diff --git a/tests/test_get_related_func.cpp b/tests/test_get_related_func.cpp
index c47d8b6..30eb362 100644
--- a/tests/test_get_related_func.cpp
+++ b/tests/test_get_related_func.cpp
@@ -45,21 +45,194 @@ BOOST_AUTO_TEST_CASE(test_find)
 
 BOOST_AUTO_TEST_CASE(test_get_or)
 {
-    {
-        toml::table v{{"num", 42}};
-        BOOST_CHECK_EQUAL(42, toml::get_or<int>(v, "num", 0));
-        BOOST_CHECK_EQUAL(0,  toml::get_or<int>(v, "foo", 0));
-    }
-    {
-        toml::value v = toml::table{{"num", 42}};
-        BOOST_CHECK_EQUAL(42, toml::get_or<int>(v, "num", 0));
-        BOOST_CHECK_EQUAL(0,  toml::get_or<int>(v, "foo", 0));
-    }
+    // requires conversion int -> uint
     {
         toml::value v1(42);
         toml::value v2(3.14);
-        BOOST_CHECK_EQUAL(42, toml::get_or<int>(v1, 0));
-        BOOST_CHECK_EQUAL(0,  toml::get_or<int>(v2, 0));
+        BOOST_CHECK_EQUAL(42u, toml::get_or(v1, 0u));
+        BOOST_CHECK_EQUAL(0u,  toml::get_or(v2, 0u));
+    }
+
+    // exact toml type
+    {
+        toml::value v1(42);
+        toml::value v2(3.14);
+
+        toml::integer opt(0);
+        BOOST_CHECK_EQUAL(42, toml::get_or(v1, opt));
+        BOOST_CHECK_EQUAL(0,  toml::get_or(v2, opt));
+
+        toml::value v3("foobar");
+        toml::string s("bazqux");
+
+        BOOST_CHECK_EQUAL("foobar", toml::get_or(v3, s));
+        BOOST_CHECK_EQUAL("bazqux", toml::get_or(v1, s));
+
+    }
+
+    // std::string
+    {
+        toml::value v1("foobar");
+        toml::value v2(42);
+
+        std::string       s1("bazqux");
+        const std::string s2("bazqux");
+
+        BOOST_CHECK_EQUAL("foobar", toml::get_or(v1, s1));
+        BOOST_CHECK_EQUAL("bazqux", toml::get_or(v2, s1));
+
+        std::string& v1r = toml::get_or(v1, s1);
+        std::string& s1r = toml::get_or(v2, s1);
+
+        BOOST_CHECK_EQUAL("foobar", v1r);
+        BOOST_CHECK_EQUAL("bazqux", s1r);
+
+        BOOST_CHECK_EQUAL("foobar", toml::get_or(v1, s2));
+        BOOST_CHECK_EQUAL("bazqux", toml::get_or(v2, s2));
+
+        BOOST_CHECK_EQUAL("foobar", toml::get_or(v1, std::move(s1)));
+        BOOST_CHECK_EQUAL("bazqux", toml::get_or(v2, std::move(s1)));
+    }
+
+    // string literal
+    {
+        toml::value v1("foobar");
+        toml::value v2(42);
+
+        BOOST_CHECK_EQUAL("foobar", toml::get_or(v1, "bazqux"));
+        BOOST_CHECK_EQUAL("bazqux", toml::get_or(v2, "bazqux"));
+
+        const char* lit = "bazqux";
+        BOOST_CHECK_EQUAL("foobar", toml::get_or(v1, lit));
+        BOOST_CHECK_EQUAL("bazqux", toml::get_or(v2, lit));
+    }
+}
+
+BOOST_AUTO_TEST_CASE(test_find_or)
+{
+    // ========================================================================
+    // pass toml::value
+    //
+    // requires conversion int -> uint
+    {
+        toml::table v{{"num", 42}};
+        BOOST_CHECK_EQUAL(42u, toml::find_or(v, "num", 0u));
+        BOOST_CHECK_EQUAL(0u,  toml::find_or(v, "foo", 0u));
