diff --git a/.github/workflows/main.yml b/.github/workflows/main.yml
index 5a9a0b0..04ab80b 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/main.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/main.yml
@@ -58,6 +58,7 @@ jobs:
             - {compiler: '5.0', standard: '20'}
             - {compiler: '6.0', standard: '20'}
             - {compiler: '7',   standard: '20'}
+            - {compiler: '8',   standard: '20'}
     steps:
       - name: Checkout
         uses: actions/checkout@v2
diff --git a/tests/test_comments.cpp b/tests/test_comments.cpp
index 7438cae..635783a 100644
--- a/tests/test_comments.cpp
+++ b/tests/test_comments.cpp
@@ -190,7 +190,7 @@ BOOST_AUTO_TEST_CASE(test_discard_comment)
     )";
 
     std::istringstream iss(file);
-    const auto v = toml::parse(iss);
+    const auto v = toml::parse<toml::discard_comments>(iss);
 
     const auto& a  = toml::find(v, "a");
     const auto& b  = toml::find(v, "b");
diff --git a/tests/test_find.cpp b/tests/test_find.cpp
index 5582da8..238390c 100644
--- a/tests/test_find.cpp
+++ b/tests/test_find.cpp
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@
 #include <tuple>
 
 using test_value_types = std::tuple<
-    toml::value,
+    toml::basic_value<toml::discard_comments>,
     toml::basic_value<toml::preserve_comments>,
     toml::basic_value<toml::discard_comments,  std::map, std::deque>,
     toml::basic_value<toml::preserve_comments, std::map, std::deque>
diff --git a/tests/test_find_or.cpp b/tests/test_find_or.cpp
index 434f943..72e5450 100644
--- a/tests/test_find_or.cpp
+++ b/tests/test_find_or.cpp
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@
 #endif
 
 using test_value_types = std::tuple<
-    toml::value,
+    toml::basic_value<toml::discard_comments>,
     toml::basic_value<toml::preserve_comments>,
     toml::basic_value<toml::discard_comments,  std::map, std::deque>,
     toml::basic_value<toml::preserve_comments, std::map, std::deque>
diff --git a/tests/test_get.cpp b/tests/test_get.cpp
index 0749fd4..9a795f2 100644
--- a/tests/test_get.cpp
+++ b/tests/test_get.cpp
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@
 #endif
 
 using test_value_types = std::tuple<
-    toml::value,
+    toml::basic_value<toml::discard_comments>,
     toml::basic_value<toml::preserve_comments>,
     toml::basic_value<toml::discard_comments,  std::map, std::deque>,
     toml::basic_value<toml::preserve_comments, std::map, std::deque>
diff --git a/tests/test_get_or.cpp b/tests/test_get_or.cpp
index 82e4839..a709ae7 100644
--- a/tests/test_get_or.cpp
+++ b/tests/test_get_or.cpp
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@
 #endif
 
 using test_value_types = std::tuple<
-    toml::value,
+    toml::basic_value<toml::discard_comments>,
     toml::basic_value<toml::preserve_comments>,
     toml::basic_value<toml::discard_comments,  std::map, std::deque>,
     toml::basic_value<toml::preserve_comments, std::map, std::deque>
diff --git a/tests/test_parse_array.cpp b/tests/test_parse_array.cpp
index 2723b89..a75a6f1 100644
--- a/tests/test_parse_array.cpp
+++ b/tests/test_parse_array.cpp
@@ -71,62 +71,153 @@ BOOST_AUTO_TEST_CASE(test_oneline_array_value)
 
