diff --git a/ssa/builder.go b/ssa/builder.go
index 18982b5d..c9ab2c10 100644
--- a/ssa/builder.go
+++ b/ssa/builder.go
@@ -55,10 +55,10 @@ var (
 	tEface      = new(types.Interface)
 
 	// SSA Value constants.
-	vZero  = intLiteral(0)
-	vOne   = intLiteral(1)
-	vTrue  = NewLiteral(exact.MakeBool(true), tBool)
-	vFalse = NewLiteral(exact.MakeBool(false), tBool)
+	vZero  = intConst(0)
+	vOne   = intConst(1)
+	vTrue  = NewConst(exact.MakeBool(true), tBool)
+	vFalse = NewConst(exact.MakeBool(false), tBool)
 )
 
 // builder holds state associated with the package currently being built.
@@ -126,7 +126,7 @@ func (b *builder) cond(fn *Function, e ast.Expr, t, f *BasicBlock) {
 	}
 
 	switch cond := b.expr(fn, e).(type) {
-	case *Literal:
+	case *Const:
 		// Dispatch constant conditions statically.
 		if exact.BoolVal(cond.Value) {
 			emitJump(fn, t)
@@ -313,7 +313,7 @@ func (b *builder) builtin(fn *Function, name string, args []ast.Expr, typ types.
 		t := deref(fn.Pkg.typeOf(args[0])).Underlying()
 		if at, ok := t.(*types.Array); ok {
 			b.expr(fn, args[0]) // for effects only
-			return intLiteral(at.Len())
+			return intConst(at.Len())
 		}
 		// Otherwise treat as normal.
 
@@ -547,11 +547,11 @@ func (b *builder) exprInPlace(fn *Function, loc lvalue, e ast.Expr) {
 //
 func (b *builder) expr(fn *Function, e ast.Expr) Value {
 	if v := fn.Pkg.info.ValueOf(e); v != nil {
-		lit := NewLiteral(v, fn.Pkg.typeOf(e))
+		c := NewConst(v, fn.Pkg.typeOf(e))
 		if id, ok := unparen(e).(*ast.Ident); ok {
-			emitDebugRef(fn, id, lit)
+			emitDebugRef(fn, id, c)
 		}
-		return lit
+		return c
 	}
 
 	switch e := e.(type) {
@@ -933,7 +933,7 @@ func (b *builder) emitCallArgs(fn *Function, sig *types.Signature, e *ast.CallEx
 		st := sig.Params().At(np).Type().(*types.Slice)
 		vt := st.Elem()
 		if len(varargs) == 0 {
-			args = append(args, nilLiteral(st))
+			args = append(args, nilConst(st))
 		} else {
 			// Replace a suffix of args with a slice containing it.
 			at := types.NewArray(vt, int64(len(varargs)))
@@ -942,7 +942,7 @@ func (b *builder) emitCallArgs(fn *Function, sig *types.Signature, e *ast.CallEx
 			for i, arg := range varargs {
 				iaddr := &IndexAddr{
 					X:     a,
-					Index: intLiteral(int64(i)),
+					Index: intConst(int64(i)),
 				}
 				iaddr.setType(types.NewPointer(vt))
 				fn.emit(iaddr)
@@ -1120,8 +1120,6 @@ func (b *builder) localValueSpec(fn *Function, spec *ast.ValueSpec) {
 		for _, id := range spec.Names {
 			if !isBlankIdent(id) {
 				lhs := fn.addLocalForIdent(id)
-				// TODO(adonovan): opt: use zero literal in
-				// lieu of load, if type permits.
 				if fn.debugInfo() {
 					emitDebugRef(fn, id, emitLoad(fn, lhs))
 				}
@@ -1201,7 +1199,7 @@ func (b *builder) arrayLen(fn *Function, elts []ast.Expr) int64 {
 	var i int64 = -1
 	for _, e := range elts {
 		if kv, ok := e.(*ast.KeyValueExpr); ok {
-			i = b.expr(fn, kv.Key).(*Literal).Int64()
+			i = b.expr(fn, kv.Key).(*Const).Int64()
 		} else {
 			i++
 		}
@@ -1258,17 +1256,17 @@ func (b *builder) compLit(fn *Function, addr Value, e *ast.CompositeLit, typ typ
 			array = addr
 		}
 
-		var idx *Literal
+		var idx *Const
 		for _, e := range e.Elts {
 			if kv, ok := e.(*ast.KeyValueExpr); ok {
-				idx = b.expr(fn, kv.Key).(*Literal)
+				idx = b.expr(fn, kv.Key).(*Const)
 				e = kv.Value
 			} else {
 				var idxval int64
 				if idx != nil {
 					idxval = idx.Int64() + 1
 				}
-				idx = intLiteral(idxval)
+				idx = intConst(idxval)
 			}
 			iaddr := &IndexAddr{
 				X:     array,
@@ -1286,7 +1284,7 @@ func (b *builder) compLit(fn *Function, addr Value, e *ast.CompositeLit, typ typ
 		}
 
