7 @@
       NULL,  // No info about the source file where the exception occurred.
       -1,    // We have no info on which line caused the exception.
       message,
-      String());  // No stack trace, either.
+      "");   // No stack trace, either.
 }
 
 }  // namespace internal
@@ -1996,13 +1921,13 @@
 // function returns its result via an output parameter pointer because VC++
 // prohibits creation of objects with destructors on stack in functions
 // using __try (see error C2712).
-static internal::String* FormatSehExceptionMessage(DWORD exception_code,
-                                                   const char* location) {
+static std::string* FormatSehExceptionMessage(DWORD exception_code,
+                                              const char* location) {
   Message message;
   message << "SEH exception with code 0x" << std::setbase(16) <<
     exception_code << std::setbase(10) << " thrown in " << location << ".";
 
-  return new internal::String(message.GetString());
+  return new std::string(message.GetString());
 }
 
 #endif  // GTEST_HAS_SEH
@@ -2010,8 +1935,8 @@
 #if GTEST_HAS_EXCEPTIONS
 
 // Adds an "exception thrown" fatal failure to the current test.
-static internal::String FormatCxxExceptionMessage(const char* description,
-                                                  const char* location) {
+static std::string FormatCxxExceptionMessage(const char* description,
+                                             const char* location) {
   Message message;
   if (description != NULL) {
     message << "C++ exception with description \"" << description << "\"";
@@ -2023,7 +1948,7 @@
   return message.GetString();
 }
 
-static internal::String PrintTestPartResultToString(
+static std::string PrintTestPartResultToString(
     const TestPartResult& test_part_result);
 
 // A failed Google Test assertion will throw an exception of this type when
@@ -2059,7 +1984,7 @@
     // We create the exception message on the heap because VC++ prohibits
     // creation of objects with destructors on stack in functions using __try
     // (see error C2712).
-    internal::String* exception_message = FormatSehExceptionMessage(
+    std::string* exception_message = FormatSehExceptionMessage(
         GetExceptionCode(), location);
     internal::ReportFailureInUnknownLocation(TestPartResult::kFatalFailure,
                                              *exception_message);
@@ -2263,11 +2188,11 @@
 
   // Returns true iff the test name of test_info matches name_.
   bool operator()(const TestInfo * test_info) const {
-    return test_info && internal::String(test_info->name()).Compare(name_) == 0;
+    return test_info && test_info->name() == name_;
   }
 
  private:
-  internal::String name_;
+  std::string name_;
 };
 
 }  // namespace
@@ -2457,20 +2382,20 @@
 //
 // FormatCountableNoun(1, "formula", "formuli") returns "1 formula".
 // FormatCountableNoun(5, "book", "books") returns "5 books".
-static internal::String FormatCountableNoun(int count,
-                                            const char * singular_form,
-                                            const char * plural_form) {
+static std::string FormatCountableNoun(int count,
+                                       const char * singular_form,
+                                       const char * plural_form) {
   return internal::String::Format("%d %s", count,
                                   count == 1 ? singular_form : plural_form);
 }
 
 // Formats the count of tests.
-static internal::String FormatTestCount(int test_count) {
+static std::string FormatTestCount(int test_count) {
   return FormatCountableNoun(test_count, "test", "tests");
 }
 
 // Formats the count of test cases.
-static internal::String FormatTestCaseCount(int test_case_count) {
+static std::string FormatTestCaseCount(int test_case_count) {
   return FormatCountableNoun(test_case_count, "test case", "test cases");
 }
 
@@ -2495,8 +2420,8 @@
   }
 }
 
-// Prints a TestPartResult to a String.
-static internal::String PrintTestPartResultToString(
+// Prints a TestPartResult to an std::string.
+static std::string PrintTestPartResultToString(
     const TestPartResult& test_part_result) {
   return (Message()
           << internal::FormatFileLocation(test_part_result.file_name(),
@@ -2507,7 +2432,7 @@
 
 // Prints a TestPartResult.
 static void PrintTestPartResult(const TestPartResult& test_part_result) {
-  const internal::String& result =
+  const std::string& result =
       PrintTestPartResultToString(test_part_result);
   printf("%s\n", result.c_str());
   fflush(stdout);
@@ -2700,7 +2625,7 @@
 
   // Prints the filter if it's not *.  This reminds the user that some
   // tests may be skipped.
-  if (!internal::String::CStringEquals(filter, kUniversalFilter)) {
+  if (!String::CStringEquals(filter, kUniversalFilter)) {
     ColoredPrintf(COLOR_YELLOW,
                   "Note: %s filter = %s\n", GTEST_NAME_, filter);
   }
@@ -2734,7 +2659,7 @@
 }
 
 void PrettyUnitTestResultPrinter::OnTestCaseStart(const TestCase& test_case) {
-  const internal::String counts =
+  const std::string counts =
       FormatCountableNoun(test_case.test_to_run_count(), "test", "tests");
   ColoredPrintf(COLOR_GREEN, "[----------] ");
   printf("%s from %s", counts.c_str(), test_case.name());
@@ -2787,7 +2712,7 @@
 void PrettyUnitTestResultPrinter::OnTestCaseEnd(const TestCase& test_case) {
   if (!GTEST_FLAG(print_time)) return;
 
-  const internal::String counts =
+  const std::string counts =
       FormatCountableNoun(test_case.test_to_run_count(), "test", "tests");
   ColoredPrintf(COLOR_GREEN, "[----------] ");
   printf("%s from %s (%s ms total)\n\n",
@@ -3006,18 +2931,20 @@
   // is_attribute is true, the text is meant to appear as an attribute
   // value, and normalizable whitespace is preserved by replacing it
   // with character references.
-  static String EscapeXml(const char* str, bool is_attribute);
+  static std::string EscapeXml(const char* str, bool is_attribute);
 
   // Returns the given string with all characters invalid in XML removed.
   static string RemoveInvalidXmlCharacters(const string& str);
 
   // Convenience wrapper around EscapeXml when str is an attribute value.
-  static String EscapeXmlAttribute(const char* str) {
+  static std::string EscapeXmlAttribute(const char* str) {
     return EscapeXml(str, true);
   }
 
   // Convenience wrapper around EscapeXml when str is not an attribute value.
-  static String EscapeXmlText(const char* str) { return EscapeXml(str, false); }
+  static std::string EscapeXmlText(const char* str) {
+    return EscapeXml(str, false);
+  }
 
   // Streams an XML CDATA section, escaping invalid CDATA sequences as needed.
   static void OutputXmlCDataSection(::std::ostream* stream, const char* data);
@@ -3035,12 +2962,12 @@
 
   // Produces a string representing the test properties in a result as space
   // delimited XML attributes based on the property key="value" pairs.
-  // When the String is not empty, it includes a space at the beginning,
+  // When the std::string is not empty, it includes a space at the beginning,
   // to delimit this attribute from prior attributes.
-  static String TestPropertiesAsXmlAttributes(const TestResult& result);
+  static std::string TestPropertiesAsXmlAttributes(const TestResult& result);
 
   // The output file.
-  const String output_file_;
+  const std::string output_file_;
 
   GTEST_DISALLOW_COPY_AND_ASSIGN_(XmlUnitTestResultPrinter);
 };
@@ -3098,7 +3025,8 @@
 // most invalid characters can be retained using character references.
 // TODO(wan): It might be nice to have a minimally invasive, human-readable
 // escaping scheme for invalid characters, rather than dropping them.
-String XmlUnitTestResultPrinter::EscapeXml(const char* str, bool is_attribute) {
+std::string XmlUnitTestResultPrinter::EscapeXml(
+    const char* str, bool is_attribute) {
   Message m;
 
   if (str != NULL) {
@@ -3316,7 +3244,7 @@
 
 // Produces a string representing the test properties in a result as space
 // delimited XML attributes based on the property key="value" pairs.
-String XmlUnitTestResultPrinter::TestPropertiesAsXmlAttributes(
+std::string XmlUnitTestResultPrinter::TestPropertiesAsXmlAttributes(
     const TestResult& result) {
   Message attributes;
   for (int i = 0; i < result.test_property_count(); ++i) {
@@ -3528,17 +3456,17 @@
 
 // class OsStackTraceGetter
 
-// Returns the current OS stack trace as a String.  Parameters:
+// Returns the current OS stack trace as an std::string.  Parameters:
 //
 //   max_depth  - the maximum number of stack frames to be included
 //                in the trace.
 //   skip_count - the number of top frames to be skipped; doesn't count
 //                against max_depth.
 //
-String OsStackTraceGetter::CurrentStackTrace(int /* max_depth */,
+string OsStackTraceGetter::CurrentStackTrace(int /* max_depth */,
                                              int /* skip_count */)
     GTEST_LOCK_EXCLUDED_(mutex_) {
-  return String("");
+  return "";
 }
 
 void OsStackTraceGetter::UponLeavingGTest()
@@ -3759,8 +3687,8 @@
     TestPartResult::Type result_type,
     const char* file_name,
     int line_number,
-    const internal::String& message,
-    const internal::String& os_stack_trace)
+    const std::string& message,
+    const std::string& os_stack_trace)
         GTEST_LOCK_EXCLUDED_(mutex_) {
   Message msg;
   msg << message;
@@ -4008,7 +3936,7 @@
 // Initializes event listeners performing XML output as specified by
 // UnitTestOptions. Must not be called before InitGoogleTest.
 void UnitTestImpl::ConfigureXmlOutput() {
-  const String& output_format = UnitTestOptions::GetOutputFormat();
+  const std::string& output_format = UnitTestOptions::GetOutputFormat();
   if (output_format == "xml") {
     listeners()->SetDefaultXmlGenerator(new XmlUnitTestResultPrinter(
         UnitTestOptions::GetAbsolutePathToOutputFile().c_str()));
@@ -4020,13 +3948,13 @@
 }
 
 #if GTEST_CAN_STREAM_RESULTS_
-// Initializes event listeners for streaming test results in String form.
+// Initializes event listeners for streaming test results in string form.
 // Must not be called before InitGoogleTest.
 void UnitTestImpl::ConfigureStreamingOutput() {
-  const string& target = GTEST_FLAG(stream_result_to);
+  const std::string& target = GTEST_FLAG(stream_result_to);
   if (!target.empty()) {
     const size_t pos = target.find(':');
-    if (pos != string::npos) {
+    if (pos != std::string::npos) {
       listeners()->Append(new StreamingListener(target.substr(0, pos),
                                                 target.substr(pos+1)));
     } else {
@@ -4080,7 +4008,7 @@
 class TestCaseNameIs {
  public:
   // Constructor.
-  explicit TestCaseNameIs(const String& name)
+  explicit TestCaseNameIs(const std::string& name)
       : name_(name) {}
 
   // Returns true iff the name of test_case matches name_.
@@ -4089,7 +4017,7 @@
   }
 
  private:
-  String name_;
+  std::string name_;
 };
 
 // Finds and returns a TestCase with the given name.  If one doesn't
@@ -4121,7 +4049,7 @@
       new TestCase(test_case_name, type_param, set_up_tc, tear_down_tc);
 
   // Is this a death test case?
-  if (internal::UnitTestOptions::MatchesFilter(String(test_case_name),
+  if (internal::UnitTestOptions::MatchesFilter(test_case_name,
                                                kDeathTestCaseFilter)) {
     // Yes.  Inserts the test case after the last death test case
     // defined so far.  This only works when the test cases haven't
@@ -4400,12 +4328,12 @@
   int num_selected_tests = 0;
   for (size_t i = 0; i < test_cases_.size(); i++) {
     TestCase* const test_case = test_cases_[i];
-    const String &test_case_name = test_case->name();
+    const std::string &test_case_name = test_case->name();
     test_case->set_should_run(false);
 
     for (size_t j = 0; j < test_case->test_info_list().size(); j++) {
       TestInfo* const test_info = test_case->test_info_list()[j];
-      const String test_name(test_info->name());
+      const std::string test_name(test_info->name());
       // A test is disabled if test case name or test name matches
       // kDisableTestFilter.
       const bool is_disabled =
@@ -4517,7 +4445,7 @@
   }
 }
 