 BOOST_AUTO_TEST_CASE(test_multiline_array)
 {
-    TOML11_TEST_PARSE_EQUAL(parse_array<toml::value>, "[\n#comment\n]", array());
+    TOML11_TEST_PARSE_EQUAL(parse_array<basic_value< discard_comments>>, "[\n#comment\n]", typename basic_value< discard_comments>::array_type());
+    TOML11_TEST_PARSE_EQUAL(parse_array<basic_value<preserve_comments>>, "[\n#comment\n]", typename basic_value<preserve_comments>::array_type());
+
     {
-        array a(5);
-        a[0] = toml::value(3); a[1] = toml::value(1); a[2] = toml::value(4);
-        a[3] = toml::value(1); a[4] = toml::value(5);
-        TOML11_TEST_PARSE_EQUAL(parse_array<toml::value>, "[3,\n1,\n4,\n1,\n5]", a);
+        typename basic_value<discard_comments>::array_type a(5);
+        a[0] = basic_value<discard_comments>(3);
+        a[1] = basic_value<discard_comments>(1);
+        a[2] = basic_value<discard_comments>(4);
+        a[3] = basic_value<discard_comments>(1);
+        a[4] = basic_value<discard_comments>(5);
+        TOML11_TEST_PARSE_EQUAL(parse_array<basic_value<discard_comments>>, "[3,\n1,\n4,\n1,\n5]", a);
     }
     {
-        array a(3);
-        a[0] = toml::value("foo"); a[1] = toml::value("bar");
-        a[2] = toml::value("baz");
-        TOML11_TEST_PARSE_EQUAL(parse_array<toml::value>, "[\"foo\",\n\"bar\",\n\"baz\"]", a);
+        typename basic_value<preserve_comments>::array_type a(5);
+        a[0] = basic_value<preserve_comments>(3);
+        a[1] = basic_value<preserve_comments>(1);
+        a[2] = basic_value<preserve_comments>(4);
+        a[3] = basic_value<preserve_comments>(1);
+        a[4] = basic_value<preserve_comments>(5);
+        TOML11_TEST_PARSE_EQUAL(parse_array<basic_value<preserve_comments>>, "[3,\n1,\n4,\n1,\n5]", a);
     }
 
     {
-        array a(5);
-        a[0] = toml::value(3); a[1] = toml::value(1); a[2] = toml::value(4);
-        a[3] = toml::value(1); a[4] = toml::value(5);
-        TOML11_TEST_PARSE_EQUAL(parse_array<toml::value>, "[3,#comment\n1,#comment\n4,#comment\n1,#comment\n5]", a);
+        typename basic_value<discard_comments>::array_type a(5);
+        a[0] = basic_value<discard_comments>(3);
+        a[1] = basic_value<discard_comments>(1);
+        a[2] = basic_value<discard_comments>(4);
+        a[3] = basic_value<discard_comments>(1);
+        a[4] = basic_value<discard_comments>(5);
+        TOML11_TEST_PARSE_EQUAL(parse_array<basic_value<discard_comments>>, "[3,#comment\n1,#comment\n4,#comment\n1,#comment\n5 #comment\n]", a);
     }
     {
-        array a(3);
-        a[0] = toml::value("foo"); a[1] = toml::value("b#r");
-        a[2] = toml::value("b#z");
-        TOML11_TEST_PARSE_EQUAL(parse_array<toml::value>, "[\"foo\",#comment\n\"b#r\",#comment\n\"b#z\"#comment\n]", a);
+        typename basic_value<preserve_comments>::array_type a(5);
+        a[0] = basic_value<preserve_comments>(3, {"comment"});
+        a[1] = basic_value<preserve_comments>(1, {"comment"});
+        a[2] = basic_value<preserve_comments>(4, {"comment"});
+        a[3] = basic_value<preserve_comments>(1, {"comment"});
+        a[4] = basic_value<preserve_comments>(5, {"comment"});
+        TOML11_TEST_PARSE_EQUAL(parse_array<basic_value<preserve_comments>>, "[3,#comment\n1,#comment\n4,#comment\n1,#comment\n5 #comment\n]", a);
+    }
+
+
+    {
+        typename basic_value<discard_comments>::array_type a(3);
+        a[0] = basic_value<discard_comments>("foo");
+        a[1] = basic_value<discard_comments>("bar");
+        a[2] = basic_value<discard_comments>("baz");
+        TOML11_TEST_PARSE_EQUAL(parse_array<basic_value<discard_comments>>, "[\"foo\",\n\"bar\",\n\"baz\"]", a);
+    }
+    {
+        typename basic_value<preserve_comments>::array_type a(3);
+        a[0] = basic_value<preserve_comments>("foo");
+        a[1] = basic_value<preserve_comments>("bar");
+        a[2] = basic_value<preserve_comments>("baz");
+        TOML11_TEST_PARSE_EQUAL(parse_array<basic_value<preserve_comments>>, "[\"foo\",\n\"bar\",\n\"baz\"]", a);
+    }
+
+    {
+        typename basic_value<discard_comments>::array_type a(3);
+        a[0] = basic_value<discard_comments>("foo");
+        a[1] = basic_value<discard_comments>("b#r");
+        a[2] = basic_value<discard_comments>("b#z");
+        TOML11_TEST_PARSE_EQUAL(parse_array<basic_value<discard_comments>>, "[\"foo\",#comment\n\"b#r\",#comment\n\"b#z\"#comment\n]", a);
+    }
+    {
+        typename basic_value<preserve_comments>::array_type a(3);
+        a[0] = basic_value<preserve_comments>("foo", {"comment"});
+        a[1] = basic_value<preserve_comments>("b#r", {"comment"});
+        a[2] = basic_value<preserve_comments>("b#z", {"comment"});
+        TOML11_TEST_PARSE_EQUAL(parse_array<basic_value<preserve_comments>>, "[\"foo\",#comment\n\"b#r\",#comment\n\"b#z\"#comment\n]", a);
     }
 }
 