 	case *types.Map:
-		m := &MakeMap{Reserve: intLiteral(int64(len(e.Elts)))}
+		m := &MakeMap{Reserve: intConst(int64(len(e.Elts)))}
 		m.setPos(e.Lbrace)
 		m.setType(typ)
 		emitStore(fn, addr, fn.emit(m))
@@ -1474,7 +1472,7 @@ func (b *builder) typeSwitchStmt(fn *Function, s *ast.TypeSwitchStmt, label *lbl
 			casetype = fn.Pkg.typeOf(cond)
 			var condv Value
 			if casetype == tUntypedNil {
-				condv = emitCompare(fn, token.EQL, x, nilLiteral(x.Type()), token.NoPos)
+				condv = emitCompare(fn, token.EQL, x, nilConst(x.Type()), token.NoPos)
 			} else {
 				yok := emitTypeTest(fn, x, casetype, token.NoPos)
 				ti = emitExtract(fn, yok, 0, casetype)
@@ -1616,7 +1614,7 @@ func (b *builder) selectStmt(fn *Function, s *ast.SelectStmt, label *lblock) {
 		}
 		body := fn.newBasicBlock("select.body")
 		next := fn.newBasicBlock("select.next")
-		emitIf(fn, emitCompare(fn, token.EQL, idx, intLiteral(int64(state)), token.NoPos), body, next)
+		emitIf(fn, emitCompare(fn, token.EQL, idx, intConst(int64(state)), token.NoPos), body, next)
 		fn.currentBlock = body
 		fn.targets = &targets{
 			tail:   fn.targets,
@@ -1741,7 +1739,7 @@ func (b *builder) rangeIndexed(fn *Function, x Value, tv types.Type) (k, v Value
 		// data dependence upon x, permitting later dead-code
 		// elimination if x is pure, static unrolling, etc.
 		// Ranging over a nil *array may have >0 iterations.
-		length = intLiteral(arr.Len())
+		length = intConst(arr.Len())
 	} else {
 		// length = len(x).
 		var c Call
@@ -1752,7 +1750,7 @@ func (b *builder) rangeIndexed(fn *Function, x Value, tv types.Type) (k, v Value
 	}
 
 	index := fn.addLocal(tInt, token.NoPos)
-	emitStore(fn, index, intLiteral(-1))
+	emitStore(fn, index, intConst(-1))
 
 	loop = fn.newBasicBlock("rangeindex.loop")
 	emitJump(fn, loop)
diff --git a/ssa/const.go b/ssa/const.go
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..51bcf046
--- /dev/null
+++ b/ssa/const.go
@@ -0,0 +1,145 @@
+package ssa
+
+// This file defines the Const SSA value type.
+
+import (
+	"fmt"
+	"go/token"
+	"strconv"
+
+	"code.google.com/p/go.tools/go/exact"
+	"code.google.com/p/go.tools/go/types"
+)
+
+// NewConst returns a new constant of the specified value and type.
+// val must be valid according to the specification of Const.Value.
+//
+func NewConst(val exact.Value, typ types.Type) *Const {
+	return &Const{typ, val}
+}
+
+// intConst returns an untyped integer constant that evaluates to i.
+func intConst(i int64) *Const {
+	return NewConst(exact.MakeInt64(i), types.Typ[types.UntypedInt])
+}
+
+// nilConst returns a nil constant of the specified type, which may
+// be any reference type, including interfaces.
+//
+func nilConst(typ types.Type) *Const {
+	return NewConst(exact.MakeNil(), typ)
+}
+
+// zeroConst returns a new "zero" constant of the specified type,
+// which must not be an array or struct type: the zero values of
+// aggregates are well-defined but cannot be represented by Const.
+//
+func zeroConst(t types.Type) *Const {
+	switch t := t.(type) {
+	case *types.Basic:
+		switch {
+		case t.Info()&types.IsBoolean != 0:
+			return NewConst(exact.MakeBool(false), t)
+		case t.Info()&types.IsNumeric != 0:
+			return NewConst(exact.MakeInt64(0), t)
+		case t.Info()&types.IsString != 0:
+			return NewConst(exact.MakeString(""), t)
+		case t.Kind() == types.UnsafePointer:
+			fallthrough
+		case t.Kind() == types.UntypedNil:
+			return nilConst(t)
+		default:
+			panic(fmt.Sprint("zeroConst for unexpected type:", t))
+		}
+	case *types.Pointer, *types.Slice, *types.Interface, *types.Chan, *types.Map, *types.Signature:
+		return nilConst(t)
+	case *types.Named:
+		return NewConst(zeroConst(t.Underlying()).Value, t)
+	case *types.Array, *types.Struct, *types.Tuple:
+		panic(fmt.Sprint("zeroConst applied to aggregate:", t))
+	}
+	panic(fmt.Sprint("zeroConst: unexpected ", t))
+}
+
+func (c *Const) Name() string {
+	var s string
+	if c.Value.Kind() == exact.String {
+		s = exact.StringVal(c.Value)
+		const max = 20
+		if len(s) > max {
+			s = s[:max-3] + "..." // abbreviate
+		}
+		s = strconv.Quote(s)
+	} else {
+		s = c.Value.String()
+	}
+	return s + ":" + c.typ.String()
+}
+
+func (c *Const) Type() types.Type {
+	return c.typ
+}
+
+func (c *Const) Referrers() *[]Instruction {
+	return nil
+}
+
+func (c *Const) Pos() token.Pos {
+	return token.NoPos
+}
+
+// IsNil returns true if this constant represents a typed or untyped nil value.
+func (c *Const) IsNil() bool {
+	return c.Value.Kind() == exact.Nil
+}
+
+// Int64 returns the numeric value of this constant truncated to fit
+// a signed 64-bit integer.
+//
+func (c *Const) Int64() int64 {
+	switch x := c.Value; x.Kind() {
+	case exact.Int:
+		if i, ok := exact.Int64Val(x); ok {
+			return i
+		}
+		return 0
+	case exact.Float:
+		f, _ := exact.Float64Val(x)
+		return int64(f)
+	}
+	panic(fmt.Sprintf("unexpected constant value: %T", c.Value))
+}
+
+// Uint64 returns the numeric value of this constant truncated to fit
+// an unsigned 64-bit integer.
+//
+func (c *Const) Uint64() uint64 {
+	switch x := c.Value; x.Kind() {
+	case exact.Int:
+		if u, ok := exact.Uint64Val(x); ok {
+			return u
+		}
+		return 0
+	case exact.Float:
+		f, _ := exact.Float64Val(x)
+		return uint64(f)
+	}
+	panic(fmt.Sprintf("unexpected constant value: %T", c.Value))
+}
+
+// Float64 returns the numeric value of this constant truncated to fit
+// a float64.
+//
+func (c *Const) Float64() float64 {
+	f, _ := exact.Float64Val(c.Value)
+	return f
+}
+
+// Complex128 returns the complex value of this constant truncated to
+// fit a complex128.
+//
+func (c *Const) Complex128() complex128 {
+	re, _ := exact.Float64Val(exact.Real(c.Value))
+	im, _ := exact.Float64Val(exact.Imag(c.Value))
+	return complex(re, im)
+}
diff --git a/ssa/create.go b/ssa/create.go
index 3e4d5bd0..5ca4bc01 100644
--- a/ssa/create.go
+++ b/ssa/create.go
@@ -89,9 +89,9 @@ func memberFromObject(pkg *Package, obj types.Object, syntax ast.Node) {
 		pkg.Members[name] = &Type{object: obj}
 
