core/rawdb: separate raw database access to own package (#16666)

16 files changed, 989 insertions, 945 deletions

diff --git a/core/bench_test.go b/core/bench_test.go
index e23f0d19d..ee30cfed0 100644
--- a/core/bench_test.go
+++ b/core/bench_test.go
@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@ import (
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/common"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/common/math"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/consensus/ethash"
+	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/core/rawdb"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/core/types"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/core/vm"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/crypto"
@@ -234,13 +235,15 @@ func makeChainForBench(db ethdb.Database, full bool, count uint64) {
 			ReceiptHash: types.EmptyRootHash,
 		}
 		hash = header.Hash()
-		WriteHeader(db, header)
-		WriteCanonicalHash(db, hash, n)
-		WriteTd(db, hash, n, big.NewInt(int64(n+1)))
+
+		rawdb.WriteHeader(db, header)
+		rawdb.WriteCanonicalHash(db, hash, n)
+		rawdb.WriteTd(db, hash, n, big.NewInt(int64(n+1)))
+
 		if full || n == 0 {
 			block := types.NewBlockWithHeader(header)
-			WriteBody(db, hash, n, block.Body())
-			WriteBlockReceipts(db, hash, n, nil)
+			rawdb.WriteBody(db, hash, n, block.Body())
+			rawdb.WriteReceipts(db, hash, n, nil)
 		}
 	}
 }
@@ -292,11 +295,10 @@ func benchReadChain(b *testing.B, full bool, count uint64) {
 			header := chain.GetHeaderByNumber(n)
 			if full {
 				hash := header.Hash()
-				GetBody(db, hash, n)
-				GetBlockReceipts(db, hash, n)
+				rawdb.ReadBody(db, hash, n)
+				rawdb.ReadReceipts(db, hash, n)
 			}
 		}
-
 		chain.Stop()
 		db.Close()
 	}
diff --git a/core/blockchain.go b/core/blockchain.go
index b33eb85a4..f74a0f5b2 100644
--- a/core/blockchain.go
+++ b/core/blockchain.go
@@ -30,6 +30,7 @@ import (
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/common"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/common/mclock"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/consensus"
+	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/core/rawdb"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/core/state"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/core/types"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/core/vm"
@@ -202,7 +203,7 @@ func (bc *BlockChain) getProcInterrupt() bool {
 // assumes that the chain manager mutex is held.
 func (bc *BlockChain) loadLastState() error {
 	// Restore the last known head block
-	head := GetHeadBlockHash(bc.db)
+	head := rawdb.ReadHeadBlockHash(bc.db)
 	if head == (common.Hash{}) {
 		// Corrupt or empty database, init from scratch
 		log.Warn("Empty database, resetting chain")
@@ -228,7 +229,7 @@ func (bc *BlockChain) loadLastState() error {
 
 	// Restore the last known head header
 	currentHeader := currentBlock.Header()
-	if head := GetHeadHeaderHash(bc.db); head != (common.Hash{}) {
+	if head := rawdb.ReadHeadHeaderHash(bc.db); head != (common.Hash{}) {
 		if header := bc.GetHeaderByHash(head); header != nil {
 			currentHeader = header
 		}
@@ -237,7 +238,7 @@ func (bc *BlockChain) loadLastState() error {
 
 	// Restore the last known head fast block
 	bc.currentFastBlock.Store(currentBlock)
-	if head := GetHeadFastBlockHash(bc.db); head != (common.Hash{}) {
+	if head := rawdb.ReadHeadFastBlockHash(bc.db); head != (common.Hash{}) {
 		if block := bc.GetBlockByHash(head); block != nil {
 			bc.currentFastBlock.Store(block)
 		}
@@ -269,7 +270,7 @@ func (bc *BlockChain) SetHead(head uint64) error {
 
 	// Rewind the header chain, deleting all block bodies until then
 	delFn := func(hash common.Hash, num uint64) {
-		DeleteBody(bc.db, hash, num)
+		rawdb.DeleteBody(bc.db, hash, num)
 	}
 	bc.hc.SetHead(head, delFn)
 	currentHeader := bc.hc.CurrentHeader()
@@ -303,12 +304,10 @@ func (bc *BlockChain) SetHead(head uint64) error {
 	}
 	currentBlock := bc.CurrentBlock()
 	currentFastBlock := bc.CurrentFastBlock()
-	if err := WriteHeadBlockHash(bc.db, currentBlock.Hash()); err != nil {
-		log.Crit("Failed to reset head full block", "err", err)
-	}
-	if err := WriteHeadFastBlockHash(bc.db, currentFastBlock.Hash()); err != nil {
-		log.Crit("Failed to reset head fast block", "err", err)
-	}
+
+	rawdb.WriteHeadBlockHash(bc.db, currentBlock.Hash())
+	rawdb.WriteHeadFastBlockHash(bc.db, currentFastBlock.Hash())
+
 	return bc.loadLastState()
 }
 
@@ -406,9 +405,8 @@ func (bc *BlockChain) ResetWithGenesisBlock(genesis *types.Block) error {
 	if err := bc.hc.WriteTd(genesis.Hash(), genesis.NumberU64(), genesis.Difficulty()); err != nil {
 		log.Crit("Failed to write genesis block TD", "err", err)
 	}
-	if err := WriteBlock(bc.db, genesis); err != nil {
-		log.Crit("Failed to write genesis block", "err", err)
-	}
+	rawdb.WriteBlock(bc.db, genesis)
+
 	bc.genesisBlock = genesis
 	bc.insert(bc.genesisBlock)
 	bc.currentBlock.Store(bc.genesisBlock)
@@ -474,24 +472,19 @@ func (bc *BlockChain) ExportN(w io.Writer, first uint64, last uint64) error {
 // Note, this function assumes that the `mu` mutex is held!
 func (bc *BlockChain) insert(block *types.Block) {
 	// If the block is on a side chain or an unknown one, force other heads onto it too
-	updateHeads := GetCanonicalHash(bc.db, block.NumberU64()) != block.Hash()
+	updateHeads := rawdb.ReadCanonicalHash(bc.db, block.NumberU64()) != block.Hash()
 
 	// Add the block to the canonical chain number scheme and mark as the head
-	if err := WriteCanonicalHash(bc.db, block.Hash(), block.NumberU64()); err != nil {
-		log.Crit("Failed to insert block number", "err", err)
-	}
-	if err := WriteHeadBlockHash(bc.db, block.Hash()); err != nil {
-		log.Crit("Failed to insert head block hash", "err", err)
-	}
+	rawdb.WriteCanonicalHash(bc.db, block.Hash(), block.NumberU64())
+	rawdb.WriteHeadBlockHash(bc.db, block.Hash())
+
 	bc.currentBlock.Store(block)
 
 	// If the block is better than our head or is on a different chain, force update heads
 	if updateHeads {
 		bc.hc.SetCurrentHeader(block.Header())
+		rawdb.WriteHeadFastBlockHash(bc.db, block.Hash())
 
-		if err := WriteHeadFastBlockHash(bc.db, block.Hash()); err != nil {
-			log.Crit("Failed to insert head fast block hash", "err", err)
-		}
 		bc.currentFastBlock.Store(block)
 	}
 }
@@ -509,7 +502,11 @@ func (bc *BlockChain) GetBody(hash common.Hash) *types.Body {
 		body := cached.(*types.Body)
 		return body
 	}
-	body := GetBody(bc.db, hash, bc.hc.GetBlockNumber(hash))
+	number := bc.hc.GetBlockNumber(hash)
+	if number == nil {
+		return nil
+	}
+	body := rawdb.ReadBody(bc.db, hash, *number)
 	if body == nil {
 		return nil
 	}
@@ -525,7 +522,11 @@ func (bc *BlockChain) GetBodyRLP(hash common.Hash) rlp.RawValue {
 	if cached, ok := bc.bodyRLPCache.Get(hash); ok {
 		return cached.(rlp.RawValue)
 	}
-	body := GetBodyRLP(bc.db, hash, bc.hc.GetBlockNumber(hash))
+	number := bc.hc.GetBlockNumber(hash)
+	if number == nil {
+		return nil
+	}
+	body := rawdb.ReadBodyRLP(bc.db, hash, *number)
 	if len(body) == 0 {
 		return nil
 	}
@@ -539,8 +540,7 @@ func (bc *BlockChain) HasBlock(hash common.Hash, number uint64) bool {
 	if bc.blockCache.Contains(hash) {
 		return true
 	}
-	ok, _ := bc.db.Has(blockBodyKey(hash, number))
-	return ok
+	return rawdb.HasBody(bc.db, hash, number)
 }
 
 // HasState checks if state trie is fully present in the database or not.
@@ -567,7 +567,7 @@ func (bc *BlockChain) GetBlock(hash common.Hash, number uint64) *types.Block {
 	if block, ok := bc.blockCache.Get(hash); ok {
 		return block.(*types.Block)
 	}
-	block := GetBlock(bc.db, hash, number)
+	block := rawdb.ReadBlock(bc.db, hash, number)
 	if block == nil {
 		return nil
 	}
@@ -578,13 +578,17 @@ func (bc *BlockChain) GetBlock(hash common.Hash, number uint64) *types.Block {
 
 // GetBlockByHash retrieves a block from the database by hash, caching it if found.
 func (bc *BlockChain) GetBlockByHash(hash common.Hash) *types.Block {
-	return bc.GetBlock(hash, bc.hc.GetBlockNumber(hash))
+	number := bc.hc.GetBlockNumber(hash)
+	if number == nil {
+		return nil
+	}
+	return bc.GetBlock(hash, *number)
 }
 
 // GetBlockByNumber retrieves a block from the database by number, caching it
 // (associated with its hash) if found.
 func (bc *BlockChain) GetBlockByNumber(number uint64) *types.Block {
-	hash := GetCanonicalHash(bc.db, number)
+	hash := rawdb.ReadCanonicalHash(bc.db, number)
 	if hash == (common.Hash{}) {
 		return nil
 	}
@@ -593,21 +597,28 @@ func (bc *BlockChain) GetBlockByNumber(number uint64) *types.Block {
 
 // GetReceiptsByHash retrieves the receipts for all transactions in a given block.
 func (bc *BlockChain) GetReceiptsByHash(hash common.Hash) types.Receipts {
-	return GetBlockReceipts(bc.db, hash, GetBlockNumber(bc.db, hash))
+	number := rawdb.ReadHeaderNumber(bc.db, hash)
+	if number == nil {
+		return nil
+	}
+	return rawdb.ReadReceipts(bc.db, hash, *number)
 }
 
 // GetBlocksFromHash returns the block corresponding to hash and up to n-1 ancestors.
 // [deprecated by eth/62]
 func (bc *BlockChain) GetBlocksFromHash(hash common.Hash, n int) (blocks []*types.Block) {
 	number := bc.hc.GetBlockNumber(hash)
+	if number == nil {
+		return nil
+	}
 	for i := 0; i < n; i++ {
-		block := bc.GetBlock(hash, number)
+		block := bc.GetBlock(hash, *number)
 		if block == nil {
 			break
 		}
 		blocks = append(blocks, block)
 		hash = block.ParentHash()
-		number--
+		*number--
 	}
 	return
 }
@@ -712,12 +723,12 @@ func (bc *BlockChain) Rollback(chain []common.Hash) {
 		if currentFastBlock := bc.CurrentFastBlock(); currentFastBlock.Hash() == hash {
 			newFastBlock := bc.GetBlock(currentFastBlock.ParentHash(), currentFastBlock.NumberU64()-1)
 			bc.currentFastBlock.Store(newFastBlock)
-			WriteHeadFastBlockHash(bc.db, newFastBlock.Hash())
+			rawdb.WriteHeadFastBlockHash(bc.db, newFastBlock.Hash())
 		}
 		if currentBlock := bc.CurrentBlock(); currentBlock.Hash() == hash {
 			newBlock := bc.GetBlock(currentBlock.ParentHash(), currentBlock.NumberU64()-1)
 			bc.currentBlock.Store(newBlock)
-			WriteHeadBlockHash(bc.db, newBlock.Hash())
+			rawdb.WriteHeadBlockHash(bc.db, newBlock.Hash())
 		}
 	}
 }
@@ -802,15 +813,10 @@ func (bc *BlockChain) InsertReceiptChain(blockChain types.Blocks, receiptChain [
 			return i, fmt.Errorf("failed to set receipts data: %v", err)
 		}
 		// Write all the data out into the database
-		if err := WriteBody(batch, block.Hash(), block.NumberU64(), block.Body()); err != nil {
-			return i, fmt.Errorf("failed to write block body: %v", err)
-		}
-		if err := WriteBlockReceipts(batch, block.Hash(), block.NumberU64(), receipts); err != nil {
-			return i, fmt.Errorf("failed to write block receipts: %v", err)
-		}
-		if err := WriteTxLookupEntries(batch, block); err != nil {
-			return i, fmt.Errorf("failed to write lookup metadata: %v", err)
-		}
+		rawdb.WriteBody(batch, block.Hash(), block.NumberU64(), block.Body())
+		rawdb.WriteReceipts(batch, block.Hash(), block.NumberU64(), receipts)
+		rawdb.WriteTxLookupEntries(batch, block)
+
 		stats.processed++
 
 		if batch.ValueSize() >= ethdb.IdealBatchSize {
@@ -834,9 +840,7 @@ func (bc *BlockChain) InsertReceiptChain(blockChain types.Blocks, receiptChain [
 	if td := bc.GetTd(head.Hash(), head.NumberU64()); td != nil { // Rewind may have occurred, skip in that case
 		currentFastBlock := bc.CurrentFastBlock()
 		if bc.GetTd(currentFastBlock.Hash(), currentFastBlock.NumberU64()).Cmp(td) < 0 {
-			if err := WriteHeadFastBlockHash(bc.db, head.Hash()); err != nil {
-				log.Crit("Failed to update head fast block hash", "err", err)
-			}
+			rawdb.WriteHeadFastBlockHash(bc.db, head.Hash())
 			bc.currentFastBlock.Store(head)
 		}
 	}
@@ -864,9 +868,8 @@ func (bc *BlockChain) WriteBlockWithoutState(block *types.Block, td *big.Int) (e
 	if err := bc.hc.WriteTd(block.Hash(), block.NumberU64(), td); err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
-	if err := WriteBlock(bc.db, block); err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
+	rawdb.WriteBlock(bc.db, block)
+
 	return nil
 }
 