 BOOST_AUTO_TEST_CASE(test_multiline_array_value)
 {
-    TOML11_TEST_PARSE_EQUAL_VALUE(parse_value<toml::value>, "[\n#comment\n]", toml::value(array()));
+    TOML11_TEST_PARSE_EQUAL_VALUE(parse_value<basic_value< discard_comments>>, "[\n#comment\n]", basic_value< discard_comments>(typename basic_value< discard_comments>::array_type()));
+    TOML11_TEST_PARSE_EQUAL_VALUE(parse_value<basic_value<preserve_comments>>, "[\n#comment\n]", basic_value<preserve_comments>(typename basic_value<preserve_comments>::array_type()));
+
     {
-        array a(5);
-        a[0] = toml::value(3); a[1] = toml::value(1); a[2] = toml::value(4);
-        a[3] = toml::value(1); a[4] = toml::value(5);
-        TOML11_TEST_PARSE_EQUAL_VALUE(parse_value<toml::value>, "[3,\n1,\n4,\n1,\n5]", toml::value(a));
+        typename basic_value<discard_comments>::array_type a(5);
+        a[0] = basic_value<discard_comments>(3);
+        a[1] = basic_value<discard_comments>(1);
+        a[2] = basic_value<discard_comments>(4);
+        a[3] = basic_value<discard_comments>(1);
+        a[4] = basic_value<discard_comments>(5);
+        TOML11_TEST_PARSE_EQUAL_VALUE(parse_value<basic_value<discard_comments>>, "[3,\n1,\n4,\n1,\n5]", basic_value<discard_comments>(a));
     }
     {
-        array a(3);
-        a[0] = toml::value("foo"); a[1] = toml::value("bar");
-        a[2] = toml::value("baz");
-        TOML11_TEST_PARSE_EQUAL_VALUE(parse_value<toml::value>, "[\"foo\",\n\"bar\",\n\"baz\"]", toml::value(a));
+        typename basic_value<preserve_comments>::array_type a(5);
+        a[0] = basic_value<preserve_comments>(3);
+        a[1] = basic_value<preserve_comments>(1);
+        a[2] = basic_value<preserve_comments>(4);
+        a[3] = basic_value<preserve_comments>(1);
+        a[4] = basic_value<preserve_comments>(5);
+        TOML11_TEST_PARSE_EQUAL_VALUE(parse_value<basic_value<preserve_comments>>, "[3,\n1,\n4,\n1,\n5]", basic_value<preserve_comments>(a));
     }
 