+    }
+    // exact toml type
+    {
+        toml::table v1{{"key", 42  }};
+        toml::table v2{{"key", 3.14}};
+        toml::table v3{{"not", "key"}};
+
+        toml::integer opt(0);
+        BOOST_CHECK_EQUAL(42, toml::find_or(v1, "key", opt));
+        BOOST_CHECK_EQUAL(0,  toml::find_or(v2, "key", opt));
+        BOOST_CHECK_EQUAL(0,  toml::find_or(v3, "key", opt));
+
+        toml::table v4{{"str", "foobar"}};
+        toml::string s("bazqux");
+
+        BOOST_CHECK_EQUAL("foobar", toml::find_or(v4, "str", s));
+        BOOST_CHECK_EQUAL("bazqux", toml::find_or(v1, "str", s));
+    }
+    // std::string
+    {
+        toml::table v1{{"key", "foobar"}};
+        toml::table v2{{"key", 42}};
+
+        std::string       s1("bazqux");
+        const std::string s2("bazqux");
+
+        BOOST_CHECK_EQUAL("foobar", toml::find_or(v1, "key", s1));
+        BOOST_CHECK_EQUAL("bazqux", toml::find_or(v2, "key", s1));
+
+        std::string& v1r = toml::find_or(v1, "key", s1);
+        std::string& s1r = toml::find_or(v2, "key", s1);
+
+        BOOST_CHECK_EQUAL("foobar", v1r);
+        BOOST_CHECK_EQUAL("bazqux", s1r);
+
+        BOOST_CHECK_EQUAL("foobar", toml::find_or(v1, "key", s2));
+        BOOST_CHECK_EQUAL("bazqux", toml::find_or(v2, "key", s2));
+
+        BOOST_CHECK_EQUAL("foobar", toml::find_or(std::move(v1), "key", std::move(s1)));
+        s1 = "bazqux"; // restoring moved value
+        BOOST_CHECK_EQUAL("bazqux", toml::find_or(std::move(v2), "key", std::move(s1)));
+    }
+    // string literal
+    {
+        toml::table v1{{"key", "foobar"}};
+        toml::table v2{{"key",42}};
+
+        BOOST_CHECK_EQUAL("foobar", toml::find_or(v1, "key", "bazqux"));
+        BOOST_CHECK_EQUAL("bazqux", toml::find_or(v2, "key", "bazqux"));
+
+        const char* lit = "bazqux";
+        BOOST_CHECK_EQUAL("foobar", toml::find_or(v1, "key", lit));
+        BOOST_CHECK_EQUAL("bazqux", toml::find_or(v2, "key", lit));
+    }
+
+    // ========================================================================
+    // pass toml::value
+    //
+    // requires conversion int -> uint
+    {
+        toml::table v = toml::table{{"num", 42}};
+        BOOST_CHECK_EQUAL(42u, toml::find_or(v, "num", 0u));
+        BOOST_CHECK_EQUAL(0u,  toml::find_or(v, "foo", 0u));
+    }
+    // exact toml type
+    {
+        toml::value v1 = toml::table{{"key", 42  }};
+        toml::value v2 = toml::table{{"key", 3.14}};
+        toml::value v3 = toml::table{{"not", "key"}};
+
+        BOOST_CHECK_EQUAL(42, toml::find_or(v1, "key", toml::integer(0)));
+        BOOST_CHECK_EQUAL( 0, toml::find_or(v2, "key", toml::integer(0)));
+        BOOST_CHECK_EQUAL( 0, toml::find_or(v3, "key", toml::integer(0)));
+
+        toml::value v4 = toml::table{{"str", "foobar"}};
+        toml::string s("bazqux");
+
+        BOOST_CHECK_EQUAL("foobar", toml::find_or(v4, "str", s));