@@ -894,9 +897,8 @@ func (bc *BlockChain) WriteBlockWithState(block *types.Block, receipts []*types.
 	}
 	// Write other block data using a batch.
 	batch := bc.db.NewBatch()
-	if err := WriteBlock(batch, block); err != nil {
-		return NonStatTy, err
-	}
+	rawdb.WriteBlock(batch, block)
+
 	root, err := state.Commit(bc.chainConfig.IsEIP158(block.Number()))
 	if err != nil {
 		return NonStatTy, err
@@ -953,9 +955,8 @@ func (bc *BlockChain) WriteBlockWithState(block *types.Block, receipts []*types.
 			}
 		}
 	}
-	if err := WriteBlockReceipts(batch, block.Hash(), block.NumberU64(), receipts); err != nil {
-		return NonStatTy, err
-	}
+	rawdb.WriteReceipts(batch, block.Hash(), block.NumberU64(), receipts)
+
 	// If the total difficulty is higher than our known, add it to the canonical chain
 	// Second clause in the if statement reduces the vulnerability to selfish mining.
 	// Please refer to http://www.cs.cornell.edu/~ie53/publications/btcProcFC.pdf
@@ -972,14 +973,10 @@ func (bc *BlockChain) WriteBlockWithState(block *types.Block, receipts []*types.
 				return NonStatTy, err
 			}
 		}
-		// Write the positional metadata for transaction and receipt lookups
-		if err := WriteTxLookupEntries(batch, block); err != nil {
-			return NonStatTy, err
-		}
-		// Write hash preimages
-		if err := WritePreimages(bc.db, block.NumberU64(), state.Preimages()); err != nil {
-			return NonStatTy, err
-		}
+		// Write the positional metadata for transaction/receipt lookups and preimages
+		rawdb.WriteTxLookupEntries(batch, block)
+		rawdb.WritePreimages(batch, block.NumberU64(), state.Preimages())
+
 		status = CanonStatTy
 	} else {
 		status = SideStatTy
@@ -1256,9 +1253,13 @@ func (bc *BlockChain) reorg(oldBlock, newBlock *types.Block) error {
 		// collectLogs collects the logs that were generated during the
 		// processing of the block that corresponds with the given hash.
 		// These logs are later announced as deleted.
-		collectLogs = func(h common.Hash) {
+		collectLogs = func(hash common.Hash) {
 			// Coalesce logs and set 'Removed'.
-			receipts := GetBlockReceipts(bc.db, h, bc.hc.GetBlockNumber(h))
+			number := bc.hc.GetBlockNumber(hash)
+			if number == nil {
+				return
+			}
+			receipts := rawdb.ReadReceipts(bc.db, hash, *number)
 			for _, receipt := range receipts {
 				for _, log := range receipt.Logs {
 					del := *log
@@ -1327,9 +1328,7 @@ func (bc *BlockChain) reorg(oldBlock, newBlock *types.Block) error {
 		// insert the block in the canonical way, re-writing history
 		bc.insert(newChain[i])
 		// write lookup entries for hash based transaction/receipt searches
-		if err := WriteTxLookupEntries(bc.db, newChain[i]); err != nil {
-			return err
-		}
+		rawdb.WriteTxLookupEntries(bc.db, newChain[i])
 		addedTxs = append(addedTxs, newChain[i].Transactions()...)
 	}
 	// calculate the difference between deleted and added transactions
@@ -1337,7 +1336,7 @@ func (bc *BlockChain) reorg(oldBlock, newBlock *types.Block) error {
 	// When transactions get deleted from the database that means the
 	// receipts that were created in the fork must also be deleted
 	for _, tx := range diff {
-		DeleteTxLookupEntry(bc.db, tx.Hash())
+		rawdb.DeleteTxLookupEntry(bc.db, tx.Hash())
 	}
 	if len(deletedLogs) > 0 {
 		go bc.rmLogsFeed.Send(RemovedLogsEvent{deletedLogs})
diff --git a/core/blockchain_test.go b/core/blockchain_test.go
index 375823b57..c1638c31f 100644
--- a/core/blockchain_test.go
+++ b/core/blockchain_test.go
@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@ import (
 
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/common"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/consensus/ethash"
+	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/core/rawdb"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/core/state"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/core/types"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/core/vm"
@@ -128,8 +129,8 @@ func testBlockChainImport(chain types.Blocks, blockchain *BlockChain) error {
 			return err
 		}
 		blockchain.mu.Lock()
-		WriteTd(blockchain.db, block.Hash(), block.NumberU64(), new(big.Int).Add(block.Difficulty(), blockchain.GetTdByHash(block.ParentHash())))
-		WriteBlock(blockchain.db, block)
+		rawdb.WriteTd(blockchain.db, block.Hash(), block.NumberU64(), new(big.Int).Add(block.Difficulty(), blockchain.GetTdByHash(block.ParentHash())))
+		rawdb.WriteBlock(blockchain.db, block)
 		statedb.Commit(false)
 		blockchain.mu.Unlock()
 	}
@@ -146,8 +147,8 @@ func testHeaderChainImport(chain []*types.Header, blockchain *BlockChain) error
 		}
 		// Manually insert the header into the database, but don't reorganise (allows subsequent testing)
 		blockchain.mu.Lock()
-		WriteTd(blockchain.db, header.Hash(), header.Number.Uint64(), new(big.Int).Add(header.Difficulty, blockchain.GetTdByHash(header.ParentHash)))
-		WriteHeader(blockchain.db, header)
+		rawdb.WriteTd(blockchain.db, header.Hash(), header.Number.Uint64(), new(big.Int).Add(header.Difficulty, blockchain.GetTdByHash(header.ParentHash)))
+		rawdb.WriteHeader(blockchain.db, header)
 		blockchain.mu.Unlock()
 	}
 	return nil
@@ -173,7 +174,7 @@ func TestLastBlock(t *testing.T) {
 	if _, err := blockchain.InsertChain(blocks); err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("Failed to insert block: %v", err)
 	}
-	if blocks[len(blocks)-1].Hash() != GetHeadBlockHash(blockchain.db) {
+	if blocks[len(blocks)-1].Hash() != rawdb.ReadHeadBlockHash(blockchain.db) {
 		t.Fatalf("Write/Get HeadBlockHash failed")
 	}
 }
@@ -639,13 +640,13 @@ func TestFastVsFullChains(t *testing.T) {
 		} else if types.CalcUncleHash(fblock.Uncles()) != types.CalcUncleHash(ablock.Uncles()) {
 			t.Errorf("block #%d [%x]: uncles mismatch: have %v, want %v", num, hash, fblock.Uncles(), ablock.Uncles())
 		}
-		if freceipts, areceipts := GetBlockReceipts(fastDb, hash, GetBlockNumber(fastDb, hash)), GetBlockReceipts(archiveDb, hash, GetBlockNumber(archiveDb, hash)); types.DeriveSha(freceipts) != types.DeriveSha(areceipts) {
+		if freceipts, areceipts := rawdb.ReadReceipts(fastDb, hash, *rawdb.ReadHeaderNumber(fastDb, hash)), rawdb.ReadReceipts(archiveDb, hash, *rawdb.ReadHeaderNumber(archiveDb, hash)); types.DeriveSha(freceipts) != types.DeriveSha(areceipts) {
 			t.Errorf("block #%d [%x]: receipts mismatch: have %v, want %v", num, hash, freceipts, areceipts)
 		}
 	}
 	// Check that the canonical chains are the same between the databases
 	for i := 0; i < len(blocks)+1; i++ {
-		if fhash, ahash := GetCanonicalHash(fastDb, uint64(i)), GetCanonicalHash(archiveDb, uint64(i)); fhash != ahash {
+		if fhash, ahash := rawdb.ReadCanonicalHash(fastDb, uint64(i)), rawdb.ReadCanonicalHash(archiveDb, uint64(i)); fhash != ahash {
 			t.Errorf("block #%d: canonical hash mismatch: have %v, want %v", i, fhash, ahash)
 		}
 	}
@@ -821,28 +822,28 @@ func TestChainTxReorgs(t *testing.T) {
 
 	// removed tx
 	for i, tx := range (types.Transactions{pastDrop, freshDrop}) {
-		if txn, _, _, _ := GetTransaction(db, tx.Hash()); txn != nil {
+		if txn, _, _, _ := rawdb.ReadTransaction(db, tx.Hash()); txn != nil {
 			t.Errorf("drop %d: tx %v found while shouldn't have been", i, txn)
 		}
-		if rcpt, _, _, _ := GetReceipt(db, tx.Hash()); rcpt != nil {
+		if rcpt, _, _, _ := rawdb.ReadReceipt(db, tx.Hash()); rcpt != nil {
 			t.Errorf("drop %d: receipt %v found while shouldn't have been", i, rcpt)
 		}
 	}
 	// added tx
 	for i, tx := range (types.Transactions{pastAdd, freshAdd, futureAdd}) {
-		if txn, _, _, _ := GetTransaction(db, tx.Hash()); txn == nil {
+		if txn, _, _, _ := rawdb.ReadTransaction(db, tx.Hash()); txn == nil {
 			t.Errorf("add %d: expected tx to be found", i)
 		}
-		if rcpt, _, _, _ := GetReceipt(db, tx.Hash()); rcpt == nil {
+		if rcpt, _, _, _ := rawdb.ReadReceipt(db, tx.Hash()); rcpt == nil {
 			t.Errorf("add %d: expected receipt to be found", i)
 		}
 	}
 	// shared tx
 	for i, tx := range (types.Transactions{postponed, swapped}) {
-		if txn, _, _, _ := GetTransaction(db, tx.Hash()); txn == nil {
+		if txn, _, _, _ := rawdb.ReadTransaction(db, tx.Hash()); txn == nil {
 			t.Errorf("share %d: expected tx to be found", i)
 		}
-		if rcpt, _, _, _ := GetReceipt(db, tx.Hash()); rcpt == nil {
+		if rcpt, _, _, _ := rawdb.ReadReceipt(db, tx.Hash()); rcpt == nil {
 			t.Errorf("share %d: expected receipt to be found", i)
 		}
 	}
@@ -997,14 +998,14 @@ func TestCanonicalBlockRetrieval(t *testing.T) {
 
 			// try to retrieve a block by its canonical hash and see if the block data can be retrieved.
 			for {
-				ch := GetCanonicalHash(blockchain.db, block.NumberU64())
+				ch := rawdb.ReadCanonicalHash(blockchain.db, block.NumberU64())
 				if ch == (common.Hash{}) {
 					continue // busy wait for canonical hash to be written
 				}
 				if ch != block.Hash() {
 					t.Fatalf("unknown canonical hash, want %s, got %s", block.Hash().Hex(), ch.Hex())
 				}
-				fb := GetBlock(blockchain.db, ch, block.NumberU64())
+				fb := rawdb.ReadBlock(blockchain.db, ch, block.NumberU64())
 				if fb == nil {
 					t.Fatalf("unable to retrieve block %d for canonical hash: %s", block.NumberU64(), ch.Hex())
 				}
diff --git a/core/chain_indexer.go b/core/chain_indexer.go
index 158ed8324..0b927116d 100644
--- a/core/chain_indexer.go
+++ b/core/chain_indexer.go
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@ import (
 	"time"
 
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/common"
+	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/core/rawdb"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/core/types"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/ethdb"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/event"
@@ -206,7 +207,7 @@ func (c *ChainIndexer) eventLoop(currentHeader *types.Header, events chan ChainE
 
 				// TODO(karalabe): This operation is expensive and might block, causing the event system to
 				// potentially also lock up. We need to do with on a different thread somehow.
-				if h := FindCommonAncestor(c.chainDb, prevHeader, header); h != nil {
+				if h := rawdb.FindCommonAncestor(c.chainDb, prevHeader, header); h != nil {
 					c.newHead(h.Number.Uint64(), true)
 				}
 			}
@@ -349,11 +350,11 @@ func (c *ChainIndexer) processSection(section uint64, lastHead common.Hash) (com
 	}
 
 	for number := section * c.sectionSize; number < (section+1)*c.sectionSize; number++ {
-		hash := GetCanonicalHash(c.chainDb, number)
+		hash := rawdb.ReadCanonicalHash(c.chainDb, number)
 		if hash == (common.Hash{}) {
 			return common.Hash{}, fmt.Errorf("canonical block #%d unknown", number)
 		}
-		header := GetHeader(c.chainDb, hash, number)
+		header := rawdb.ReadHeader(c.chainDb, hash, number)
 		if header == nil {
 			return common.Hash{}, fmt.Errorf("block #%d [%x…] not found", number, hash[:4])
 		} else if header.ParentHash != lastHead {
diff --git a/core/chain_indexer_test.go b/core/chain_indexer_test.go
index 9fc09eda5..3205616e8 100644
--- a/core/chain_indexer_test.go
+++ b/core/chain_indexer_test.go
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@ import (
 	"time"
 