 	case *types.Const:
-		c := &Constant{
+		c := &NamedConst{
 			object: obj,
-			Value:  NewLiteral(obj.Val(), obj.Type()),
+			Value:  NewConst(obj.Val(), obj.Type()),
 		}
 		pkg.values[obj] = c.Value
 		pkg.Members[name] = c
diff --git a/ssa/doc.go b/ssa/doc.go
index 99ac2a24..113dce8a 100644
--- a/ssa/doc.go
+++ b/ssa/doc.go
@@ -57,7 +57,7 @@
 //   *Capture           ✔
 //   *ChangeInterface   ✔               ✔
 //   *ChangeType        ✔               ✔
-//   *Constant                                          ✔ (const)
+//   *Const             ✔
 //   *Convert           ✔               ✔
 //   *Defer                             ✔
 //   *Extract           ✔               ✔
@@ -70,7 +70,6 @@
 //   *Index             ✔               ✔
 //   *IndexAddr         ✔               ✔
 //   *Jump                              ✔
-//   *Literal           ✔
 //   *Lookup            ✔               ✔
 //   *MakeChan          ✔               ✔
 //   *MakeClosure       ✔               ✔
@@ -78,6 +77,7 @@
 //   *MakeMap           ✔               ✔
 //   *MakeSlice         ✔               ✔
 //   *MapUpdate                         ✔
+//   *NamedConst                                        ✔ (const)
 //   *Next              ✔               ✔
 //   *Panic                             ✔
 //   *Parameter         ✔
diff --git a/ssa/emit.go b/ssa/emit.go
index 54e74e87..62ec0e80 100644
--- a/ssa/emit.go
+++ b/ssa/emit.go
@@ -110,9 +110,9 @@ func emitCompare(f *Function, op token.Token, x, y Value, pos token.Pos) Value {
 		y = emitConv(f, y, x.Type())
 	} else if _, ok := yt.(*types.Interface); ok {
 		x = emitConv(f, x, y.Type())
-	} else if _, ok := x.(*Literal); ok {
+	} else if _, ok := x.(*Const); ok {
 		x = emitConv(f, x, y.Type())
-	} else if _, ok := y.(*Literal); ok {
+	} else if _, ok := y.(*Const); ok {
 		y = emitConv(f, y, x.Type())
 	} else {
 		// other cases, e.g. channels.  No-op.
@@ -188,9 +188,9 @@ func emitConv(f *Function, val Value, typ types.Type) Value {
 			return emitTypeAssert(f, val, typ, token.NoPos)
 		}
 
-		// Untyped nil literal?  Return interface-typed nil literal.
+		// Untyped nil constant?  Return interface-typed nil constant.
 		if ut_src == tUntypedNil {
-			return nilLiteral(typ)
+			return nilConst(typ)
 		}
 
 		// Convert (non-nil) "untyped" literals to their default type.
@@ -203,13 +203,13 @@ func emitConv(f *Function, val Value, typ types.Type) Value {
 		return f.emit(mi)
 	}
 
-	// Conversion of a literal to a non-interface type results in
-	// a new literal of the destination type and (initially) the
+	// Conversion of a constant to a non-interface type results in
+	// a new constant of the destination type and (initially) the
 	// same abstract value.  We don't compute the representation
 	// change yet; this defers the point at which the number of
 	// possible representations explodes.
-	if l, ok := val.(*Literal); ok {
-		return NewLiteral(l.Value, typ)
+	if c, ok := val.(*Const); ok {
+		return NewConst(c.Value, typ)
 	}
 