     {
-        array a(5);
-        a[0] = toml::value(3); a[1] = toml::value(1); a[2] = toml::value(4);
-        a[3] = toml::value(1); a[4] = toml::value(5);
-        TOML11_TEST_PARSE_EQUAL_VALUE(parse_value<toml::value>, "[3,#comment\n1,#comment\n4,#comment\n1,#comment\n5]", toml::value(a));
+        typename basic_value<discard_comments>::array_type a(5);
+        a[0] = basic_value<discard_comments>(3);
+        a[1] = basic_value<discard_comments>(1);
+        a[2] = basic_value<discard_comments>(4);
+        a[3] = basic_value<discard_comments>(1);
+        a[4] = basic_value<discard_comments>(5);
+        TOML11_TEST_PARSE_EQUAL_VALUE(parse_value<basic_value<discard_comments>>, "[3,#comment\n1,#comment\n4,#comment\n1,#comment\n5 #comment\n]", basic_value<discard_comments>(a));
     }
     {
-        array a(3);
-        a[0] = toml::value("foo"); a[1] = toml::value("b#r");
-        a[2] = toml::value("b#z");
-        TOML11_TEST_PARSE_EQUAL_VALUE(parse_value<toml::value>, "[\"foo\",#comment\n\"b#r\",#comment\n\"b#z\"#comment\n]", toml::value(a));
+        typename basic_value<preserve_comments>::array_type a(5);
+        a[0] = basic_value<preserve_comments>(3, {"comment"});
+        a[1] = basic_value<preserve_comments>(1, {"comment"});
+        a[2] = basic_value<preserve_comments>(4, {"comment"});
+        a[3] = basic_value<preserve_comments>(1, {"comment"});
+        a[4] = basic_value<preserve_comments>(5, {"comment"});
+        TOML11_TEST_PARSE_EQUAL_VALUE(parse_value<basic_value<preserve_comments>>, "[3,#comment\n1,#comment\n4,#comment\n1,#comment\n5 #comment\n]", basic_value<preserve_comments>(a));
     }
+
+
+    {
+        typename basic_value<discard_comments>::array_type a(3);
+        a[0] = basic_value<discard_comments>("foo");
+        a[1] = basic_value<discard_comments>("bar");
+        a[2] = basic_value<discard_comments>("baz");
+        TOML11_TEST_PARSE_EQUAL_VALUE(parse_value<basic_value<discard_comments>>, "[\"foo\",\n\"bar\",\n\"baz\"]", basic_value<discard_comments>(a));
+    }
+    {
+        typename basic_value<preserve_comments>::array_type a(3);
+        a[0] = basic_value<preserve_comments>("foo");
+        a[1] = basic_value<preserve_comments>("bar");
+        a[2] = basic_value<preserve_comments>("baz");
+        TOML11_TEST_PARSE_EQUAL_VALUE(parse_value<basic_value<preserve_comments>>, "[\"foo\",\n\"bar\",\n\"baz\"]", basic_value<preserve_comments>(a));
+    }
+
+    {
+        typename basic_value<discard_comments>::array_type a(3);
+        a[0] = basic_value<discard_comments>("foo");
+        a[1] = basic_value<discard_comments>("b#r");
+        a[2] = basic_value<discard_comments>("b#z");
+        TOML11_TEST_PARSE_EQUAL_VALUE(parse_value<basic_value<discard_comments>>, "[\"foo\",#comment\n\"b#r\",#comment\n\"b#z\"#comment\n]", basic_value<discard_comments>(a));
+    }
+    {
+        typename basic_value<preserve_comments>::array_type a(3);
+        a[0] = basic_value<preserve_comments>("foo", {"comment"});
+        a[1] = basic_value<preserve_comments>("b#r", {"comment"});
+        a[2] = basic_value<preserve_comments>("b#z", {"comment"});
+        TOML11_TEST_PARSE_EQUAL_VALUE(parse_value<basic_value<preserve_comments>>, "[\"foo\",#comment\n\"b#r\",#comment\n\"b#z\"#comment\n]", basic_value<preserve_comments>(a));
+    }
+
 }
 