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/common"
+	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/core/rawdb"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/core/types"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/ethdb"
 )
@@ -92,10 +93,10 @@ func testChainIndexer(t *testing.T, count int) {
 	inject := func(number uint64) {
 		header := &types.Header{Number: big.NewInt(int64(number)), Extra: big.NewInt(rand.Int63()).Bytes()}
 		if number > 0 {
-			header.ParentHash = GetCanonicalHash(db, number-1)
+			header.ParentHash = rawdb.ReadCanonicalHash(db, number-1)
 		}
-		WriteHeader(db, header)
-		WriteCanonicalHash(db, header.Hash(), number)
+		rawdb.WriteHeader(db, header)
+		rawdb.WriteCanonicalHash(db, header.Hash(), number)
 	}
 	// Start indexer with an already existing chain
 	for i := uint64(0); i <= 100; i++ {
diff --git a/core/database_util.go b/core/database_util.go
deleted file mode 100644
index 8c4698985..000000000
--- a/core/database_util.go
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,652 +0,0 @@
-// Copyright 2015 The go-ethereum Authors
-// This file is part of the go-ethereum library.
-//
-// The go-ethereum library is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
-// it under the terms of the GNU Lesser General Public License as published by
-// the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the License, or
-// (at your option) any later version.
-//
-// The go-ethereum library is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
-// but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
-// MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. See the
-// GNU Lesser General Public License for more details.
-//
-// You should have received a copy of the GNU Lesser General Public License
-// along with the go-ethereum library. If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
-
-package core
-
-import (
-	"bytes"
-	"encoding/binary"
-	"encoding/json"
-	"errors"
-	"fmt"
-	"math/big"
-
-	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/common"
-	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/core/types"
-	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/ethdb"
-	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/log"
-	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/metrics"
-	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/params"
-	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/rlp"
-)
-
-// DatabaseReader wraps the Get method of a backing data store.
-type DatabaseReader interface {
-	Get(key []byte) (value []byte, err error)
-}
-
-// DatabaseDeleter wraps the Delete method of a backing data store.
-type DatabaseDeleter interface {
-	Delete(key []byte) error
-}
-
-var (
-	headHeaderKey = []byte("LastHeader")
-	headBlockKey  = []byte("LastBlock")
-	headFastKey   = []byte("LastFast")
-	trieSyncKey   = []byte("TrieSync")
-
-	// Data item prefixes (use single byte to avoid mixing data types, avoid `i`).
-	headerPrefix        = []byte("h") // headerPrefix + num (uint64 big endian) + hash -> header
-	tdSuffix            = []byte("t") // headerPrefix + num (uint64 big endian) + hash + tdSuffix -> td
-	numSuffix           = []byte("n") // headerPrefix + num (uint64 big endian) + numSuffix -> hash
-	blockHashPrefix     = []byte("H") // blockHashPrefix + hash -> num (uint64 big endian)
-	bodyPrefix          = []byte("b") // bodyPrefix + num (uint64 big endian) + hash -> block body
-	blockReceiptsPrefix = []byte("r") // blockReceiptsPrefix + num (uint64 big endian) + hash -> block receipts
-	lookupPrefix        = []byte("l") // lookupPrefix + hash -> transaction/receipt lookup metadata
-	bloomBitsPrefix     = []byte("B") // bloomBitsPrefix + bit (uint16 big endian) + section (uint64 big endian) + hash -> bloom bits
-
-	preimagePrefix = "secure-key-"              // preimagePrefix + hash -> preimage
-	configPrefix   = []byte("ethereum-config-") // config prefix for the db
-
-	// Chain index prefixes (use `i` + single byte to avoid mixing data types).
-	BloomBitsIndexPrefix = []byte("iB") // BloomBitsIndexPrefix is the data table of a chain indexer to track its progress
-
-	// used by old db, now only used for conversion
-	oldReceiptsPrefix = []byte("receipts-")
-	oldTxMetaSuffix   = []byte{0x01}
-
-	ErrChainConfigNotFound = errors.New("ChainConfig not found") // general config not found error
-
-	preimageCounter    = metrics.NewRegisteredCounter("db/preimage/total", nil)
-	preimageHitCounter = metrics.NewRegisteredCounter("db/preimage/hits", nil)
-)
-
-// TxLookupEntry is a positional metadata to help looking up the data content of
-// a transaction or receipt given only its hash.
-type TxLookupEntry struct {
-	BlockHash  common.Hash
-	BlockIndex uint64
-	Index      uint64
-}
-
-// encodeBlockNumber encodes a block number as big endian uint64
-func encodeBlockNumber(number uint64) []byte {
-	enc := make([]byte, 8)
-	binary.BigEndian.PutUint64(enc, number)
-	return enc
-}
-
-// GetCanonicalHash retrieves a hash assigned to a canonical block number.
-func GetCanonicalHash(db DatabaseReader, number uint64) common.Hash {
-	data, _ := db.Get(append(append(headerPrefix, encodeBlockNumber(number)...), numSuffix...))
-	if len(data) == 0 {
-		return common.Hash{}
-	}
-	return common.BytesToHash(data)
-}
-
-// missingNumber is returned by GetBlockNumber if no header with the
-// given block hash has been stored in the database
-const missingNumber = uint64(0xffffffffffffffff)
-
-// GetBlockNumber returns the block number assigned to a block hash
-// if the corresponding header is present in the database
-func GetBlockNumber(db DatabaseReader, hash common.Hash) uint64 {
-	data, _ := db.Get(append(blockHashPrefix, hash.Bytes()...))
-	if len(data) != 8 {
-		return missingNumber
-	}
-	return binary.BigEndian.Uint64(data)
-}
-
-// GetHeadHeaderHash retrieves the hash of the current canonical head block's
-// header. The difference between this and GetHeadBlockHash is that whereas the
-// last block hash is only updated upon a full block import, the last header
-// hash is updated already at header import, allowing head tracking for the
-// light synchronization mechanism.
-func GetHeadHeaderHash(db DatabaseReader) common.Hash {
-	data, _ := db.Get(headHeaderKey)
-	if len(data) == 0 {
-		return common.Hash{}
-	}
-	return common.BytesToHash(data)
-}
-
-// GetHeadBlockHash retrieves the hash of the current canonical head block.
-func GetHeadBlockHash(db DatabaseReader) common.Hash {
-	data, _ := db.Get(headBlockKey)
-	if len(data) == 0 {
-		return common.Hash{}
-	}
-	return common.BytesToHash(data)
-}
-
-// GetHeadFastBlockHash retrieves the hash of the current canonical head block during
-// fast synchronization. The difference between this and GetHeadBlockHash is that
-// whereas the last block hash is only updated upon a full block import, the last
-// fast hash is updated when importing pre-processed blocks.
-func GetHeadFastBlockHash(db DatabaseReader) common.Hash {
-	data, _ := db.Get(headFastKey)
-	if len(data) == 0 {
-		return common.Hash{}
-	}
-	return common.BytesToHash(data)
-}
-
-// GetTrieSyncProgress retrieves the number of tries nodes fast synced to allow
-// reportinc correct numbers across restarts.
-func GetTrieSyncProgress(db DatabaseReader) uint64 {
-	data, _ := db.Get(trieSyncKey)
-	if len(data) == 0 {
-		return 0
-	}
-	return new(big.Int).SetBytes(data).Uint64()
-}
-
-// GetHeaderRLP retrieves a block header in its raw RLP database encoding, or nil
-// if the header's not found.
-func GetHeaderRLP(db DatabaseReader, hash common.Hash, number uint64) rlp.RawValue {
-	data, _ := db.Get(headerKey(hash, number))
-	return data
-}
-
-// GetHeader retrieves the block header corresponding to the hash, nil if none
-// found.
-func GetHeader(db DatabaseReader, hash common.Hash, number uint64) *types.Header {
-	data := GetHeaderRLP(db, hash, number)
-	if len(data) == 0 {
-		return nil
-	}
-	header := new(types.Header)
-	if err := rlp.Decode(bytes.NewReader(data), header); err != nil {
-		log.Error("Invalid block header RLP", "hash", hash, "err", err)
-		return nil
-	}
-	return header
-}
-
-// GetBodyRLP retrieves the block body (transactions and uncles) in RLP encoding.
-func GetBodyRLP(db DatabaseReader, hash common.Hash, number uint64) rlp.RawValue {
-	data, _ := db.Get(blockBodyKey(hash, number))
-	return data
-}
-
-func headerKey(hash common.Hash, number uint64) []byte {
-	return append(append(headerPrefix, encodeBlockNumber(number)...), hash.Bytes()...)
-}
-
-func blockBodyKey(hash common.Hash, number uint64) []byte {
-	return append(append(bodyPrefix, encodeBlockNumber(number)...), hash.Bytes()...)
-}
-
-// GetBody retrieves the block body (transactons, uncles) corresponding to the
-// hash, nil if none found.
-func GetBody(db DatabaseReader, hash common.Hash, number uint64) *types.Body {
-	data := GetBodyRLP(db, hash, number)
-	if len(data) == 0 {
-		return nil
-	}
-	body := new(types.Body)
-	if err := rlp.Decode(bytes.NewReader(data), body); err != nil {
-		log.Error("Invalid block body RLP", "hash", hash, "err", err)
-		return nil
-	}
-	return body
-}
-
-// GetTd retrieves a block's total difficulty corresponding to the hash, nil if
-// none found.
-func GetTd(db DatabaseReader, hash common.Hash, number uint64) *big.Int {
-	data, _ := db.Get(append(append(append(headerPrefix, encodeBlockNumber(number)...), hash[:]...), tdSuffix...))
-	if len(data) == 0 {
-		return nil
-	}
-	td := new(big.Int)
-	if err := rlp.Decode(bytes.NewReader(data), td); err != nil {
-		log.Error("Invalid block total difficulty RLP", "hash", hash, "err", err)
-		return nil
-	}
-	return td
-}
-
-// GetBlock retrieves an entire block corresponding to the hash, assembling it
-// back from the stored header and body. If either the header or body could not
-// be retrieved nil is returned.
-//
-// Note, due to concurrent download of header and block body the header and thus
-// canonical hash can be stored in the database but the body data not (yet).
-func GetBlock(db DatabaseReader, hash common.Hash, number uint64) *types.Block {
-	// Retrieve the block header and body contents
-	header := GetHeader(db, hash, number)
-	if header == nil {
-		return nil
-	}
-	body := GetBody(db, hash, number)
-	if body == nil {
-		return nil
-	}
-	// Reassemble the block and return
-	return types.NewBlockWithHeader(header).WithBody(body.Transactions, body.Uncles)
-}
-
-// GetBlockReceipts retrieves the receipts generated by the transactions included
-// in a block given by its hash.
-func GetBlockReceipts(db DatabaseReader, hash common.Hash, number uint64) types.Receipts {
-	data, _ := db.Get(append(append(blockReceiptsPrefix, encodeBlockNumber(number)...), hash[:]...))
-	if len(data) == 0 {
-		return nil
-	}
-	storageReceipts := []*types.ReceiptForStorage{}
-	if err := rlp.DecodeBytes(data, &storageReceipts); err != nil {
-		log.Error("Invalid receipt array RLP", "hash", hash, "err", err)
-		return nil
-	}
-	receipts := make(types.Receipts, len(storageReceipts))
-	for i, receipt := range storageReceipts {
-		receipts[i] = (*types.Receipt)(receipt)
-	}
-	return receipts
-}
-
-// GetTxLookupEntry retrieves the positional metadata associated with a transaction
-// hash to allow retrieving the transaction or receipt by hash.
-func GetTxLookupEntry(db DatabaseReader, hash common.Hash) (common.Hash, uint64, uint64) {
-	// Load the positional metadata from disk and bail if it fails
-	data, _ := db.Get(append(lookupPrefix, hash.Bytes()...))
-	if len(data) == 0 {
-		return common.Hash{}, 0, 0
-	}
-	// Parse and return the contents of the lookup entry
-	var entry TxLookupEntry
-	if err := rlp.DecodeBytes(data, &entry); err != nil {
-		log.Error("Invalid lookup entry RLP", "hash", hash, "err", err)
-		return common.Hash{}, 0, 0
-	}
-	return entry.BlockHash, entry.BlockIndex, entry.Index
-}
-
-// GetTransaction retrieves a specific transaction from the database, along with
-// its added positional metadata.
-func GetTransaction(db DatabaseReader, hash common.Hash) (*types.Transaction, common.Hash, uint64, uint64) {
-	// Retrieve the lookup metadata and resolve the transaction from the body
-	blockHash, blockNumber, txIndex := GetTxLookupEntry(db, hash)
-
-	if blockHash != (common.Hash{}) {
-		body := GetBody(db, blockHash, blockNumber)
-		if body == nil || len(body.Transactions) <= int(txIndex) {
-			log.Error("Transaction referenced missing", "number", blockNumber, "hash", blockHash, "index", txIndex)
-			return nil, common.Hash{}, 0, 0
-		}
-		return body.Transactions[txIndex], blockHash, blockNumber, txIndex
-	}
-	// Old transaction representation, load the transaction and it's metadata separately
-	data, _ := db.Get(hash.Bytes())
-	if len(data) == 0 {
-		return nil, common.Hash{}, 0, 0
-	}
-	var tx types.Transaction
-	if err := rlp.DecodeBytes(data, &tx); err != nil {
-		return nil, common.Hash{}, 0, 0
-	}
-	// Retrieve the blockchain positional metadata
-	data, _ = db.Get(append(hash.Bytes(), oldTxMetaSuffix...))
-	if len(data) == 0 {
-		return nil, common.Hash{}, 0, 0
-	}
-	var entry TxLookupEntry
-	if err := rlp.DecodeBytes(data, &entry); err != nil {
-		return nil, common.Hash{}, 0, 0
-	}
-	return &tx, entry.BlockHash, entry.BlockIndex, entry.Index
-}
-
-// GetReceipt retrieves a specific transaction receipt from the database, along with
-// its added positional metadata.
-func GetReceipt(db DatabaseReader, hash common.Hash) (*types.Receipt, common.Hash, uint64, uint64) {
-	// Retrieve the lookup metadata and resolve the receipt from the receipts
-	blockHash, blockNumber, receiptIndex := GetTxLookupEntry(db, hash)
-
-	if blockHash != (common.Hash{}) {
-		receipts := GetBlockReceipts(db, blockHash, blockNumber)
-		if len(receipts) <= int(receiptIndex) {
-			log.Error("Receipt refereced missing", "number", blockNumber, "hash", blockHash, "index", receiptIndex)
-			return nil, common.Hash{}, 0, 0
-		}
-		return receipts[receiptIndex], blockHash, blockNumber, receiptIndex
-	}
-	// Old receipt representation, load the receipt and set an unknown metadata
-	data, _ := db.Get(append(oldReceiptsPrefix, hash[:]...))
-	if len(data) == 0 {
-		return nil, common.Hash{}, 0, 0
-	}
-	var receipt types.ReceiptForStorage
-	err := rlp.DecodeBytes(data, &receipt)
-	if err != nil {
-		log.Error("Invalid receipt RLP", "hash", hash, "err", err)
-	}
-	return (*types.Receipt)(&receipt), common.Hash{}, 0, 0
-}
-
-// GetBloomBits retrieves the compressed bloom bit vector belonging to the given
-// section and bit index from the.
-func GetBloomBits(db DatabaseReader, bit uint, section uint64, head common.Hash) ([]byte, error) {
-	key := append(append(bloomBitsPrefix, make([]byte, 10)...), head.Bytes()...)
-
-	binary.BigEndian.PutUint16(key[1:], uint16(bit))
-	binary.BigEndian.PutUint64(key[3:], section)
-
-	return db.Get(key)
-}
-
-// WriteCanonicalHash stores the canonical hash for the given block number.
-func WriteCanonicalHash(db ethdb.Putter, hash common.Hash, number uint64) error {
-	key := append(append(headerPrefix, encodeBlockNumber(number)...), numSuffix...)
-	if err := db.Put(key, hash.Bytes()); err != nil {
-		log.Crit("Failed to store number to hash mapping", "err", err)
-	}
-	return nil
-}
-
-// WriteHeadHeaderHash stores the head header's hash.
-func WriteHeadHeaderHash(db ethdb.Putter, hash common.Hash) error {
-	if err := db.Put(headHeaderKey, hash.Bytes()); err != nil {
-		log.Crit("Failed to store last header's hash", "err", err)
-	}
-	return nil
-}
-
-// WriteHeadBlockHash stores the head block's hash.
-func WriteHeadBlockHash(db ethdb.Putter, hash common.Hash) error {
-	if err := db.Put(headBlockKey, hash.Bytes()); err != nil {
-		log.Crit("Failed to store last block's hash", "err", err)
-	}
-	return nil
-}
-
-// WriteHeadFastBlockHash stores the fast head block's hash.
-func WriteHeadFastBlockHash(db ethdb.Putter, hash common.Hash) error {
-	if err := db.Put(headFastKey, hash.Bytes()); err != nil {
-		log.Crit("Failed to store last fast block's hash", "err", err)
-	}
-	return nil
-}
-
-// WriteTrieSyncProgress stores the fast sync trie process counter to support
-// retrieving it across restarts.
-func WriteTrieSyncProgress(db ethdb.Putter, count uint64) error {
-	if err := db.Put(trieSyncKey, new(big.Int).SetUint64(count).Bytes()); err != nil {
-		log.Crit("Failed to store fast sync trie progress", "err", err)
-	}
-	return nil
-}
-
-// WriteHeader serializes a block header into the database.
-func WriteHeader(db ethdb.Putter, header *types.Header) error {
-	data, err := rlp.EncodeToBytes(header)
-	if err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
-	hash := header.Hash().Bytes()
-	num := header.Number.Uint64()
-	encNum := encodeBlockNumber(num)
-	key := append(blockHashPrefix, hash...)
-	if err := db.Put(key, encNum); err != nil {
-		log.Crit("Failed to store hash to number mapping", "err", err)
-	}
-	key = append(append(headerPrefix, encNum...), hash...)
-	if err := db.Put(key, data); err != nil {
-		log.Crit("Failed to store header", "err", err)
-	}
-	return nil
-}
-
-// WriteBody serializes the body of a block into the database.
-func WriteBody(db ethdb.Putter, hash common.Hash, number uint64, body *types.Body) error {
-	data, err := rlp.EncodeToBytes(body)
-	if err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
-	return WriteBodyRLP(db, hash, number, data)
-}
-
-// WriteBodyRLP writes a serialized body of a block into the database.
-func WriteBodyRLP(db ethdb.Putter, hash common.Hash, number uint64, rlp rlp.RawValue) error {
-	key := append(append(bodyPrefix, encodeBlockNumber(number)...), hash.Bytes()...)
-	if err := db.Put(key, rlp); err != nil {
-		log.Crit("Failed to store block body", "err", err)
-	}
-	return nil
-}
-
-// WriteTd serializes the total difficulty of a block into the database.
-func WriteTd(db ethdb.Putter, hash common.Hash, number uint64, td *big.Int) error {
-	data, err := rlp.EncodeToBytes(td)
-	if err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
-	key := append(append(append(headerPrefix, encodeBlockNumber(number)...), hash.Bytes()...), tdSuffix...)
-	if err := db.Put(key, data); err != nil {
-		log.Crit("Failed to store block total difficulty", "err", err)
-	}
-	return nil
-}
-
-// WriteBlock serializes a block into the database, header and body separately.
-func WriteBlock(db ethdb.Putter, block *types.Block) error {
-	// Store the body first to retain database consistency
-	if err := WriteBody(db, block.Hash(), block.NumberU64(), block.Body()); err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
-	// Store the header too, signaling full block ownership
-	if err := WriteHeader(db, block.Header()); err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
-	return nil
-}
-
-// WriteBlockReceipts stores all the transaction receipts belonging to a block
-// as a single receipt slice. This is used during chain reorganisations for
-// rescheduling dropped transactions.
-func WriteBlockReceipts(db ethdb.Putter, hash common.Hash, number uint64, receipts types.Receipts) error {
-	// Convert the receipts into their storage form and serialize them
-	storageReceipts := make([]*types.ReceiptForStorage, len(receipts))
-	for i, receipt := range receipts {
-		storageReceipts[i] = (*types.ReceiptForStorage)(receipt)
-	}
-	bytes, err := rlp.EncodeToBytes(storageReceipts)
-	if err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
-	// Store the flattened receipt slice
-	key := append(append(blockReceiptsPrefix, encodeBlockNumber(number)...), hash.Bytes()...)
-	if err := db.Put(key, bytes); err != nil {
-		log.Crit("Failed to store block receipts", "err", err)
-	}
-	return nil
-}
-
-// WriteTxLookupEntries stores a positional metadata for every transaction from
-// a block, enabling hash based transaction and receipt lookups.
-func WriteTxLookupEntries(db ethdb.Putter, block *types.Block) error {
-	// Iterate over each transaction and encode its metadata
-	for i, tx := range block.Transactions() {
-		entry := TxLookupEntry{
-			BlockHash:  block.Hash(),
-			BlockIndex: block.NumberU64(),
-			Index:      uint64(i),
-		}
-		data, err := rlp.EncodeToBytes(entry)
-		if err != nil {
-			return err
-		}
-		if err := db.Put(append(lookupPrefix, tx.Hash().Bytes()...), data); err != nil {
-			return err
-		}
-	}
-	return nil
-}
-
-// WriteBloomBits writes the compressed bloom bits vector belonging to the given
-// section and bit index.
-func WriteBloomBits(db ethdb.Putter, bit uint, section uint64, head common.Hash, bits []byte) {
-	key := append(append(bloomBitsPrefix, make([]byte, 10)...), head.Bytes()...)
-
-	binary.BigEndian.PutUint16(key[1:], uint16(bit))
-	binary.BigEndian.PutUint64(key[3:], section)
-
-	if err := db.Put(key, bits); err != nil {
-		log.Crit("Failed to store bloom bits", "err", err)
-	}
-}
-
-// DeleteCanonicalHash removes the number to hash canonical mapping.
-func DeleteCanonicalHash(db DatabaseDeleter, number uint64) {
-	db.Delete(append(append(headerPrefix, encodeBlockNumber(number)...), numSuffix...))
-}
-
-// DeleteHeader removes all block header data associated with a hash.
-func DeleteHeader(db DatabaseDeleter, hash common.Hash, number uint64) {
-	db.Delete(append(blockHashPrefix, hash.Bytes()...))
-	db.Delete(append(append(headerPrefix, encodeBlockNumber(number)...), hash.Bytes()...))
-}
-
-// DeleteBody removes all block body data associated with a hash.
-func DeleteBody(db DatabaseDeleter, hash common.Hash, number uint64) {
-	db.Delete(append(append(bodyPrefix, encodeBlockNumber(number)...), hash.Bytes()...))
-}
-
-// DeleteTd removes all block total difficulty data associated with a hash.
-func DeleteTd(db DatabaseDeleter, hash common.Hash, number uint64) {
-	db.Delete(append(append(append(headerPrefix, encodeBlockNumber(number)...), hash.Bytes()...), tdSuffix...))
-}
-
-// DeleteBlock removes all block data associated with a hash.
-func DeleteBlock(db DatabaseDeleter, hash common.Hash, number uint64) {
-	DeleteBlockReceipts(db, hash, number)
-	DeleteHeader(db, hash, number)
-	DeleteBody(db, hash, number)
-	DeleteTd(db, hash, number)
-}
-
-// DeleteBlockReceipts removes all receipt data associated with a block hash.
-func DeleteBlockReceipts(db DatabaseDeleter, hash common.Hash, number uint64) {
-	db.Delete(append(append(blockReceiptsPrefix, encodeBlockNumber(number)...), hash.Bytes()...))
-}
-
-// DeleteTxLookupEntry removes all transaction data associated with a hash.
-func DeleteTxLookupEntry(db DatabaseDeleter, hash common.Hash) {
-	db.Delete(append(lookupPrefix, hash.Bytes()...))
-}
-
-// PreimageTable returns a Database instance with the key prefix for preimage entries.
-func PreimageTable(db ethdb.Database) ethdb.Database {
-	return ethdb.NewTable(db, preimagePrefix)
-}
-
-// WritePreimages writes the provided set of preimages to the database. `number` is the
-// current block number, and is used for debug messages only.
-func WritePreimages(db ethdb.Database, number uint64, preimages map[common.Hash][]byte) error {
-	table := PreimageTable(db)
-	batch := table.NewBatch()
-	hitCount := 0
-	for hash, preimage := range preimages {
-		if _, err := table.Get(hash.Bytes()); err != nil {
-			batch.Put(hash.Bytes(), preimage)
-			hitCount++
-		}
-	}
-	preimageCounter.Inc(int64(len(preimages)))
-	preimageHitCounter.Inc(int64(hitCount))
-	if hitCount > 0 {
-		if err := batch.Write(); err != nil {
-			return fmt.Errorf("preimage write fail for block %d: %v", number, err)
-		}
-	}
-	return nil
-}
-
-// GetBlockChainVersion reads the version number from db.
-func GetBlockChainVersion(db DatabaseReader) int {
-	var vsn uint
-	enc, _ := db.Get([]byte("BlockchainVersion"))
-	rlp.DecodeBytes(enc, &vsn)
-	return int(vsn)
-}
-
-// WriteBlockChainVersion writes vsn as the version number to db.
-func WriteBlockChainVersion(db ethdb.Putter, vsn int) {
-	enc, _ := rlp.EncodeToBytes(uint(vsn))
-	db.Put([]byte("BlockchainVersion"), enc)
-}
-
-// WriteChainConfig writes the chain config settings to the database.
-func WriteChainConfig(db ethdb.Putter, hash common.Hash, cfg *params.ChainConfig) error {
-	// short circuit and ignore if nil config. GetChainConfig
-	// will return a default.
-	if cfg == nil {
-		return nil
-	}
-
-	jsonChainConfig, err := json.Marshal(cfg)
-	if err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
-
-	return db.Put(append(configPrefix, hash[:]...), jsonChainConfig)
-}
-
-// GetChainConfig will fetch the network settings based on the given hash.
-func GetChainConfig(db DatabaseReader, hash common.Hash) (*params.ChainConfig, error) {
-	jsonChainConfig, _ := db.Get(append(configPrefix, hash[:]...))
-	if len(jsonChainConfig) == 0 {
-		return nil, ErrChainConfigNotFound
-	}
-
-	var config params.ChainConfig
-	if err := json.Unmarshal(jsonChainConfig, &config); err != nil {
-		return nil, err
-	}
-
-	return &config, nil
-}
-
-// FindCommonAncestor returns the last common ancestor of two block headers
-func FindCommonAncestor(db DatabaseReader, a, b *types.Header) *types.Header {
-	for bn := b.Number.Uint64(); a.Number.Uint64() > bn; {
-		a = GetHeader(db, a.ParentHash, a.Number.Uint64()-1)
-		if a == nil {
-			return nil
-		}
-	}
-	for an := a.Number.Uint64(); an < b.Number.Uint64(); {
-		b = GetHeader(db, b.ParentHash, b.Number.Uint64()-1)
-		if b == nil {
-			return nil
-		}
-	}
-	for a.Hash() != b.Hash() {
-		a = GetHeader(db, a.ParentHash, a.Number.Uint64()-1)
-		if a == nil {
-			return nil
-		}
-		b = GetHeader(db, b.ParentHash, b.Number.Uint64()-1)
-		if b == nil {
-			return nil
-		}
-	}
-	return a
-}
diff --git a/core/genesis.go b/core/genesis.go
index b6ead2250..c0a636ab2 100644
--- a/core/genesis.go
+++ b/core/genesis.go
@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@ import (
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/common"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/common/hexutil"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/common/math"
+	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/core/rawdb"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/core/state"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/core/types"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/ethdb"
@@ -155,7 +156,7 @@ func SetupGenesisBlock(db ethdb.Database, genesis *Genesis) (*params.ChainConfig
 	}
 