-// Returns the current OS stack trace as a String.
+// Returns the current OS stack trace as an std::string.
 //
 // The maximum number of stack frames to be included is specified by
 // the gtest_stack_trace_depth flag.  The skip_count parameter
@@ -4527,8 +4455,8 @@
 // For example, if Foo() calls Bar(), which in turn calls
 // GetCurrentOsStackTraceExceptTop(..., 1), Foo() will be included in
 // the trace but Bar() and GetCurrentOsStackTraceExceptTop() won't.
-String GetCurrentOsStackTraceExceptTop(UnitTest* /*unit_test*/,
-                                       int skip_count) {
+std::string GetCurrentOsStackTraceExceptTop(UnitTest* /*unit_test*/,
+                                            int skip_count) {
   // We pass skip_count + 1 to skip this wrapper function in addition
   // to what the user really wants to skip.
   return GetUnitTestImpl()->CurrentOsStackTraceExceptTop(skip_count + 1);
@@ -4576,7 +4504,7 @@
   if (str == NULL || flag == NULL) return NULL;
 
   // The flag must start with "--" followed by GTEST_FLAG_PREFIX_.
-  const String flag_str = String::Format("--%s%s", GTEST_FLAG_PREFIX_, flag);
+  const std::string flag_str = std::string("--") + GTEST_FLAG_PREFIX_ + flag;
   const size_t flag_len = flag_str.length();
   if (strncmp(str, flag_str.c_str(), flag_len) != 0) return NULL;
 
@@ -4641,7 +4569,7 @@
 //
 // On success, stores the value of the flag in *value, and returns
 // true.  On failure, returns false without changing *value.
-bool ParseStringFlag(const char* str, const char* flag, String* value) {
+bool ParseStringFlag(const char* str, const char* flag, std::string* value) {
   // Gets the value of the flag as a string.
   const char* const value_str = ParseFlagValue(str, flag, false);
 
@@ -4693,7 +4621,7 @@
       return;
     }
 
-    ColoredPrintf(color, "%s", String(str, p - str).c_str());
+    ColoredPrintf(color, "%s", std::string(str, p).c_str());
 
     const char ch = p[1];
     str = p + 2;
@@ -4783,7 +4711,7 @@
 template <typename CharType>
 void ParseGoogleTestFlagsOnlyImpl(int* argc, CharType** argv) {
   for (int i = 1; i < *argc; i++) {
-    const String arg_string = StreamableToString(argv[i]);
+    const std::string arg_string = StreamableToString(argv[i]);
     const char* const arg = arg_string.c_str();
 
     using internal::ParseBoolFlag;
diff --git a/test/gtest-death-test_test.cc b/test/gtest-death-test_test.cc
index b389e73..e42c013 100644
--- a/test/gtest-death-test_test.cc
+++ b/test/gtest-death-test_test.cc
@@ -77,7 +77,6 @@
 using testing::internal::GetUnitTestImpl;
 using testing::internal::InDeathTestChild;
 using testing::internal::ParseNaturalNumber;
-using testing::internal::String;
 
 namespace testing {
 namespace internal {
@@ -1139,26 +1138,26 @@
   BiggestParsable result = 0;
 
   // Rejects non-numbers.
-  EXPECT_FALSE(ParseNaturalNumber(String("non-number string"), &result));
+  EXPECT_FALSE(ParseNaturalNumber("non-number string", &result));
 
   // Rejects numbers with whitespace prefix.
-  EXPECT_FALSE(ParseNaturalNumber(String(" 123"), &result));
+  EXPECT_FALSE(ParseNaturalNumber(" 123", &result));
 
   // Rejects negative numbers.
-  EXPECT_FALSE(ParseNaturalNumber(String("-123"), &result));
+  EXPECT_FALSE(ParseNaturalNumber("-123", &result));
 
   // Rejects numbers starting with a plus sign.
-  EXPECT_FALSE(ParseNaturalNumber(String("+123"), &result));
+  EXPECT_FALSE(ParseNaturalNumber("+123", &result));
   errno = 0;
 }
 
 TEST(ParseNaturalNumberTest, RejectsOverflownNumbers) {
   BiggestParsable result = 0;
 
-  EXPECT_FALSE(ParseNaturalNumber(String("99999999999999999999999"), &result));
+  EXPECT_FALSE(ParseNaturalNumber("99999999999999999999999", &result));
 
   signed char char_result = 0;
-  EXPECT_FALSE(ParseNaturalNumber(String("200"), &char_result));
+  EXPECT_FALSE(ParseNaturalNumber("200", &char_result));
   errno = 0;
 }
 
@@ -1166,16 +1165,16 @@
   BiggestParsable result = 0;
 
   result = 0;
-  ASSERT_TRUE(ParseNaturalNumber(String("123"), &result));
+  ASSERT_TRUE(ParseNaturalNumber("123", &result));
   EXPECT_EQ(123U, result);
 
   // Check 0 as an edge case.
   result = 1;
-  ASSERT_TRUE(ParseNaturalNumber(String("0"), &result));
+  ASSERT_TRUE(ParseNaturalNumber("0", &result));
   EXPECT_EQ(0U, result);
 
   result = 1;
-  ASSERT_TRUE(ParseNaturalNumber(String("00000"), &result));
+  ASSERT_TRUE(ParseNaturalNumber("00000", &result));
   EXPECT_EQ(0U, result);
 }
 
@@ -1211,11 +1210,11 @@
 
 TEST(ParseNaturalNumberTest, WorksForShorterIntegers) {
   short short_result = 0;
-  ASSERT_TRUE(ParseNaturalNumber(String("123"), &short_result));
+  ASSERT_TRUE(ParseNaturalNumber("123", &short_result));
   EXPECT_EQ(123, short_result);
 
   signed char char_result = 0;
-  ASSERT_TRUE(ParseNaturalNumber(String("123"), &char_result));
+  ASSERT_TRUE(ParseNaturalNumber("123", &char_result));
   EXPECT_EQ(123, char_result);
 }
 
@@ -1245,7 +1244,6 @@
 
 using testing::internal::CaptureStderr;
 using testing::internal::GetCapturedStderr;
-using testing::internal::String;
 
 // Tests that EXPECT_DEATH_IF_SUPPORTED/ASSERT_DEATH_IF_SUPPORTED are still
 // defined but do not trigger failures when death tests are not available on
@@ -1255,7 +1253,7 @@
   // when death tests are not supported.
   CaptureStderr();
   EXPECT_DEATH_IF_SUPPORTED(;, "");
-  String output = GetCapturedStderr();
+  std::string output = GetCapturedStderr();
   ASSERT_TRUE(NULL != strstr(output.c_str(),
                              "Death tests are not supported on this platform"));
   ASSERT_TRUE(NULL != strstr(output.c_str(), ";"));
diff --git a/test/gtest-filepath_test.cc b/test/gtest-filepath_test.cc
index 66d4118..ae9f55a 100644
--- a/test/gtest-filepath_test.cc
+++ b/test/gtest-filepath_test.cc
@@ -100,7 +100,7 @@
 
 # else
 
-  EXPECT_STREQ(GTEST_PATH_SEP_, cwd.c_str());
+  EXPECT_EQ(GTEST_PATH_SEP_, cwd.string());
 
 # endif
 }
@@ -109,7 +109,6 @@
 
 TEST(IsEmptyTest, ReturnsTrueForEmptyPath) {
   EXPECT_TRUE(FilePath("").IsEmpty());
-  EXPECT_TRUE(FilePath(NULL).IsEmpty());
 }
 
 TEST(IsEmptyTest, ReturnsFalseForNonEmptyPath) {
@@ -121,38 +120,38 @@
 
 // RemoveDirectoryName "" -> ""
 TEST(RemoveDirectoryNameTest, WhenEmptyName) {
-  EXPECT_STREQ("", FilePath("").RemoveDirectoryName().c_str());
+  EXPECT_EQ("", FilePath("").RemoveDirectoryName().string());
 }
 
 // RemoveDirectoryName "afile" -> "afile"
 TEST(RemoveDirectoryNameTest, ButNoDirectory) {
-  EXPECT_STREQ("afile",
-      FilePath("afile").RemoveDirectoryName().c_str());
+  EXPECT_EQ("afile",
+      FilePath("afile").RemoveDirectoryName().string());
 }
 
 // RemoveDirectoryName "/afile" -> "afile"
 TEST(RemoveDirectoryNameTest, RootFileShouldGiveFileName) {
-  EXPECT_STREQ("afile",
-      FilePath(GTEST_PATH_SEP_ "afile").RemoveDirectoryName().c_str());
+  EXPECT_EQ("afile",
+      FilePath(GTEST_PATH_SEP_ "afile").RemoveDirectoryName().string());
 }
 
 // RemoveDirectoryName "adir/" -> ""
 TEST(RemoveDirectoryNameTest, WhereThereIsNoFileName) {
-  EXPECT_STREQ("",
-      FilePath("adir" GTEST_PATH_SEP_).RemoveDirectoryName().c_str());
+  EXPECT_EQ("",
+      FilePath("adir" GTEST_PATH_SEP_).RemoveDirectoryName().string());
 }
 
 // RemoveDirectoryName "adir/afile" -> "afile"
 TEST(RemoveDirectoryNameTest, ShouldGiveFileName) {
-  EXPECT_STREQ("afile",
-      FilePath("adir" GTEST_PATH_SEP_ "afile").RemoveDirectoryName().c_str());
+  EXPECT_EQ("afile",
+      FilePath("adir" GTEST_PATH_SEP_ "afile").RemoveDirectoryName().string());
 }
 
 // RemoveDirectoryName "adir/subdir/afile" -> "afile"
 TEST(RemoveDirectoryNameTest, ShouldAlsoGiveFileName) {
-  EXPECT_STREQ("afile",
+  EXPECT_EQ("afile",
       FilePath("adir" GTEST_PATH_SEP_ "subdir" GTEST_PATH_SEP_ "afile")
-      .RemoveDirectoryName().c_str());
+      .RemoveDirectoryName().string());
 }
 
 #if GTEST_HAS_ALT_PATH_SEP_
@@ -162,26 +161,23 @@
 
 // RemoveDirectoryName("/afile") -> "afile"
 TEST(RemoveDirectoryNameTest, RootFileShouldGiveFileNameForAlternateSeparator) {
-  EXPECT_STREQ("afile",
-               FilePath("/afile").RemoveDirectoryName().c_str());
+  EXPECT_EQ("afile", FilePath("/afile").RemoveDirectoryName().string());
 }
 
 // RemoveDirectoryName("adir/") -> ""
 TEST(RemoveDirectoryNameTest, WhereThereIsNoFileNameForAlternateSeparator) {
-  EXPECT_STREQ("",
-               FilePath("adir/").RemoveDirectoryName().c_str());
+  EXPECT_EQ("", FilePath("adir/").RemoveDirectoryName().string());
 }
 
 // RemoveDirectoryName("adir/afile") -> "afile"
 TEST(RemoveDirectoryNameTest, ShouldGiveFileNameForAlternateSeparator) {
-  EXPECT_STREQ("afile",
-               FilePath("adir/afile").RemoveDirectoryName().c_str());
+  EXPECT_EQ("afile", FilePath("adir/afile").RemoveDirectoryName().string());
 }
 