 	// A representation-changing conversion.
diff --git a/ssa/interp/interp.go b/ssa/interp/interp.go
index ac83e673..82ae1ddc 100644
--- a/ssa/interp/interp.go
+++ b/ssa/interp/interp.go
@@ -110,8 +110,8 @@ func (fr *frame) get(key ssa.Value) value {
 		return nil
 	case *ssa.Function, *ssa.Builtin:
 		return key
-	case *ssa.Literal:
-		return literalValue(key)
+	case *ssa.Const:
+		return constValue(key)
 	case *ssa.Global:
 		if r, ok := fr.i.globals[key]; ok {
 			return r
diff --git a/ssa/interp/ops.go b/ssa/interp/ops.go
index e1bfb6db..fbab4286 100644
--- a/ssa/interp/ops.go
+++ b/ssa/interp/ops.go
@@ -20,60 +20,60 @@ type targetPanic struct {
 // If the target program calls exit, the interpreter panics with this type.
 type exitPanic int
 
-// literalValue returns the value of the literal with the
-// dynamic type tag appropriate for l.Type().
-func literalValue(l *ssa.Literal) value {
-	if l.IsNil() {
-		return zero(l.Type()) // typed nil
+// constValue returns the value of the constant with the
+// dynamic type tag appropriate for c.Type().
+func constValue(c *ssa.Const) value {
+	if c.IsNil() {
+		return zero(c.Type()) // typed nil
 	}
 
 	// By destination type:
-	switch t := l.Type().Underlying().(type) {
+	switch t := c.Type().Underlying().(type) {
 	case *types.Basic:
-		// TODO(adonovan): eliminate untyped literals from SSA form.
+		// TODO(adonovan): eliminate untyped constants from SSA form.
 		switch t.Kind() {
 		case types.Bool, types.UntypedBool:
-			return exact.BoolVal(l.Value)
+			return exact.BoolVal(c.Value)
 		case types.Int, types.UntypedInt:
 			// Assume sizeof(int) is same on host and target.
-			return int(l.Int64())
+			return int(c.Int64())
 		case types.Int8:
-			return int8(l.Int64())
+			return int8(c.Int64())
 		case types.Int16:
-			return int16(l.Int64())
+			return int16(c.Int64())
 		case types.Int32, types.UntypedRune:
-			return int32(l.Int64())
+			return int32(c.Int64())
 		case types.Int64:
-			return l.Int64()
+			return c.Int64()
 		case types.Uint:
 			// Assume sizeof(uint) is same on host and target.
-			return uint(l.Uint64())
+			return uint(c.Uint64())
 		case types.Uint8:
-			return uint8(l.Uint64())
+			return uint8(c.Uint64())
 		case types.Uint16:
-			return uint16(l.Uint64())
+			return uint16(c.Uint64())
 		case types.Uint32:
-			return uint32(l.Uint64())
+			return uint32(c.Uint64())
 		case types.Uint64:
-			return l.Uint64()
+			return c.Uint64()
 		case types.Uintptr:
 			// Assume sizeof(uintptr) is same on host and target.
-			return uintptr(l.Uint64())
+			return uintptr(c.Uint64())
 		case types.Float32:
-			return float32(l.Float64())
+			return float32(c.Float64())
 		case types.Float64, types.UntypedFloat:
-			return l.Float64()
+			return c.Float64()
 		case types.Complex64:
-			return complex64(l.Complex128())
+			return complex64(c.Complex128())
 		case types.Complex128, types.UntypedComplex:
-			return l.Complex128()
+			return c.Complex128()
 		case types.String, types.UntypedString:
-			if l.Value.Kind() == exact.String {
-				return exact.StringVal(l.Value)
+			if c.Value.Kind() == exact.String {
+				return exact.StringVal(c.Value)
 			}
-			return string(rune(l.Int64()))
+			return string(rune(c.Int64()))
 		case types.UnsafePointer:
-			panic("unsafe.Pointer literal") // not possible
+			panic("unsafe.Pointer constant") // not possible
 		case types.UntypedNil:
 			// nil was handled above.
 		}
@@ -84,13 +84,13 @@ func literalValue(l *ssa.Literal) value {
 			switch et.Kind() {
 			case types.Byte: // string -> []byte
 				var v []value
-				for _, b := range []byte(exact.StringVal(l.Value)) {
+				for _, b := range []byte(exact.StringVal(c.Value)) {
 					v = append(v, b)
 				}
 				return v
 			case types.Rune: // string -> []rune
 				var v []value
-				for _, r := range []rune(exact.StringVal(l.Value)) {
+				for _, r := range []rune(exact.StringVal(c.Value)) {
 					v = append(v, r)
 				}
 				return v
@@ -98,7 +98,7 @@ func literalValue(l *ssa.Literal) value {
 		}
 	}
 
-	panic(fmt.Sprintf("literalValue: Value.(type)=%T Type()=%s", l.Value, l.Type()))
+	panic(fmt.Sprintf("constValue: Value.(type)=%T Type()=%s", c.Value, c.Type()))
 }
 