 	// Just commit the new block if there is no stored genesis block.
-	stored := GetCanonicalHash(db, 0)
+	stored := rawdb.ReadCanonicalHash(db, 0)
 	if (stored == common.Hash{}) {
 		if genesis == nil {
 			log.Info("Writing default main-net genesis block")
@@ -177,14 +178,11 @@ func SetupGenesisBlock(db ethdb.Database, genesis *Genesis) (*params.ChainConfig
 
 	// Get the existing chain configuration.
 	newcfg := genesis.configOrDefault(stored)
-	storedcfg, err := GetChainConfig(db, stored)
-	if err != nil {
-		if err == ErrChainConfigNotFound {
-			// This case happens if a genesis write was interrupted.
-			log.Warn("Found genesis block without chain config")
-			err = WriteChainConfig(db, stored, newcfg)
-		}
-		return newcfg, stored, err
+	storedcfg := rawdb.ReadChainConfig(db, stored)
+	if storedcfg == nil {
+		log.Warn("Found genesis block without chain config")
+		rawdb.WriteChainConfig(db, stored, newcfg)
+		return newcfg, stored, nil
 	}
 	// Special case: don't change the existing config of a non-mainnet chain if no new
 	// config is supplied. These chains would get AllProtocolChanges (and a compat error)
@@ -195,15 +193,16 @@ func SetupGenesisBlock(db ethdb.Database, genesis *Genesis) (*params.ChainConfig
 
 	// Check config compatibility and write the config. Compatibility errors
 	// are returned to the caller unless we're already at block zero.
-	height := GetBlockNumber(db, GetHeadHeaderHash(db))
-	if height == missingNumber {
+	height := rawdb.ReadHeaderNumber(db, rawdb.ReadHeadHeaderHash(db))
+	if height == nil {
 		return newcfg, stored, fmt.Errorf("missing block number for head header hash")
 	}
-	compatErr := storedcfg.CheckCompatible(newcfg, height)
-	if compatErr != nil && height != 0 && compatErr.RewindTo != 0 {
+	compatErr := storedcfg.CheckCompatible(newcfg, *height)
+	if compatErr != nil && *height != 0 && compatErr.RewindTo != 0 {
 		return newcfg, stored, compatErr
 	}
-	return newcfg, stored, WriteChainConfig(db, stored, newcfg)
+	rawdb.WriteChainConfig(db, stored, newcfg)
+	return newcfg, stored, nil
 }
 
 func (g *Genesis) configOrDefault(ghash common.Hash) *params.ChainConfig {
@@ -267,29 +266,19 @@ func (g *Genesis) Commit(db ethdb.Database) (*types.Block, error) {
 	if block.Number().Sign() != 0 {
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("can't commit genesis block with number > 0")
 	}
-	if err := WriteTd(db, block.Hash(), block.NumberU64(), g.Difficulty); err != nil {
-		return nil, err
-	}
-	if err := WriteBlock(db, block); err != nil {
-		return nil, err
-	}
-	if err := WriteBlockReceipts(db, block.Hash(), block.NumberU64(), nil); err != nil {
-		return nil, err
-	}
-	if err := WriteCanonicalHash(db, block.Hash(), block.NumberU64()); err != nil {
-		return nil, err
-	}
-	if err := WriteHeadBlockHash(db, block.Hash()); err != nil {
-		return nil, err
-	}
-	if err := WriteHeadHeaderHash(db, block.Hash()); err != nil {
-		return nil, err
-	}
+	rawdb.WriteTd(db, block.Hash(), block.NumberU64(), g.Difficulty)
+	rawdb.WriteBlock(db, block)
+	rawdb.WriteReceipts(db, block.Hash(), block.NumberU64(), nil)
+	rawdb.WriteCanonicalHash(db, block.Hash(), block.NumberU64())
+	rawdb.WriteHeadBlockHash(db, block.Hash())
+	rawdb.WriteHeadHeaderHash(db, block.Hash())
+
 	config := g.Config
 	if config == nil {
 		config = params.AllEthashProtocolChanges
 	}
-	return block, WriteChainConfig(db, block.Hash(), config)
+	rawdb.WriteChainConfig(db, block.Hash(), config)
+	return block, nil
 }
 
 // MustCommit writes the genesis block and state to db, panicking on error.
diff --git a/core/genesis_test.go b/core/genesis_test.go
index 052ded699..613434e20 100644
--- a/core/genesis_test.go
+++ b/core/genesis_test.go
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@ import (
 	"github.com/davecgh/go-spew/spew"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/common"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/consensus/ethash"
+	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/core/rawdb"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/core/vm"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/ethdb"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/params"
@@ -154,7 +155,7 @@ func TestSetupGenesis(t *testing.T) {
 			t.Errorf("%s: returned hash %s, want %s", test.name, hash.Hex(), test.wantHash.Hex())
 		} else if err == nil {
 			// Check database content.
-			stored := GetBlock(db, test.wantHash, 0)
+			stored := rawdb.ReadBlock(db, test.wantHash, 0)
 			if stored.Hash() != test.wantHash {
 				t.Errorf("%s: block in DB has hash %s, want %s", test.name, stored.Hash(), test.wantHash)
 			}
diff --git a/core/headerchain.go b/core/headerchain.go
index 2d1b0a2a1..2ac0cccc7 100644
--- a/core/headerchain.go
+++ b/core/headerchain.go
@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@ import (
 
