diff --git a/adb/adb_listeners.cpp b/adb/adb_listeners.cpp
index 051ab73..be457a6 100644
--- a/adb/adb_listeners.cpp
+++ b/adb/adb_listeners.cpp
@@ -105,7 +105,7 @@
         s = create_local_socket(fd);
         if (s) {
             s->transport = listener->transport;
-            connect_to_remote(s, listener->connect_to.c_str());
+            connect_to_remote(s, listener->connect_to);
             return;
         }
 
diff --git a/adb/socket.h b/adb/socket.h
index f9ad4f8..e7df991 100644
--- a/adb/socket.h
+++ b/adb/socket.h
@@ -106,14 +106,15 @@
 asocket* create_local_service_socket(std::string_view destination, atransport* transport);
 
 asocket *create_remote_socket(unsigned id, atransport *t);
-void connect_to_remote(asocket *s, const char *destination);
+void connect_to_remote(asocket* s, std::string_view destination);
 void connect_to_smartsocket(asocket *s);
 
 // Internal functions that are only made available here for testing purposes.
 namespace internal {
 
 #if ADB_HOST
-char* skip_host_serial(char* service);
+bool parse_host_service(std::string_view* out_serial, std::string_view* out_command,
+                        std::string_view service);
 #endif
 
 }  // namespace internal
diff --git a/adb/socket_test.cpp b/adb/socket_test.cpp
index 04214a2..80f9430 100644
--- a/adb/socket_test.cpp
+++ b/adb/socket_test.cpp
@@ -34,6 +34,9 @@
 #include "sysdeps.h"
 #include "sysdeps/chrono.h"
 
+using namespace std::string_literals;
+using namespace std::string_view_literals;
+
 struct ThreadArg {
     int first_read_fd;
     int last_write_fd;
@@ -303,56 +306,78 @@
 
 #if ADB_HOST
 
-// Checks that skip_host_serial(serial) returns a pointer to the part of |serial| which matches
-// |expected|, otherwise logs the failure to gtest.
-void VerifySkipHostSerial(std::string serial, const char* expected) {
-    char* result = internal::skip_host_serial(&serial[0]);
-    if (expected == nullptr) {
-        EXPECT_EQ(nullptr, result);
-    } else {
-        EXPECT_STREQ(expected, result);
-    }
-}
+#define VerifyParseHostServiceFailed(s)                                         \
+    do {                                                                        \
+        std::string service(s);                                                 \
+        std::string_view serial, command;                                       \
+        bool result = internal::parse_host_service(&serial, &command, service); \
+        EXPECT_FALSE(result);                                                   \
+    } while (0)
+
+#define VerifyParseHostService(s, expected_serial, expected_command)            \
+    do {                                                                        \
+        std::string service(s);                                                 \
+        std::string_view serial, command;                                       \
+        bool result = internal::parse_host_service(&serial, &command, service); \
+        EXPECT_TRUE(result);                                                    \
+        EXPECT_EQ(std::string(expected_serial), std::string(serial));           \
+        EXPECT_EQ(std::string(expected_command), std::string(command));         \
+    } while (0);
 
 // Check [tcp:|udp:]<serial>[:<port>]:<command> format.
-TEST(socket_test, test_skip_host_serial) {
+TEST(socket_test, test_parse_host_service) {
     for (const std::string& protocol : {"", "tcp:", "udp:"}) {
-        VerifySkipHostSerial(protocol, nullptr);
-        VerifySkipHostSerial(protocol + "foo", nullptr);
+        VerifyParseHostServiceFailed(protocol);
+        VerifyParseHostServiceFailed(protocol + "foo");
 
-        VerifySkipHostSerial(protocol + "foo:bar", ":bar");
-        VerifySkipHostSerial(protocol + "foo:bar:baz", ":bar:baz");
+        {
+            std::string serial = protocol + "foo";
+            VerifyParseHostService(serial + ":bar", serial, "bar");
+            VerifyParseHostService(serial + " :bar:baz", serial, "bar:baz");
+        }
 
-        VerifySkipHostSerial(protocol + "foo:123:bar", ":bar");
-        VerifySkipHostSerial(protocol + "foo:123:456", ":456");
-        VerifySkipHostSerial(protocol + "foo:123:bar:baz", ":bar:baz");
+        {
+            // With port.
+            std::string serial = protocol + "foo:123";
+            VerifyParseHostService(serial + ":bar", serial, "bar");
+            VerifyParseHostService(serial + ":456", serial, "456");
+            VerifyParseHostService(serial + ":bar:baz", serial, "bar:baz");
+        }
 
         // Don't register a port unless it's all numbers and ends with ':'.
-        VerifySkipHostSerial(protocol + "foo:123", ":123");
-        VerifySkipHostSerial(protocol + "foo:123bar:baz", ":123bar:baz");
+        VerifyParseHostService(protocol + "foo:123", protocol + "foo", "123");
+        VerifyParseHostService(protocol + "foo:123bar:baz", protocol + "foo", "123bar:baz");
 