 // asInt converts x, which must be an integer, to an int suitable for
@@ -161,7 +161,7 @@ func zero(t types.Type) value {
 		if t.Info()&types.IsUntyped != 0 {
 			// TODO(adonovan): make it an invariant that
 			// this is unreachable.  Currently some
-			// literals have 'untyped' types when they
+			// constants have 'untyped' types when they
 			// should be defaulted by the typechecker.
 			t = ssa.DefaultType(t).(*types.Basic)
 		}
diff --git a/ssa/lift.go b/ssa/lift.go
index bdffc133..5549e542 100644
--- a/ssa/lift.go
+++ b/ssa/lift.go
@@ -115,7 +115,7 @@ func lift(fn *Function) {
 	// buildDomTree.  For example:
 	//
 	// - Alloc never loaded?  Eliminate.
-	// - Alloc never stored?  Replace all loads with a zero literal.
+	// - Alloc never stored?  Replace all loads with a zero constant.
 	// - Alloc stored once?  Replace loads with dominating store;
 	//   don't forget that an Alloc is itself an effective store
 	//   of zero.
@@ -187,8 +187,8 @@ func lift(fn *Function) {
 
 	// renaming maps an alloc (keyed by index) to its replacement
 	// value.  Initially the renaming contains nil, signifying the
-	// zero literal of the appropriate type; we construct the
-	// Literal lazily at most once on each path through the domtree.
+	// zero constant of the appropriate type; we construct the
+	// Const lazily at most once on each path through the domtree.
 	// TODO(adonovan): opt: cache per-function not per subtree.
 	renaming := make([]Value, numAllocs)
 
@@ -304,8 +304,8 @@ type newPhiMap map[*BasicBlock][]newPhi
 //
 func liftAlloc(df domFrontier, alloc *Alloc, newPhis newPhiMap) bool {
 	// Don't lift aggregates into registers, because we don't have
-	// a way to express their zero-literals.
-	// TODO(adonovan): define zero-literals for aggregates, or
+	// a way to express their zero-constants.
+	// TODO(adonovan): define zero-constants for aggregates, or
 	// add a separate SRA pass.  Lifting aggregates is an
 	// important optimisation for pointer analysis because the
 	// extra indirection really hurts precision under Das's
@@ -426,7 +426,7 @@ func replaceAll(x, y Value) {
 func renamed(renaming []Value, alloc *Alloc) Value {
 	v := renaming[alloc.index]
 	if v == nil {
-		v = zeroLiteral(deref(alloc.Type()))
+		v = zeroConst(deref(alloc.Type()))
 		renaming[alloc.index] = v
 	}
 	return v
diff --git a/ssa/literal.go b/ssa/literal.go
deleted file mode 100644
index bbb68b2b..00000000
--- a/ssa/literal.go
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,145 +0,0 @@
-package ssa
-
-// This file defines the Literal SSA value type.
-
-import (
-	"fmt"
-	"go/token"
-	"strconv"
-
-	"code.google.com/p/go.tools/go/exact"
-	"code.google.com/p/go.tools/go/types"
-)
-
-// NewLiteral returns a new literal of the specified value and type.
-// val must be valid according to the specification of Literal.Value.
-//
-func NewLiteral(val exact.Value, typ types.Type) *Literal {
-	return &Literal{typ, val}
-}
-
-// intLiteral returns an untyped integer literal that evaluates to i.
-func intLiteral(i int64) *Literal {
-	return NewLiteral(exact.MakeInt64(i), types.Typ[types.UntypedInt])
-}
-
-// nilLiteral returns a nil literal of the specified type, which may
-// be any reference type, including interfaces.
-//
-func nilLiteral(typ types.Type) *Literal {
-	return NewLiteral(exact.MakeNil(), typ)
-}
-
-// zeroLiteral returns a new "zero" literal of the specified type,
-// which must not be an array or struct type: the zero values of
-// aggregates are well-defined but cannot be represented by Literal.
-//
-func zeroLiteral(t types.Type) *Literal {
-	switch t := t.(type) {
-	case *types.Basic:
-		switch {
-		case t.Info()&types.IsBoolean != 0:
-			return NewLiteral(exact.MakeBool(false), t)
-		case t.Info()&types.IsNumeric != 0:
-			return NewLiteral(exact.MakeInt64(0), t)
-		case t.Info()&types.IsString != 0:
-			return NewLiteral(exact.MakeString(""), t)
-		case t.Kind() == types.UnsafePointer:
-			fallthrough
-		case t.Kind() == types.UntypedNil:
-			return nilLiteral(t)
-		default:
-			panic(fmt.Sprint("zeroLiteral for unexpected type:", t))
-		}
-	case *types.Pointer, *types.Slice, *types.Interface, *types.Chan, *types.Map, *types.Signature:
-		return nilLiteral(t)
-	case *types.Named:
-		return NewLiteral(zeroLiteral(t.Underlying()).Value, t)
-	case *types.Array, *types.Struct:
-		panic(fmt.Sprint("zeroLiteral applied to aggregate:", t))
-	}
-	panic(fmt.Sprint("zeroLiteral: unexpected ", t))
-}
-
-func (l *Literal) Name() string {
-	var s string
-	if l.Value.Kind() == exact.String {
-		s = exact.StringVal(l.Value)
-		const maxLit = 20
-		if len(s) > maxLit {
-			s = s[:maxLit-3] + "..." // abbreviate
-		}
-		s = strconv.Quote(s)
-	} else {
-		s = l.Value.String()
-	}
-	return s + ":" + l.typ.String()
-}
-
-func (l *Literal) Type() types.Type {
-	return l.typ
-}
-
-func (l *Literal) Referrers() *[]Instruction {
-	return nil
-}
-
-func (l *Literal) Pos() token.Pos {
-	return token.NoPos
-}
-
-// IsNil returns true if this literal represents a typed or untyped nil value.
-func (l *Literal) IsNil() bool {
-	return l.Value.Kind() == exact.Nil
-}
-
-// Int64 returns the numeric value of this literal truncated to fit
-// a signed 64-bit integer.
-//
-func (l *Literal) Int64() int64 {
-	switch x := l.Value; x.Kind() {
-	case exact.Int:
-		if i, ok := exact.Int64Val(x); ok {
-			return i
-		}
-		return 0
-	case exact.Float:
-		f, _ := exact.Float64Val(x)
-		return int64(f)
-	}
-	panic(fmt.Sprintf("unexpected literal value: %T", l.Value))
-}
-
-// Uint64 returns the numeric value of this literal truncated to fit
-// an unsigned 64-bit integer.
-//
-func (l *Literal) Uint64() uint64 {
-	switch x := l.Value; x.Kind() {
-	case exact.Int:
-		if u, ok := exact.Uint64Val(x); ok {
-			return u
-		}
-		return 0
-	case exact.Float:
-		f, _ := exact.Float64Val(x)
-		return uint64(f)
-	}
-	panic(fmt.Sprintf("unexpected literal value: %T", l.Value))
-}
-
-// Float64 returns the numeric value of this literal truncated to fit
-// a float64.
-//
-func (l *Literal) Float64() float64 {
-	f, _ := exact.Float64Val(l.Value)
-	return f
-}
-
-// Complex128 returns the complex value of this literal truncated to
-// fit a complex128.
-//
-func (l *Literal) Complex128() complex128 {
-	re, _ := exact.Float64Val(exact.Real(l.Value))
-	im, _ := exact.Float64Val(exact.Imag(l.Value))
-	return complex(re, im)
-}
diff --git a/ssa/print.go b/ssa/print.go
index 2fba1a8a..d0a46a34 100644
--- a/ssa/print.go
+++ b/ssa/print.go
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@ func relName(v Value, i Instruction) string {
 // This method is provided only for debugging.
 // It never appears in disassembly, which uses Value.Name().
 