 BOOST_AUTO_TEST_CASE(test_heterogeneous_array)
@@ -176,14 +267,27 @@ BOOST_AUTO_TEST_CASE(test_heterogeneous_array)
 BOOST_AUTO_TEST_CASE(test_comments_after_comma)
 {
     {
-        array a;
-        a.push_back("foo");
-        a.push_back("bar");
-        a.push_back("baz");
-        TOML11_TEST_PARSE_EQUAL_VALUE(parse_value<toml::value>,
+        typename basic_value<discard_comments>::array_type a(3);
+        a[0] = basic_value<discard_comments>("foo");
+        a[1] = basic_value<discard_comments>("bar");
+        a[2] = basic_value<discard_comments>("baz");
+        TOML11_TEST_PARSE_EQUAL_VALUE(parse_value<basic_value<discard_comments>>,
             "[ \"foo\" # comment\n"
             ", \"bar\" # comment\n"
             ", \"baz\" # comment\n"
-            "]", toml::value(a));
+            "]", basic_value<discard_comments>(a));
     }
+
+    {
+        typename basic_value<preserve_comments>::array_type a(3);
+        a[0] = basic_value<preserve_comments>("foo", {" comment"});
+        a[1] = basic_value<preserve_comments>("bar", {" comment"});
+        a[2] = basic_value<preserve_comments>("baz", {" comment"});
+        TOML11_TEST_PARSE_EQUAL_VALUE(parse_value<basic_value<preserve_comments>>,
+            "[ \"foo\" # comment\n"
+            ", \"bar\" # comment\n"
+            ", \"baz\" # comment\n"
+            "]", basic_value<preserve_comments>(a));
+    }
+
 }
diff --git a/tests/test_serialize_file.cpp b/tests/test_serialize_file.cpp
index b5c408e..7e1d8e1 100644
--- a/tests/test_serialize_file.cpp
+++ b/tests/test_serialize_file.cpp
@@ -127,8 +127,8 @@ BOOST_AUTO_TEST_CASE(test_example_with_comment_nocomment)
         BOOST_TEST(!has_comment_inside(serialized));
     }
     {
-        const auto data_nocomment = toml::parse("toml/tests/example.toml");
-        auto serialized = toml::parse("tmp1_com_nocomment.toml");
+        const auto data_nocomment = toml::parse<toml::discard_comments>("toml/tests/example.toml");
+        auto serialized = toml::parse<toml::discard_comments>("tmp1_com_nocomment.toml");
         {
             auto& owner = toml::find(serialized, "owner");
             auto& bio   = toml::find<std::string>(owner, "bio");
@@ -182,8 +182,8 @@ BOOST_AUTO_TEST_CASE(test_example_with_comment_map_dq_nocomment)
         BOOST_TEST(!has_comment_inside(serialized));
     }
     {
-        const auto data_nocomment = toml::parse("toml/tests/example.toml");
-        auto serialized = toml::parse("tmp1_com_map_dq_nocomment.toml");
+        const auto data_nocomment = toml::parse<toml::discard_comments>("toml/tests/example.toml");
+        auto serialized = toml::parse<toml::discard_comments>("tmp1_com_map_dq_nocomment.toml");
         {
             auto& owner = toml::find(serialized, "owner");
             auto& bio   = toml::find<std::string>(owner, "bio");
diff --git a/toml/comments.hpp b/toml/comments.hpp
index 92fc8e1..b9ce806 100644
--- a/toml/comments.hpp
+++ b/toml/comments.hpp
@@ -10,6 +10,12 @@
 #include <utility>
 #include <vector>
 
+#ifdef TOML11_PRESERVE_COMMENTS_BY_DEFAULT
+#  define TOML11_DEFAULT_COMMENT_STRATEGY ::toml::preserve_comments
+#else
+#  define TOML11_DEFAULT_COMMENT_STRATEGY ::toml::discard_comments
+#endif
+
 // This file provides mainly two classes, `preserve_comments` and `discard_comments`.
 // Those two are a container that have the same interface as `std::vector<std::string>`
 // but bahaves in the opposite way. `preserve_comments` is just the same as
diff --git a/toml/literal.hpp b/toml/literal.hpp
index 0824f83..1d338b7 100644
--- a/toml/literal.hpp
+++ b/toml/literal.hpp
@@ -12,11 +12,11 @@ inline namespace toml_literals
 {
 