 // RemoveDirectoryName("adir/subdir/afile") -> "afile"
 TEST(RemoveDirectoryNameTest, ShouldAlsoGiveFileNameForAlternateSeparator) {
-  EXPECT_STREQ("afile",
-               FilePath("adir/subdir/afile").RemoveDirectoryName().c_str());
+  EXPECT_EQ("afile",
+            FilePath("adir/subdir/afile").RemoveDirectoryName().string());
 }
 
 #endif
@@ -190,38 +186,35 @@
 TEST(RemoveFileNameTest, EmptyName) {
 #if GTEST_OS_WINDOWS_MOBILE
   // On Windows CE, we use the root as the current directory.
-  EXPECT_STREQ(GTEST_PATH_SEP_,
-      FilePath("").RemoveFileName().c_str());
+  EXPECT_EQ(GTEST_PATH_SEP_, FilePath("").RemoveFileName().string());
 #else
-  EXPECT_STREQ("." GTEST_PATH_SEP_,
-      FilePath("").RemoveFileName().c_str());
+  EXPECT_EQ("." GTEST_PATH_SEP_, FilePath("").RemoveFileName().string());
 #endif
 }
 
 // RemoveFileName "adir/" -> "adir/"
 TEST(RemoveFileNameTest, ButNoFile) {
-  EXPECT_STREQ("adir" GTEST_PATH_SEP_,
-      FilePath("adir" GTEST_PATH_SEP_).RemoveFileName().c_str());
+  EXPECT_EQ("adir" GTEST_PATH_SEP_,
+      FilePath("adir" GTEST_PATH_SEP_).RemoveFileName().string());
 }
 
 // RemoveFileName "adir/afile" -> "adir/"
 TEST(RemoveFileNameTest, GivesDirName) {
-  EXPECT_STREQ("adir" GTEST_PATH_SEP_,
-      FilePath("adir" GTEST_PATH_SEP_ "afile")
-      .RemoveFileName().c_str());
+  EXPECT_EQ("adir" GTEST_PATH_SEP_,
+            FilePath("adir" GTEST_PATH_SEP_ "afile").RemoveFileName().string());
 }
 
 // RemoveFileName "adir/subdir/afile" -> "adir/subdir/"
 TEST(RemoveFileNameTest, GivesDirAndSubDirName) {
-  EXPECT_STREQ("adir" GTEST_PATH_SEP_ "subdir" GTEST_PATH_SEP_,
+  EXPECT_EQ("adir" GTEST_PATH_SEP_ "subdir" GTEST_PATH_SEP_,
       FilePath("adir" GTEST_PATH_SEP_ "subdir" GTEST_PATH_SEP_ "afile")
-      .RemoveFileName().c_str());
+      .RemoveFileName().string());
 }
 
 // RemoveFileName "/afile" -> "/"
 TEST(RemoveFileNameTest, GivesRootDir) {
-  EXPECT_STREQ(GTEST_PATH_SEP_,
-      FilePath(GTEST_PATH_SEP_ "afile").RemoveFileName().c_str());
+  EXPECT_EQ(GTEST_PATH_SEP_,
+      FilePath(GTEST_PATH_SEP_ "afile").RemoveFileName().string());
 }
 
 #if GTEST_HAS_ALT_PATH_SEP_
@@ -231,26 +224,25 @@
 
 // RemoveFileName("adir/") -> "adir/"
 TEST(RemoveFileNameTest, ButNoFileForAlternateSeparator) {
-  EXPECT_STREQ("adir" GTEST_PATH_SEP_,
-               FilePath("adir/").RemoveFileName().c_str());
+  EXPECT_EQ("adir" GTEST_PATH_SEP_,
+            FilePath("adir/").RemoveFileName().string());
 }
 
 // RemoveFileName("adir/afile") -> "adir/"
 TEST(RemoveFileNameTest, GivesDirNameForAlternateSeparator) {
-  EXPECT_STREQ("adir" GTEST_PATH_SEP_,
-               FilePath("adir/afile").RemoveFileName().c_str());
+  EXPECT_EQ("adir" GTEST_PATH_SEP_,
+            FilePath("adir/afile").RemoveFileName().string());
 }
 
 // RemoveFileName("adir/subdir/afile") -> "adir/subdir/"
 TEST(RemoveFileNameTest, GivesDirAndSubDirNameForAlternateSeparator) {
-  EXPECT_STREQ("adir" GTEST_PATH_SEP_ "subdir" GTEST_PATH_SEP_,
-               FilePath("adir/subdir/afile").RemoveFileName().c_str());
+  EXPECT_EQ("adir" GTEST_PATH_SEP_ "subdir" GTEST_PATH_SEP_,
+            FilePath("adir/subdir/afile").RemoveFileName().string());
 }
 
 // RemoveFileName("/afile") -> "\"
 TEST(RemoveFileNameTest, GivesRootDirForAlternateSeparator) {
-  EXPECT_STREQ(GTEST_PATH_SEP_,
-               FilePath("/afile").RemoveFileName().c_str());
+  EXPECT_EQ(GTEST_PATH_SEP_, FilePath("/afile").RemoveFileName().string());
 }
 
 #endif
@@ -258,125 +250,120 @@
 TEST(MakeFileNameTest, GenerateWhenNumberIsZero) {
   FilePath actual = FilePath::MakeFileName(FilePath("foo"), FilePath("bar"),
       0, "xml");
-  EXPECT_STREQ("foo" GTEST_PATH_SEP_ "bar.xml", actual.c_str());
+  EXPECT_EQ("foo" GTEST_PATH_SEP_ "bar.xml", actual.string());
 }
 
 TEST(MakeFileNameTest, GenerateFileNameNumberGtZero) {
   FilePath actual = FilePath::MakeFileName(FilePath("foo"), FilePath("bar"),
       12, "xml");
-  EXPECT_STREQ("foo" GTEST_PATH_SEP_ "bar_12.xml", actual.c_str());
+  EXPECT_EQ("foo" GTEST_PATH_SEP_ "bar_12.xml", actual.string());
 }
 
 TEST(MakeFileNameTest, GenerateFileNameWithSlashNumberIsZero) {
   FilePath actual = FilePath::MakeFileName(FilePath("foo" GTEST_PATH_SEP_),
       FilePath("bar"), 0, "xml");
-  EXPECT_STREQ("foo" GTEST_PATH_SEP_ "bar.xml", actual.c_str());
+  EXPECT_EQ("foo" GTEST_PATH_SEP_ "bar.xml", actual.string());
 }
 
 TEST(MakeFileNameTest, GenerateFileNameWithSlashNumberGtZero) {
   FilePath actual = FilePath::MakeFileName(FilePath("foo" GTEST_PATH_SEP_),
       FilePath("bar"), 12, "xml");
-  EXPECT_STREQ("foo" GTEST_PATH_SEP_ "bar_12.xml", actual.c_str());
+  EXPECT_EQ("foo" GTEST_PATH_SEP_ "bar_12.xml", actual.string());
 }
 
 TEST(MakeFileNameTest, GenerateWhenNumberIsZeroAndDirIsEmpty) {
   FilePath actual = FilePath::MakeFileName(FilePath(""), FilePath("bar"),
       0, "xml");
-  EXPECT_STREQ("bar.xml", actual.c_str());
+  EXPECT_EQ("bar.xml", actual.string());
 }
 
 TEST(MakeFileNameTest, GenerateWhenNumberIsNotZeroAndDirIsEmpty) {
   FilePath actual = FilePath::MakeFileName(FilePath(""), FilePath("bar"),
       14, "xml");
-  EXPECT_STREQ("bar_14.xml", actual.c_str());
+  EXPECT_EQ("bar_14.xml", actual.string());
 }
 
 TEST(ConcatPathsTest, WorksWhenDirDoesNotEndWithPathSep) {
   FilePath actual = FilePath::ConcatPaths(FilePath("foo"),
                                           FilePath("bar.xml"));
-  EXPECT_STREQ("foo" GTEST_PATH_SEP_ "bar.xml", actual.c_str());
+  EXPECT_EQ("foo" GTEST_PATH_SEP_ "bar.xml", actual.string());
 }
 
 TEST(ConcatPathsTest, WorksWhenPath1EndsWithPathSep) {
   FilePath actual = FilePath::ConcatPaths(FilePath("foo" GTEST_PATH_SEP_),
                                           FilePath("bar.xml"));
-  EXPECT_STREQ("foo" GTEST_PATH_SEP_ "bar.xml", actual.c_str());
+  EXPECT_EQ("foo" GTEST_PATH_SEP_ "bar.xml", actual.string());
 }
 
 TEST(ConcatPathsTest, Path1BeingEmpty) {
   FilePath actual = FilePath::ConcatPaths(FilePath(""),
                                           FilePath("bar.xml"));
-  EXPECT_STREQ("bar.xml", actual.c_str());
+  EXPECT_EQ("bar.xml", actual.string());
 }
 
 TEST(ConcatPathsTest, Path2BeingEmpty) {
-  FilePath actual = FilePath::ConcatPaths(FilePath("foo"),
-                                          FilePath(""));
-  EXPECT_STREQ("foo" GTEST_PATH_SEP_, actual.c_str());
+  FilePath actual = FilePath::ConcatPaths(FilePath("foo"), FilePath(""));
+  EXPECT_EQ("foo" GTEST_PATH_SEP_, actual.string());
 }
 
 TEST(ConcatPathsTest, BothPathBeingEmpty) {
   FilePath actual = FilePath::ConcatPaths(FilePath(""),
                                           FilePath(""));
-  EXPECT_STREQ("", actual.c_str());
+  EXPECT_EQ("", actual.string());
 }
 
 TEST(ConcatPathsTest, Path1ContainsPathSep) {
   FilePath actual = FilePath::ConcatPaths(FilePath("foo" GTEST_PATH_SEP_ "bar"),
                                           FilePath("foobar.xml"));
-  EXPECT_STREQ("foo" GTEST_PATH_SEP_ "bar" GTEST_PATH_SEP_ "foobar.xml",
-               actual.c_str());
+  EXPECT_EQ("foo" GTEST_PATH_SEP_ "bar" GTEST_PATH_SEP_ "foobar.xml",
+            actual.string());
 }
 
 TEST(ConcatPathsTest, Path2ContainsPathSep) {
   FilePath actual = FilePath::ConcatPaths(
       FilePath("foo" GTEST_PATH_SEP_),
       FilePath("bar" GTEST_PATH_SEP_ "bar.xml"));
-  EXPECT_STREQ("foo" GTEST_PATH_SEP_ "bar" GTEST_PATH_SEP_ "bar.xml",
-               actual.c_str());
+  EXPECT_EQ("foo" GTEST_PATH_SEP_ "bar" GTEST_PATH_SEP_ "bar.xml",
+            actual.string());
 }
 
 TEST(ConcatPathsTest, Path2EndsWithPathSep) {
   FilePath actual = FilePath::ConcatPaths(FilePath("foo"),
                                           FilePath("bar" GTEST_PATH_SEP_));
-  EXPECT_STREQ("foo" GTEST_PATH_SEP_ "bar" GTEST_PATH_SEP_, actual.c_str());
+  EXPECT_EQ("foo" GTEST_PATH_SEP_ "bar" GTEST_PATH_SEP_, actual.string());
 }
 
 // RemoveTrailingPathSeparator "" -> ""
 TEST(RemoveTrailingPathSeparatorTest, EmptyString) {
-  EXPECT_STREQ("",
-      FilePath("").RemoveTrailingPathSeparator().c_str());
+  EXPECT_EQ("", FilePath("").RemoveTrailingPathSeparator().string());
 }
 
 // RemoveTrailingPathSeparator "foo" -> "foo"
 TEST(RemoveTrailingPathSeparatorTest, FileNoSlashString) {
-  EXPECT_STREQ("foo",
-      FilePath("foo").RemoveTrailingPathSeparator().c_str());
+  EXPECT_EQ("foo", FilePath("foo").RemoveTrailingPathSeparator().string());
 }
 
