diff --git a/composer.json b/composer.json
index b415c1c..5f263ef 100644
--- a/composer.json
+++ b/composer.json
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 {
     "name": "icefox/dto",
     "type": "library",
+    "version": "0.0.1",
     "require": {
         "laravel/framework": "^11.0",
         "psr/log": "^3.0",
@@ -18,15 +19,12 @@
     "license": "GPL-2.0-only",
     "autoload": {
         "psr-4": {
-            "Icefox\\DTO\\": "src/"
+            "Icefox\\Data\\": "src/"
         }
     },
     "autoload-dev": {
         "psr-4": {
-            "Tests\\": "tests/",
-            "Workbench\\App\\": "workbench/app/",
-            "Workbench\\Database\\Factories\\": "workbench/database/factories/",
-            "Workbench\\Database\\Seeders\\": "workbench/database/seeders/"
+            "Tests\\": "tests/"
         }
     },
     "authors": [
diff --git a/src/Attributes/CastWith.php b/src/Attributes/CastWith.php
index 6d544c5..25c32cf 100644
--- a/src/Attributes/CastWith.php
+++ b/src/Attributes/CastWith.php
@@ -2,8 +2,7 @@
 
 declare(strict_types=1);
 
-namespace Icefox\DTO\Attributes;
-
+namespace Icefox\Data\Attributes;
 use Attribute;
 
 #[Attribute(Attribute::TARGET_PARAMETER)]
diff --git a/src/Attributes/Flat.php b/src/Attributes/Flat.php
index 27d73ad..2664003 100644
--- a/src/Attributes/Flat.php
+++ b/src/Attributes/Flat.php
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 
 declare(strict_types=1);
 
-namespace Icefox\DTO\Attributes;
+namespace Icefox\Data\Attributes;
 
 use Attribute;
 
diff --git a/src/Attributes/FromInput.php b/src/Attributes/FromInput.php
index 0a536bc..d43b697 100644
--- a/src/Attributes/FromInput.php
+++ b/src/Attributes/FromInput.php
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 
 declare(strict_types=1);
 
-namespace Icefox\DTO\Attributes;
+namespace Icefox\Data\Attributes;
 
 use Attribute;
 
diff --git a/src/Attributes/FromRouteParameter.php b/src/Attributes/FromRouteParameter.php
index 4eb11d1..d104e1c 100644
--- a/src/Attributes/FromRouteParameter.php
+++ b/src/Attributes/FromRouteParameter.php
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 
 declare(strict_types=1);
 
-namespace Icefox\DTO\Attributes;
+namespace Icefox\Data\Attributes;
 
 use Attribute;
 
diff --git a/src/Attributes/OverwriteRules.php b/src/Attributes/Overwrite.php
similarity index 60%
rename from src/Attributes/OverwriteRules.php
rename to src/Attributes/Overwrite.php
index e1cee40..a797cc6 100644
--- a/src/Attributes/OverwriteRules.php
+++ b/src/Attributes/Overwrite.php
@@ -2,11 +2,9 @@
 
 declare(strict_types=1);
 
-namespace Icefox\DTO\Attributes;
+namespace Icefox\Data\Attributes;
 
 use Attribute;
 