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/common"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/consensus"
+	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/core/rawdb"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/core/types"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/ethdb"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/log"
@@ -97,7 +98,7 @@ func NewHeaderChain(chainDb ethdb.Database, config *params.ChainConfig, engine c
 	}
 
 	hc.currentHeader.Store(hc.genesisHeader)
-	if head := GetHeadBlockHash(chainDb); head != (common.Hash{}) {
+	if head := rawdb.ReadHeadBlockHash(chainDb); head != (common.Hash{}) {
 		if chead := hc.GetHeaderByHash(head); chead != nil {
 			hc.currentHeader.Store(chead)
 		}
@@ -109,13 +110,14 @@ func NewHeaderChain(chainDb ethdb.Database, config *params.ChainConfig, engine c
 
 // GetBlockNumber retrieves the block number belonging to the given hash
 // from the cache or database
-func (hc *HeaderChain) GetBlockNumber(hash common.Hash) uint64 {
+func (hc *HeaderChain) GetBlockNumber(hash common.Hash) *uint64 {
 	if cached, ok := hc.numberCache.Get(hash); ok {
-		return cached.(uint64)
+		number := cached.(uint64)
+		return &number
 	}
-	number := GetBlockNumber(hc.chainDb, hash)
-	if number != missingNumber {
-		hc.numberCache.Add(hash, number)
+	number := rawdb.ReadHeaderNumber(hc.chainDb, hash)
+	if number != nil {
+		hc.numberCache.Add(hash, *number)
 	}
 	return number
 }
@@ -147,20 +149,19 @@ func (hc *HeaderChain) WriteHeader(header *types.Header) (status WriteStatus, er
 	if err := hc.WriteTd(hash, number, externTd); err != nil {
 		log.Crit("Failed to write header total difficulty", "err", err)
 	}
-	if err := WriteHeader(hc.chainDb, header); err != nil {
-		log.Crit("Failed to write header content", "err", err)
-	}
+	rawdb.WriteHeader(hc.chainDb, header)
+
 	// If the total difficulty is higher than our known, add it to the canonical chain
 	// Second clause in the if statement reduces the vulnerability to selfish mining.
 	// Please refer to http://www.cs.cornell.edu/~ie53/publications/btcProcFC.pdf
 	if externTd.Cmp(localTd) > 0 || (externTd.Cmp(localTd) == 0 && mrand.Float64() < 0.5) {
 		// Delete any canonical number assignments above the new head
 		for i := number + 1; ; i++ {
-			hash := GetCanonicalHash(hc.chainDb, i)
+			hash := rawdb.ReadCanonicalHash(hc.chainDb, i)
 			if hash == (common.Hash{}) {
 				break
 			}
-			DeleteCanonicalHash(hc.chainDb, i)
+			rawdb.DeleteCanonicalHash(hc.chainDb, i)
 		}
 		// Overwrite any stale canonical number assignments
 		var (
@@ -168,20 +169,17 @@ func (hc *HeaderChain) WriteHeader(header *types.Header) (status WriteStatus, er
 			headNumber = header.Number.Uint64() - 1
 			headHeader = hc.GetHeader(headHash, headNumber)
 		)
-		for GetCanonicalHash(hc.chainDb, headNumber) != headHash {
-			WriteCanonicalHash(hc.chainDb, headHash, headNumber)
+		for rawdb.ReadCanonicalHash(hc.chainDb, headNumber) != headHash {
+			rawdb.WriteCanonicalHash(hc.chainDb, headHash, headNumber)
 
 			headHash = headHeader.ParentHash
 			headNumber = headHeader.Number.Uint64() - 1
 			headHeader = hc.GetHeader(headHash, headNumber)
 		}
 		// Extend the canonical chain with the new header
-		if err := WriteCanonicalHash(hc.chainDb, hash, number); err != nil {
-			log.Crit("Failed to insert header number", "err", err)
-		}
-		if err := WriteHeadHeaderHash(hc.chainDb, hash); err != nil {
-			log.Crit("Failed to insert head header hash", "err", err)
-		}
+		rawdb.WriteCanonicalHash(hc.chainDb, hash, number)
+		rawdb.WriteHeadHeaderHash(hc.chainDb, hash)
+
 		hc.currentHeaderHash = hash
 		hc.currentHeader.Store(types.CopyHeader(header))
 
@@ -316,7 +314,7 @@ func (hc *HeaderChain) GetTd(hash common.Hash, number uint64) *big.Int {
 	if cached, ok := hc.tdCache.Get(hash); ok {
 		return cached.(*big.Int)
 	}
-	td := GetTd(hc.chainDb, hash, number)
+	td := rawdb.ReadTd(hc.chainDb, hash, number)
 	if td == nil {
 		return nil
 	}
@@ -328,15 +326,17 @@ func (hc *HeaderChain) GetTd(hash common.Hash, number uint64) *big.Int {
 // GetTdByHash retrieves a block's total difficulty in the canonical chain from the
 // database by hash, caching it if found.
 func (hc *HeaderChain) GetTdByHash(hash common.Hash) *big.Int {
-	return hc.GetTd(hash, hc.GetBlockNumber(hash))
+	number := hc.GetBlockNumber(hash)
+	if number == nil {
+		return nil
+	}
+	return hc.GetTd(hash, *number)
 }
 
 // WriteTd stores a block's total difficulty into the database, also caching it
 // along the way.
 func (hc *HeaderChain) WriteTd(hash common.Hash, number uint64, td *big.Int) error {
-	if err := WriteTd(hc.chainDb, hash, number, td); err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
+	rawdb.WriteTd(hc.chainDb, hash, number, td)
 	hc.tdCache.Add(hash, new(big.Int).Set(td))
 	return nil
 }
@@ -348,7 +348,7 @@ func (hc *HeaderChain) GetHeader(hash common.Hash, number uint64) *types.Header
 	if header, ok := hc.headerCache.Get(hash); ok {
 		return header.(*types.Header)
 	}
-	header := GetHeader(hc.chainDb, hash, number)
+	header := rawdb.ReadHeader(hc.chainDb, hash, number)
 	if header == nil {
 		return nil
 	}
@@ -360,7 +360,11 @@ func (hc *HeaderChain) GetHeader(hash common.Hash, number uint64) *types.Header
 // GetHeaderByHash retrieves a block header from the database by hash, caching it if
 // found.
 func (hc *HeaderChain) GetHeaderByHash(hash common.Hash) *types.Header {
-	return hc.GetHeader(hash, hc.GetBlockNumber(hash))
+	number := hc.GetBlockNumber(hash)
+	if number == nil {
+		return nil
+	}
+	return hc.GetHeader(hash, *number)
 }
 
 // HasHeader checks if a block header is present in the database or not.
@@ -368,14 +372,13 @@ func (hc *HeaderChain) HasHeader(hash common.Hash, number uint64) bool {
 	if hc.numberCache.Contains(hash) || hc.headerCache.Contains(hash) {
 		return true
 	}
-	ok, _ := hc.chainDb.Has(headerKey(hash, number))
-	return ok
+	return rawdb.HasHeader(hc.chainDb, hash, number)
 }
 
 // GetHeaderByNumber retrieves a block header from the database by number,
 // caching it (associated with its hash) if found.
 func (hc *HeaderChain) GetHeaderByNumber(number uint64) *types.Header {
-	hash := GetCanonicalHash(hc.chainDb, number)
+	hash := rawdb.ReadCanonicalHash(hc.chainDb, number)
 	if hash == (common.Hash{}) {
 		return nil
 	}
@@ -390,9 +393,8 @@ func (hc *HeaderChain) CurrentHeader() *types.Header {
 
 // SetCurrentHeader sets the current head header of the canonical chain.
 func (hc *HeaderChain) SetCurrentHeader(head *types.Header) {
-	if err := WriteHeadHeaderHash(hc.chainDb, head.Hash()); err != nil {
-		log.Crit("Failed to insert head header hash", "err", err)
-	}
+	rawdb.WriteHeadHeaderHash(hc.chainDb, head.Hash())
+
 	hc.currentHeader.Store(head)
 	hc.currentHeaderHash = head.Hash()
 }
@@ -416,13 +418,14 @@ func (hc *HeaderChain) SetHead(head uint64, delFn DeleteCallback) {
 		if delFn != nil {
 			delFn(hash, num)
 		}
-		DeleteHeader(hc.chainDb, hash, num)
-		DeleteTd(hc.chainDb, hash, num)
+		rawdb.DeleteHeader(hc.chainDb, hash, num)
+		rawdb.DeleteTd(hc.chainDb, hash, num)
+
 		hc.currentHeader.Store(hc.GetHeader(hdr.ParentHash, hdr.Number.Uint64()-1))
 	}
 	// Roll back the canonical chain numbering
 	for i := height; i > head; i-- {
-		DeleteCanonicalHash(hc.chainDb, i)
+		rawdb.DeleteCanonicalHash(hc.chainDb, i)
 	}
 	// Clear out any stale content from the caches
 	hc.headerCache.Purge()
@@ -434,9 +437,7 @@ func (hc *HeaderChain) SetHead(head uint64, delFn DeleteCallback) {
 	}
 	hc.currentHeaderHash = hc.CurrentHeader().Hash()
 
-	if err := WriteHeadHeaderHash(hc.chainDb, hc.currentHeaderHash); err != nil {
-		log.Crit("Failed to reset head header hash", "err", err)
-	}
+	rawdb.WriteHeadHeaderHash(hc.chainDb, hc.currentHeaderHash)
 }
 