 // RemoveTrailingPathSeparator "foo/" -> "foo"
 TEST(RemoveTrailingPathSeparatorTest, ShouldRemoveTrailingSeparator) {
-  EXPECT_STREQ(
-      "foo",
-      FilePath("foo" GTEST_PATH_SEP_).RemoveTrailingPathSeparator().c_str());
+  EXPECT_EQ("foo",
+      FilePath("foo" GTEST_PATH_SEP_).RemoveTrailingPathSeparator().string());
 #if GTEST_HAS_ALT_PATH_SEP_
-  EXPECT_STREQ("foo",
-               FilePath("foo/").RemoveTrailingPathSeparator().c_str());
+  EXPECT_EQ("foo", FilePath("foo/").RemoveTrailingPathSeparator().string());
 #endif
 }
 
 // RemoveTrailingPathSeparator "foo/bar/" -> "foo/bar/"
 TEST(RemoveTrailingPathSeparatorTest, ShouldRemoveLastSeparator) {
-  EXPECT_STREQ("foo" GTEST_PATH_SEP_ "bar",
-               FilePath("foo" GTEST_PATH_SEP_ "bar" GTEST_PATH_SEP_)
-               .RemoveTrailingPathSeparator().c_str());
+  EXPECT_EQ("foo" GTEST_PATH_SEP_ "bar",
+            FilePath("foo" GTEST_PATH_SEP_ "bar" GTEST_PATH_SEP_)
+                .RemoveTrailingPathSeparator().string());
 }
 
 // RemoveTrailingPathSeparator "foo/bar" -> "foo/bar"
 TEST(RemoveTrailingPathSeparatorTest, ShouldReturnUnmodified) {
-  EXPECT_STREQ("foo" GTEST_PATH_SEP_ "bar",
-               FilePath("foo" GTEST_PATH_SEP_ "bar")
-               .RemoveTrailingPathSeparator().c_str());
+  EXPECT_EQ("foo" GTEST_PATH_SEP_ "bar",
+            FilePath("foo" GTEST_PATH_SEP_ "bar")
+                .RemoveTrailingPathSeparator().string());
 }
 
 TEST(DirectoryTest, RootDirectoryExists) {
@@ -431,40 +418,35 @@
 #endif  // GTEST_OS_WINDOWS
 }
 
-TEST(NormalizeTest, NullStringsEqualEmptyDirectory) {
-  EXPECT_STREQ("", FilePath(NULL).c_str());
-  EXPECT_STREQ("", FilePath(String(NULL)).c_str());
-}
-
 // "foo/bar" == foo//bar" == "foo///bar"
 TEST(NormalizeTest, MultipleConsecutiveSepaparatorsInMidstring) {
-  EXPECT_STREQ("foo" GTEST_PATH_SEP_ "bar",
-               FilePath("foo" GTEST_PATH_SEP_ "bar").c_str());
-  EXPECT_STREQ("foo" GTEST_PATH_SEP_ "bar",
-               FilePath("foo" GTEST_PATH_SEP_ GTEST_PATH_SEP_ "bar").c_str());
-  EXPECT_STREQ("foo" GTEST_PATH_SEP_ "bar",
-               FilePath("foo" GTEST_PATH_SEP_ GTEST_PATH_SEP_
-                        GTEST_PATH_SEP_ "bar").c_str());
+  EXPECT_EQ("foo" GTEST_PATH_SEP_ "bar",
+            FilePath("foo" GTEST_PATH_SEP_ "bar").string());
+  EXPECT_EQ("foo" GTEST_PATH_SEP_ "bar",
+            FilePath("foo" GTEST_PATH_SEP_ GTEST_PATH_SEP_ "bar").string());
+  EXPECT_EQ("foo" GTEST_PATH_SEP_ "bar",
+            FilePath("foo" GTEST_PATH_SEP_ GTEST_PATH_SEP_
+                     GTEST_PATH_SEP_ "bar").string());
 }
 
 // "/bar" == //bar" == "///bar"
 TEST(NormalizeTest, MultipleConsecutiveSepaparatorsAtStringStart) {
-  EXPECT_STREQ(GTEST_PATH_SEP_ "bar",
-    FilePath(GTEST_PATH_SEP_ "bar").c_str());
-  EXPECT_STREQ(GTEST_PATH_SEP_ "bar",
-    FilePath(GTEST_PATH_SEP_ GTEST_PATH_SEP_ "bar").c_str());
-  EXPECT_STREQ(GTEST_PATH_SEP_ "bar",
-    FilePath(GTEST_PATH_SEP_ GTEST_PATH_SEP_ GTEST_PATH_SEP_ "bar").c_str());
+  EXPECT_EQ(GTEST_PATH_SEP_ "bar",
+    FilePath(GTEST_PATH_SEP_ "bar").string());
+  EXPECT_EQ(GTEST_PATH_SEP_ "bar",
+    FilePath(GTEST_PATH_SEP_ GTEST_PATH_SEP_ "bar").string());
+  EXPECT_EQ(GTEST_PATH_SEP_ "bar",
+    FilePath(GTEST_PATH_SEP_ GTEST_PATH_SEP_ GTEST_PATH_SEP_ "bar").string());
 }
 
 // "foo/" == foo//" == "foo///"
 TEST(NormalizeTest, MultipleConsecutiveSepaparatorsAtStringEnd) {
-  EXPECT_STREQ("foo" GTEST_PATH_SEP_,
-    FilePath("foo" GTEST_PATH_SEP_).c_str());
-  EXPECT_STREQ("foo" GTEST_PATH_SEP_,
-    FilePath("foo" GTEST_PATH_SEP_ GTEST_PATH_SEP_).c_str());
-  EXPECT_STREQ("foo" GTEST_PATH_SEP_,
-    FilePath("foo" GTEST_PATH_SEP_ GTEST_PATH_SEP_ GTEST_PATH_SEP_).c_str());
+  EXPECT_EQ("foo" GTEST_PATH_SEP_,
+    FilePath("foo" GTEST_PATH_SEP_).string());
+  EXPECT_EQ("foo" GTEST_PATH_SEP_,
+    FilePath("foo" GTEST_PATH_SEP_ GTEST_PATH_SEP_).string());
+  EXPECT_EQ("foo" GTEST_PATH_SEP_,
+    FilePath("foo" GTEST_PATH_SEP_ GTEST_PATH_SEP_ GTEST_PATH_SEP_).string());
 }
 
 #if GTEST_HAS_ALT_PATH_SEP_
@@ -473,12 +455,12 @@
 // regardless of their combination (e.g. "foo\" =="foo/\" ==
 // "foo\\/").
 TEST(NormalizeTest, MixAlternateSeparatorAtStringEnd) {
-  EXPECT_STREQ("foo" GTEST_PATH_SEP_,
-               FilePath("foo/").c_str());
-  EXPECT_STREQ("foo" GTEST_PATH_SEP_,
-               FilePath("foo" GTEST_PATH_SEP_ "/").c_str());
-  EXPECT_STREQ("foo" GTEST_PATH_SEP_,
-               FilePath("foo//" GTEST_PATH_SEP_).c_str());
+  EXPECT_EQ("foo" GTEST_PATH_SEP_,
+            FilePath("foo/").string());
+  EXPECT_EQ("foo" GTEST_PATH_SEP_,
+            FilePath("foo" GTEST_PATH_SEP_ "/").string());
+  EXPECT_EQ("foo" GTEST_PATH_SEP_,
+            FilePath("foo//" GTEST_PATH_SEP_).string());
 }
 
 #endif
@@ -487,31 +469,31 @@
   FilePath default_path;
   FilePath non_default_path("path");
   non_default_path = default_path;
-  EXPECT_STREQ("", non_default_path.c_str());
-  EXPECT_STREQ("", default_path.c_str());  // RHS var is unchanged.
+  EXPECT_EQ("", non_default_path.string());
+  EXPECT_EQ("", default_path.string());  // RHS var is unchanged.
 }
 
 TEST(AssignmentOperatorTest, NonDefaultAssignedToDefault) {
   FilePath non_default_path("path");
   FilePath default_path;
   default_path = non_default_path;
-  EXPECT_STREQ("path", default_path.c_str());
-  EXPECT_STREQ("path", non_default_path.c_str());  // RHS var is unchanged.
+  EXPECT_EQ("path", default_path.string());
+  EXPECT_EQ("path", non_default_path.string());  // RHS var is unchanged.
 }
 
 TEST(AssignmentOperatorTest, ConstAssignedToNonConst) {
   const FilePath const_default_path("const_path");
   FilePath non_default_path("path");
   non_default_path = const_default_path;
-  EXPECT_STREQ("const_path", non_default_path.c_str());
+  EXPECT_EQ("const_path", non_default_path.string());
 }
 
 class DirectoryCreationTest : public Test {
  protected:
   virtual void SetUp() {
-    testdata_path_.Set(FilePath(String::Format("%s%s%s",
-        TempDir().c_str(), GetCurrentExecutableName().c_str(),
-        "_directory_creation" GTEST_PATH_SEP_ "test" GTEST_PATH_SEP_)));
+    testdata_path_.Set(FilePath(
+        TempDir() + GetCurrentExecutableName().string() +
+        "_directory_creation" GTEST_PATH_SEP_ "test" GTEST_PATH_SEP_));
     testdata_file_.Set(testdata_path_.RemoveTrailingPathSeparator());
 
     unique_file0_.Set(FilePath::MakeFileName(testdata_path_, FilePath("unique"),
@@ -532,19 +514,21 @@
     posix::RmDir(testdata_path_.c_str());
   }
 
-  String TempDir() const {
+  std::string TempDir() const {
 #if GTEST_OS_WINDOWS_MOBILE
-    return String("\\temp\\");
+    return "\\temp\\";
 #elif GTEST_OS_WINDOWS
     const char* temp_dir = posix::GetEnv("TEMP");
     if (temp_dir == NULL || temp_dir[0] == '\0')
-      return String("\\temp\\");
-    else if (String(temp_dir).EndsWith("\\"))
-      return String(temp_dir);
+      return "\\temp\\";
+    else if (temp_dir[strlen(temp_dir) - 1] == '\\')
+      return temp_dir;
     else
-      return String::Format("%s\\", temp_dir);
+      return std::string(temp_dir) + "\\";
+#elif GTEST_OS_LINUX_ANDROID
+    return "/sdcard/";
 #else
-    return String("/tmp/");
+    return "/tmp/";
 #endif  // GTEST_OS_WINDOWS_MOBILE
   }
 
@@ -564,13 +548,13 @@
 };
 
 TEST_F(DirectoryCreationTest, CreateDirectoriesRecursively) {
-  EXPECT_FALSE(testdata_path_.DirectoryExists()) << testdata_path_.c_str();
+  EXPECT_FALSE(testdata_path_.DirectoryExists()) << testdata_path_.string();
   EXPECT_TRUE(testdata_path_.CreateDirectoriesRecursively());
   EXPECT_TRUE(testdata_path_.DirectoryExists());
 }
 