+        BOOST_CHECK_EQUAL("bazqux", toml::find_or(v1, "str", s));
+    }
+    // std::string
+    {
+        toml::value v1 = toml::table{{"key", "foobar"}};
+        toml::value v2 = toml::table{{"key", 42}};
+
+        std::string       s1("bazqux");
+        const std::string s2("bazqux");
+
+        BOOST_CHECK_EQUAL("foobar", toml::find_or(v1, "key", s1));
+        BOOST_CHECK_EQUAL("bazqux", toml::find_or(v2, "key", s1));
+
+        std::string& v1r = toml::find_or(v1, "key", s1);
+        std::string& s1r = toml::find_or(v2, "key", s1);
+
+        BOOST_CHECK_EQUAL("foobar", v1r);
+        BOOST_CHECK_EQUAL("bazqux", s1r);
+
+        BOOST_CHECK_EQUAL("foobar", toml::find_or(v1, "key", s2));
+        BOOST_CHECK_EQUAL("bazqux", toml::find_or(v2, "key", s2));
+
+        BOOST_CHECK_EQUAL("foobar", toml::find_or(std::move(v1), "key", std::move(s1)));
+        s1 = "bazqux"; // restoring moved value
+        BOOST_CHECK_EQUAL("bazqux", toml::find_or(std::move(v2), "key", std::move(s1)));
+    }
+    // string literal
+    {
+        toml::value v1 = toml::table{{"key", "foobar"}};
+        toml::value v2 = toml::table{{"key",42}};
+
+        BOOST_CHECK_EQUAL("foobar", toml::find_or(v1, "key", "bazqux"));
+        BOOST_CHECK_EQUAL("bazqux", toml::find_or(v2, "key", "bazqux"));
+
+        const char* lit = "bazqux";
+        BOOST_CHECK_EQUAL("foobar", toml::find_or(v1, "key", lit));
+        BOOST_CHECK_EQUAL("bazqux", toml::find_or(v2, "key", lit));
     }
 }
 
diff --git a/toml/get.hpp b/toml/get.hpp
index 6aad019..ed211b0 100644
--- a/toml/get.hpp
+++ b/toml/get.hpp
@@ -420,13 +420,14 @@ find(toml::value&& v, const toml::key& ky)
 
 
 // ============================================================================
-// get_or
+// get_or(value, fallback)
 
-template<typename T>
-decltype(::toml::get<typename std::remove_cv<
-            typename std::remove_reference<T>::type>::type>(
-        std::declval<const toml::value&>()))
-get_or(const toml::value& v, T&& opt)
+// ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
+// specialization for the exact toml types (return type becomes lvalue ref)
+
+template<typename T, typename std::enable_if<
+    detail::is_exact_toml_type<T>::value, std::nullptr_t>::type = nullptr>
+T const& get_or(const toml::value& v, const T& opt)
 {
     try
     {
@@ -435,14 +436,12 @@ get_or(const toml::value& v, T&& opt)
     }
     catch(...)
     {
-        return std::forward<T>(opt);
+        return opt;
     }
 }
-template<typename T>
-decltype(::toml::get<typename std::remove_cv<
-            typename std::remove_reference<T>::type>::type>(
-        std::declval<toml::value&>()))
-get_or(toml::value& v, T&& opt)
+template<typename T, typename std::enable_if<
+    detail::is_exact_toml_type<T>::value, std::nullptr_t>::type = nullptr>
+T& get_or(toml::value& v, T& opt)
 {
     try
     {
@@ -451,77 +450,333 @@ get_or(toml::value& v, T&& opt)
     }
     catch(...)