 // SetGenesis sets a new genesis block header for the chain
diff --git a/core/rawdb/accessors_chain.go b/core/rawdb/accessors_chain.go
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..a26a42ba7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/core/rawdb/accessors_chain.go
@@ -0,0 +1,381 @@
+// Copyright 2018 The go-ethereum Authors
+// This file is part of the go-ethereum library.
+//
+// The go-ethereum library is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
+// it under the terms of the GNU Lesser General Public License as published by
+// the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the License, or
+// (at your option) any later version.
+//
+// The go-ethereum library is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+// but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+// MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. See the
+// GNU Lesser General Public License for more details.
+//
+// You should have received a copy of the GNU Lesser General Public License
+// along with the go-ethereum library. If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
+
+package rawdb
+
+import (
+	"bytes"
+	"encoding/binary"
+	"math/big"
+
+	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/common"
+	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/core/types"
+	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/log"
+	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/rlp"
+)
+
+// ReadCanonicalHash retrieves the hash assigned to a canonical block number.
+func ReadCanonicalHash(db DatabaseReader, number uint64) common.Hash {
+	data, _ := db.Get(append(append(headerPrefix, encodeBlockNumber(number)...), headerHashSuffix...))
+	if len(data) == 0 {
+		return common.Hash{}
+	}
+	return common.BytesToHash(data)
+}
+
+// WriteCanonicalHash stores the hash assigned to a canonical block number.
+func WriteCanonicalHash(db DatabaseWriter, hash common.Hash, number uint64) {
+	key := append(append(headerPrefix, encodeBlockNumber(number)...), headerHashSuffix...)
+	if err := db.Put(key, hash.Bytes()); err != nil {
+		log.Crit("Failed to store number to hash mapping", "err", err)
+	}
+}
+
+// DeleteCanonicalHash removes the number to hash canonical mapping.
+func DeleteCanonicalHash(db DatabaseDeleter, number uint64) {
+	if err := db.Delete(append(append(headerPrefix, encodeBlockNumber(number)...), headerHashSuffix...)); err != nil {
+		log.Crit("Failed to delete number to hash mapping", "err", err)
+	}
+}
+
+// ReadHeaderNumber returns the header number assigned to a hash.
+func ReadHeaderNumber(db DatabaseReader, hash common.Hash) *uint64 {
+	data, _ := db.Get(append(headerNumberPrefix, hash.Bytes()...))
+	if len(data) != 8 {
+		return nil
+	}
+	number := binary.BigEndian.Uint64(data)
+	return &number
+}
+
+// ReadHeadHeaderHash retrieves the hash of the current canonical head header.
+func ReadHeadHeaderHash(db DatabaseReader) common.Hash {
+	data, _ := db.Get(headHeaderKey)
+	if len(data) == 0 {
+		return common.Hash{}
+	}
+	return common.BytesToHash(data)
+}
+
+// WriteHeadHeaderHash stores the hash of the current canonical head header.
+func WriteHeadHeaderHash(db DatabaseWriter, hash common.Hash) {
+	if err := db.Put(headHeaderKey, hash.Bytes()); err != nil {
+		log.Crit("Failed to store last header's hash", "err", err)
+	}
+}
+
+// ReadHeadBlockHash retrieves the hash of the current canonical head block.
+func ReadHeadBlockHash(db DatabaseReader) common.Hash {
+	data, _ := db.Get(headBlockKey)
+	if len(data) == 0 {
+		return common.Hash{}
+	}
+	return common.BytesToHash(data)
+}
+
+// WriteHeadBlockHash stores the head block's hash.
+func WriteHeadBlockHash(db DatabaseWriter, hash common.Hash) {
+	if err := db.Put(headBlockKey, hash.Bytes()); err != nil {
+		log.Crit("Failed to store last block's hash", "err", err)
+	}
+}
+
+// ReadHeadFastBlockHash retrieves the hash of the current fast-sync head block.
+func ReadHeadFastBlockHash(db DatabaseReader) common.Hash {
+	data, _ := db.Get(headFastBlockKey)
+	if len(data) == 0 {
+		return common.Hash{}
+	}
+	return common.BytesToHash(data)
+}
+
+// WriteHeadFastBlockHash stores the hash of the current fast-sync head block.
+func WriteHeadFastBlockHash(db DatabaseWriter, hash common.Hash) {
+	if err := db.Put(headFastBlockKey, hash.Bytes()); err != nil {
+		log.Crit("Failed to store last fast block's hash", "err", err)
+	}
+}
+
+// ReadFastTrieProgress retrieves the number of tries nodes fast synced to allow
+// reporting correct numbers across restarts.
+func ReadFastTrieProgress(db DatabaseReader) uint64 {
+	data, _ := db.Get(fastTrieProgressKey)
+	if len(data) == 0 {
+		return 0
+	}
+	return new(big.Int).SetBytes(data).Uint64()
+}
+
+// WriteFastTrieProgress stores the fast sync trie process counter to support
+// retrieving it across restarts.
+func WriteFastTrieProgress(db DatabaseWriter, count uint64) {
+	if err := db.Put(fastTrieProgressKey, new(big.Int).SetUint64(count).Bytes()); err != nil {
+		log.Crit("Failed to store fast sync trie progress", "err", err)
+	}
+}
+
+// ReadHeaderRLP retrieves a block header in its raw RLP database encoding.
+func ReadHeaderRLP(db DatabaseReader, hash common.Hash, number uint64) rlp.RawValue {
+	data, _ := db.Get(append(append(headerPrefix, encodeBlockNumber(number)...), hash.Bytes()...))
+	return data
+}
+
+// HasHeader verifies the existence of a block header corresponding to the hash.
+func HasHeader(db DatabaseReader, hash common.Hash, number uint64) bool {
+	key := append(append(append(headerPrefix, encodeBlockNumber(number)...), hash.Bytes()...))
+	if has, err := db.Has(key); !has || err != nil {
+		return false
+	}
+	return true
+}
+
+// ReadHeader retrieves the block header corresponding to the hash.
+func ReadHeader(db DatabaseReader, hash common.Hash, number uint64) *types.Header {
+	data := ReadHeaderRLP(db, hash, number)
+	if len(data) == 0 {
+		return nil
+	}
+	header := new(types.Header)
+	if err := rlp.Decode(bytes.NewReader(data), header); err != nil {
+		log.Error("Invalid block header RLP", "hash", hash, "err", err)
+		return nil
+	}
+	return header
+}
+
+// WriteHeader stores a block header into the database and also stores the hash-
+// to-number mapping.
+func WriteHeader(db DatabaseWriter, header *types.Header) {
+	// Write the hash -> number mapping
+	var (
+		hash    = header.Hash().Bytes()
+		number  = header.Number.Uint64()
+		encoded = encodeBlockNumber(number)
+	)
+	key := append(headerNumberPrefix, hash...)
+	if err := db.Put(key, encoded); err != nil {
+		log.Crit("Failed to store hash to number mapping", "err", err)
+	}
+	// Write the encoded header
+	data, err := rlp.EncodeToBytes(header)
+	if err != nil {
+		log.Crit("Failed to RLP encode header", "err", err)
+	}
+	key = append(append(headerPrefix, encoded...), hash...)
+	if err := db.Put(key, data); err != nil {
+		log.Crit("Failed to store header", "err", err)
+	}
+}
+
+// DeleteHeader removes all block header data associated with a hash.
+func DeleteHeader(db DatabaseDeleter, hash common.Hash, number uint64) {
+	if err := db.Delete(append(append(headerPrefix, encodeBlockNumber(number)...), hash.Bytes()...)); err != nil {
+		log.Crit("Failed to delete header", "err", err)
+	}
+	if err := db.Delete(append(headerNumberPrefix, hash.Bytes()...)); err != nil {
+		log.Crit("Failed to delete hash to number mapping", "err", err)
+	}
+}
+
+// ReadBodyRLP retrieves the block body (transactions and uncles) in RLP encoding.
+func ReadBodyRLP(db DatabaseReader, hash common.Hash, number uint64) rlp.RawValue {
+	data, _ := db.Get(append(append(blockBodyPrefix, encodeBlockNumber(number)...), hash.Bytes()...))
+	return data
+}
+
+// WriteBodyRLP stores an RLP encoded block body into the database.
+func WriteBodyRLP(db DatabaseWriter, hash common.Hash, number uint64, rlp rlp.RawValue) {
+	key := append(append(blockBodyPrefix, encodeBlockNumber(number)...), hash.Bytes()...)
+	if err := db.Put(key, rlp); err != nil {
+		log.Crit("Failed to store block body", "err", err)
+	}
+}
+
+// HasBody verifies the existence of a block body corresponding to the hash.
+func HasBody(db DatabaseReader, hash common.Hash, number uint64) bool {
+	key := append(append(blockBodyPrefix, encodeBlockNumber(number)...), hash.Bytes()...)
+	if has, err := db.Has(key); !has || err != nil {
+		return false
+	}
+	return true
+}
+
+// ReadBody retrieves the block body corresponding to the hash.
+func ReadBody(db DatabaseReader, hash common.Hash, number uint64) *types.Body {
+	data := ReadBodyRLP(db, hash, number)
+	if len(data) == 0 {
+		return nil
+	}
+	body := new(types.Body)
+	if err := rlp.Decode(bytes.NewReader(data), body); err != nil {
+		log.Error("Invalid block body RLP", "hash", hash, "err", err)
+		return nil
+	}
+	return body
+}
+
+// WriteBody storea a block body into the database.
+func WriteBody(db DatabaseWriter, hash common.Hash, number uint64, body *types.Body) {
+	data, err := rlp.EncodeToBytes(body)
+	if err != nil {
+		log.Crit("Failed to RLP encode body", "err", err)
+	}
+	WriteBodyRLP(db, hash, number, data)
+}
+
+// DeleteBody removes all block body data associated with a hash.
+func DeleteBody(db DatabaseDeleter, hash common.Hash, number uint64) {
+	if err := db.Delete(append(append(blockBodyPrefix, encodeBlockNumber(number)...), hash.Bytes()...)); err != nil {
+		log.Crit("Failed to delete block body", "err", err)
+	}
+}
+
+// ReadTd retrieves a block's total difficulty corresponding to the hash.
+func ReadTd(db DatabaseReader, hash common.Hash, number uint64) *big.Int {
+	data, _ := db.Get(append(append(append(headerPrefix, encodeBlockNumber(number)...), hash[:]...), headerTDSuffix...))
+	if len(data) == 0 {
+		return nil
+	}
+	td := new(big.Int)
+	if err := rlp.Decode(bytes.NewReader(data), td); err != nil {
+		log.Error("Invalid block total difficulty RLP", "hash", hash, "err", err)
+		return nil
+	}
+	return td
+}
+
+// WriteTd stores the total difficulty of a block into the database.
+func WriteTd(db DatabaseWriter, hash common.Hash, number uint64, td *big.Int) {
+	data, err := rlp.EncodeToBytes(td)
+	if err != nil {
+		log.Crit("Failed to RLP encode block total difficulty", "err", err)
+	}
+	key := append(append(append(headerPrefix, encodeBlockNumber(number)...), hash.Bytes()...), headerTDSuffix...)
+	if err := db.Put(key, data); err != nil {
+		log.Crit("Failed to store block total difficulty", "err", err)
+	}
+}
+
+// DeleteTd removes all block total difficulty data associated with a hash.
+func DeleteTd(db DatabaseDeleter, hash common.Hash, number uint64) {
+	if err := db.Delete(append(append(append(headerPrefix, encodeBlockNumber(number)...), hash.Bytes()...), headerTDSuffix...)); err != nil {
+		log.Crit("Failed to delete block total difficulty", "err", err)
+	}
+}
+
+// ReadReceipts retrieves all the transaction receipts belonging to a block.
+func ReadReceipts(db DatabaseReader, hash common.Hash, number uint64) types.Receipts {
+	// Retrieve the flattened receipt slice
+	data, _ := db.Get(append(append(blockReceiptsPrefix, encodeBlockNumber(number)...), hash[:]...))
+	if len(data) == 0 {
+		return nil
+	}
+	// Convert the revceipts from their storage form to their internal representation
+	storageReceipts := []*types.ReceiptForStorage{}
+	if err := rlp.DecodeBytes(data, &storageReceipts); err != nil {
+		log.Error("Invalid receipt array RLP", "hash", hash, "err", err)
+		return nil
+	}
+	receipts := make(types.Receipts, len(storageReceipts))
+	for i, receipt := range storageReceipts {
+		receipts[i] = (*types.Receipt)(receipt)
+	}
+	return receipts
+}
+
+// WriteReceipts stores all the transaction receipts belonging to a block.
+func WriteReceipts(db DatabaseWriter, hash common.Hash, number uint64, receipts types.Receipts) {
+	// Convert the receipts into their storage form and serialize them
+	storageReceipts := make([]*types.ReceiptForStorage, len(receipts))
+	for i, receipt := range receipts {
+		storageReceipts[i] = (*types.ReceiptForStorage)(receipt)
+	}
+	bytes, err := rlp.EncodeToBytes(storageReceipts)
+	if err != nil {
+		log.Crit("Failed to encode block receipts", "err", err)
+	}
+	// Store the flattened receipt slice
+	key := append(append(blockReceiptsPrefix, encodeBlockNumber(number)...), hash.Bytes()...)
+	if err := db.Put(key, bytes); err != nil {
+		log.Crit("Failed to store block receipts", "err", err)
+	}
+}
+
+// DeleteReceipts removes all receipt data associated with a block hash.
+func DeleteReceipts(db DatabaseDeleter, hash common.Hash, number uint64) {
+	if err := db.Delete(append(append(blockReceiptsPrefix, encodeBlockNumber(number)...), hash.Bytes()...)); err != nil {
+		log.Crit("Failed to delete block receipts", "err", err)
+	}
+}
+
+// ReadBlock retrieves an entire block corresponding to the hash, assembling it
+// back from the stored header and body. If either the header or body could not
+// be retrieved nil is returned.
+//
+// Note, due to concurrent download of header and block body the header and thus
+// canonical hash can be stored in the database but the body data not (yet).
+func ReadBlock(db DatabaseReader, hash common.Hash, number uint64) *types.Block {
+	header := ReadHeader(db, hash, number)
+	if header == nil {
+		return nil
+	}
+	body := ReadBody(db, hash, number)
+	if body == nil {
+		return nil
+	}
+	return types.NewBlockWithHeader(header).WithBody(body.Transactions, body.Uncles)
+}
+
+// WriteBlock serializes a block into the database, header and body separately.
+func WriteBlock(db DatabaseWriter, block *types.Block) {
+	WriteBody(db, block.Hash(), block.NumberU64(), block.Body())
+	WriteHeader(db, block.Header())
+}
+
+// DeleteBlock removes all block data associated with a hash.
+func DeleteBlock(db DatabaseDeleter, hash common.Hash, number uint64) {
+	DeleteReceipts(db, hash, number)
+	DeleteHeader(db, hash, number)
+	DeleteBody(db, hash, number)
+	DeleteTd(db, hash, number)
+}
+
+// FindCommonAncestor returns the last common ancestor of two block headers
+func FindCommonAncestor(db DatabaseReader, a, b *types.Header) *types.Header {
+	for bn := b.Number.Uint64(); a.Number.Uint64() > bn; {
+		a = ReadHeader(db, a.ParentHash, a.Number.Uint64()-1)
+		if a == nil {
+			return nil
+		}
+	}
+	for an := a.Number.Uint64(); an < b.Number.Uint64(); {
+		b = ReadHeader(db, b.ParentHash, b.Number.Uint64()-1)
+		if b == nil {
+			return nil
+		}
+	}
+	for a.Hash() != b.Hash() {
+		a = ReadHeader(db, a.ParentHash, a.Number.Uint64()-1)
+		if a == nil {
+			return nil
+		}
+		b = ReadHeader(db, b.ParentHash, b.Number.Uint64()-1)
+		if b == nil {
+			return nil
+		}
+	}
+	return a
+}
diff --git a/core/database_util_test.go b/core/rawdb/accessors_chain_test.go
index aa87fa6f8..84c9c9aeb 100644
--- a/core/database_util_test.go
+++ b/core/rawdb/accessors_chain_test.go
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-// Copyright 2015 The go-ethereum Authors
+// Copyright 2018 The go-ethereum Authors
 // This file is part of the go-ethereum library.
 //
 // The go-ethereum library is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@
 // You should have received a copy of the GNU Lesser General Public License
 // along with the go-ethereum library. If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
 
-package core
+package rawdb
 
 import (
 	"bytes"
@@ -34,19 +34,17 @@ func TestHeaderStorage(t *testing.T) {
 
 	// Create a test header to move around the database and make sure it's really new
 	header := &types.Header{Number: big.NewInt(42), Extra: []byte("test header")}
-	if entry := GetHeader(db, header.Hash(), header.Number.Uint64()); entry != nil {
+	if entry := ReadHeader(db, header.Hash(), header.Number.Uint64()); entry != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("Non existent header returned: %v", entry)
 	}
 	// Write and verify the header in the database
-	if err := WriteHeader(db, header); err != nil {
-		t.Fatalf("Failed to write header into database: %v", err)
-	}
-	if entry := GetHeader(db, header.Hash(), header.Number.Uint64()); entry == nil {
+	WriteHeader(db, header)
+	if entry := ReadHeader(db, header.Hash(), header.Number.Uint64()); entry == nil {
 		t.Fatalf("Stored header not found")
 	} else if entry.Hash() != header.Hash() {
 		t.Fatalf("Retrieved header mismatch: have %v, want %v", entry, header)
 	}
-	if entry := GetHeaderRLP(db, header.Hash(), header.Number.Uint64()); entry == nil {
+	if entry := ReadHeaderRLP(db, header.Hash(), header.Number.Uint64()); entry == nil {
 		t.Fatalf("Stored header RLP not found")
 	} else {
 		hasher := sha3.NewKeccak256()
@@ -58,7 +56,7 @@ func TestHeaderStorage(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 	// Delete the header and verify the execution
 	DeleteHeader(db, header.Hash(), header.Number.Uint64())
-	if entry := GetHeader(db, header.Hash(), header.Number.Uint64()); entry != nil {
+	if entry := ReadHeader(db, header.Hash(), header.Number.Uint64()); entry != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("Deleted header returned: %v", entry)
 	}
 }
@@ -74,19 +72,17 @@ func TestBodyStorage(t *testing.T) {
 	rlp.Encode(hasher, body)
 	hash := common.BytesToHash(hasher.Sum(nil))
 