 TEST_F(DirectoryCreationTest, CreateDirectoriesForAlreadyExistingPath) {
-  EXPECT_FALSE(testdata_path_.DirectoryExists()) << testdata_path_.c_str();
+  EXPECT_FALSE(testdata_path_.DirectoryExists()) << testdata_path_.string();
   EXPECT_TRUE(testdata_path_.CreateDirectoriesRecursively());
   // Call 'create' again... should still succeed.
   EXPECT_TRUE(testdata_path_.CreateDirectoriesRecursively());
@@ -579,7 +563,7 @@
 TEST_F(DirectoryCreationTest, CreateDirectoriesAndUniqueFilename) {
   FilePath file_path(FilePath::GenerateUniqueFileName(testdata_path_,
       FilePath("unique"), "txt"));
-  EXPECT_STREQ(unique_file0_.c_str(), file_path.c_str());
+  EXPECT_EQ(unique_file0_.string(), file_path.string());
   EXPECT_FALSE(file_path.FileOrDirectoryExists());  // file not there
 
   testdata_path_.CreateDirectoriesRecursively();
@@ -589,7 +573,7 @@
 
   FilePath file_path2(FilePath::GenerateUniqueFileName(testdata_path_,
       FilePath("unique"), "txt"));
-  EXPECT_STREQ(unique_file1_.c_str(), file_path2.c_str());
+  EXPECT_EQ(unique_file1_.string(), file_path2.string());
   EXPECT_FALSE(file_path2.FileOrDirectoryExists());  // file not there
   CreateTextFile(file_path2.c_str());
   EXPECT_TRUE(file_path2.FileOrDirectoryExists());
@@ -610,43 +594,43 @@
 
 TEST(FilePathTest, DefaultConstructor) {
   FilePath fp;
-  EXPECT_STREQ("", fp.c_str());
+  EXPECT_EQ("", fp.string());
 }
 
 TEST(FilePathTest, CharAndCopyConstructors) {
   const FilePath fp("spicy");
-  EXPECT_STREQ("spicy", fp.c_str());
+  EXPECT_EQ("spicy", fp.string());
 
   const FilePath fp_copy(fp);
-  EXPECT_STREQ("spicy", fp_copy.c_str());
+  EXPECT_EQ("spicy", fp_copy.string());
 }
 
 TEST(FilePathTest, StringConstructor) {
-  const FilePath fp(String("cider"));
-  EXPECT_STREQ("cider", fp.c_str());
+  const FilePath fp(std::string("cider"));
+  EXPECT_EQ("cider", fp.string());
 }
 
 TEST(FilePathTest, Set) {
   const FilePath apple("apple");
   FilePath mac("mac");
   mac.Set(apple);  // Implement Set() since overloading operator= is forbidden.
-  EXPECT_STREQ("apple", mac.c_str());
-  EXPECT_STREQ("apple", apple.c_str());
+  EXPECT_EQ("apple", mac.string());
+  EXPECT_EQ("apple", apple.string());
 }
 
 TEST(FilePathTest, ToString) {
   const FilePath file("drink");
-  String str(file.ToString());
-  EXPECT_STREQ("drink", str.c_str());
+  EXPECT_EQ("drink", file.string());
 }
 
 TEST(FilePathTest, RemoveExtension) {
-  EXPECT_STREQ("app", FilePath("app.exe").RemoveExtension("exe").c_str());
-  EXPECT_STREQ("APP", FilePath("APP.EXE").RemoveExtension("exe").c_str());
+  EXPECT_EQ("app", FilePath("app.cc").RemoveExtension("cc").string());
+  EXPECT_EQ("app", FilePath("app.exe").RemoveExtension("exe").string());
+  EXPECT_EQ("APP", FilePath("APP.EXE").RemoveExtension("exe").string());
 }
 
 TEST(FilePathTest, RemoveExtensionWhenThereIsNoExtension) {
-  EXPECT_STREQ("app", FilePath("app").RemoveExtension("exe").c_str());
+  EXPECT_EQ("app", FilePath("app").RemoveExtension("exe").string());
 }
 
 TEST(FilePathTest, IsDirectory) {
diff --git a/test/gtest-listener_test.cc b/test/gtest-listener_test.cc
index 1008608..99662cf 100644
--- a/test/gtest-listener_test.cc
+++ b/test/gtest-listener_test.cc
@@ -45,10 +45,9 @@
 using ::testing::TestInfo;
 using ::testing::TestPartResult;
 using ::testing::UnitTest;
-using ::testing::internal::String;
 
 // Used by tests to register their events.
-std::vector<String>* g_events = NULL;
+std::vector<std::string>* g_events = NULL;
 
 namespace testing {
 namespace internal {
@@ -119,54 +118,52 @@
   }
 
  private:
-  String GetFullMethodName(const char* name) {
-    Message message;
-    message << name_ << "." << name;
-    return message.GetString();
+  std::string GetFullMethodName(const char* name) {
+    return name_ + "." + name;
   }
 
-  String name_;
+  std::string name_;
 };
 
 class EnvironmentInvocationCatcher : public Environment {
  protected:
   virtual void SetUp() {
-    g_events->push_back(String("Environment::SetUp"));
+    g_events->push_back("Environment::SetUp");
   }
 
   virtual void TearDown() {
-    g_events->push_back(String("Environment::TearDown"));
+    g_events->push_back("Environment::TearDown");
   }
 };
 
 class ListenerTest : public Test {
  protected:
   static void SetUpTestCase() {
-    g_events->push_back(String("ListenerTest::SetUpTestCase"));
+    g_events->push_back("ListenerTest::SetUpTestCase");
   }
 
   static void TearDownTestCase() {
-    g_events->push_back(String("ListenerTest::TearDownTestCase"));
+    g_events->push_back("ListenerTest::TearDownTestCase");
   }
 
   virtual void SetUp() {
-    g_events->push_back(String("ListenerTest::SetUp"));
+    g_events->push_back("ListenerTest::SetUp");
   }
 
   virtual void TearDown() {
-    g_events->push_back(String("ListenerTest::TearDown"));
+    g_events->push_back("ListenerTest::TearDown");
   }
 };
 
 TEST_F(ListenerTest, DoesFoo) {
   // Test execution order within a test case is not guaranteed so we are not
   // recording the test name.
-  g_events->push_back(String("ListenerTest::* Test Body"));
+  g_events->push_back("ListenerTest::* Test Body");
   SUCCEED();  // Triggers OnTestPartResult.
 }
 
 TEST_F(ListenerTest, DoesBar) {
-  g_events->push_back(String("ListenerTest::* Test Body"));
+  g_events->push_back("ListenerTest::* Test Body");
   SUCCEED();  // Triggers OnTestPartResult.
 }
 
@@ -177,7 +174,7 @@
 using ::testing::internal::EnvironmentInvocationCatcher;
 using ::testing::internal::EventRecordingListener;
 
-void VerifyResults(const std::vector<String>& data,
+void VerifyResults(const std::vector<std::string>& data,
                    const char* const* expected_data,
                    int expected_data_size) {
   const int actual_size = data.size();
@@ -201,7 +198,7 @@
 }
 
 int main(int argc, char **argv) {
-  std::vector<String> events;
+  std::vector<std::string> events;
   g_events = &events;
   InitGoogleTest(&argc, argv);
 
diff --git a/test/gtest-message_test.cc b/test/gtest-message_test.cc
index c09c6a8..175238e 100644
--- a/test/gtest-message_test.cc
+++ b/test/gtest-message_test.cc
@@ -39,79 +39,72 @@
 
 using ::testing::Message;
 
-// A helper function that turns a Message into a C string.
-const char* ToCString(const Message& msg) {
-  static testing::internal::String result;
-  result = msg.GetString();
-  return result.c_str();
-}
-
 // Tests the testing::Message class
 
 // Tests the default constructor.
 TEST(MessageTest, DefaultConstructor) {
   const Message msg;
-  EXPECT_STREQ("", ToCString(msg));
+  EXPECT_EQ("", msg.GetString());
 }
 
 // Tests the copy constructor.
 TEST(MessageTest, CopyConstructor) {
   const Message msg1("Hello");
   const Message msg2(msg1);
-  EXPECT_STREQ("Hello", ToCString(msg2));
+  EXPECT_EQ("Hello", msg2.GetString());
 }
 
 // Tests constructing a Message from a C-string.
 TEST(MessageTest, ConstructsFromCString) {
   Message msg("Hello");
-  EXPECT_STREQ("Hello", ToCString(msg));
+  EXPECT_EQ("Hello", msg.GetString());
 }
 
 // Tests streaming a float.
 TEST(MessageTest, StreamsFloat) {
-  const char* const s = ToCString(Message() << 1.23456F << " " << 2.34567F);
+  const std::string s = (Message() << 1.23456F << " " << 2.34567F).GetString();
   // Both numbers should be printed with enough precision.
-  EXPECT_PRED_FORMAT2(testing::IsSubstring, "1.234560", s);
-  EXPECT_PRED_FORMAT2(testing::IsSubstring, " 2.345669", s);
+  EXPECT_PRED_FORMAT2(testing::IsSubstring, "1.234560", s.c_str());
+  EXPECT_PRED_FORMAT2(testing::IsSubstring, " 2.345669", s.c_str());
 }
 
 // Tests streaming a double.
 TEST(MessageTest, StreamsDouble) {
-  const char* const s = ToCString(Message() << 1260570880.4555497 << " "
-                                  << 1260572265.1954534);
+  const std::string s = (Message() << 1260570880.4555497 << " "
+                                  << 1260572265.1954534).GetString();
   // Both numbers should be printed with enough precision.
-  EXPECT_PRED_FORMAT2(testing::IsSubstring, "1260570880.45", s);
-  EXPECT_PRED_FORMAT2(testing::IsSubstring, " 1260572265.19", s);
+  EXPECT_PRED_FORMAT2(testing::IsSubstring, "1260570880.45", s.c_str());
+  EXPECT_PRED_FORMAT2(testing::IsSubstring, " 1260572265.19", s.c_str());
 }
 
 // Tests streaming a non-char pointer.
 TEST(MessageTest, StreamsPointer) {
   int n = 0;
   int* p = &n;
-  EXPECT_STRNE("(null)", ToCString(Message() << p));
+  EXPECT_NE("(null)", (Message() << p).GetString());
 }
 
 // Tests streaming a NULL non-char pointer.
 TEST(MessageTest, StreamsNullPointer) {
   int* p = NULL;
-  EXPECT_STREQ("(null)", ToCString(Message() << p));
+  EXPECT_EQ("(null)", (Message() << p).GetString());
 }
 
 // Tests streaming a C string.
 TEST(MessageTest, StreamsCString) {
-  EXPECT_STREQ("Foo", ToCString(Message() << "Foo"));
+  EXPECT_EQ("Foo", (Message() << "Foo").GetString());
 }
 
 // Tests streaming a NULL C string.
 TEST(MessageTest, StreamsNullCString) {
   char* p = NULL;
-  EXPECT_STREQ("(null)", ToCString(Message() << p));
+  EXPECT_EQ("(null)", (Message() << p).GetString());
 }
 
 // Tests streaming std::string.
 TEST(MessageTest, StreamsString) {
   const ::std::string str("Hello");
-  EXPECT_STREQ("Hello", ToCString(Message() << str));
+  EXPECT_EQ("Hello", (Message() << str).GetString());
 }
 
 // Tests that we can output strings containing embedded NULs.
@@ -120,34 +113,34 @@
       "Here's a NUL\0 and some more string";
   const ::std::string string_with_nul(char_array_with_nul,
                                       sizeof(char_array_with_nul) - 1);
-  EXPECT_STREQ("Here's a NUL\\0 and some more string",
-               ToCString(Message() << string_with_nul));
+  EXPECT_EQ("Here's a NUL\\0 and some more string",
+            (Message() << string_with_nul).GetString());
 }
 
 // Tests streaming a NUL char.
 TEST(MessageTest, StreamsNULChar) {
-  EXPECT_STREQ("\\0", ToCString(Message() << '\0'));
+  EXPECT_EQ("\\0", (Message() << '\0').GetString());
 }
 
 // Tests streaming int.
 TEST(MessageTest, StreamsInt) {
-  EXPECT_STREQ("123", ToCString(Message() << 123));
+  EXPECT_EQ("123", (Message() << 123).GetString());
 }
 