     {
-        return std::forward<T>(opt);
+        return opt;
     }
 }
-template<typename T>
-decltype(::toml::get<typename std::remove_cv<
-            typename std::remove_reference<T>::type>::type>(
-        std::declval<toml::value&&>()))
-get_or(toml::value&& v, T&& opt)
+template<typename T, typename std::enable_if<
+    detail::is_exact_toml_type<T>::value, std::nullptr_t>::type = nullptr>
+T&& get_or(toml::value&& v, T&& opt)
 {
     try
     {
         return get<typename std::remove_cv<
-            typename std::remove_reference<T>::type>::type>(std::move(v));
+            typename std::remove_reference<T>::type>::type>(v);
     }
     catch(...)
     {
-        return std::forward<T>(opt);
+        return opt;
     }
 }
 
+// ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
+// specialization for std::string (return type becomes lvalue ref)
+
+template<typename T, typename std::enable_if<
+    std::is_same<T, std::string>::value, std::nullptr_t>::type = nullptr>
+std::string const& get_or(const toml::value& v, const T& opt)
+{
+    try
+    {
+        return get<std::string>(v);
+    }
+    catch(...)
+    {
+        return opt;
+    }
+}
+template<typename T, typename std::enable_if<
+    std::is_same<T, std::string>::value, std::nullptr_t>::type = nullptr>
+std::string& get_or(toml::value& v, T& opt)
+{
+    try
+    {
+        return get<std::string>(v);
+    }
+    catch(...)
+    {
+        return opt;
+    }
+}
+template<typename T, typename std::enable_if<
+    std::is_same<T, std::string>::value, std::nullptr_t>::type = nullptr>
+std::string get_or(toml::value&& v, T&& opt)
+{
+    try
+    {
+        return get<std::string>(v);
+    }
+    catch(...)
+    {
+        return opt;
+    }
+}
+template<typename T, typename std::enable_if<
+    detail::is_string_literal<typename std::remove_reference<T>::type>::value,
+    std::nullptr_t>::type = nullptr>
+std::string get_or(const toml::value& v, T&& opt)
+{
+    try
+    {
+        return get<std::string>(v);
+    }
+    catch(...)
+    {
+        return std::string(opt);
+    }
+}
+
+// ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
+// others (require type conversion and return type cannot be lvalue reference)
+
+template<typename T, typename std::enable_if<detail::conjunction<
+    detail::negation<detail::is_exact_toml_type<T>>,
+    detail::negation<std::is_same<T, std::string>>,
+    detail::negation<detail::is_string_literal<typename std::remove_reference<T>::type>>
+    >::value, std::nullptr_t>::type = nullptr>
+T get_or(const toml::value& v, T&& opt)
+{
+    try
+    {
+        return get<typename std::remove_cv<
+            typename std::remove_reference<T>::type>::type>(v);
+    }
+    catch(...)
+    {
+        return opt;
+    }
+}
+
+// ===========================================================================
+// get_or(table, key, fallback)
+//
+// DEPRECATED: use find_or instead.
 
 template<typename T>
+TOML11_MARK_AS_DEPRECATED("use toml::find_or(table, key, opt) instead.")
 auto get_or(const toml::table& tab, const toml::key& ky, T&& opt)
     -> decltype(get_or(std::declval<value const&>(), std::forward<T>(opt)))
 {
-    if(tab.count(ky) == 0) {return std::forward<T>(opt);}
+    if(tab.count(ky) == 0) {return opt;}
     return ::toml::get_or(tab.at(ky), std::forward<T>(opt));
 }
 template<typename T>
+TOML11_MARK_AS_DEPRECATED("use toml::find_or(table, key, opt) instead.")
 auto get_or(toml::table& tab, const toml::key& ky, T&& opt)
     -> decltype(get_or(std::declval<value&>(), std::forward<T>(opt)))
 {
-    if(tab.count(ky) == 0) {return std::forward<T>(opt);}
+    if(tab.count(ky) == 0) {return opt;}
     return ::toml::get_or(tab[ky], std::forward<T>(opt));
 }
 template<typename T>
+TOML11_MARK_AS_DEPRECATED("use toml::find_or(table, key, opt) instead.")