-        VerifySkipHostSerial(protocol + "100.100.100.100:5555:foo", ":foo");
-        VerifySkipHostSerial(protocol + "[0123:4567:89ab:CDEF:0:9:a:f]:5555:foo", ":foo");
-        VerifySkipHostSerial(protocol + "[::1]:5555:foo", ":foo");
+        std::string addresses[] = {"100.100.100.100", "[0123:4567:89ab:CDEF:0:9:a:f]", "[::1]"};
+        for (const std::string& address : addresses) {
+            std::string serial = protocol + address;
+            std::string serial_with_port = protocol + address + ":5555";
+            VerifyParseHostService(serial + ":foo", serial, "foo");
+            VerifyParseHostService(serial_with_port + ":foo", serial_with_port, "foo");
+        }
 
         // If we can't find both [] then treat it as a normal serial with [ in it.
-        VerifySkipHostSerial(protocol + "[0123:foo", ":foo");
+        VerifyParseHostService(protocol + "[0123:foo", protocol + "[0123", "foo");
 
         // Don't be fooled by random IPv6 addresses in the command string.
-        VerifySkipHostSerial(protocol + "foo:ping [0123:4567:89ab:CDEF:0:9:a:f]:5555",
-                             ":ping [0123:4567:89ab:CDEF:0:9:a:f]:5555");
+        VerifyParseHostService(protocol + "foo:ping [0123:4567:89ab:CDEF:0:9:a:f]:5555",
+                               protocol + "foo", "ping [0123:4567:89ab:CDEF:0:9:a:f]:5555");
+
+        // Handle embedded NULs properly.
+        VerifyParseHostService(protocol + "foo:echo foo\0bar"s, protocol + "foo",
+                               "echo foo\0bar"sv);
     }
 }
 
 // Check <prefix>:<serial>:<command> format.
-TEST(socket_test, test_skip_host_serial_prefix) {
+TEST(socket_test, test_parse_host_service_prefix) {
     for (const std::string& prefix : {"usb:", "product:", "model:", "device:"}) {
-        VerifySkipHostSerial(prefix, nullptr);
-        VerifySkipHostSerial(prefix + "foo", nullptr);
+        VerifyParseHostServiceFailed(prefix);
+        VerifyParseHostServiceFailed(prefix + "foo");
 
-        VerifySkipHostSerial(prefix + "foo:bar", ":bar");
-        VerifySkipHostSerial(prefix + "foo:bar:baz", ":bar:baz");
-        VerifySkipHostSerial(prefix + "foo:123:bar", ":123:bar");
+        VerifyParseHostService(prefix + "foo:bar", prefix + "foo", "bar");
+        VerifyParseHostService(prefix + "foo:bar:baz", prefix + "foo", "bar:baz");
+        VerifyParseHostService(prefix + "foo:123:bar", prefix + "foo", "123:bar");
     }
 }
 
diff --git a/adb/sockets.cpp b/adb/sockets.cpp
index cb8cd16..47ae883 100644
--- a/adb/sockets.cpp
+++ b/adb/sockets.cpp
@@ -37,6 +37,7 @@
 
 #include "adb.h"
 #include "adb_io.h"
+#include "adb_utils.h"
 #include "transport.h"
 #include "types.h"
 
@@ -461,16 +462,19 @@
     return s;
 }
 
-void connect_to_remote(asocket* s, const char* destination) {
+void connect_to_remote(asocket* s, std::string_view destination) {
     D("Connect_to_remote call RS(%d) fd=%d", s->id, s->fd);
     apacket* p = get_apacket();
 
-    D("LS(%d): connect('%s')", s->id, destination);
+    LOG(VERBOSE) << "LS(" << s->id << ": connect(" << destination << ")";
     p->msg.command = A_OPEN;
     p->msg.arg0 = s->id;
 
-    // adbd expects a null-terminated string.
-    p->payload.assign(destination, destination + strlen(destination) + 1);
+    // adbd used to expect a null-terminated string.
+    // Keep doing so to maintain backward compatibility.
+    p->payload.resize(destination.size() + 1);
+    memcpy(p->payload.data(), destination.data(), destination.size());
+    p->payload[destination.size()] = '\0';
     p->msg.data_length = p->payload.size();
 