 // Tests that basic IO manipulators (endl, ends, and flush) can be
 // streamed to Message.
 TEST(MessageTest, StreamsBasicIoManip) {
-  EXPECT_STREQ("Line 1.\nA NUL char \\0 in line 2.",
-               ToCString(Message() << "Line 1." << std::endl
+  EXPECT_EQ("Line 1.\nA NUL char \\0 in line 2.",
+               (Message() << "Line 1." << std::endl
                          << "A NUL char " << std::ends << std::flush
-                         << " in line 2."));
+                         << " in line 2.").GetString());
 }
 
 // Tests Message::GetString()
 TEST(MessageTest, GetString) {
   Message msg;
   msg << 1 << " lamb";
-  EXPECT_STREQ("1 lamb", msg.GetString().c_str());
+  EXPECT_EQ("1 lamb", msg.GetString());
 }
 
 // Tests streaming a Message object to an ostream.
@@ -155,7 +148,7 @@
   Message msg("Hello");
   ::std::stringstream ss;
   ss << msg;
-  EXPECT_STREQ("Hello", testing::internal::StringStreamToString(&ss).c_str());
+  EXPECT_EQ("Hello", testing::internal::StringStreamToString(&ss));
 }
 
 // Tests that a Message object doesn't take up too much stack space.
diff --git a/test/gtest-options_test.cc b/test/gtest-options_test.cc
index 9e98f3f..5586dc3 100644
--- a/test/gtest-options_test.cc
+++ b/test/gtest-options_test.cc
@@ -78,14 +78,14 @@
 
 TEST(XmlOutputTest, GetOutputFileDefault) {
   GTEST_FLAG(output) = "";
-  EXPECT_STREQ(GetAbsolutePathOf(FilePath("test_detail.xml")).c_str(),
-               UnitTestOptions::GetAbsolutePathToOutputFile().c_str());
+  EXPECT_EQ(GetAbsolutePathOf(FilePath("test_detail.xml")).string(),
+            UnitTestOptions::GetAbsolutePathToOutputFile());
 }
 
 TEST(XmlOutputTest, GetOutputFileSingleFile) {
   GTEST_FLAG(output) = "xml:filename.abc";
-  EXPECT_STREQ(GetAbsolutePathOf(FilePath("filename.abc")).c_str(),
-               UnitTestOptions::GetAbsolutePathToOutputFile().c_str());
+  EXPECT_EQ(GetAbsolutePathOf(FilePath("filename.abc")).string(),
+            UnitTestOptions::GetAbsolutePathToOutputFile());
 }
 
 TEST(XmlOutputTest, GetOutputFileFromDirectoryPath) {
@@ -93,8 +93,9 @@
   const std::string expected_output_file =
       GetAbsolutePathOf(
           FilePath(std::string("path") + GTEST_PATH_SEP_ +
-                   GetCurrentExecutableName().c_str() + ".xml")).c_str();
-  const String& output_file = UnitTestOptions::GetAbsolutePathToOutputFile();
+                   GetCurrentExecutableName().string() + ".xml")).string();
+  const std::string& output_file =
+      UnitTestOptions::GetAbsolutePathToOutputFile();
 #if GTEST_OS_WINDOWS
   EXPECT_STRCASEEQ(expected_output_file.c_str(), output_file.c_str());
 #else
@@ -103,7 +104,7 @@
 }
 
 TEST(OutputFileHelpersTest, GetCurrentExecutableName) {
-  const std::string exe_str = GetCurrentExecutableName().c_str();
+  const std::string exe_str = GetCurrentExecutableName().string();
 #if GTEST_OS_WINDOWS
   const bool success =
       _strcmpi("gtest-options_test", exe_str.c_str()) == 0 ||
@@ -129,12 +130,12 @@
     original_working_dir_ = FilePath::GetCurrentDir();
     posix::ChDir("..");
     // This will make the test fail if run from the root directory.
-    EXPECT_STRNE(original_working_dir_.c_str(),
-                 FilePath::GetCurrentDir().c_str());
+    EXPECT_NE(original_working_dir_.string(),
+              FilePath::GetCurrentDir().string());
   }
 
   virtual void TearDown() {
-    posix::ChDir(original_working_dir_.c_str());
+    posix::ChDir(original_working_dir_.string().c_str());
   }
 
   FilePath original_working_dir_;
@@ -142,23 +143,23 @@
 
 TEST_F(XmlOutputChangeDirTest, PreserveOriginalWorkingDirWithDefault) {
   GTEST_FLAG(output) = "";
-  EXPECT_STREQ(FilePath::ConcatPaths(original_working_dir_,
-                                     FilePath("test_detail.xml")).c_str(),
-               UnitTestOptions::GetAbsolutePathToOutputFile().c_str());
+  EXPECT_EQ(FilePath::ConcatPaths(original_working_dir_,
+                                  FilePath("test_detail.xml")).string(),
+            UnitTestOptions::GetAbsolutePathToOutputFile());
 }
 
 TEST_F(XmlOutputChangeDirTest, PreserveOriginalWorkingDirWithDefaultXML) {
   GTEST_FLAG(output) = "xml";
-  EXPECT_STREQ(FilePath::ConcatPaths(original_working_dir_,
-                                     FilePath("test_detail.xml")).c_str(),
-               UnitTestOptions::GetAbsolutePathToOutputFile().c_str());
+  EXPECT_EQ(FilePath::ConcatPaths(original_working_dir_,
+                                  FilePath("test_detail.xml")).string(),
+            UnitTestOptions::GetAbsolutePathToOutputFile());
 }
 
 TEST_F(XmlOutputChangeDirTest, PreserveOriginalWorkingDirWithRelativeFile) {
   GTEST_FLAG(output) = "xml:filename.abc";
-  EXPECT_STREQ(FilePath::ConcatPaths(original_working_dir_,
-                                     FilePath("filename.abc")).c_str(),
-               UnitTestOptions::GetAbsolutePathToOutputFile().c_str());
+  EXPECT_EQ(FilePath::ConcatPaths(original_working_dir_,
+                                  FilePath("filename.abc")).string(),
+            UnitTestOptions::GetAbsolutePathToOutputFile());
 }
 
 TEST_F(XmlOutputChangeDirTest, PreserveOriginalWorkingDirWithRelativePath) {
@@ -167,8 +168,9 @@
       FilePath::ConcatPaths(
           original_working_dir_,
           FilePath(std::string("path") + GTEST_PATH_SEP_ +
-                   GetCurrentExecutableName().c_str() + ".xml")).c_str();
-  const String& output_file = UnitTestOptions::GetAbsolutePathToOutputFile();
+                   GetCurrentExecutableName().string() + ".xml")).string();
+  const std::string& output_file =
+      UnitTestOptions::GetAbsolutePathToOutputFile();
 #if GTEST_OS_WINDOWS
   EXPECT_STRCASEEQ(expected_output_file.c_str(), output_file.c_str());
 #else
@@ -179,12 +181,12 @@
 TEST_F(XmlOutputChangeDirTest, PreserveOriginalWorkingDirWithAbsoluteFile) {
 #if GTEST_OS_WINDOWS
   GTEST_FLAG(output) = "xml:c:\\tmp\\filename.abc";
-  EXPECT_STREQ(FilePath("c:\\tmp\\filename.abc").c_str(),
-               UnitTestOptions::GetAbsolutePathToOutputFile().c_str());
+  EXPECT_EQ(FilePath("c:\\tmp\\filename.abc").string(),
+            UnitTestOptions::GetAbsolutePathToOutputFile());
 #else
   GTEST_FLAG(output) ="xml:/tmp/filename.abc";
-  EXPECT_STREQ(FilePath("/tmp/filename.abc").c_str(),
-               UnitTestOptions::GetAbsolutePathToOutputFile().c_str());
+  EXPECT_EQ(FilePath("/tmp/filename.abc").string(),
+            UnitTestOptions::GetAbsolutePathToOutputFile());
 #endif
 }
 
@@ -197,8 +199,9 @@
 
   GTEST_FLAG(output) = "xml:" + path;
   const std::string expected_output_file =
-      path + GetCurrentExecutableName().c_str() + ".xml";
-  const String& output_file = UnitTestOptions::GetAbsolutePathToOutputFile();
+      path + GetCurrentExecutableName().string() + ".xml";
+  const std::string& output_file =
+      UnitTestOptions::GetAbsolutePathToOutputFile();
 
 #if GTEST_OS_WINDOWS
   EXPECT_STRCASEEQ(expected_output_file.c_str(), output_file.c_str());
diff --git a/test/gtest-param-test_test.cc b/test/gtest-param-test_test.cc
index cf61866..7b6f7e2 100644
--- a/test/gtest-param-test_test.cc
+++ b/test/gtest-param-test_test.cc
@@ -280,10 +280,10 @@
   bool operator<(const DogAdder& other) const {
     return value_ < other.value_;
   }
-  const ::testing::internal::String& value() const { return value_; }
+  const std::string& value() const { return value_; }
 
  private:
-  ::testing::internal::String value_;
+  std::string value_;
 };
 
 TEST(RangeTest, WorksWithACustomType) {
diff --git a/test/gtest-port_test.cc b/test/gtest-port_test.cc
index dfbf029..43f1f20 100644
--- a/test/gtest-port_test.cc
+++ b/test/gtest-port_test.cc
@@ -1005,7 +1005,7 @@
 }
 
 TEST(ThreadLocalTest, GetAndPointerReturnSameValue) {
-  ThreadLocal<String> thread_local_string;
+  ThreadLocal<std::string> thread_local_string;
 
   EXPECT_EQ(thread_local_string.pointer(), &(thread_local_string.get()));
 
@@ -1015,8 +1015,9 @@
 }
 
 TEST(ThreadLocalTest, PointerAndConstPointerReturnSameValue) {
-  ThreadLocal<String> thread_local_string;
-  const ThreadLocal<String>& const_thread_local_string = thread_local_string;
+  ThreadLocal<std::string> thread_local_string;
+  const ThreadLocal<std::string>& const_thread_local_string =
+      thread_local_string;
 
   EXPECT_EQ(thread_local_string.pointer(), const_thread_local_string.pointer());
 
@@ -1126,18 +1127,19 @@
   thread.Join();
 }
 
-void RetrieveThreadLocalValue(pair<ThreadLocal<String>*, String*> param) {
+void RetrieveThreadLocalValue(
+    pair<ThreadLocal<std::string>*, std::string*> param) {
   *param.second = param.first->get();
 }
 
 TEST(ThreadLocalTest, ParameterizedConstructorSetsDefault) {
-  ThreadLocal<String> thread_local_string("foo");
+  ThreadLocal<std::string> thread_local_string("foo");
   EXPECT_STREQ("foo", thread_local_string.get().c_str());
 
   thread_local_string.set("bar");
   EXPECT_STREQ("bar", thread_local_string.get().c_str());
 
-  String result;
+  std::string result;
   RunFromThread(&RetrieveThreadLocalValue,
                 make_pair(&thread_local_string, &result));
   EXPECT_STREQ("foo", result.c_str());
@@ -1235,14 +1237,14 @@
 }
 
 TEST(ThreadLocalTest, ThreadLocalMutationsAffectOnlyCurrentThread) {
-  ThreadLocal<String> thread_local_string;
+  ThreadLocal<std::string> thread_local_string;
   thread_local_string.set("Foo");
   EXPECT_STREQ("Foo", thread_local_string.get().c_str());
 
-  String result;
+  std::string result;
   RunFromThread(&RetrieveThreadLocalValue,
                 make_pair(&thread_local_string, &result));
-  EXPECT_TRUE(result.c_str() == NULL);
+  EXPECT_TRUE(result.empty());
 }
 