-	if entry := GetBody(db, hash, 0); entry != nil {
+	if entry := ReadBody(db, hash, 0); entry != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("Non existent body returned: %v", entry)
 	}
 	// Write and verify the body in the database
-	if err := WriteBody(db, hash, 0, body); err != nil {
-		t.Fatalf("Failed to write body into database: %v", err)
-	}
-	if entry := GetBody(db, hash, 0); entry == nil {
+	WriteBody(db, hash, 0, body)
+	if entry := ReadBody(db, hash, 0); entry == nil {
 		t.Fatalf("Stored body not found")
 	} else if types.DeriveSha(types.Transactions(entry.Transactions)) != types.DeriveSha(types.Transactions(body.Transactions)) || types.CalcUncleHash(entry.Uncles) != types.CalcUncleHash(body.Uncles) {
 		t.Fatalf("Retrieved body mismatch: have %v, want %v", entry, body)
 	}
-	if entry := GetBodyRLP(db, hash, 0); entry == nil {
+	if entry := ReadBodyRLP(db, hash, 0); entry == nil {
 		t.Fatalf("Stored body RLP not found")
 	} else {
 		hasher := sha3.NewKeccak256()
@@ -98,7 +94,7 @@ func TestBodyStorage(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 	// Delete the body and verify the execution
 	DeleteBody(db, hash, 0)
-	if entry := GetBody(db, hash, 0); entry != nil {
+	if entry := ReadBody(db, hash, 0); entry != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("Deleted body returned: %v", entry)
 	}
 }
@@ -114,43 +110,41 @@ func TestBlockStorage(t *testing.T) {
 		TxHash:      types.EmptyRootHash,
 		ReceiptHash: types.EmptyRootHash,
 	})
-	if entry := GetBlock(db, block.Hash(), block.NumberU64()); entry != nil {
+	if entry := ReadBlock(db, block.Hash(), block.NumberU64()); entry != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("Non existent block returned: %v", entry)
 	}
-	if entry := GetHeader(db, block.Hash(), block.NumberU64()); entry != nil {
+	if entry := ReadHeader(db, block.Hash(), block.NumberU64()); entry != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("Non existent header returned: %v", entry)
 	}
-	if entry := GetBody(db, block.Hash(), block.NumberU64()); entry != nil {
+	if entry := ReadBody(db, block.Hash(), block.NumberU64()); entry != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("Non existent body returned: %v", entry)
 	}
 	// Write and verify the block in the database
-	if err := WriteBlock(db, block); err != nil {
-		t.Fatalf("Failed to write block into database: %v", err)
-	}
-	if entry := GetBlock(db, block.Hash(), block.NumberU64()); entry == nil {
+	WriteBlock(db, block)
+	if entry := ReadBlock(db, block.Hash(), block.NumberU64()); entry == nil {
 		t.Fatalf("Stored block not found")
 	} else if entry.Hash() != block.Hash() {
 		t.Fatalf("Retrieved block mismatch: have %v, want %v", entry, block)
 	}
-	if entry := GetHeader(db, block.Hash(), block.NumberU64()); entry == nil {
+	if entry := ReadHeader(db, block.Hash(), block.NumberU64()); entry == nil {
 		t.Fatalf("Stored header not found")
 	} else if entry.Hash() != block.Header().Hash() {
 		t.Fatalf("Retrieved header mismatch: have %v, want %v", entry, block.Header())
 	}
-	if entry := GetBody(db, block.Hash(), block.NumberU64()); entry == nil {
+	if entry := ReadBody(db, block.Hash(), block.NumberU64()); entry == nil {
 		t.Fatalf("Stored body not found")
 	} else if types.DeriveSha(types.Transactions(entry.Transactions)) != types.DeriveSha(block.Transactions()) || types.CalcUncleHash(entry.Uncles) != types.CalcUncleHash(block.Uncles()) {
 		t.Fatalf("Retrieved body mismatch: have %v, want %v", entry, block.Body())
 	}
 	// Delete the block and verify the execution
 	DeleteBlock(db, block.Hash(), block.NumberU64())
-	if entry := GetBlock(db, block.Hash(), block.NumberU64()); entry != nil {
+	if entry := ReadBlock(db, block.Hash(), block.NumberU64()); entry != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("Deleted block returned: %v", entry)
 	}
-	if entry := GetHeader(db, block.Hash(), block.NumberU64()); entry != nil {
+	if entry := ReadHeader(db, block.Hash(), block.NumberU64()); entry != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("Deleted header returned: %v", entry)
 	}
-	if entry := GetBody(db, block.Hash(), block.NumberU64()); entry != nil {
+	if entry := ReadBody(db, block.Hash(), block.NumberU64()); entry != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("Deleted body returned: %v", entry)
 	}
 }
@@ -165,31 +159,24 @@ func TestPartialBlockStorage(t *testing.T) {
 		ReceiptHash: types.EmptyRootHash,
 	})
 	// Store a header and check that it's not recognized as a block
-	if err := WriteHeader(db, block.Header()); err != nil {
-		t.Fatalf("Failed to write header into database: %v", err)
-	}
-	if entry := GetBlock(db, block.Hash(), block.NumberU64()); entry != nil {
+	WriteHeader(db, block.Header())
+	if entry := ReadBlock(db, block.Hash(), block.NumberU64()); entry != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("Non existent block returned: %v", entry)
 	}
 	DeleteHeader(db, block.Hash(), block.NumberU64())
 
 	// Store a body and check that it's not recognized as a block
-	if err := WriteBody(db, block.Hash(), block.NumberU64(), block.Body()); err != nil {
-		t.Fatalf("Failed to write body into database: %v", err)
-	}
-	if entry := GetBlock(db, block.Hash(), block.NumberU64()); entry != nil {
+	WriteBody(db, block.Hash(), block.NumberU64(), block.Body())
+	if entry := ReadBlock(db, block.Hash(), block.NumberU64()); entry != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("Non existent block returned: %v", entry)
 	}
 	DeleteBody(db, block.Hash(), block.NumberU64())
 
 	// Store a header and a body separately and check reassembly
-	if err := WriteHeader(db, block.Header()); err != nil {
-		t.Fatalf("Failed to write header into database: %v", err)
-	}
-	if err := WriteBody(db, block.Hash(), block.NumberU64(), block.Body()); err != nil {
-		t.Fatalf("Failed to write body into database: %v", err)
-	}
-	if entry := GetBlock(db, block.Hash(), block.NumberU64()); entry == nil {
+	WriteHeader(db, block.Header())
+	WriteBody(db, block.Hash(), block.NumberU64(), block.Body())
+
+	if entry := ReadBlock(db, block.Hash(), block.NumberU64()); entry == nil {
 		t.Fatalf("Stored block not found")
 	} else if entry.Hash() != block.Hash() {
 		t.Fatalf("Retrieved block mismatch: have %v, want %v", entry, block)
@@ -202,21 +189,19 @@ func TestTdStorage(t *testing.T) {
 
 	// Create a test TD to move around the database and make sure it's really new
 	hash, td := common.Hash{}, big.NewInt(314)
-	if entry := GetTd(db, hash, 0); entry != nil {
+	if entry := ReadTd(db, hash, 0); entry != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("Non existent TD returned: %v", entry)
 	}
 	// Write and verify the TD in the database
-	if err := WriteTd(db, hash, 0, td); err != nil {
-		t.Fatalf("Failed to write TD into database: %v", err)
-	}
-	if entry := GetTd(db, hash, 0); entry == nil {
+	WriteTd(db, hash, 0, td)
+	if entry := ReadTd(db, hash, 0); entry == nil {
 		t.Fatalf("Stored TD not found")
 	} else if entry.Cmp(td) != 0 {
 		t.Fatalf("Retrieved TD mismatch: have %v, want %v", entry, td)
 	}
 	// Delete the TD and verify the execution
 	DeleteTd(db, hash, 0)
-	if entry := GetTd(db, hash, 0); entry != nil {
+	if entry := ReadTd(db, hash, 0); entry != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("Deleted TD returned: %v", entry)
 	}
 }
@@ -227,21 +212,19 @@ func TestCanonicalMappingStorage(t *testing.T) {
 
 	// Create a test canonical number and assinged hash to move around
 	hash, number := common.Hash{0: 0xff}, uint64(314)
-	if entry := GetCanonicalHash(db, number); entry != (common.Hash{}) {
+	if entry := ReadCanonicalHash(db, number); entry != (common.Hash{}) {
 		t.Fatalf("Non existent canonical mapping returned: %v", entry)
 	}
 	// Write and verify the TD in the database
-	if err := WriteCanonicalHash(db, hash, number); err != nil {
-		t.Fatalf("Failed to write canonical mapping into database: %v", err)
-	}
-	if entry := GetCanonicalHash(db, number); entry == (common.Hash{}) {
+	WriteCanonicalHash(db, hash, number)
+	if entry := ReadCanonicalHash(db, number); entry == (common.Hash{}) {
 		t.Fatalf("Stored canonical mapping not found")
 	} else if entry != hash {
 		t.Fatalf("Retrieved canonical mapping mismatch: have %v, want %v", entry, hash)
 	}
 	// Delete the TD and verify the execution
 	DeleteCanonicalHash(db, number)
-	if entry := GetCanonicalHash(db, number); entry != (common.Hash{}) {
+	if entry := ReadCanonicalHash(db, number); entry != (common.Hash{}) {
 		t.Fatalf("Deleted canonical mapping returned: %v", entry)
 	}
 }
@@ -255,82 +238,32 @@ func TestHeadStorage(t *testing.T) {
 	blockFast := types.NewBlockWithHeader(&types.Header{Extra: []byte("test block fast")})
 
 	// Check that no head entries are in a pristine database
-	if entry := GetHeadHeaderHash(db); entry != (common.Hash{}) {
+	if entry := ReadHeadHeaderHash(db); entry != (common.Hash{}) {
 		t.Fatalf("Non head header entry returned: %v", entry)
 	}
-	if entry := GetHeadBlockHash(db); entry != (common.Hash{}) {
+	if entry := ReadHeadBlockHash(db); entry != (common.Hash{}) {
 		t.Fatalf("Non head block entry returned: %v", entry)
 	}
-	if entry := GetHeadFastBlockHash(db); entry != (common.Hash{}) {
+	if entry := ReadHeadFastBlockHash(db); entry != (common.Hash{}) {
 		t.Fatalf("Non fast head block entry returned: %v", entry)
 	}
 	// Assign separate entries for the head header and block
-	if err := WriteHeadHeaderHash(db, blockHead.Hash()); err != nil {
-		t.Fatalf("Failed to write head header hash: %v", err)
-	}
-	if err := WriteHeadBlockHash(db, blockFull.Hash()); err != nil {
-		t.Fatalf("Failed to write head block hash: %v", err)
-	}
-	if err := WriteHeadFastBlockHash(db, blockFast.Hash()); err != nil {
-		t.Fatalf("Failed to write fast head block hash: %v", err)
-	}
+	WriteHeadHeaderHash(db, blockHead.Hash())
+	WriteHeadBlockHash(db, blockFull.Hash())
+	WriteHeadFastBlockHash(db, blockFast.Hash())
+
 	// Check that both heads are present, and different (i.e. two heads maintained)
-	if entry := GetHeadHeaderHash(db); entry != blockHead.Hash() {
+	if entry := ReadHeadHeaderHash(db); entry != blockHead.Hash() {
 		t.Fatalf("Head header hash mismatch: have %v, want %v", entry, blockHead.Hash())
 	}
-	if entry := GetHeadBlockHash(db); entry != blockFull.Hash() {
+	if entry := ReadHeadBlockHash(db); entry != blockFull.Hash() {
 		t.Fatalf("Head block hash mismatch: have %v, want %v", entry, blockFull.Hash())
 	}
-	if entry := GetHeadFastBlockHash(db); entry != blockFast.Hash() {
+	if entry := ReadHeadFastBlockHash(db); entry != blockFast.Hash() {
 		t.Fatalf("Fast head block hash mismatch: have %v, want %v", entry, blockFast.Hash())
 	}
 }
 
-// Tests that positional lookup metadata can be stored and retrieved.
-func TestLookupStorage(t *testing.T) {
-	db, _ := ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
-
-	tx1 := types.NewTransaction(1, common.BytesToAddress([]byte{0x11}), big.NewInt(111), 1111, big.NewInt(11111), []byte{0x11, 0x11, 0x11})
-	tx2 := types.NewTransaction(2, common.BytesToAddress([]byte{0x22}), big.NewInt(222), 2222, big.NewInt(22222), []byte{0x22, 0x22, 0x22})
-	tx3 := types.NewTransaction(3, common.BytesToAddress([]byte{0x33}), big.NewInt(333), 3333, big.NewInt(33333), []byte{0x33, 0x33, 0x33})
-	txs := []*types.Transaction{tx1, tx2, tx3}
-
-	block := types.NewBlock(&types.Header{Number: big.NewInt(314)}, txs, nil, nil)
-
-	// Check that no transactions entries are in a pristine database
-	for i, tx := range txs {
-		if txn, _, _, _ := GetTransaction(db, tx.Hash()); txn != nil {
-			t.Fatalf("tx #%d [%x]: non existent transaction returned: %v", i, tx.Hash(), txn)
-		}
-	}
-	// Insert all the transactions into the database, and verify contents
-	if err := WriteBlock(db, block); err != nil {
-		t.Fatalf("failed to write block contents: %v", err)
-	}
-	if err := WriteTxLookupEntries(db, block); err != nil {
-		t.Fatalf("failed to write transactions: %v", err)
-	}
-	for i, tx := range txs {
-		if txn, hash, number, index := GetTransaction(db, tx.Hash()); txn == nil {
-			t.Fatalf("tx #%d [%x]: transaction not found", i, tx.Hash())
-		} else {
-			if hash != block.Hash() || number != block.NumberU64() || index != uint64(i) {
-				t.Fatalf("tx #%d [%x]: positional metadata mismatch: have %x/%d/%d, want %x/%v/%v", i, tx.Hash(), hash, number, index, block.Hash(), block.NumberU64(), i)
-			}
-			if tx.Hash() != txn.Hash() {
-				t.Fatalf("tx #%d [%x]: transaction mismatch: have %v, want %v", i, tx.Hash(), txn, tx)
-			}
-		}
-	}
-	// Delete the transactions and check purge
-	for i, tx := range txs {
-		DeleteTxLookupEntry(db, tx.Hash())
-		if txn, _, _, _ := GetTransaction(db, tx.Hash()); txn != nil {
-			t.Fatalf("tx #%d [%x]: deleted transaction returned: %v", i, tx.Hash(), txn)
-		}
-	}
-}
-
 // Tests that receipts associated with a single block can be stored and retrieved.
 func TestBlockReceiptStorage(t *testing.T) {
 	db, _ := ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
@@ -361,14 +294,12 @@ func TestBlockReceiptStorage(t *testing.T) {
 