-func (v *Literal) String() string {
+func (v *Const) String() string {
 	return v.Name()
 }
 
@@ -379,7 +379,7 @@ func (p *Package) DumpTo(w io.Writer) {
 	sort.Strings(names)
 	for _, name := range names {
 		switch mem := p.Members[name].(type) {
-		case *Constant:
+		case *NamedConst:
 			fmt.Fprintf(w, "  const %-*s %s = %s\n", maxname, name, mem.Name(), mem.Value.Name())
 
 		case *Function:
diff --git a/ssa/sanity.go b/ssa/sanity.go
index 0d326e2c..8869befa 100644
--- a/ssa/sanity.go
+++ b/ssa/sanity.go
@@ -173,8 +173,8 @@ func (s *sanity) checkInstr(idx int, instr Instruction) {
 		}
 	}
 
-	// TODO(adonovan): sanity-check Literals used as instruction Operands(),
-	// e.g. reject Literals with "untyped" types.
+	// TODO(adonovan): sanity-check Consts used as instruction Operands(),
+	// e.g. reject Consts with "untyped" types.
 	//
 	// All other non-Instruction Values can be found via their
 	// enclosing Function or Package.
diff --git a/ssa/source.go b/ssa/source.go
index f3f2ca91..914a08d8 100644
--- a/ssa/source.go
+++ b/ssa/source.go
@@ -201,7 +201,7 @@ func (prog *Program) Package(obj *types.Package) *Package {
 
 // packageLevelValue returns the package-level value corresponding to
 // the specified named object, which may be a package-level const
-// (*Literal), var (*Global) or func (*Function) of some package in
+// (*Const), var (*Global) or func (*Function) of some package in
 // prog.  It returns nil if the object is not found.
 //
 func (prog *Program) packageLevelValue(obj types.Object) Value {
@@ -233,21 +233,21 @@ func (prog *Program) FuncValue(obj *types.Func) Value {
 }
 
 // ConstValue returns the SSA Value denoted by the source-level named
-// constant obj.  The result may be a *Literal, or nil if not found.
+// constant obj.  The result may be a *Const, or nil if not found.
 //
-func (prog *Program) ConstValue(obj *types.Const) *Literal {
+func (prog *Program) ConstValue(obj *types.Const) *Const {
 	// TODO(adonovan): opt: share (don't reallocate)
-	// Literals for const objects.
+	// Consts for const objects.
 