 // implementation
-inline ::toml::basic_value<::toml::discard_comments, std::unordered_map, std::vector>
+inline ::toml::basic_value<TOML11_DEFAULT_COMMENT_STRATEGY, std::unordered_map, std::vector>
 literal_internal_impl(::toml::detail::location loc)
 {
     using value_type = ::toml::basic_value<
-        ::toml::discard_comments, std::unordered_map, std::vector>;
+        TOML11_DEFAULT_COMMENT_STRATEGY, std::unordered_map, std::vector>;
     // if there are some comments or empty lines, skip them.
     using skip_line = ::toml::detail::repeat<toml::detail::sequence<
             ::toml::detail::maybe<::toml::detail::lex_ws>,
@@ -81,7 +81,7 @@ literal_internal_impl(::toml::detail::location loc)
 
 }
 
-inline ::toml::basic_value<::toml::discard_comments, std::unordered_map, std::vector>
+inline ::toml::basic_value<TOML11_DEFAULT_COMMENT_STRATEGY, std::unordered_map, std::vector>
 operator"" _toml(const char* str, std::size_t len)
 {
     ::toml::detail::location loc(
@@ -95,7 +95,7 @@ operator"" _toml(const char* str, std::size_t len)
 #if defined(__cpp_char8_t) && __cpp_char8_t >= 201811L
 // value of u8"" literal has been changed from char to char8_t and char8_t is
 // NOT compatible to char
-inline ::toml::basic_value<::toml::discard_comments, std::unordered_map, std::vector>
+inline ::toml::basic_value<TOML11_DEFAULT_COMMENT_STRATEGY, std::unordered_map, std::vector>
 operator"" _toml(const char8_t* str, std::size_t len)
 {
     ::toml::detail::location loc(
diff --git a/toml/parser.hpp b/toml/parser.hpp
index c3df644..231df80 100644
--- a/toml/parser.hpp
+++ b/toml/parser.hpp
@@ -2076,7 +2076,7 @@ result<Value, std::string> parse_toml_file(location& loc)
 
 } // detail
 
-template<typename                     Comment = ::toml::discard_comments,
+template<typename                     Comment = TOML11_DEFAULT_COMMENT_STRATEGY,
          template<typename ...> class Table   = std::unordered_map,
          template<typename ...> class Array   = std::vector>
 basic_value<Comment, Table, Array>
@@ -2127,7 +2127,7 @@ parse(std::istream& is, const std::string& fname = "unknown file")
     return data.unwrap();
 }
 
-template<typename                     Comment = ::toml::discard_comments,
+template<typename                     Comment = TOML11_DEFAULT_COMMENT_STRATEGY,
          template<typename ...> class Table   = std::unordered_map,
          template<typename ...> class Array   = std::vector>
 basic_value<Comment, Table, Array> parse(const std::string& fname)
@@ -2150,7 +2150,7 @@ basic_value<Comment, Table, Array> parse(const std::string& fname)
 //
 // This function exactly matches to the invokation with c-string.
 // So this function is preferred than others and the ambiguity disappears.
-template<typename                     Comment = ::toml::discard_comments,
+template<typename                     Comment = TOML11_DEFAULT_COMMENT_STRATEGY,
          template<typename ...> class Table   = std::unordered_map,
          template<typename ...> class Array   = std::vector>
 basic_value<Comment, Table, Array> parse(const char* fname)
@@ -2158,7 +2158,7 @@ basic_value<Comment, Table, Array> parse(const char* fname)
     return parse<Comment, Table, Array>(std::string(fname));
 }
 
-template<typename                     Comment = ::toml::discard_comments,
+template<typename                     Comment = TOML11_DEFAULT_COMMENT_STRATEGY,
          template<typename ...> class Table   = std::unordered_map,
          template<typename ...> class Array   = std::vector>
 basic_value<Comment, Table, Array> parse(const std::filesystem::path& fpath)
diff --git a/toml/value.hpp b/toml/value.hpp
index e374c3b..f2e6c63 100644
--- a/toml/value.hpp
+++ b/toml/value.hpp
@@ -1739,7 +1739,8 @@ class basic_value
 };
 
 // default toml::value and default array/table.
-using value = basic_value<discard_comments, std::unordered_map, std::vector>;
+// TOML11_DEFAULT_COMMENT_STRATEGY is defined in comments.hpp
+using value = basic_value<TOML11_DEFAULT_COMMENT_STRATEGY, std::unordered_map, std::vector>;
 using array = typename value::array_type;
 using table = typename value::table_type;