 	// Check that no receipt entries are in a pristine database
 	hash := common.BytesToHash([]byte{0x03, 0x14})
-	if rs := GetBlockReceipts(db, hash, 0); len(rs) != 0 {
+	if rs := ReadReceipts(db, hash, 0); len(rs) != 0 {
 		t.Fatalf("non existent receipts returned: %v", rs)
 	}
 	// Insert the receipt slice into the database and check presence
-	if err := WriteBlockReceipts(db, hash, 0, receipts); err != nil {
-		t.Fatalf("failed to write block receipts: %v", err)
-	}
-	if rs := GetBlockReceipts(db, hash, 0); len(rs) == 0 {
+	WriteReceipts(db, hash, 0, receipts)
+	if rs := ReadReceipts(db, hash, 0); len(rs) == 0 {
 		t.Fatalf("no receipts returned")
 	} else {
 		for i := 0; i < len(receipts); i++ {
@@ -381,8 +312,8 @@ func TestBlockReceiptStorage(t *testing.T) {
 		}
 	}
 	// Delete the receipt slice and check purge
-	DeleteBlockReceipts(db, hash, 0)
-	if rs := GetBlockReceipts(db, hash, 0); len(rs) != 0 {
+	DeleteReceipts(db, hash, 0)
+	if rs := ReadReceipts(db, hash, 0); len(rs) != 0 {
 		t.Fatalf("deleted receipts returned: %v", rs)
 	}
 }
diff --git a/core/rawdb/accessors_indexes.go b/core/rawdb/accessors_indexes.go
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..9abad14e0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/core/rawdb/accessors_indexes.go
@@ -0,0 +1,119 @@
+// Copyright 2018 The go-ethereum Authors
+// This file is part of the go-ethereum library.
+//
+// The go-ethereum library is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
+// it under the terms of the GNU Lesser General Public License as published by
+// the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the License, or
+// (at your option) any later version.
+//
+// The go-ethereum library is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+// but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+// MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. See the
+// GNU Lesser General Public License for more details.
+//
+// You should have received a copy of the GNU Lesser General Public License
+// along with the go-ethereum library. If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
+
+package rawdb
+
+import (
+	"encoding/binary"
+
+	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/common"
+	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/core/types"
+	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/log"
+	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/rlp"
+)
+
+// ReadTxLookupEntry retrieves the positional metadata associated with a transaction
+// hash to allow retrieving the transaction or receipt by hash.
+func ReadTxLookupEntry(db DatabaseReader, hash common.Hash) (common.Hash, uint64, uint64) {
+	data, _ := db.Get(append(txLookupPrefix, hash.Bytes()...))
+	if len(data) == 0 {
+		return common.Hash{}, 0, 0
+	}
+	var entry TxLookupEntry
+	if err := rlp.DecodeBytes(data, &entry); err != nil {
+		log.Error("Invalid transaction lookup entry RLP", "hash", hash, "err", err)
+		return common.Hash{}, 0, 0
+	}
+	return entry.BlockHash, entry.BlockIndex, entry.Index
+}
+
+// WriteTxLookupEntries stores a positional metadata for every transaction from
+// a block, enabling hash based transaction and receipt lookups.
+func WriteTxLookupEntries(db DatabaseWriter, block *types.Block) {
+	for i, tx := range block.Transactions() {
+		entry := TxLookupEntry{
+			BlockHash:  block.Hash(),
+			BlockIndex: block.NumberU64(),
+			Index:      uint64(i),
+		}
+		data, err := rlp.EncodeToBytes(entry)
+		if err != nil {
+			log.Crit("Failed to encode transaction lookup entry", "err", err)
+		}
+		if err := db.Put(append(txLookupPrefix, tx.Hash().Bytes()...), data); err != nil {
+			log.Crit("Failed to store transaction lookup entry", "err", err)
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+// DeleteTxLookupEntry removes all transaction data associated with a hash.
+func DeleteTxLookupEntry(db DatabaseDeleter, hash common.Hash) {
+	db.Delete(append(txLookupPrefix, hash.Bytes()...))
+}
+
+// ReadTransaction retrieves a specific transaction from the database, along with
+// its added positional metadata.
+func ReadTransaction(db DatabaseReader, hash common.Hash) (*types.Transaction, common.Hash, uint64, uint64) {
+	blockHash, blockNumber, txIndex := ReadTxLookupEntry(db, hash)
+	if blockHash == (common.Hash{}) {
+		return nil, common.Hash{}, 0, 0
+	}
+	body := ReadBody(db, blockHash, blockNumber)
+	if body == nil || len(body.Transactions) <= int(txIndex) {
+		log.Error("Transaction referenced missing", "number", blockNumber, "hash", blockHash, "index", txIndex)
+		return nil, common.Hash{}, 0, 0
+	}
+	return body.Transactions[txIndex], blockHash, blockNumber, txIndex
+}
+
+// ReadReceipt retrieves a specific transaction receipt from the database, along with
+// its added positional metadata.
+func ReadReceipt(db DatabaseReader, hash common.Hash) (*types.Receipt, common.Hash, uint64, uint64) {
+	blockHash, blockNumber, receiptIndex := ReadTxLookupEntry(db, hash)
+	if blockHash == (common.Hash{}) {
+		return nil, common.Hash{}, 0, 0
+	}
+	receipts := ReadReceipts(db, blockHash, blockNumber)
+	if len(receipts) <= int(receiptIndex) {
+		log.Error("Receipt refereced missing", "number", blockNumber, "hash", blockHash, "index", receiptIndex)
+		return nil, common.Hash{}, 0, 0
+	}
+	return receipts[receiptIndex], blockHash, blockNumber, receiptIndex
+}
+
+// ReadBloomBits retrieves the compressed bloom bit vector belonging to the given
+// section and bit index from the.
+func ReadBloomBits(db DatabaseReader, bit uint, section uint64, head common.Hash) ([]byte, error) {
+	key := append(append(bloomBitsPrefix, make([]byte, 10)...), head.Bytes()...)
+
+	binary.BigEndian.PutUint16(key[1:], uint16(bit))
+	binary.BigEndian.PutUint64(key[3:], section)
+
+	return db.Get(key)
+}
+
+// WriteBloomBits stores the compressed bloom bits vector belonging to the given
+// section and bit index.
+func WriteBloomBits(db DatabaseWriter, bit uint, section uint64, head common.Hash, bits []byte) {
+	key := append(append(bloomBitsPrefix, make([]byte, 10)...), head.Bytes()...)
+
+	binary.BigEndian.PutUint16(key[1:], uint16(bit))
+	binary.BigEndian.PutUint64(key[3:], section)
+
+	if err := db.Put(key, bits); err != nil {
+		log.Crit("Failed to store bloom bits", "err", err)
+	}
+}
diff --git a/core/rawdb/accessors_indexes_test.go b/core/rawdb/accessors_indexes_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..d9c129163
--- /dev/null
+++ b/core/rawdb/accessors_indexes_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,68 @@
+// Copyright 2018 The go-ethereum Authors
+// This file is part of the go-ethereum library.
+//
+// The go-ethereum library is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
+// it under the terms of the GNU Lesser General Public License as published by
+// the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the License, or
+// (at your option) any later version.
+//
+// The go-ethereum library is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+// but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+// MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. See the
+// GNU Lesser General Public License for more details.
+//
+// You should have received a copy of the GNU Lesser General Public License
+// along with the go-ethereum library. If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
+
+package rawdb
+
+import (
+	"math/big"
+	"testing"
+
+	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/common"
+	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/core/types"
+	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/ethdb"
+)
+
+// Tests that positional lookup metadata can be stored and retrieved.
+func TestLookupStorage(t *testing.T) {
+	db, _ := ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
+
+	tx1 := types.NewTransaction(1, common.BytesToAddress([]byte{0x11}), big.NewInt(111), 1111, big.NewInt(11111), []byte{0x11, 0x11, 0x11})
+	tx2 := types.NewTransaction(2, common.BytesToAddress([]byte{0x22}), big.NewInt(222), 2222, big.NewInt(22222), []byte{0x22, 0x22, 0x22})
+	tx3 := types.NewTransaction(3, common.BytesToAddress([]byte{0x33}), big.NewInt(333), 3333, big.NewInt(33333), []byte{0x33, 0x33, 0x33})
+	txs := []*types.Transaction{tx1, tx2, tx3}
+
+	block := types.NewBlock(&types.Header{Number: big.NewInt(314)}, txs, nil, nil)
+
+	// Check that no transactions entries are in a pristine database
+	for i, tx := range txs {
+		if txn, _, _, _ := ReadTransaction(db, tx.Hash()); txn != nil {
+			t.Fatalf("tx #%d [%x]: non existent transaction returned: %v", i, tx.Hash(), txn)
+		}
+	}
+	// Insert all the transactions into the database, and verify contents
+	WriteBlock(db, block)
+	WriteTxLookupEntries(db, block)
+
+	for i, tx := range txs {
+		if txn, hash, number, index := ReadTransaction(db, tx.Hash()); txn == nil {
+			t.Fatalf("tx #%d [%x]: transaction not found", i, tx.Hash())
+		} else {
+			if hash != block.Hash() || number != block.NumberU64() || index != uint64(i) {
+				t.Fatalf("tx #%d [%x]: positional metadata mismatch: have %x/%d/%d, want %x/%v/%v", i, tx.Hash(), hash, number, index, block.Hash(), block.NumberU64(), i)
+			}
+			if tx.Hash() != txn.Hash() {
+				t.Fatalf("tx #%d [%x]: transaction mismatch: have %v, want %v", i, tx.Hash(), txn, tx)
+			}
+		}
+	}
+	// Delete the transactions and check purge
+	for i, tx := range txs {
+		DeleteTxLookupEntry(db, tx.Hash())
+		if txn, _, _, _ := ReadTransaction(db, tx.Hash()); txn != nil {
+			t.Fatalf("tx #%d [%x]: deleted transaction returned: %v", i, tx.Hash(), txn)
+		}
+	}
+}
diff --git a/core/rawdb/accessors_metadata.go b/core/rawdb/accessors_metadata.go
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..73ab983f2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/core/rawdb/accessors_metadata.go
@@ -0,0 +1,90 @@
+// Copyright 2018 The go-ethereum Authors
+// This file is part of the go-ethereum library.
+//
+// The go-ethereum library is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
+// it under the terms of the GNU Lesser General Public License as published by
+// the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the License, or
+// (at your option) any later version.
+//
+// The go-ethereum library is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+// but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+// MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. See the
+// GNU Lesser General Public License for more details.
+//
+// You should have received a copy of the GNU Lesser General Public License
+// along with the go-ethereum library. If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
+
+package rawdb
+
+import (
+	"encoding/json"
+
+	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/common"
+	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/log"
+	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/params"
+	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/rlp"
+)
+
+// ReadDatabaseVersion retrieves the version number of the database.
+func ReadDatabaseVersion(db DatabaseReader) int {
+	var version int
+
+	enc, _ := db.Get(databaseVerisionKey)
+	rlp.DecodeBytes(enc, &version)
+
+	return version
+}
+
+// WriteDatabaseVersion stores the version number of the database
+func WriteDatabaseVersion(db DatabaseWriter, version int) {
+	enc, _ := rlp.EncodeToBytes(version)
+	if err := db.Put(databaseVerisionKey, enc); err != nil {
+		log.Crit("Failed to store the database version", "err", err)
+	}
+}
+
+// ReadChainConfig retrieves the consensus settings based on the given genesis hash.
+func ReadChainConfig(db DatabaseReader, hash common.Hash) *params.ChainConfig {
+	data, _ := db.Get(append(configPrefix, hash[:]...))
+	if len(data) == 0 {
+		return nil
+	}
+	var config params.ChainConfig
+	if err := json.Unmarshal(data, &config); err != nil {
+		log.Error("Invalid chain config JSON", "hash", hash, "err", err)
+		return nil
+	}
+	return &config
+}
+
+// WriteChainConfig writes the chain config settings to the database.
+func WriteChainConfig(db DatabaseWriter, hash common.Hash, cfg *params.ChainConfig) {
+	if cfg == nil {
+		return
+	}
+	data, err := json.Marshal(cfg)
+	if err != nil {
+		log.Crit("Failed to JSON encode chain config", "err", err)
+	}
+	if err := db.Put(append(configPrefix, hash[:]...), data); err != nil {
+		log.Crit("Failed to store chain config", "err", err)
+	}
+}
+
+// ReadPreimage retrieves a single preimage of the provided hash.
+func ReadPreimage(db DatabaseReader, hash common.Hash) []byte {
+	data, _ := db.Get(append(preimagePrefix, hash.Bytes()...))
+	return data
+}
+
+// WritePreimages writes the provided set of preimages to the database. `number` is the
+// current block number, and is used for debug messages only.
+func WritePreimages(db DatabaseWriter, number uint64, preimages map[common.Hash][]byte) {
+	for hash, preimage := range preimages {
+		if err := db.Put(append(preimagePrefix, hash.Bytes()...), preimage); err != nil {
+			log.Crit("Failed to store trie preimage", "err", err)
+		}
+	}
+	preimageCounter.Inc(int64(len(preimages)))
+	preimageHitCounter.Inc(int64(len(preimages)))
+}
diff --git a/core/rawdb/interfaces.go b/core/rawdb/interfaces.go
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..3bdf55124
--- /dev/null
+++ b/core/rawdb/interfaces.go
@@ -0,0 +1,33 @@
+// Copyright 2018 The go-ethereum Authors
+// This file is part of the go-ethereum library.
+//
+// The go-ethereum library is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
+// it under the terms of the GNU Lesser General Public License as published by
+// the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the License, or
+// (at your option) any later version.
+//
+// The go-ethereum library is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+// but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+// MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. See the
+// GNU Lesser General Public License for more details.
+//
+// You should have received a copy of the GNU Lesser General Public License
+// along with the go-ethereum library. If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
+
+package rawdb
+
+// DatabaseReader wraps the Has and Get method of a backing data store.
+type DatabaseReader interface {
+	Has(key []byte) (bool, error)
+	Get(key []byte) ([]byte, error)
+}
+
+// DatabaseWriter wraps the Put method of a backing data store.
+type DatabaseWriter interface {
+	Put(key []byte, value []byte) error
+}
+
+// DatabaseDeleter wraps the Delete method of a backing data store.
+type DatabaseDeleter interface {
+	Delete(key []byte) error
+}
diff --git a/core/rawdb/schema.go b/core/rawdb/schema.go
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..a4b1596fd
--- /dev/null
+++ b/core/rawdb/schema.go
@@ -0,0 +1,79 @@
+// Copyright 2018 The go-ethereum Authors
+// This file is part of the go-ethereum library.
+//
+// The go-ethereum library is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
+// it under the terms of the GNU Lesser General Public License as published by
+// the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the License, or
+// (at your option) any later version.
+//
+// The go-ethereum library is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+// but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+// MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. See the
+// GNU Lesser General Public License for more details.
+//
+// You should have received a copy of the GNU Lesser General Public License
+// along with the go-ethereum library. If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
+
+// Package rawdb contains a collection of low level database accessors.
+package rawdb
+
+import (
+	"encoding/binary"
+
+	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/common"
+	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/metrics"
+)
+
+// The fields below define the low level database schema prefixing.
+var (
+	// databaseVerisionKey tracks the current database version.
+	databaseVerisionKey = []byte("DatabaseVersion")
+
+	// headHeaderKey tracks the latest know header's hash.
+	headHeaderKey = []byte("LastHeader")
+
+	// headBlockKey tracks the latest know full block's hash.
+	headBlockKey = []byte("LastBlock")
+
+	// headFastBlockKey tracks the latest known incomplete block's hash duirng fast sync.
+	headFastBlockKey = []byte("LastFast")
+
+	// fastTrieProgressKey tracks the number of trie entries imported during fast sync.
+	fastTrieProgressKey = []byte("TrieSync")
+
+	// Data item prefixes (use single byte to avoid mixing data types, avoid `i`, used for indexes).
+	headerPrefix       = []byte("h") // headerPrefix + num (uint64 big endian) + hash -> header
+	headerTDSuffix     = []byte("t") // headerPrefix + num (uint64 big endian) + hash + headerTDSuffix -> td
+	headerHashSuffix   = []byte("n") // headerPrefix + num (uint64 big endian) + headerHashSuffix -> hash
+	headerNumberPrefix = []byte("H") // headerNumberPrefix + hash -> num (uint64 big endian)
+
+	blockBodyPrefix     = []byte("b") // blockBodyPrefix + num (uint64 big endian) + hash -> block body
+	blockReceiptsPrefix = []byte("r") // blockReceiptsPrefix + num (uint64 big endian) + hash -> block receipts
+
+	txLookupPrefix  = []byte("l") // txLookupPrefix + hash -> transaction/receipt lookup metadata
+	bloomBitsPrefix = []byte("B") // bloomBitsPrefix + bit (uint16 big endian) + section (uint64 big endian) + hash -> bloom bits
+
+	preimagePrefix = []byte("secure-key-")      // preimagePrefix + hash -> preimage
+	configPrefix   = []byte("ethereum-config-") // config prefix for the db
+
+	// Chain index prefixes (use `i` + single byte to avoid mixing data types).
+	BloomBitsIndexPrefix = []byte("iB") // BloomBitsIndexPrefix is the data table of a chain indexer to track its progress
+
+	preimageCounter    = metrics.NewRegisteredCounter("db/preimage/total", nil)
+	preimageHitCounter = metrics.NewRegisteredCounter("db/preimage/hits", nil)
+)
+
+// TxLookupEntry is a positional metadata to help looking up the data content of
+// a transaction or receipt given only its hash.
+type TxLookupEntry struct {
+	BlockHash  common.Hash
+	BlockIndex uint64
+	Index      uint64
+}
+
+// encodeBlockNumber encodes a block number as big endian uint64
+func encodeBlockNumber(number uint64) []byte {
+	enc := make([]byte, 8)
+	binary.BigEndian.PutUint64(enc, number)
+	return enc
+}