 	// Universal constant? {true,false,nil}
 	if obj.Parent() == types.Universe {
-		return NewLiteral(obj.Val(), obj.Type())
+		return NewConst(obj.Val(), obj.Type())
 	}
 	// Package-level named constant?
 	if v := prog.packageLevelValue(obj); v != nil {
-		return v.(*Literal)
+		return v.(*Const)
 	}
-	return NewLiteral(obj.Val(), obj.Type())
+	return NewConst(obj.Val(), obj.Type())
 }
 
 // VarValue returns the SSA Value that corresponds to a specific
diff --git a/ssa/source_test.go b/ssa/source_test.go
index 8ed82b20..b76fe08c 100644
--- a/ssa/source_test.go
+++ b/ssa/source_test.go
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ func TestObjValueLookup(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 
 	// Maps each var Ident (represented "name:linenum") to the
-	// kind of ssa.Value we expect (represented "Literal", "&Alloc").
+	// kind of ssa.Value we expect (represented "Constant", "&Alloc").
 	expectations := make(map[string]string)
 
 	// Find all annotations of form x::BinOp, &y::Alloc, etc.
@@ -127,20 +127,20 @@ func checkFuncValue(t *testing.T, prog *ssa.Program, obj *types.Func) {
 }
 
 func checkConstValue(t *testing.T, prog *ssa.Program, obj *types.Const) {
-	lit := prog.ConstValue(obj)
-	// fmt.Printf("ConstValue(%s) = %s\n", obj, lit) // debugging
-	if lit == nil {
+	c := prog.ConstValue(obj)
+	// fmt.Printf("ConstValue(%s) = %s\n", obj, c) // debugging
+	if c == nil {
 		t.Errorf("ConstValue(%s) == nil", obj)
 		return
 	}
-	if !types.IsIdentical(lit.Type(), obj.Type()) {
-		t.Errorf("ConstValue(%s).Type() == %s", obj, lit.Type())
+	if !types.IsIdentical(c.Type(), obj.Type()) {
+		t.Errorf("ConstValue(%s).Type() == %s", obj, c.Type())
 		return
 	}
 	if obj.Name() != "nil" {
-		if !exact.Compare(lit.Value, token.EQL, obj.Val()) {
+		if !exact.Compare(c.Value, token.EQL, obj.Val()) {
 			t.Errorf("ConstValue(%s).Value (%s) != %s",
-				obj, lit.Value, obj.Val())
+				obj, c.Value, obj.Val())
 			return
 		}
 	}
diff --git a/ssa/ssa.go b/ssa/ssa.go
index 54728351..bd4b4723 100644
--- a/ssa/ssa.go
+++ b/ssa/ssa.go
@@ -50,7 +50,7 @@ type Package struct {
 	info    *importer.PackageInfo // package ASTs and type information
 }
 
-// A Member is a member of a Go package, implemented by *Constant,
+// A Member is a member of a Go package, implemented by *NamedConst,
 // *Global, *Function, or *Type; they are created by package-level
 // const, var, func and type declarations respectively.
 //
@@ -100,18 +100,18 @@ type Type struct {
 	object *types.TypeName
 }
 
-// A Constant is a Member of Package representing a package-level
-// constant value.
+// A NamedConst is a Member of Package representing a package-level
+// named constant value.
 //
 // Pos() returns the position of the declaring ast.ValueSpec.Names[*]
 // identifier.
 //
-// NB: a Constant is not a Value; it contains a literal Value, which
+// NB: a NamedConst is not a Value; it contains a constant Value, which
 // it augments with the name and position of its 'const' declaration.
 //
-type Constant struct {
+type NamedConst struct {
 	object *types.Const
-	Value  *Literal
+	Value  *Const
 	pos    token.Pos
 }
 
@@ -123,7 +123,7 @@ type Value interface {
 	//
 	// This is the same as the source name for Parameters,
 	// Builtins, Functions, Captures, Globals and some Allocs.
-	// For literals, it is a representation of the literal's value
+	// For constants, it is a representation of the constant's value
 	// and type.  For all other Values this is the name of the
 	// virtual register defined by the instruction.
 	//
@@ -151,7 +151,7 @@ type Value interface {
 	//
 	// Referrers is currently only defined for the function-local
 	// values Capture, Parameter and all value-defining instructions.
-	// It returns nil for Function, Builtin, Literal and Global.
+	// It returns nil for Function, Builtin, Const and Global.
 	//
 	// Instruction.Operands contains the inverse of this relation.
 	Referrers() *[]Instruction
@@ -358,22 +358,22 @@ type Parameter struct {
 	referrers []Instruction
 }
 
-// A Literal represents the value of a constant expression.
+// A Const represents the value of a constant expression.
 //
 // It may have a nil, boolean, string or numeric (integer, fraction or
 // complex) value, or a []byte or []rune conversion of a string
-// literal.
+// constant.
 //
-// Literals may be of named types.  A literal's underlying type can be
+// Consts may be of named types.  A constant's underlying type can be
 // a basic type, possibly one of the "untyped" types, or a slice type
-// whose elements' underlying type is byte or rune.  A nil literal can
+// whose elements' underlying type is byte or rune.  A nil constant can
 // have any reference type: interface, map, channel, pointer, slice,
 // or function---but not "untyped nil".
 //
-// All source-level constant expressions are represented by a Literal
+// All source-level constant expressions are represented by a Const
 // of equal type and value.
 //
-// Value holds the exact value of the literal, independent of its
+// Value holds the exact value of the constant, independent of its
 // Type(), using the same representation as package go/exact uses for
 // constants.
 //
@@ -384,7 +384,7 @@ type Parameter struct {
 //	"hello":untyped string
 //	3+4i:MyComplex
 //
-type Literal struct {
+type Const struct {
 	typ   types.Type
 	Value exact.Value
 }
@@ -619,7 +619,7 @@ type ChangeInterface struct {
 // Use Program.MethodSet(X.Type()) to find the method-set of X.
 //
 // To construct the zero value of an interface type T, use:
-// 	NewLiteral(exact.MakeNil(), T, pos)
+// 	NewConst(exact.MakeNil(), T, pos)
 //
 // Pos() returns the ast.CallExpr.Lparen, if the instruction arose
 // from an explicit conversion in the source.
@@ -1384,14 +1384,14 @@ func (t *Type) String() string {
 	return fmt.Sprintf("%s.%s", t.object.Pkg().Path(), t.object.Name())
 }
 