 #endif  // GTEST_IS_THREADSAFE
diff --git a/test/gtest_env_var_test.py b/test/gtest_env_var_test.py
index 4728bbc..ac24337 100755
--- a/test/gtest_env_var_test.py
+++ b/test/gtest_env_var_test.py
@@ -67,8 +67,7 @@
   args = [COMMAND]
   if flag is not None:
     args += [flag]
-  return gtest_test_utils.Subprocess(args, env=environ,
-                                     capture_stderr=False).output
+  return gtest_test_utils.Subprocess(args, env=environ).output
 
 
 def TestFlag(flag, test_val, default_val):
diff --git a/test/gtest_output_test.py b/test/gtest_output_test.py
index 72b3ae0..f409e2a 100755
--- a/test/gtest_output_test.py
+++ b/test/gtest_output_test.py
@@ -213,7 +213,7 @@
   # Set and save the environment properly.
   environ = os.environ.copy()
   environ.update(env_cmd[0])
-  p = gtest_test_utils.Subprocess(env_cmd[1], env=environ, capture_stderr=False)
+  p = gtest_test_utils.Subprocess(env_cmd[1], env=environ)
 
   return p.output
 
diff --git a/test/gtest_output_test_.cc b/test/gtest_output_test_.cc
index da8b744..07ab633 100644
--- a/test/gtest_output_test_.cc
+++ b/test/gtest_output_test_.cc
@@ -58,7 +58,6 @@
 #endif
 
 namespace posix = ::testing::internal::posix;
-using testing::internal::String;
 using testing::internal::scoped_ptr;
 
 // Tests catching fatal failures.
@@ -1005,7 +1004,8 @@
   // for it.
   testing::InitGoogleTest(&argc, argv);
   if (argc >= 2 &&
-      String(argv[1]) == "--gtest_internal_skip_environment_and_ad_hoc_tests")
+      (std::string(argv[1]) ==
+       "--gtest_internal_skip_environment_and_ad_hoc_tests"))
     GTEST_FLAG(internal_skip_environment_and_ad_hoc_tests) = true;
 
 #if GTEST_HAS_DEATH_TEST
diff --git a/test/gtest_shuffle_test.py b/test/gtest_shuffle_test.py
index d3e5780..30d0303 100755
--- a/test/gtest_shuffle_test.py
+++ b/test/gtest_shuffle_test.py
@@ -81,8 +81,7 @@
   environ_copy = os.environ.copy()
   environ_copy.update(extra_env)
 
-  return gtest_test_utils.Subprocess([COMMAND] + args, env=environ_copy,
-                                     capture_stderr=False).output
+  return gtest_test_utils.Subprocess([COMMAND] + args, env=environ_copy).output
 
 
 def GetTestsForAllIterations(extra_env, args):
diff --git a/test/gtest_shuffle_test_.cc b/test/gtest_shuffle_test_.cc
index 0752789..6fb441b 100644
--- a/test/gtest_shuffle_test_.cc
+++ b/test/gtest_shuffle_test_.cc
@@ -42,7 +42,6 @@
 using ::testing::TestEventListeners;
 using ::testing::TestInfo;
 using ::testing::UnitTest;
-using ::testing::internal::String;
 using ::testing::internal::scoped_ptr;
 
 // The test methods are empty, as the sole purpose of this program is
diff --git a/test/gtest_stress_test.cc b/test/gtest_stress_test.cc
index 4e7d9bf..e7daa43 100644
--- a/test/gtest_stress_test.cc
+++ b/test/gtest_stress_test.cc
@@ -50,7 +50,6 @@
 namespace {
 
 using internal::Notification;
-using internal::String;
 using internal::TestPropertyKeyIs;
 using internal::ThreadWithParam;
 using internal::scoped_ptr;
@@ -62,13 +61,13 @@
 // How many threads to create?
 const int kThreadCount = 50;
 
-String IdToKey(int id, const char* suffix) {
+std::string IdToKey(int id, const char* suffix) {
   Message key;
   key << "key_" << id << "_" << suffix;
   return key.GetString();
 }
 
-String IdToString(int id) {
+std::string IdToString(int id) {
   Message id_message;
   id_message << id;
   return id_message.GetString();
diff --git a/test/gtest_unittest.cc b/test/gtest_unittest.cc
index 31a4565..f4f3043 100644
--- a/test/gtest_unittest.cc
+++ b/test/gtest_unittest.cc
@@ -931,259 +931,16 @@
   EXPECT_LE(sizeof(testing::internal::AssertHelper), sizeof(void*));
 }
 
-// Tests the String class.
-
-// Tests String's constructors.
-TEST(StringTest, Constructors) {
-  // Default ctor.
-  String s1;
-  // We aren't using EXPECT_EQ(NULL, s1.c_str()) because comparing
-  // pointers with NULL isn't supported on all platforms.
-  EXPECT_EQ(0U, s1.length());
-  EXPECT_TRUE(NULL == s1.c_str());
-
-  // Implicitly constructs from a C-string.
-  String s2 = "Hi";
-  EXPECT_EQ(2U, s2.length());
-  EXPECT_STREQ("Hi", s2.c_str());
-
-  // Constructs from a C-string and a length.
-  String s3("hello", 3);
-  EXPECT_EQ(3U, s3.length());
-  EXPECT_STREQ("hel", s3.c_str());
-
-  // The empty String should be created when String is constructed with
-  // a NULL pointer and length 0.
-  EXPECT_EQ(0U, String(NULL, 0).length());
-  EXPECT_FALSE(String(NULL, 0).c_str() == NULL);
-
-  // Constructs a String that contains '\0'.
-  String s4("a\0bcd", 4);
-  EXPECT_EQ(4U, s4.length());
-  EXPECT_EQ('a', s4.c_str()[0]);
-  EXPECT_EQ('\0', s4.c_str()[1]);
-  EXPECT_EQ('b', s4.c_str()[2]);
-  EXPECT_EQ('c', s4.c_str()[3]);
-
-  // Copy ctor where the source is NULL.
-  const String null_str;
-  String s5 = null_str;
-  EXPECT_TRUE(s5.c_str() == NULL);
-
-  // Copy ctor where the source isn't NULL.
-  String s6 = s3;
-  EXPECT_EQ(3U, s6.length());
-  EXPECT_STREQ("hel", s6.c_str());
-
-  // Copy ctor where the source contains '\0'.
-  String s7 = s4;
-  EXPECT_EQ(4U, s7.length());
-  EXPECT_EQ('a', s7.c_str()[0]);
-  EXPECT_EQ('\0', s7.c_str()[1]);
-  EXPECT_EQ('b', s7.c_str()[2]);
-  EXPECT_EQ('c', s7.c_str()[3]);
-}
-
-TEST(StringTest, ConvertsFromStdString) {
-  // An empty std::string.
-  const std::string src1("");
-  const String dest1 = src1;
-  EXPECT_EQ(0U, dest1.length());
-  EXPECT_STREQ("", dest1.c_str());
-
-  // A normal std::string.
-  const std::string src2("Hi");
-  const String dest2 = src2;
-  EXPECT_EQ(2U, dest2.length());
-  EXPECT_STREQ("Hi", dest2.c_str());
-
-  // An std::string with an embedded NUL character.
-  const char src3[] = "a\0b";
-  const String dest3 = std::string(src3, sizeof(src3));
-  EXPECT_EQ(sizeof(src3), dest3.length());
-  EXPECT_EQ('a', dest3.c_str()[0]);
-  EXPECT_EQ('\0', dest3.c_str()[1]);
-  EXPECT_EQ('b', dest3.c_str()[2]);
-}
-
-TEST(StringTest, ConvertsToStdString) {
-  // An empty String.
-  const String src1("");
-  const std::string dest1 = src1;
-  EXPECT_EQ("", dest1);
-
-  // A normal String.
-  const String src2("Hi");
-  const std::string dest2 = src2;
-  EXPECT_EQ("Hi", dest2);
-
-  // A String containing a '\0'.
-  const String src3("x\0y", 3);
-  const std::string dest3 = src3;
-  EXPECT_EQ(std::string("x\0y", 3), dest3);
-}
-
-#if GTEST_HAS_GLOBAL_STRING
-
-TEST(StringTest, ConvertsFromGlobalString) {
-  // An empty ::string.
-  const ::string src1("");
-  const String dest1 = src1;
-  EXPECT_EQ(0U, dest1.length());
-  EXPECT_STREQ("", dest1.c_str());
-
-  // A normal ::string.
-  const ::string src2("Hi");
-  const String dest2 = src2;
-  EXPECT_EQ(2U, dest2.length());
-  EXPECT_STREQ("Hi", dest2.c_str());
-
-  // An ::string with an embedded NUL character.
-  const char src3[] = "x\0y";
-  const String dest3 = ::string(src3, sizeof(src3));
-  EXPECT_EQ(sizeof(src3), dest3.length());
-  EXPECT_EQ('x', dest3.c_str()[0]);
-  EXPECT_EQ('\0', dest3.c_str()[1]);
-  EXPECT_EQ('y', dest3.c_str()[2]);
-}
-
-TEST(StringTest, ConvertsToGlobalString) {
-  // An empty String.
-  const String src1("");
-  const ::string dest1 = src1;
-  EXPECT_EQ("", dest1);
-
-  // A normal String.
-  const String src2("Hi");
-  const ::string dest2 = src2;
-  EXPECT_EQ("Hi", dest2);
-
-  const String src3("x\0y", 3);
-  const ::string dest3 = src3;
-  EXPECT_EQ(::string("x\0y", 3), dest3);
-}
-
-#endif  // GTEST_HAS_GLOBAL_STRING
-
-// Tests String::empty().
-TEST(StringTest, Empty) {
-  EXPECT_TRUE(String("").empty());
-  EXPECT_FALSE(String().empty());
-  EXPECT_FALSE(String(NULL).empty());
-  EXPECT_FALSE(String("a").empty());
-  EXPECT_FALSE(String("\0", 1).empty());
-}
-
-// Tests String::Compare().
-TEST(StringTest, Compare) {
-  // NULL vs NULL.
-  EXPECT_EQ(0, String().Compare(String()));
-
-  // NULL vs non-NULL.
-  EXPECT_EQ(-1, String().Compare(String("")));
-
-  // Non-NULL vs NULL.
-  EXPECT_EQ(1, String("").Compare(String()));
-
-  // The following covers non-NULL vs non-NULL.
-
-  // "" vs "".
-  EXPECT_EQ(0, String("").Compare(String("")));
-
-  // "" vs non-"".
-  EXPECT_EQ(-1, String("").Compare(String("\0", 1)));
-  EXPECT_EQ(-1, String("").Compare(" "));
-
-  // Non-"" vs "".
-  EXPECT_EQ(1, String("a").Compare(String("")));
-
-  // The following covers non-"" vs non-"".
-
-  // Same length and equal.
-  EXPECT_EQ(0, String("a").Compare(String("a")));
-
-  // Same length and different.
-  EXPECT_EQ(-1, String("a\0b", 3).Compare(String("a\0c", 3)));
-  EXPECT_EQ(1, String("b").Compare(String("a")));
-
-  // Different lengths.
-  EXPECT_EQ(-1, String("a").Compare(String("ab")));
-  EXPECT_EQ(-1, String("a").Compare(String("a\0", 2)));
-  EXPECT_EQ(1, String("abc").Compare(String("aacd")));
-}
-
-// Tests String::operator==().
-TEST(StringTest, Equals) {
-  const String null(NULL);
-  EXPECT_TRUE(null == NULL);  // NOLINT
-  EXPECT_FALSE(null == "");  // NOLINT
-  EXPECT_FALSE(null == "bar");  // NOLINT
-
-  const String empty("");
-  EXPECT_FALSE(empty == NULL);  // NOLINT
-  EXPECT_TRUE(empty == "");  // NOLINT
-  EXPECT_FALSE(empty == "bar");  // NOLINT
-
-  const String foo("foo");
-  EXPECT_FALSE(foo == NULL);  // NOLINT
-  EXPECT_FALSE(foo == "");  // NOLINT
-  EXPECT_FALSE(foo == "bar");  // NOLINT
-  EXPECT_TRUE(foo == "foo");  // NOLINT
-
-  const String bar("x\0y", 3);
-  EXPECT_NE(bar, "x");
-}
-
-// Tests String::operator!=().
-TEST(StringTest, NotEquals) {
-  const String null(NULL);
-  EXPECT_FALSE(null != NULL);  // NOLINT
-  EXPECT_TRUE(null != "");  // NOLINT
-  EXPECT_TRUE(null != "bar");  // NOLINT
-
-  const String empty("");
-  EXPECT_TRUE(empty != NULL);  // NOLINT
-  EXPECT_FALSE(empty != "");  // NOLINT
-  EXPECT_TRUE(empty != "bar");  // NOLINT
-
-  const String foo("foo");
-  EXPECT_TRUE(foo != NULL);  // NOLINT
-  EXPECT_TRUE(foo != "");  // NOLINT
-  EXPECT_TRUE(foo != "bar");  // NOLINT
-  EXPECT_FALSE(foo != "foo");  // NOLINT
-
-  const String bar("x\0y", 3);
-  EXPECT_NE(bar, "x");
-}
-
-// Tests String::length().
-TEST(StringTest, Length) {
-  EXPECT_EQ(0U, String().length());
-  EXPECT_EQ(0U, String("").length());
-  EXPECT_EQ(2U, String("ab").length());
-  EXPECT_EQ(3U, String("a\0b", 3).length());
-}
-
-// Tests String::EndsWith().
-TEST(StringTest, EndsWith) {
-  EXPECT_TRUE(String("foobar").EndsWith("bar"));
-  EXPECT_TRUE(String("foobar").EndsWith(""));
-  EXPECT_TRUE(String("").EndsWith(""));
-
-  EXPECT_FALSE(String("foobar").EndsWith("foo"));
-  EXPECT_FALSE(String("").EndsWith("foo"));
-}
-
 // Tests String::EndsWithCaseInsensitive().
 TEST(StringTest, EndsWithCaseInsensitive) {
-  EXPECT_TRUE(String("foobar").EndsWithCaseInsensitive("BAR"));
-  EXPECT_TRUE(String("foobaR").EndsWithCaseInsensitive("bar"));
-  EXPECT_TRUE(String("foobar").EndsWithCaseInsensitive(""));
-  EXPECT_TRUE(String("").EndsWithCaseInsensitive(""));
+  EXPECT_TRUE(String::EndsWithCaseInsensitive("foobar", "BAR"));
+  EXPECT_TRUE(String::EndsWithCaseInsensitive("foobaR", "bar"));
+  EXPECT_TRUE(String::EndsWithCaseInsensitive("foobar", ""));
+  EXPECT_TRUE(String::EndsWithCaseInsensitive("", ""));
 