     CHECK_LE(p->msg.data_length, s->get_max_payload());
@@ -546,57 +550,119 @@
 
 namespace internal {
 
-// Returns the position in |service| following the target serial parameter. Serial format can be
-// any of:
+// Parses a host service string of the following format:
 //   * [tcp:|udp:]<serial>[:<port>]:<command>
 //   * <prefix>:<serial>:<command>
 // Where <port> must be a base-10 number and <prefix> may be any of {usb,product,model,device}.
-//
-// The returned pointer will point to the ':' just before <command>, or nullptr if not found.
-char* skip_host_serial(char* service) {
-    static const std::vector<std::string>& prefixes =
-        *(new std::vector<std::string>{"usb:", "product:", "model:", "device:"});
+bool parse_host_service(std::string_view* out_serial, std::string_view* out_command,
+                        std::string_view full_service) {
+    if (full_service.empty()) {
+        return false;
+    }
 
-    for (const std::string& prefix : prefixes) {
-        if (!strncmp(service, prefix.c_str(), prefix.length())) {
-            return strchr(service + prefix.length(), ':');
+    std::string_view serial;
+    std::string_view command = full_service;
+    // Remove |count| bytes from the beginning of command and add them to |serial|.
+    auto consume = [&full_service, &serial, &command](size_t count) {
+        CHECK_LE(count, command.size());
+        if (!serial.empty()) {
+            CHECK_EQ(serial.data() + serial.size(), command.data());
+        }
+
+        serial = full_service.substr(0, serial.size() + count);
+        command.remove_prefix(count);
+    };
+
+    // Remove the trailing : from serial, and assign the values to the output parameters.
+    auto finish = [out_serial, out_command, &serial, &command] {
+        if (serial.empty() || command.empty()) {
+            return false;
+        }
+
+        CHECK_EQ(':', serial.back());
+        serial.remove_suffix(1);
+
+        *out_serial = serial;
+        *out_command = command;
+        return true;
+    };
+
+    static constexpr std::string_view prefixes[] = {"usb:", "product:", "model:", "device:"};
+    for (std::string_view prefix : prefixes) {
+        if (command.starts_with(prefix)) {
+            consume(prefix.size());
+
+            size_t offset = command.find_first_of(':');
+            if (offset == std::string::npos) {
+                return false;
+            }
+            consume(offset + 1);
+            return finish();
         }
     }
 
     // For fastboot compatibility, ignore protocol prefixes.
-    if (!strncmp(service, "tcp:", 4) || !strncmp(service, "udp:", 4)) {
-        service += 4;
-    }
-
-    // Check for an IPv6 address. `adb connect` creates the serial number from the canonical
-    // network address so it will always have the [] delimiters.
-    if (service[0] == '[') {
-        char* ipv6_end = strchr(service, ']');
-        if (ipv6_end != nullptr) {
-            service = ipv6_end;
+    if (command.starts_with("tcp:") || command.starts_with("udp:")) {
+        consume(4);
+        if (command.empty()) {
+            return false;
         }
     }
 
-    // The next colon we find must either begin the port field or the command field.
-    char* colon_ptr = strchr(service, ':');
-    if (!colon_ptr) {
-        // No colon in service string.
-        return nullptr;
+    bool found_address = false;
+    if (command[0] == '[') {
+        // Read an IPv6 address. `adb connect` creates the serial number from the canonical
+        // network address so it will always have the [] delimiters.
+        size_t ipv6_end = command.find_first_of(']');
+        if (ipv6_end != std::string::npos) {
+            consume(ipv6_end + 1);
+            if (command.empty()) {
+                // Nothing after the IPv6 address.
+                return false;
+            } else if (command[0] != ':') {
+                // Garbage after the IPv6 address.
+                return false;
+            }
+            consume(1);
+            found_address = true;
+        }
     }
 
-    // If the next field is only decimal digits and ends with another colon, it's a port.
-    char* serial_end = colon_ptr;
-    if (isdigit(serial_end[1])) {
-        serial_end++;
-        while (*serial_end && isdigit(*serial_end)) {
-            serial_end++;
+    if (!found_address) {
+        // Scan ahead to the next colon.
+        size_t offset = command.find_first_of(':');
+        if (offset == std::string::npos) {
+            return false;
         }
-        if (*serial_end != ':') {
-            // Something other than "<port>:" was found, this must be the command field instead.
-            serial_end = colon_ptr;
+        consume(offset + 1);
+    }
+
+    // We're either at the beginning of a port, or the command itself.
+    // Look for a port in between colons.
+    size_t next_colon = command.find_first_of(':');
+    if (next_colon == std::string::npos) {
+        // No colon, we must be at the command.
+        return finish();
+    }
+
+    bool port_valid = true;
+    if (command.size() <= next_colon) {
+        return false;
+    }
+
+    std::string_view port = command.substr(0, next_colon);
+    for (auto digit : port) {
+        if (!isdigit(digit)) {
+            // Port isn't a number.
+            port_valid = false;
+            break;
         }
     }
-    return serial_end;
+
+    if (port_valid) {
+        consume(next_colon + 1);
+    }
+    return finish();
 }
 
 }  // namespace internal
@@ -605,8 +671,8 @@
 
 static int smart_socket_enqueue(asocket* s, apacket::payload_type data) {
 #if ADB_HOST
-    char* service = nullptr;
-    char* serial = nullptr;
+    std::string_view service;
+    std::string_view serial;
     TransportId transport_id = 0;
     TransportType type = kTransportAny;
 #endif
@@ -643,49 +709,52 @@
     D("SS(%d): '%s'", s->id, (char*)(s->smart_socket_data.data() + 4));
 
 #if ADB_HOST
-    service = &s->smart_socket_data[4];
-    if (!strncmp(service, "host-serial:", strlen("host-serial:"))) {
-        char* serial_end;
-        service += strlen("host-serial:");
+    service = std::string_view(s->smart_socket_data).substr(4);
+    if (service.starts_with("host-serial:")) {
+        service.remove_prefix(strlen("host-serial:"));
 
         // serial number should follow "host:" and could be a host:port string.
-        serial_end = internal::skip_host_serial(service);
-        if (serial_end) {
-            *serial_end = 0;  // terminate string
-            serial = service;
-            service = serial_end + 1;
+        if (!internal::parse_host_service(&serial, &service, service)) {
+            LOG(ERROR) << "SS(" << s->id << "): failed to parse host service: " << service;
+            goto fail;
         }
-    } else if (!strncmp(service, "host-transport-id:", strlen("host-transport-id:"))) {
-        service += strlen("host-transport-id:");
-        transport_id = strtoll(service, &service, 10);
-
-        if (*service != ':') {
+    } else if (service.starts_with("host-transport-id:")) {
+        service.remove_prefix(strlen("host-transport-id:"));
+        if (!ParseUint(&transport_id, service, &service)) {
+            LOG(ERROR) << "SS(" << s->id << "): failed to parse host transport id: " << service;
             return -1;
         }
-        service++;
-    } else if (!strncmp(service, "host-usb:", strlen("host-usb:"))) {
+        if (!service.starts_with(":")) {
+            LOG(ERROR) << "SS(" << s->id << "): host-transport-id without command";
+            return -1;
+        }
+        service.remove_prefix(1);
+    } else if (service.starts_with("host-usb:")) {
         type = kTransportUsb;
-        service += strlen("host-usb:");
-    } else if (!strncmp(service, "host-local:", strlen("host-local:"))) {
+        service.remove_prefix(strlen("host-usb:"));
+    } else if (service.starts_with("host-local:")) {
         type = kTransportLocal;
-        service += strlen("host-local:");
-    } else if (!strncmp(service, "host:", strlen("host:"))) {
+        service.remove_prefix(strlen("host-local:"));
+    } else if (service.starts_with("host:")) {
         type = kTransportAny;
-        service += strlen("host:");
+        service.remove_prefix(strlen("host:"));
     } else {
-        service = nullptr;
+        service = std::string_view{};
     }
 
-    if (service) {
+    if (!service.empty()) {
         asocket* s2;
 
         // Some requests are handled immediately -- in that case the handle_host_request() routine
         // has sent the OKAY or FAIL message and all we have to do is clean up.
-        if (handle_host_request(service, type, serial, transport_id, s->peer->fd, s)) {
-            D("SS(%d): handled host service '%s'", s->id, service);
+        // TODO: Convert to string_view.
+        if (handle_host_request(std::string(service).c_str(), type,
+                                serial.empty() ? nullptr : std::string(serial).c_str(),
+                                transport_id, s->peer->fd, s)) {
+            LOG(VERBOSE) << "SS(" << s->id << "): handled host service '" << service << "'";
             goto fail;
         }
-        if (!strncmp(service, "transport", strlen("transport"))) {
+        if (service.starts_with("transport")) {
             D("SS(%d): okay transport", s->id);
             s->smart_socket_data.clear();
             return 0;
@@ -695,9 +764,11 @@
         ** if no such service exists, we'll fail out
         ** and tear down here.
         */
-        s2 = create_host_service_socket(service, serial, transport_id);
+        // TODO: Convert to string_view.
+        s2 = create_host_service_socket(std::string(service).c_str(), std::string(serial).c_str(),
+                                        transport_id);
         if (s2 == nullptr) {
-            D("SS(%d): couldn't create host service '%s'", s->id, service);
+            LOG(VERBOSE) << "SS(" << s->id << "): couldn't create host service '" << service << "'";
             SendFail(s->peer->fd, "unknown host service");
             goto fail;
         }
@@ -758,7 +829,7 @@
     /* give him our transport and upref it */
     s->peer->transport = s->transport;
 
-    connect_to_remote(s->peer, s->smart_socket_data.data() + 4);
+    connect_to_remote(s->peer, std::string_view(s->smart_socket_data).substr(4));
     s->peer = nullptr;
     s->close(s);
     return 1;