 #[Attribute(Attribute::TARGET_METHOD)]
-class OverwriteRules
-{
-}
+class Overwrite {}
diff --git a/src/Config.php b/src/Config.php
deleted file mode 100644
index f827157..0000000
--- a/src/Config.php
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,63 +0,0 @@
-<?php
-
-declare(strict_types=1);
-
-namespace Icefox\DTO;
-
-use Icefox\DTO\Support\RuleFactory;
-use Illuminate\Support\Collection;
-use phpDocumentor\Reflection\PseudoTypes\Generic;
-
-class Config
-{
-    /**
-     * @param class-string $class
-    **/
-    public static function getCaster(string $class): ?callable
-    {
-        return config('dto.cast.' . $class, null);
-    }
-
-    /**
-     * @param class-string $class
-    **/
-    public static function getRules(string $class): ?callable
-    {
-        if ($userDefined = config('dto.rules.' . $class, null)) {
-            return $userDefined;
-        }
-        return match ($class) {
-            Collection::class => static::rulesIlluminateCollection(...),
-            default => null,
-        };
-    }
-
-
-    /**
-     * @return array<string,string[]>
-     */
-    private static function rulesIlluminateCollection(ParameterMeta $parameter, RuleFactory $factory): array
-    {
-        if (is_null($parameter->tag)) {
-            return [];
-        }
-
-        $type = $parameter->tag->getType();
-        if (!$type instanceof Generic) {
-            return [];
-        }
-
-        $subtypes = $type->getTypes();
-
-        if (count($subtypes) == 0) {
-            return ['' => ['array']];
-        }
-
-        $subtype = count($subtypes) == 1 ? $subtypes[0] : $subtypes[1];
-
-        return $factory->mergeRules(
-            ['' => ['array']],
-            $factory->getRulesFromDocBlock($subtype, '.*'),
-        );
-    }
-}
diff --git a/src/Factories/CollectionFactory.php b/src/CustomHandlers.php
similarity index 75%
rename from src/Factories/CollectionFactory.php
rename to src/CustomHandlers.php
index bfd0fe0..cf0eb15 100644
--- a/src/Factories/CollectionFactory.php
+++ b/src/CustomHandlers.php
@@ -1,17 +1,16 @@
 <?php
 
-namespace Icefox\DTO\Factories;
+namespace Icefox\Data;
 
-use Icefox\DTO\ParameterMeta;
-use Icefox\DTO\Support\RuleFactory;
+use Icefox\Data\Factories\RuleFactory;
 use phpDocumentor\Reflection\PseudoTypes\Generic;
 
-class CollectionFactory
+class CustomHandlers
 {
     /**
      * @return array<string,string[]>
      */
-    public static function rules(ParameterMeta $parameter, RuleFactory $factory): array
+    public static function CollectionRules(ParameterMeta $parameter, RuleFactory $factory): array
     {
         if (is_null($parameter->tag)) {
             return [];
diff --git a/src/DataObject.php b/src/DataObject.php
index 95a7235..69b15e5 100644
--- a/src/DataObject.php
+++ b/src/DataObject.php
@@ -2,13 +2,14 @@
 
 declare(strict_types=1);
 
-namespace Icefox\DTO;
+namespace Icefox\Data;
 
+use Icefox\Data\Factories\DataObjectFactory;
 use Illuminate\Http\Request;
 