-  EXPECT_FALSE(String("Foobar").EndsWithCaseInsensitive("foo"));
-  EXPECT_FALSE(String("foobar").EndsWithCaseInsensitive("Foo"));
-  EXPECT_FALSE(String("").EndsWithCaseInsensitive("foo"));
+  EXPECT_FALSE(String::EndsWithCaseInsensitive("Foobar", "foo"));
+  EXPECT_FALSE(String::EndsWithCaseInsensitive("foobar", "Foo"));
+  EXPECT_FALSE(String::EndsWithCaseInsensitive("", "foo"));
 }
 
 // C++Builder's preprocessor is buggy; it fails to expand macros that
@@ -1203,61 +960,6 @@
   EXPECT_TRUE(String::CaseInsensitiveWideCStringEquals(L"FOOBAR", L"foobar"));
 }
 
-// Tests that NULL can be assigned to a String.
-TEST(StringTest, CanBeAssignedNULL) {
-  const String src(NULL);
-  String dest;
-
-  dest = src;
-  EXPECT_STREQ(NULL, dest.c_str());
-}
-
-// Tests that the empty string "" can be assigned to a String.
-TEST(StringTest, CanBeAssignedEmpty) {
-  const String src("");
-  String dest;
-
-  dest = src;
-  EXPECT_STREQ("", dest.c_str());
-}
-
-// Tests that a non-empty string can be assigned to a String.
-TEST(StringTest, CanBeAssignedNonEmpty) {
-  const String src("hello");
-  String dest;
-  dest = src;
-  EXPECT_EQ(5U, dest.length());
-  EXPECT_STREQ("hello", dest.c_str());
-
-  const String src2("x\0y", 3);
-  String dest2;
-  dest2 = src2;
-  EXPECT_EQ(3U, dest2.length());
-  EXPECT_EQ('x', dest2.c_str()[0]);
-  EXPECT_EQ('\0', dest2.c_str()[1]);
-  EXPECT_EQ('y', dest2.c_str()[2]);
-}
-
-// Tests that a String can be assigned to itself.
-TEST(StringTest, CanBeAssignedSelf) {
-  String dest("hello");
-
-  // Use explicit function call notation here to suppress self-assign warning.
-  dest.operator=(dest);
-  EXPECT_STREQ("hello", dest.c_str());
-}
-
-// Sun Studio < 12 incorrectly rejects this code due to an overloading
-// ambiguity.
-#if !(defined(__SUNPRO_CC) && __SUNPRO_CC < 0x590)
-// Tests streaming a String.
-TEST(StringTest, Streams) {
-  EXPECT_EQ(StreamableToString(String()), "(null)");
-  EXPECT_EQ(StreamableToString(String("")), "");
-  EXPECT_EQ(StreamableToString(String("a\0b", 3)), "a\\0b");
-}
-#endif
-
 // Tests that String::Format() works.
 TEST(StringTest, FormatWorks) {
   // Normal case: the format spec is valid, the arguments match the
@@ -1269,19 +971,19 @@
   const size_t kSize = sizeof(buffer);
   memset(buffer, 'a', kSize - 1);
   buffer[kSize - 1] = '\0';
-  EXPECT_STREQ(buffer, String::Format("%s", buffer).c_str());
+  EXPECT_EQ(buffer, String::Format("%s", buffer));
 
   // The result needs to be 4096 characters, exceeding Format()'s limit.
-  EXPECT_STREQ("<formatting error or buffer exceeded>",
-               String::Format("x%s", buffer).c_str());
+  EXPECT_EQ("<formatting error or buffer exceeded>",
+            String::Format("x%s", buffer));
 
-#if GTEST_OS_LINUX
+#if GTEST_OS_LINUX && !GTEST_OS_LINUX_ANDROID
   // On Linux, invalid format spec should lead to an error message.
   // In other environment (e.g. MSVC on Windows), String::Format() may
   // simply ignore a bad format spec, so this assertion is run on
   // Linux only.
-  EXPECT_STREQ("<formatting error or buffer exceeded>",
-               String::Format("%").c_str());
+  EXPECT_EQ("<formatting error or buffer exceeded>",
+            String::Format("%"));
 #endif
 }
 
@@ -1915,15 +1617,16 @@
   // C++Builder's putenv only stores a pointer to its parameter; we have to
   // ensure that the string remains valid as long as it might be needed.
   // We use an std::map to do so.
-  static std::map<String, String*> added_env;
+  static std::map<std::string, std::string*> added_env;
 
   // Because putenv stores a pointer to the string buffer, we can't delete the
   // previous string (if present) until after it's replaced.
-  String *prev_env = NULL;
+  std::string *prev_env = NULL;
   if (added_env.find(name) != added_env.end()) {
     prev_env = added_env[name];
   }
-  added_env[name] = new String((Message() << name << "=" << value).GetString());
+  added_env[name] = new std::string(
+      (Message() << name << "=" << value).GetString());
 
   // The standard signature of putenv accepts a 'char*' argument. Other
   // implementations, like C++Builder's, accept a 'const char*'.
@@ -3568,8 +3271,8 @@
 
 // Tests EqFailure(), used for implementing *EQ* assertions.
 TEST(AssertionTest, EqFailure) {
-  const String foo_val("5"), bar_val("6");
-  const String msg1(
+  const std::string foo_val("5"), bar_val("6");
+  const std::string msg1(
       EqFailure("foo", "bar", foo_val, bar_val, false)
       .failure_message());
   EXPECT_STREQ(
@@ -3579,7 +3282,7 @@
       "Which is: 5",
       msg1.c_str());
 
-  const String msg2(
+  const std::string msg2(
       EqFailure("foo", "6", foo_val, bar_val, false)
       .failure_message());
   EXPECT_STREQ(
@@ -3588,7 +3291,7 @@
       "Which is: 5",
       msg2.c_str());
 
-  const String msg3(
+  const std::string msg3(
       EqFailure("5", "bar", foo_val, bar_val, false)
       .failure_message());
   EXPECT_STREQ(
@@ -3597,16 +3300,16 @@
       "Expected: 5",
       msg3.c_str());
 
-  const String msg4(
+  const std::string msg4(
       EqFailure("5", "6", foo_val, bar_val, false).failure_message());
   EXPECT_STREQ(
       "Value of: 6\n"
       "Expected: 5",
       msg4.c_str());
 
-  const String msg5(
+  const std::string msg5(
       EqFailure("foo", "bar",
-                String("\"x\""), String("\"y\""),
+                std::string("\"x\""), std::string("\"y\""),
                 true).failure_message());
   EXPECT_STREQ(
       "Value of: bar\n"
@@ -3618,7 +3321,7 @@
 
 // Tests AppendUserMessage(), used for implementing the *EQ* macros.
 TEST(AssertionTest, AppendUserMessage) {
-  const String foo("foo");
+  const std::string foo("foo");
 
   Message msg;
   EXPECT_STREQ("foo",
@@ -4199,7 +3902,7 @@
 #if GTEST_HAS_EXCEPTIONS
 
 void ThrowAString() {
-    throw "String";
+    throw "std::string";
 }
 
 // Test that the exception assertion macros compile and work with const
@@ -5619,7 +5322,7 @@
     internal::ParseGoogleTestFlagsOnly(&argc1, const_cast<CharType**>(argv1));
 
 #if GTEST_HAS_STREAM_REDIRECTION
-    const String captured_stdout = GetCapturedStdout();
+    const std::string captured_stdout = GetCapturedStdout();
 #endif
 
     // Verifies the flag values.
@@ -6891,7 +6594,7 @@
 // order.
 class SequenceTestingListener : public EmptyTestEventListener {
  public:
-  SequenceTestingListener(std::vector<String>* vector, const char* id)
+  SequenceTestingListener(std::vector<std::string>* vector, const char* id)
       : vector_(vector), id_(id) {}
 
  protected:
@@ -6914,20 +6617,20 @@
   }
 
  private:
-  String GetEventDescription(const char* method) {
+  std::string GetEventDescription(const char* method) {
     Message message;
     message << id_ << "." << method;
     return message.GetString();
   }
 
-  std::vector<String>* vector_;
+  std::vector<std::string>* vector_;
   const char* const id_;
 
   GTEST_DISALLOW_COPY_AND_ASSIGN_(SequenceTestingListener);
 };
 
 TEST(EventListenerTest, AppendKeepsOrder) {
-  std::vector<String> vec;
+  std::vector<std::string> vec;
   TestEventListeners listeners;
   listeners.Append(new SequenceTestingListener(&vec, "1st"));
   listeners.Append(new SequenceTestingListener(&vec, "2nd"));
@@ -7313,7 +7016,7 @@
   TestGTestReferenceToConst<const char&, char>();
   TestGTestReferenceToConst<const int&, const int>();
   TestGTestReferenceToConst<const double&, double>();
-  TestGTestReferenceToConst<const String&, const String&>();
+  TestGTestReferenceToConst<const std::string&, const std::string&>();
 }
 
 // Tests that ImplicitlyConvertible<T1, T2>::value is a compile-time constant.