 auto get_or(toml::table&& tab, const toml::key& ky, T&& opt)
     -> decltype(get_or(std::declval<value&&>(), std::forward<T>(opt)))
 {
-    if(tab.count(ky) == 0) {return std::forward<T>(opt);}
+    if(tab.count(ky) == 0) {return opt;}
     return ::toml::get_or(std::move(tab[ky]), std::forward<T>(opt));
 }
 
 template<typename T>
+TOML11_MARK_AS_DEPRECATED("use toml::find_or(value, key, opt) instead.")
 auto get_or(const toml::value& v, const toml::key& ky, T&& opt)
     -> decltype(get_or(std::declval<value const&>(), std::forward<T>(opt)))
 {
-    if(v.type() != toml::value_t::Table){return std::forward<T>(opt);}
+    if(!v.is_table()) {return opt;}
     const auto& tab = toml::get<toml::table>(v);
-    if(tab.count(ky) == 0) {return std::forward<T>(opt);}
+    if(tab.count(ky) == 0) {return opt;}
     return ::toml::get_or(tab.at(ky), std::forward<T>(opt));
 }
 template<typename T>
+TOML11_MARK_AS_DEPRECATED("use toml::find_or(value, key, opt) instead.")
 auto get_or(toml::value& v, const toml::key& ky, T&& opt)
     -> decltype(get_or(std::declval<value&>(), std::forward<T>(opt)))
 {
-    if(v.type() != toml::value_t::Table){return std::forward<T>(opt);}
+    if(!v.is_table()) {return opt;}
     auto& tab = toml::get<toml::table>(v);
-    if(tab.count(ky) == 0) {return std::forward<T>(opt);}
+    if(tab.count(ky) == 0) {return opt;}
     return ::toml::get_or(tab[ky], std::forward<T>(opt));
 }
 template<typename T>
+TOML11_MARK_AS_DEPRECATED("use toml::find_or(value, key, opt) instead.")
 auto get_or(toml::value&& v, const toml::key& ky, T&& opt)
     -> decltype(get_or(std::declval<value&&>(), std::forward<T>(opt)))
 {
-    if(v.type() != toml::value_t::Table){return std::forward<T>(opt);}
+    if(!v.is_table()) {return opt;}
     auto tab = toml::get<toml::table>(std::move(v));
-    if(tab.count(ky) == 0) {return std::forward<T>(opt);}
+    if(tab.count(ky) == 0) {return opt;}
     return ::toml::get_or(std::move(tab[ky]), std::forward<T>(opt));
 }
 
+// ===========================================================================
+// find_or(value, key, fallback)
+
+// ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+// exact types (return type can be a reference)
+template<typename T, typename std::enable_if<
+    detail::is_exact_toml_type<T>::value, std::nullptr_t>::type = nullptr>
+T const& find_or(const toml::value& v, const toml::key& ky, const T& opt)
+{
+    if(!v.is_table()) {return opt;}
+    const auto& tab = toml::get<toml::table>(v);
+    if(tab.count(ky) == 0) {return opt;}
+    return get_or(tab.at(ky), opt);
+}
+
+template<typename T, typename std::enable_if<
+    detail::is_exact_toml_type<T>::value, std::nullptr_t>::type = nullptr>
+T& find_or(toml::value& v, const toml::key& ky, T& opt)
+{
+    if(!v.is_table()) {return opt;}
+    auto& tab = toml::get<toml::table>(v);
+    if(tab.count(ky) == 0) {return opt;}
+    return get_or(tab[ky], opt);
+}
+
+template<typename T, typename std::enable_if<
+    detail::is_exact_toml_type<T>::value, std::nullptr_t>::type = nullptr>
+T&& find_or(toml::value&& v, const toml::key& ky, T&& opt)
+{
+    if(!v.is_table()) {return opt;}
+    auto tab = toml::get<toml::table>(std::move(v));
+    if(tab.count(ky) == 0) {return opt;}
+    return get_or(std::move(tab[ky]), std::forward<T>(opt));
+}
+
+// ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+// std::string (return type can be a reference)