 trait DataObject
 {
-    public static function fromRequest(Request $request): mixed
+    public static function fromRequest(Request $request): ?static
     {
         return DataObjectFactory::fromRequest(static::class, $request);
     }
diff --git a/src/DataObjectFactory.php b/src/DataObjectFactory.php
deleted file mode 100644
index adbf200..0000000
--- a/src/DataObjectFactory.php
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,81 +0,0 @@
-<?php
-
-namespace Icefox\DTO;
-
-use Icefox\DTO\Attributes\FromInput;
-use Icefox\DTO\Attributes\FromRouteParameter;
-use Icefox\DTO\Support\RuleFactory;
-use Icefox\DTO\Support\ValueFactory;
-use Illuminate\Http\Request;
-use Illuminate\Routing\Route;
-use Illuminate\Support\Facades\App;
-use Illuminate\Validation\ValidationException;
-use Illuminate\Validation\Validator;
-use ReflectionClass;
-
-class DataObjectFactory
-{
-    /**
-     * @param class-string $class
-     */
-    public static function fromRequest(string $class, Request $request): ?object
-    {
-        $routeParameters = $request->route() instanceof Route ? $request->route()->parameters() : [];
-        return static::fromArray($class, $request->input(), $routeParameters);
-    }
-
-    /**
-     * @param class-string $class
-     * @param array<string,mixed> $input
-     * @param array<string,mixed> $routeParameters
-     */
-    public static function fromArray(string $class, array $input, array $routeParameters): ?object
-    {
-        $logger = new Log();
-        $parameters = ReflectionHelper::getParametersMeta($class);
-        foreach ($parameters as $parameter) {
-            $parameterName = $parameter->reflection->getName();
-
-            foreach ($parameter->reflection->getAttributes(FromRouteParameter::class) as $fromRouteParameter) {
-                if ($value = $routeParameters[$fromRouteParameter->newInstance()->name] ?? null) {
-                    $input[$parameterName] = $value;
-                    continue 2;
-                }
-            }
-
-            foreach ($parameter->reflection->getAttributes(FromInput::class) as $attr) {
-                if ($value = $input[$attr->newInstance()->name] ?? null) {
-                    $input[$parameterName] = $value;
-                    continue 2;
-                }
-            }
-
-            if ($value = $input[$parameterName] ?? null) {
-                $input[$parameterName] = $value;
-                continue;
-            }
-
-            // if ($parameter->reflection->isDefaultValueAvailable()) {
-            //     $input[$parameterName] = $parameter->reflection->getDefaultValue();
-            //     continue;
-            // }
-        }
-        $logger->inputRaw($input);
-
-        $rules = (new RuleFactory($logger))->make($class);
-
-        $validator = method_exists($class, 'withValidator')
-            ? App::call("$class::withValidator", ['data' => $input, 'rules' => $rules])
-            : App::makeWith(Validator::class, ['data' => $input, 'rules' => $rules]);
-
-        if ($validator->fails()) {
-            $logger->validationErrors($validator->errors()->toArray());
-            if (method_exists($class, 'fails')) {
-                return App::call("$class::fails", ['validator' => $validator ]);
-            }
-            throw new ValidationException($validator);
-        }
-
-        return ValueFactory::make($class, $validator->validated());
-    }
-}
diff --git a/src/Factories/DataObjectFactory.php b/src/Factories/DataObjectFactory.php
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..96b3c9c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/Factories/DataObjectFactory.php
@@ -0,0 +1,144 @@
+<?php
+
+namespace Icefox\Data\Factories;
+
+use Icefox\Data\Attributes\FromInput;
+use Icefox\Data\Attributes\FromRouteParameter;
+use Icefox\Data\Factories\RuleFactory;
+use Icefox\Data\Factories\ValueFactory;
+use Icefox\Data\ReflectionHelper;
+use Illuminate\Http\Request;
+use Illuminate\Routing\Route;
+use Illuminate\Support\Facades\App;
+use Illuminate\Support\Facades\Log;
+use Illuminate\Validation\ValidationException;
+use Illuminate\Validation\Validator;
+use Psr\Log\LoggerInterface;
+use ReflectionNamedType;
+
+class DataObjectFactory
+{
+    /**
+     * @param class-string $class
+     */
+    public static function fromRequest(string $class, Request $request): ?object
+    {
+        $route = $request->route();
+        $routeParameters = $route instanceof Route ? $route->parameters() : [];
+        return static::fromArray($class, $request->input(), $routeParameters);
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * @param class-string $class
+     * @param array<string,mixed> $rawInput
+     * @param array<string,mixed> $routeParameters
+     */
+    public static function fromArray(string $class, array $rawInput, array $routeParameters): ?object
+    {
+        $logger = Log::channel('dto');
+
+        $defaults = method_exists($class, 'defaults')
+            ? App::call("$class::defaults")
+            : [];
+
+        $mergedInput = array_replace_recursive($defaults, $rawInput);
+        $input = self::mapInput($class, $mergedInput, $routeParameters, $logger);
+
+        $rules = (new RuleFactory($logger))->make($class);
+
+        $validator = method_exists($class, 'withValidator')
+            ? App::call("$class::withValidator", ['data' => $input, 'rules' => $rules])
+            : App::makeWith(Validator::class, ['data' => $input, 'rules' => $rules]);
+
+        if ($validator->fails()) {
+            $logger->warning('validation error', $validator->errors()->toArray());
+            if (method_exists($class, 'fails')) {
+                return App::call("$class::fails", ['validator' => $validator ]);
+            }
+            throw new ValidationException($validator);
+        }
+
+        return ValueFactory::make($class, $validator->validated());
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * @param class-string $class
+     * @param array<string,mixed> $rawInput
+     * @param array<string,mixed> $routeParameters
+     * @return array<string,mixed>
+     */
+    public static function mapInput(
+        string $class,
+        array $rawInput,
+        array $routeParameters,
+        LoggerInterface $logger,
+    ): array {
+        $input = [];
+        $parameters = ReflectionHelper::getParametersMeta($class);
+
+        foreach ($parameters as $parameter) {
+            $parameterName = $parameter->reflection->getName();
+
+            foreach ($parameter->reflection->getAttributes(FromRouteParameter::class) as $fromRouteParameter) {
+                if ($value = $routeParameters[$fromRouteParameter->newInstance()->name] ?? null) {
+                    $input[$parameterName] = $value;
+                    continue 2;
+                }
+            }
+
+            $reflectionType = $parameter->reflection->getType();
+            $namedType = $reflectionType instanceof ReflectionNamedType ? $reflectionType->getName() : null;
+            $annotatedType = $parameter->tag?->getType();
+
+            $isListType = ReflectionHelper::isListType($parameter);
+
+            foreach ($parameter->reflection->getAttributes(FromInput::class) as $attr) {
+                if ($value = $rawInput[$attr->newInstance()->name] ?? null) {
+                    if ($valueType = ReflectionHelper::getListParameterValueType($parameter->tag)) {
+                        $input[$parameterName] = $isListType
+                            ? array_map(
+                                fn($element) => self::mapInput($valueType, $element, $routeParameters, $logger),
+                                $value,
+                            )
+                            : self::mapInput($valueType, $value, $routeParameters, $logger);
+                    } else {
+                        $input[$parameterName] = $value;
+                    }
+                    continue 2;
+                }
+            }
+
+            if ($valueType = ReflectionHelper::getListParameterValueType($parameter->tag)) {
+                if (class_exists($valueType)) {
+                    $input[$parameterName] = $isListType
+                        ? array_map(
+                            fn($element) => self::mapInput($valueType, $element, $routeParameters, $logger),
+                            $rawInput[$parameterName],
+                        )
+                        : self::mapInput($valueType, $rawInput[$parameterName], $routeParameters, $logger);
+                    continue;
+                }
+                if (array_key_exists($parameterName, $rawInput)) {
+                    $input[$parameterName] = $rawInput[$parameterName];
+                    continue;
+                }
+            }
+
+            if ($reflectionType instanceof ReflectionNamedType) {
+                if ($reflectionType->isBuiltin()) {
+                    if (array_key_exists($parameterName, $rawInput)) {
+                        $input[$parameterName] = $rawInput[$parameterName];
+                    }
+                } else {
+                    $input[$parameterName] = self::mapInput($reflectionType->__toString(), $rawInput[$parameterName], $routeParameters, $logger);
+                }
+                continue;
+            }
+            if (array_key_exists($parameterName, $rawInput)) {
+                $input[$parameterName] = $rawInput[$parameterName];
+            }
+        }
+        $logger->debug('input', $input);
+        return $input;
+    }
+}
diff --git a/src/Support/RuleFactory.php b/src/Factories/RuleFactory.php
similarity index 90%
rename from src/Support/RuleFactory.php
rename to src/Factories/RuleFactory.php
index 9aa1da5..df1bdd7 100644
--- a/src/Support/RuleFactory.php
+++ b/src/Factories/RuleFactory.php
@@ -2,13 +2,13 @@
 
 declare(strict_types=1);
 
-namespace Icefox\DTO\Support;
+namespace Icefox\Data\Factories;
 
-use Icefox\DTO\Attributes\Flat;
-use Icefox\DTO\Attributes\OverwriteRules;
-use Icefox\DTO\Config;
-use Icefox\DTO\ParameterMeta;
-use Icefox\DTO\ReflectionHelper;
+use Icefox\Data\Attributes\Flat;
+use Icefox\Data\Attributes\Overwrite;
+use Icefox\Data\ParameterMeta;
+use Icefox\Data\ReflectionHelper;
+use Icefox\Data\Factories\RuleFactory;
 use Illuminate\Support\Facades\App;
 use Illuminate\Support\Facades\Log;
 use Illuminate\Validation\Rule;
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ use phpDocumentor\Reflection\Types\Object_;
 final class RuleFactory
 {
     /**
-     * @return array<string, array<string|Rule>>
+     * @return array<string, array<int, mixed>>
      */
     public function getRulesFromDocBlock(
         Type $type,
@@ -62,7 +62,7 @@ final class RuleFactory
 
     /**
      * @param array<ParameterMeta> $parameters
-     * @return array<string,array<int,string|Rule>>
+     * @return array<string,array<int,mixed>>
      */
     public function infer(array $parameters, string $basePrefix): array
     {
@@ -79,7 +79,7 @@ final class RuleFactory
     }
 
     /**
-     * @return array<string, array<int, string|Rule>>
+     * @return array<string, array<int, mixed>>
      */
     public function buildParameterRule(ParameterMeta $parameter, string $prefix): array
     {
@@ -106,7 +106,7 @@ final class RuleFactory
         }
 
         if ($type instanceof ReflectionNamedType && $name = $type->getName()) {
-            if ($globalRules = Config::getRules($name)) {
+            if ($globalRules =  config('dto.rules.' . $name, null)) {
                 foreach ($globalRules($parameter, $this) as $scopedPrefix => $values) {
                     $realPrefix = $prefix . $scopedPrefix;
                     $rules[$realPrefix] = array_merge($rules[$realPrefix] ?? [], $values);
@@ -149,7 +149,7 @@ final class RuleFactory
 
     /**
      * @param class-string $class
-     * @return array<string,array<int, string>>
+     * @return array<string,array<int, mixed>>
      */
     public function make(string $class): array
     {
@@ -161,7 +161,7 @@ final class RuleFactory
         $customRules =  $hasRulesMethod ? App::call("$class::rules", []) : [];
 
 
-        if ($hasRulesMethod && !empty($classReflection->getMethod('rules')->getAttributes(OverwriteRules::class))) {
+        if ($hasRulesMethod && !empty($classReflection->getMethod('rules')->getAttributes(Overwrite::class))) {
             $rules = $customRules;
         } else {
             $inferredRules = RuleFactory::infer($parameters, '');
@@ -172,9 +172,9 @@ final class RuleFactory
     }
 
     /**
-     * @param array<string,array<int, string>> $first
-     * @param array<string,array<int, string>> $second
-     * @return array<string,array<int, string>>
+     * @param array<string,array<int, mixed>> $first
+     * @param array<string,array<int, mixed>> $second
+     * @return array<string,array<int, mixed>>
      */
     public function mergeRules(array $first, array $second): array
     {
diff --git a/src/Support/ValueFactory.php b/src/Factories/ValueFactory.php
similarity index 75%
rename from src/Support/ValueFactory.php
rename to src/Factories/ValueFactory.php
index 2781ae2..835d7ea 100644
--- a/src/Support/ValueFactory.php
+++ b/src/Factories/ValueFactory.php
@@ -2,17 +2,13 @@
 
 declare(strict_types=1);
 
-namespace Icefox\DTO\Support;
+namespace Icefox\Data\Factories;
 
-use Icefox\DTO\Attributes\CastWith;
-use Icefox\DTO\Attributes\Flat;
-use Icefox\DTO\Config;
-use Icefox\DTO\ParameterMeta;
-use Icefox\DTO\ReflectionHelper;
+use Icefox\Data\Attributes\CastWith;
+use Icefox\Data\Attributes\Flat;
+use Icefox\Data\ReflectionHelper;
 use Illuminate\Support\Facades\App;
 use ReflectionNamedType;
-use ReflectionParameter;
-use phpDocumentor\Reflection\DocBlock\Tags\Param;
 use phpDocumentor\Reflection\PseudoTypes\Generic;
 use phpDocumentor\Reflection\Type;
 use phpDocumentor\Reflection\Types\AbstractList;
@@ -24,21 +20,6 @@ use phpDocumentor\Reflection\Types\Object_;
 
 class ValueFactory
 {
-    public static function constructObject(string $className, mixed $rawValue): object
-    {
-        if ($mapper = Config::getCaster($className)) {
-            return $mapper($rawValue);
-        }
-
-        // Plain values or numeric arrays are passed as a single parameter to the constructor
-        if (!is_array($rawValue) || array_key_exists(0, $rawValue)) {
-            return new $className($className);
-        }
-
-        // Associative arrays leverage Laravel service container
-        return App::makeWith($className, $rawValue);
-    }
-
     public static function resolveAnnotatedValue(Type $type, mixed $rawValue): mixed
     {
         if ($type instanceof Nullable) {
@@ -91,17 +72,24 @@ class ValueFactory
 
     public static function resolveDeclaredTypeValue(ReflectionNamedType $parameter, mixed $rawValue): mixed
     {
-        return match ($parameter->getName()) {
+        $type = $parameter->getName();
+        if (is_a($type, \BackedEnum::class, true)) {
+            return $type::from($rawValue);
+        }
+
+        return match ($type) {
             'string' => $rawValue,
             'bool' => boolval($rawValue),
             'int' => intval($rawValue),
             'float' => floatval($rawValue),
             'array' => $rawValue,
-            default => self::make($parameter->getName(), $rawValue),
-
+            default => self::make($type, $rawValue),
         };
     }
 
+    /**
+     * @param array<string,mixed> $input
+     */
     public static function make(string $class, array $input): object
     {
         $parameters = ReflectionHelper::getParametersMeta($class);
@@ -112,9 +100,9 @@ class ValueFactory
             $parameterArgs = empty($parameter->reflection->getAttributes(Flat::class)) ? ($input[$name] ?? null) : $input;
 
             if (is_null($parameterArgs)) {
-                if ($parameter->reflection->allowsNull()) {
-                    $arguments[$name] = null;
-                }
+                $arguments[$name] = $parameter->reflection->isDefaultValueAvailable()
+                    ? $parameter->reflection->getDefaultValue()
+                    : null;
                 continue;
             }
 
@@ -128,25 +116,27 @@ class ValueFactory
 
             $type = $parameter->tag?->getType();
             if (empty($parameterClass) && $type instanceof Object_) {
-                $parameterClass = $type->getFqsen();
+                $parameterClass = $type->getFqsen()?->__toString();
             }
+
             if (!empty($parameterClass) && $caster = config('dto.cast.' . $parameterClass, null)) {
                 $arguments[$name] = App::call($caster, ['data' => $parameterArgs]);
                 continue;
             }
 
-            if ($parameter->tag instanceof Param) {
+            if (!is_null($type)) {
                 $arguments[$name] = self::resolveAnnotatedValue($type, $parameterArgs);
                 continue;
             }
 
-            if ($parameter->reflection->getType() instanceof ReflectionNamedType) {
-                $arguments[$name] = self::resolveDeclaredTypeValue($parameter->reflection->getType(), $parameterArgs);
+            $reflectionType = $parameter->reflection->getType();
+            if ($reflectionType instanceof ReflectionNamedType) {
+                $arguments[$name] = self::resolveDeclaredTypeValue($reflectionType, $parameterArgs);
                 continue;
             }
 
             $arguments[$name] = $parameterArgs;
         }
-        return App::makeWith($class, $arguments);
+        return new $class(...$arguments);
     }
 }
diff --git a/src/IData.php b/src/IData.php
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..0f2e749
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/IData.php
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+<?php
+
+namespace Icefox\Data;
+
+interface IData {}
diff --git a/src/InputFactory.php b/src/InputFactory.php
deleted file mode 100644
index 7109eee..0000000
--- a/src/InputFactory.php
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,41 +0,0 @@
-<?php
-
-namespace Icefox\DTO;
-
-use Icefox\DTO\Attributes\FromInput;
-use Icefox\DTO\Attributes\FromRouteParameter;
-
-class InputFactory
-{
-    public function __construct(public readonly Log $log) {}
-
-    public function make(string $class): array
-    {
-        $map = [];
-        $parameters = ReflectionHelper::getParametersMeta($class);
-        foreach ($parameters as $parameter) {
-            $name = $parameter->reflection->getName();
-
-            foreach ($parameter->reflection->getAttributes(FromRouteParameter::class) as $attr) {
-                $map[$name][] = 'route_' . $attr->newInstance()->name;
-            }
-
-            foreach ($parameter->reflection->getAttributes(FromInput::class) as $attr) {
-                $map[$name][] = $attr->newInstance()->name;
-            }
-
-            $map[$name][] = $name;
-        }
-        return $map;
-    }
-
-    private static self $_instance;
-
-    public static function instance(): self
-    {
-        if (empty(self::$_instance)) {
-            self::$_instance = new self(new Log());
-        }
-        return self::$_instance;
-    }
-}
diff --git a/src/ParameterMeta.php b/src/ParameterMeta.php
index 9d814d1..c63d95f 100644
--- a/src/ParameterMeta.php
+++ b/src/ParameterMeta.php
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 <?php
 
-namespace Icefox\DTO;
+namespace Icefox\Data;
 
 use ReflectionParameter;
 use phpDocumentor\Reflection\DocBlock\Tags\Param;
diff --git a/src/Providers/DataObjectServiceProvider.php b/src/Providers/DataObjectServiceProvider.php
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..2236800
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/Providers/DataObjectServiceProvider.php
@@ -0,0 +1,26 @@
+<?php
+
+namespace Icefox\Data\Providers;
+
+use Icefox\Data\Factories\DataObjectFactory;
+use Icefox\Data\IData;
+use Illuminate\Support\ServiceProvider;
+
+class DataObjectServiceProvider extends ServiceProvider
+{
+    public function register(): void
+    {
+        $this->publishes([
+            __DIR__ . '../../workbench/config/dto.php' => config_path('dto.php'),
+        ]);
+
+        $this->app->beforeResolving(function ($abstract, $parameters, $app) {
+            if ($app->has($abstract)) {
+                return;
+            }
+            if (is_subclass_of($abstract, IData::class)) {
+                $app->bind($abstract, fn($container) => DataObjectFactory::fromRequest($abstract, $container['request']));
+            }
+        });
+    }
+}
diff --git a/src/ReflectionHelper.php b/src/ReflectionHelper.php
index 5c92a22..fa64c03 100644
--- a/src/ReflectionHelper.php
+++ b/src/ReflectionHelper.php
@@ -1,10 +1,13 @@
 <?php
 
-namespace Icefox\DTO;
+namespace Icefox\Data;
 
+use ReflectionNamedType;
 use ReflectionParameter;
 use phpDocumentor\Reflection\DocBlock\Tag;
 use phpDocumentor\Reflection\DocBlock\Tags\Param;
+use phpDocumentor\Reflection\PseudoTypes\Generic;
+use phpDocumentor\Reflection\Types\AbstractList;
 use phpDocumentor\Reflection\Types\ContextFactory;
 use phpDocumentor\Reflection\DocBlockFactory;
 use ReflectionClass;
@@ -44,5 +47,34 @@ class ReflectionHelper
         );
         return self::$cache[$class];
     }
-}
 