-func (c *Constant) Name() string   { return c.object.Name() }
-func (c *Constant) Pos() token.Pos { return c.object.Pos() }
-func (c *Constant) String() string {
+func (c *NamedConst) Name() string   { return c.object.Name() }
+func (c *NamedConst) Pos() token.Pos { return c.object.Pos() }
+func (c *NamedConst) String() string {
 	return fmt.Sprintf("%s.%s", c.object.Pkg().Path(), c.object.Name())
 }
-func (c *Constant) Type() types.Type     { return c.object.Type() }
-func (c *Constant) Token() token.Token   { return token.CONST }
-func (c *Constant) Object() types.Object { return c.object }
+func (c *NamedConst) Type() types.Type     { return c.object.Type() }
+func (c *NamedConst) Token() token.Token   { return token.CONST }
+func (c *NamedConst) Object() types.Object { return c.object }
 
 // Func returns the package-level function of the specified name,
 // or nil if not found.
@@ -1412,8 +1412,8 @@ func (p *Package) Var(name string) (g *Global) {
 // Const returns the package-level constant of the specified name,
 // or nil if not found.
 //
-func (p *Package) Const(name string) (c *Constant) {
-	c, _ = p.Members[name].(*Constant)
+func (p *Package) Const(name string) (c *NamedConst) {
+	c, _ = p.Members[name].(*NamedConst)
 	return
 }
 
diff --git a/ssa/testdata/objlookup.go b/ssa/testdata/objlookup.go
index 86eec80c..560c30df 100644
--- a/ssa/testdata/objlookup.go
+++ b/ssa/testdata/objlookup.go
@@ -35,28 +35,28 @@ type S struct {
 }
 
 func main() {
-	var v0 int = 1 // v0::Literal (simple local value spec)
-	if v0 > 0 {    // v0::Literal
-		v0 = 2 // v0::Literal
+	var v0 int = 1 // v0::Const (simple local value spec)
+	if v0 > 0 {    // v0::Const
+		v0 = 2 // v0::Const
 	}
 	print(v0) // v0::Phi
 
 	// v1 is captured and thus implicitly address-taken.
-	var v1 int = 1         // v1::Literal
-	v1 = 2                 // v1::Literal
+	var v1 int = 1         // v1::Const
+	v1 = 2                 // v1::Const
 	fmt.Println(v1)        // v1::UnOp (load)
 	f := func(param int) { // f::MakeClosure param::Parameter
-		if y := 1; y > 0 { // y::Literal
+		if y := 1; y > 0 { // y::Const
 			print(v1, param) // v1::UnOp (load) param::Parameter
 		}
-		param = 2      // param::Literal
-		println(param) // param::Literal
+		param = 2      // param::Const
+		println(param) // param::Const
 	}
 
 	f(0) // f::MakeClosure
 
-	var v2 int // v2::Literal (implicitly zero-initialized local value spec)
-	print(v2)  // v2::Literal
+	var v2 int // v2::Const (implicitly zero-initialized local value spec)
+	print(v2)  // v2::Const
 
 	m := make(map[string]int) // m::MakeMap
 
@@ -68,9 +68,9 @@ func main() {
 	v3++    // v3::BinOp (assign with op)
 	v3 += 2 // v3::BinOp (assign with op)
 
-	v5, v6 := false, "" // v5::Literal v6::Literal (defining assignment)
-	print(v5)           // v5::Literal
-	print(v6)           // v6::Literal
+	v5, v6 := false, "" // v5::Const v6::Const (defining assignment)
+	print(v5)           // v5::Const
+	print(v6)           // v6::Const
 
 	var v7 S // v7::UnOp (load from Alloc)
 	v7.x = 1 // &v7::Alloc
@@ -88,8 +88,8 @@ func main() {
 
 	v10 := &v9 // v10::Alloc &v9::Alloc
 
-	var v11 *J = nil // v11::Literal
-	v11.method()     // v11::Literal
+	var v11 *J = nil // v11::Const
+	v11.method()     // v11::Const
 
 	var v12 J    // v12::UnOp (load from Alloc)
 	v12.method() // &v12::Alloc (implicitly address-taken)
@@ -100,7 +100,7 @@ func main() {
 		println(v13) // v13::nil
 	}
 
-	switch x := 1; x { // x::Literal
+	switch x := 1; x { // x::Const
 	case v0: // v0::Phi
 	}
 
@@ -108,10 +108,10 @@ func main() {
 		v++ // v::BinOp
 	}
 
-	if y := 0; y > 1 { // y::Literal y::Literal
+	if y := 0; y > 1 { // y::Const y::Const
 	}
 
-	var i interface{}      // i::Literal (nil interface)
+	var i interface{}      // i::Const (nil interface)
 	i = 1                  // i::MakeInterface
 	switch i := i.(type) { // i::MakeInterface i::MakeInterface
 	case int: