diff --git a/pkg/intl/lib/src/file_data_reader.dart b/pkg/intl/lib/src/file_data_reader.dart
index e5d3e51..4448081 100644
--- a/pkg/intl/lib/src/file_data_reader.dart
+++ b/pkg/intl/lib/src/file_data_reader.dart
@@ -22,6 +22,6 @@
   /// Read the locale data found for [locale] on our [path].
   Future read(String locale) {
     var file = new File('$path$locale.json');
-    return file.readAsText();
+    return file.readAsString();
   }
 }
diff --git a/sdk/lib/io/file.dart b/sdk/lib/io/file.dart
index 43ff45b..97fc18c 100644
--- a/sdk/lib/io/file.dart
+++ b/sdk/lib/io/file.dart
@@ -184,19 +184,19 @@
   List<int> readAsBytesSync();
 
   /**
-   * Read the entire file contents as text using the given
+   * Read the entire file contents as a string using the given
    * [encoding].
    *
    * Returns a [:Future<String>:] that completes with the string once
    * the file contents has been read.
    */
-  Future<String> readAsText([Encoding encoding = Encoding.UTF_8]);
+  Future<String> readAsString([Encoding encoding = Encoding.UTF_8]);
 
   /**
-   * Synchronously read the entire file contents as text using the
+   * Synchronously read the entire file contents as a string using the
    * given [encoding].
    */
-  String readAsTextSync([Encoding encoding = Encoding.UTF_8]);
+  String readAsStringSync([Encoding encoding = Encoding.UTF_8]);
 
   /**
    * Read the entire file contents as lines of text using the give
diff --git a/sdk/lib/io/file_impl.dart b/sdk/lib/io/file_impl.dart
index 63c161b..27bace9 100644
--- a/sdk/lib/io/file_impl.dart
+++ b/sdk/lib/io/file_impl.dart
@@ -609,7 +609,7 @@
     return result;
   }
 
-  Future<String> readAsText([Encoding encoding = Encoding.UTF_8]) {
+  Future<String> readAsString([Encoding encoding = Encoding.UTF_8]) {
     _ensureFileService();
     return readAsBytes().transform((bytes) {
       if (bytes.length == 0) return "";
@@ -619,7 +619,7 @@
     });
   }
 
-  String readAsTextSync([Encoding encoding = Encoding.UTF_8]) {
+  String readAsStringSync([Encoding encoding = Encoding.UTF_8]) {
     var decoder = _StringDecoders.decoder(encoding);
     List<int> bytes = readAsBytesSync();
     if (bytes.length == 0) return "";
diff --git a/tests/standalone/io/file_error_test.dart b/tests/standalone/io/file_error_test.dart
index 4a6a309..3c8d084 100644
--- a/tests/standalone/io/file_error_test.dart
+++ b/tests/standalone/io/file_error_test.dart
@@ -273,12 +273,12 @@
   var file = new File("${temp.path}/nonExistentFile4");
 
   // Non-existing file should throw exception.
-  Expect.throws(() => file.readAsTextSync(),
+  Expect.throws(() => file.readAsStringSync(),
                 (e) => checkOpenNonExistentFileException(e));
 
-  var readAsTextFuture = file.readAsText(Encoding.ASCII);
-  readAsTextFuture.then((data) => Expect.fail("Unreachable code"));
-  readAsTextFuture.handleException((e) {
+  var readAsStringFuture = file.readAsString(Encoding.ASCII);
+  readAsStringFuture.then((data) => Expect.fail("Unreachable code"));
+  readAsStringFuture.handleException((e) {
     checkOpenNonExistentFileException(e);
     p.toSendPort().send(null);
     return true;
diff --git a/tests/standalone/io/file_fuzz_test.dart b/tests/standalone/io/file_fuzz_test.dart
index faed2ef..abb6fc0 100644
--- a/tests/standalone/io/file_fuzz_test.dart
+++ b/tests/standalone/io/file_fuzz_test.dart
@@ -23,12 +23,12 @@
       doItSync(f.fullPathSync);
       doItSync(() => f.openInputStream().onError = (e) => null);
       doItSync(f.readAsBytesSync);
-      doItSync(f.readAsTextSync);
+      doItSync(f.readAsStringSync);
       doItSync(f.readAsLinesSync);
       typeMapping.forEach((k2, v2) {
         doItSync(() => f.openSync(v2));
         doItSync(() => f.openOutputStream(v2).onError = (e) => null);
-        doItSync(() => f.readAsTextSync(v2));
+        doItSync(() => f.readAsStringSync(v2));
         doItSync(() => f.readAsLinesSync(v2));
       });
     });
@@ -50,10 +50,10 @@
       futures.add(doItAsync(f.fullPath));
       futures.add(doItAsync(f.readAsBytes));
       futures.add(doItAsync(f.readAsLines));
-      futures.add(doItAsync(f.readAsText));
+      futures.add(doItAsync(f.readAsString));
       typeMapping.forEach((k2, v2) {
         futures.add(doItAsync(() => f.open(v2)));
-        futures.add(doItAsync(() => f.readAsText(v2)));
+        futures.add(doItAsync(() => f.readAsString(v2)));
         futures.add(doItAsync(() => f.readAsLines(v2)));
       });
     });
diff --git a/tests/standalone/io/file_non_ascii_sync_test.dart b/tests/standalone/io/file_non_ascii_sync_test.dart
index 1708652..3a10b93 100644
--- a/tests/standalone/io/file_non_ascii_sync_test.dart
+++ b/tests/standalone/io/file_non_ascii_sync_test.dart
@@ -21,5 +21,5 @@
   Expect.isTrue(f.fullPathSync().endsWith('${precomposed}.dat') ||
                 f.fullPathSync().endsWith('${decomposed}.dat'));
   // The contents of the file is precomposed utf8.
-  Expect.equals(precomposed, f.readAsTextSync());
+  Expect.equals(precomposed, f.readAsStringSync());
 }
diff --git a/tests/standalone/io/file_non_ascii_test.dart b/tests/standalone/io/file_non_ascii_test.dart
index 437528f..d082080 100644
--- a/tests/standalone/io/file_non_ascii_test.dart
+++ b/tests/standalone/io/file_non_ascii_test.dart
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@
             f.fullPath().then((p) {
               Expect.isTrue(p.endsWith('${precomposed}.dat') ||
                             p.endsWith('${decomposed}.dat'));
-              f.readAsText().then((contents) {
+              f.readAsString().then((contents) {
                 Expect.equals(precomposed, contents);
                 port.close();
               });
diff --git a/tests/standalone/io/file_test.dart b/tests/standalone/io/file_test.dart
index 2f210f4..2cfd32d 100644
--- a/tests/standalone/io/file_test.dart
+++ b/tests/standalone/io/file_test.dart
@@ -1037,24 +1037,24 @@
     });
     var name = getFilename("tests/vm/data/fixed_length_file");
     var f = new File(name);
-    f.readAsText(Encoding.UTF_8).then((text) {
+    f.readAsString(Encoding.UTF_8).then((text) {
       Expect.isTrue(text.endsWith("42 bytes."));
       Expect.equals(42, text.length);
       var name = getDataFilename("tests/standalone/io/read_as_text.dat");
       var f = new File(name);
-      f.readAsText(Encoding.UTF_8).then((text) {
+      f.readAsString(Encoding.UTF_8).then((text) {
         Expect.equals(6, text.length);
         var expected = [955, 120, 46, 32, 120, 10];
         Expect.listEquals(expected, text.charCodes);
-        f.readAsText(Encoding.ISO_8859_1).then((text) {
+        f.readAsString(Encoding.ISO_8859_1).then((text) {
           Expect.equals(7, text.length);
           var expected = [206, 187, 120, 46, 32, 120, 10];
           Expect.listEquals(expected, text.charCodes);
-          var readAsTextFuture = f.readAsText(Encoding.ASCII);
-          readAsTextFuture.then((text) {
+          var readAsStringFuture = f.readAsString(Encoding.ASCII);
+          readAsStringFuture.then((text) {
             Expect.fail("Non-ascii char should cause error");
           });
-          readAsTextFuture.handleException((e) {
+          readAsStringFuture.handleException((e) {
             port.toSendPort().send(1);
             return true;
           });
@@ -1071,7 +1071,7 @@
     });
     var name = getFilename("tests/vm/data/empty_file");
     var f = new File(name);
-    f.readAsText(Encoding.UTF_8).then((text) {
+    f.readAsString(Encoding.UTF_8).then((text) {
       port.toSendPort().send(text.length);
       return true;
     });
@@ -1079,16 +1079,16 @@
 
   static void testReadAsTextSync() {
     var name = getFilename("tests/vm/data/fixed_length_file");
-    var text = new File(name).readAsTextSync();
+    var text = new File(name).readAsStringSync();
     Expect.isTrue(text.endsWith("42 bytes."));
     Expect.equals(42, text.length);
     name = getDataFilename("tests/standalone/io/read_as_text.dat");
-    text = new File(name).readAsTextSync();
+    text = new File(name).readAsStringSync();
     Expect.equals(6, text.length);
     var expected = [955, 120, 46, 32, 120, 10];
     Expect.listEquals(expected, text.charCodes);
-    Expect.throws(() { new File(name).readAsTextSync(Encoding.ASCII); });
-    text = new File(name).readAsTextSync(Encoding.ISO_8859_1);
+    Expect.throws(() { new File(name).readAsStringSync(Encoding.ASCII); });
+    text = new File(name).readAsStringSync(Encoding.ISO_8859_1);
     expected = [206, 187, 120, 46, 32, 120, 10];
     Expect.equals(7, text.length);
     Expect.listEquals(expected, text.charCodes);
@@ -1096,7 +1096,7 @@
 
   static void testReadAsTextSyncEmptyFile() {
     var name = getFilename("tests/vm/data/empty_file");
-    var text = new File(name).readAsTextSync();
+    var text = new File(name).readAsStringSync();
     Expect.equals(0, text.length);
   }
 
@@ -1137,14 +1137,14 @@
     });
     var f = new File('.');
     Expect.throws(f.readAsBytesSync, (e) => e is FileIOException);
-    Expect.throws(f.readAsTextSync, (e) => e is FileIOException);
+    Expect.throws(f.readAsStringSync, (e) => e is FileIOException);
     Expect.throws(f.readAsLinesSync, (e) => e is FileIOException);
     var readAsBytesFuture = f.readAsBytes();
     readAsBytesFuture.then((bytes) => Expect.fail("no bytes expected"));
     readAsBytesFuture.handleException((e) {
-      var readAsTextFuture = f.readAsText(Encoding.UTF_8);
-      readAsTextFuture.then((text) => Expect.fail("no text expected"));
-      readAsTextFuture.handleException((e) {
+      var readAsStringFuture = f.readAsString(Encoding.UTF_8);
+      readAsStringFuture.then((text) => Expect.fail("no text expected"));
+      readAsStringFuture.handleException((e) {
         var readAsLinesFuture = f.readAsLines(Encoding.UTF_8);
         readAsLinesFuture.then((lines) => Expect.fail("no lines expected"));
         readAsLinesFuture.handleException((e) {
@@ -1232,7 +1232,7 @@
                   openedFile.length().then((l) {
                     Expect.equals(4, l);
                     openedFile.close().then((_) {
-                      file.readAsText().then((readBack) {
+                      file.readAsString().then((readBack) {
                         Expect.stringEquals(readBack, '$string$string');
                         file.delete().then((_) {
                           file.exists().then((e) {
@@ -1265,7 +1265,7 @@
     openedFile.writeStringSync(string);
     Expect.equals(4, openedFile.lengthSync());
     openedFile.closeSync();
-    var readBack = file.readAsTextSync();
+    var readBack = file.readAsStringSync();
     Expect.stringEquals(readBack, '$string$string');
     file.deleteSync();
     Expect.isFalse(file.existsSync());
diff --git "a/tests/standalone/io/\303\246\303\270\303\245.dart" "b/tests/standalone/io/\303\246\303\270\303\245.dart"
index abf731c..d03e720 100644
--- "a/tests/standalone/io/\303\246\303\270\303\245.dart"
+++ "b/tests/standalone/io/\303\246\303\270\303\245.dart"
@@ -5,5 +5,5 @@
 import 'dart:io';
 
 main() {
-  Expect.equals('æøå', new File('æøå.dat').readAsTextSync());
+  Expect.equals('æøå', new File('æøå.dat').readAsStringSync());
 }
diff --git a/utils/apidoc/apidoc.dart b/utils/apidoc/apidoc.dart
index 7a9e5cb..742e519 100644
--- a/utils/apidoc/apidoc.dart
+++ b/utils/apidoc/apidoc.dart
@@ -85,7 +85,7 @@
 
   print('Parsing MDN data...');
   final mdnFile = new File.fromPath(doc.scriptDir.append('mdn/database.json'));
-  final mdn = JSON.parse(mdnFile.readAsTextSync());
+  final mdn = JSON.parse(mdnFile.readAsStringSync());
 
   print('Cross-referencing dart:html...');
   HtmlDiff.initialize(libPath);
diff --git a/utils/apidoc/mdn/postProcess.dart b/utils/apidoc/mdn/postProcess.dart
index 95e3558..d70cf74 100644
--- a/utils/apidoc/mdn/postProcess.dart
+++ b/utils/apidoc/mdn/postProcess.dart
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@
 void main() {
   // Database of code documentation.
   Map<String, List> database = JSON.parse(
-      new File('output/database.json').readAsTextSync());
+      new File('output/database.json').readAsStringSync());
   final filteredDb = {};
   final obsolete = [];
   for (String type in database.keys) {
diff --git a/utils/apidoc/mdn/prettyPrint.dart b/utils/apidoc/mdn/prettyPrint.dart
index e95d23b..d0a413c 100644
--- a/utils/apidoc/mdn/prettyPrint.dart
+++ b/utils/apidoc/mdn/prettyPrint.dart
@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@
 void main() {
   // Database of code documentation.
   final Map<String, Map> database = JSON.parse(
-      new File('output/database.filtered.json').readAsTextSync());
+      new File('output/database.filtered.json').readAsStringSync());
 
   // Types we have documentation for.
   matchedTypes = new Set<String>();
diff --git a/utils/apidoc/mdn/util.dart b/utils/apidoc/mdn/util.dart
index 3b5c72d..69a4c6c 100644
--- a/utils/apidoc/mdn/util.dart
+++ b/utils/apidoc/mdn/util.dart
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@
   if (_allProps == null) {
     // Database of expected property names for each type in WebKit.
     _allProps = JSON.parse(
-        new File('data/dartIdl.json').readAsTextSync());
+        new File('data/dartIdl.json').readAsStringSync());
   }
   return _allProps;
 }
diff --git a/utils/pub/io.dart b/utils/pub/io.dart
index 3296bb8..793c7263 100644
--- a/utils/pub/io.dart
+++ b/utils/pub/io.dart
@@ -118,7 +118,7 @@
  * a [File].
  */
 Future<String> readTextFile(file) {
-  return new File(_getPath(file)).readAsText(Encoding.UTF_8);
+  return new File(_getPath(file)).readAsString(Encoding.UTF_8);
 }
 
 /**