+template<typename T, typename std::enable_if<
+    std::is_same<T, std::string>::value, std::nullptr_t>::type = nullptr>
+std::string const& find_or(const toml::value& v, const toml::key& ky, const T& opt)
+{
+    if(!v.is_table()) {return opt;}
+    const auto& tab = toml::get<toml::table>(v);
+    if(tab.count(ky) == 0) {return opt;}
+    return get_or(tab.at(ky), opt);
+}
+template<typename T, typename std::enable_if<
+    std::is_same<T, std::string>::value, std::nullptr_t>::type = nullptr>
+std::string& find_or(toml::value& v, const toml::key& ky, T& opt)
+{
+    if(!v.is_table()) {return opt;}
+    auto& tab = toml::get<toml::table>(v);
+    if(tab.count(ky) == 0) {return opt;}
+    return get_or(tab[ky], opt);
+}
+template<typename T, typename std::enable_if<
+    std::is_same<T, std::string>::value, std::nullptr_t>::type = nullptr>
+std::string find_or(toml::value&& v, const toml::key& ky, T&& opt)
+{
+    if(!v.is_table()) {return opt;}
+    auto tab = toml::get<toml::table>(std::move(v));
+    if(tab.count(ky) == 0) {return opt;}
+    return get_or(std::move(tab[ky]), std::forward<T>(opt));
+}
+
+// ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+// string literal (deduced as std::string)
+template<typename T, typename std::enable_if<
+    detail::is_string_literal<typename std::remove_reference<T>::type>::value,
+    std::nullptr_t>::type = nullptr>
+std::string find_or(const toml::value& v, const toml::key& ky, T&& opt)
+{
+    if(!v.is_table()) {return opt;}
+    const auto& tab = toml::get<toml::table>(v);
+    if(tab.count(ky) == 0) {return std::string(opt);}
+    return get_or(tab.at(ky), std::forward<T>(opt));
+}
+
+// ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+// others (require type conversion and return type cannot be lvalue reference)
+template<typename T, typename std::enable_if<detail::conjunction<
+    detail::negation<detail::is_exact_toml_type<T>>,
+    detail::negation<std::is_same<T, std::string>>,
+    detail::negation<detail::is_string_literal<typename std::remove_reference<T>::type>>
+    >::value, std::nullptr_t>::type = nullptr>
+T find_or(const toml::value& v, const toml::key& ky, T&& opt)
+{
+    if(!v.is_table()) {return opt;}
+    const auto& tab = toml::get<toml::table>(v);
+    if(tab.count(ky) == 0) {return opt;}
+    return get_or(tab.at(ky), std::forward<T>(opt));
+}
+
+// ===========================================================================
+// find_or(table, key, opt)
+
+// ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+// exact types (return type can be a reference)
+template<typename T, typename std::enable_if<
+    detail::is_exact_toml_type<T>::value, std::nullptr_t>::type = nullptr>
+T const& find_or(const toml::table& tab, const toml::key& ky, const T& opt)
+{
+    if(tab.count(ky) == 0) {return opt;}
+    return get_or(tab.at(ky), opt);
+}
+
+template<typename T, typename std::enable_if<
+    detail::is_exact_toml_type<T>::value, std::nullptr_t>::type = nullptr>
+T& find_or(toml::table& tab, const toml::key& ky, T& opt)
+{
+    if(tab.count(ky) == 0) {return opt;}
+    return get_or(tab[ky], opt);
+}
+
+template<typename T, typename std::enable_if<
+    detail::is_exact_toml_type<T>::value, std::nullptr_t>::type = nullptr>
+T&& find_or(toml::table&& tab, const toml::key& ky, T&& opt)
+{
+    if(tab.count(ky) == 0) {return opt;}
+    return get_or(std::move(tab[ky]), std::forward<T>(opt));
+}
+
+// ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+// std::string (return type can be a reference)
+template<typename T, typename std::enable_if<
+    std::is_same<T, std::string>::value, std::nullptr_t>::type = nullptr>
+std::string const& find_or(const toml::table& tab, const toml::key& ky, const T& opt)
+{
+    if(tab.count(ky) == 0) {return opt;}
+    return get_or(tab.at(ky), opt);
+}
+template<typename T, typename std::enable_if<
+    std::is_same<T, std::string>::value, std::nullptr_t>::type = nullptr>
+std::string& find_or(toml::table& tab, const toml::key& ky, T& opt)
+{
+    if(tab.count(ky) == 0) {return opt;}
+    return get_or(tab[ky], opt);
+}
+template<typename T, typename std::enable_if<
+    std::is_same<T, std::string>::value, std::nullptr_t>::type = nullptr>
+std::string find_or(toml::table&& tab, const toml::key& ky, T&& opt)
+{
+    if(tab.count(ky) == 0) {return opt;}
+    return get_or(std::move(tab[ky]), std::forward<T>(opt));
+}
+
+// ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+// string literal (deduced as std::string)
+template<typename T, typename std::enable_if<
+    detail::is_string_literal<typename std::remove_reference<T>::type>::value,
+    std::nullptr_t>::type = nullptr>
+std::string find_or(const toml::table& tab, const toml::key& ky, T&& opt)
+{
+    if(tab.count(ky) == 0) {return std::string(opt);}
+    return get_or(tab.at(ky), std::forward<T>(opt));
+}
+
+// ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+// others (require type conversion and return type cannot be lvalue reference)
+template<typename T, typename std::enable_if<detail::conjunction<
+    detail::negation<detail::is_exact_toml_type<T>>,
+    detail::negation<std::is_same<T, std::string>>,
+    detail::negation<detail::is_string_literal<typename std::remove_reference<T>::type>>
+    >::value, std::nullptr_t>::type = nullptr>
+T find_or(const toml::table& tab, const toml::key& ky, T&& opt)
+{
+    if(tab.count(ky) == 0) {return opt;}
+    return get_or(tab.at(ky), std::forward<T>(opt));
+}
+
 // ============================================================================
 // expect
 
diff --git a/toml/traits.hpp b/toml/traits.hpp
index 7f8f413..7f5654b 100644
--- a/toml/traits.hpp
+++ b/toml/traits.hpp
@@ -169,6 +169,21 @@ using return_type_of_t = typename std::result_of<F(Args...)>::type;
 
 #endif
 
+// ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+// is_string_literal
+//
+// to use this, pass `typename remove_reference<T>::type` to T.
+
+template<typename T>
+struct is_string_literal:
+disjunction<
+    std::is_same<const char*, T>,
+    conjunction<
+        std::is_array<T>,
+        std::is_same<const char, typename std::remove_extent<T>::type>
+        >
+    >{};
+
 }// detail
 }//toml
 #endif // TOML_TRAITS
diff --git a/toml/utility.hpp b/toml/utility.hpp
index 01fe6d7..238a87d 100644
--- a/toml/utility.hpp
+++ b/toml/utility.hpp
@@ -8,11 +8,11 @@
 #include <sstream>
 
 #if __cplusplus >= 201402L
-#  define TOML11_MARK_AS_DEPRECATED [[deprecated]]
+#  define TOML11_MARK_AS_DEPRECATED(msg) [[deprecated(msg)]]
 #elif defined(__GNUC__)
-#  define TOML11_MARK_AS_DEPRECATED __attribute__((deprecated))
+#  define TOML11_MARK_AS_DEPRECATED(msg) __attribute__((deprecated(msg)))
 #elif defined(_MSC_VER)
-#  define TOML11_MARK_AS_DEPRECATED __declspec(deprecated)
+#  define TOML11_MARK_AS_DEPRECATED(msg) __declspec(deprecated(msg))
 #else
 #  define TOML11_MARK_AS_DEPRECATED
 #endif