+    public static function getListParameterValueType(?Param $param): ?string
+    {
+        $type = $param?->getType();
+
+        if ($type instanceof AbstractList) {
+            return $type->getValueType()->__toString();
+        }
+
+        if (!$type instanceof Generic) {
+            return null;
+        }
+
+        $subtypes = $type->getTypes();
+        return count($subtypes) > 1 ? $subtypes[1]->__toString() : $subtypes[0]->__toString();
+    }
+
+    public static function isListType(ParameterMeta $parameter): bool
+    {
+        $reflectionType = $parameter->reflection->getType();
+        $namedType = $reflectionType instanceof ReflectionNamedType ? $reflectionType->getName() : null;
+        $annotatedType = $parameter->tag?->getType();
+        return
+         $parameter->reflection->isArray()
+            || in_array($namedType, config('dto.listTypes', []))
+            || in_array($annotatedType?->__toString(), config('dto.listTypes', []))
+            || $annotatedType instanceof AbstractList;
+
+    }
+
+}
diff --git a/tests/Casters/CasterTest.php b/tests/Casters/CasterTest.php
deleted file mode 100644
index 93fc5ce..0000000
--- a/tests/Casters/CasterTest.php
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,71 +0,0 @@
-<?php
-
-declare(strict_types=1);
-
-namespace Tests;
-
-use Illuminate\Validation\ValidationException;
-use Tests\Casters\SimpleValue;
-use Tests\Casters\SimpleValueCaster;
-use Tests\Casters\WithGlobalCaster;
-use Tests\Casters\WithSpecificCaster;
-use Tests\Casters\WithoutCaster;
-
-describe('caster priority', function () {
-    beforeEach(function () {
-        config(['dto.cast' => []]);
-    });
-
-    it('uses CastWith attribute over global config caster', function () {
-        $globalCaster = function (mixed $data): SimpleValue {
-            return new SimpleValue($data * 3);
-        };
-        config(['dto.cast.' . SimpleValue::class => $globalCaster]);
-
-        $object = WithSpecificCaster::fromArray([
-            'value' => ['value' => 5],
-        ]);
-
-        expect($object->value->value)->toBe(10); // 5 * 2
-    });
-
-    it('falls back to global config caster when no CastWith attribute', function () {
-        $globalCaster = function (mixed $data): SimpleValue {
-            return new SimpleValue($data['value'] * 3);
-        };
-        config(['dto.cast.' . SimpleValue::class => $globalCaster]);
-
-        $object = WithGlobalCaster::fromArray([
-            'simple' => ['value' => 5],
-        ]);
-
-        expect($object->simple->value)->toBe(15); // 5 * 3
-    });
-
-    it('falls back to default construction when no caster exists', function () {
-        $object = WithoutCaster::fromArray([
-            'value' => ['value' => 5],
-        ]);
-        expect($object)->toBeInstanceOf(WithoutCaster::class);
-    });
-});
-
-describe('caster with rules', function () {
-    beforeEach(function () {
-        config(['dto.cast' => []]);
-    });
-
-    it('validates input using caster rules before casting', function () {
-        expect(fn() => WithSpecificCaster::fromArray([
-            'value' => [],
-        ]))->toThrow(ValidationException::class);
-    });
-
-    it('accepts valid input and casts correctly', function () {
-        $object = WithSpecificCaster::fromArray([
-            'value' => ['value' => 10],
-        ]);
-
-        expect($object->value->value)->toBe(20); // 10 * 2
-    });
-});
diff --git a/tests/Casters/SimpleValue.php b/tests/Casters/SimpleValue.php
deleted file mode 100644
index 1f08683..0000000
--- a/tests/Casters/SimpleValue.php
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,10 +0,0 @@
-<?php
-
-declare(strict_types=1);
-
-namespace Tests\Casters;
-
-class SimpleValue
-{
-    public function __construct(public readonly int $value) {}
-}
diff --git a/tests/Casters/SimpleValueCaster.php b/tests/Casters/SimpleValueCaster.php
deleted file mode 100644
index fe8e0aa..0000000
--- a/tests/Casters/SimpleValueCaster.php
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,20 +0,0 @@
-<?php
-
-declare(strict_types=1);
-
-namespace Tests\Casters;
-
-class SimpleValueCaster
-{
-    public function cast(mixed $data): SimpleValue
-    {
-        return new SimpleValue($data['value'] * 2);
-    }
-
-    public static function rules(): array
-    {
-        return [
-            'value' => ['required', 'numeric'],
-        ];
-    }
-}
diff --git a/tests/Casters/WithGlobalCaster.php b/tests/Casters/WithGlobalCaster.php
deleted file mode 100644
index d829310..0000000
--- a/tests/Casters/WithGlobalCaster.php
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,16 +0,0 @@
-<?php
-
-declare(strict_types=1);
-
-namespace Tests\Casters;
-
-use Icefox\DTO\DataObject;
-
-readonly class WithGlobalCaster
-{
-    use DataObject;
-
-    public function __construct(
-        public SimpleValue $simple,
-    ) {}
-}
diff --git a/tests/Casters/WithSpecificCaster.php b/tests/Casters/WithSpecificCaster.php
deleted file mode 100644
index 66041db..0000000
--- a/tests/Casters/WithSpecificCaster.php
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,18 +0,0 @@
-<?php
-
-declare(strict_types=1);
-
-namespace Tests\Casters;
-
-use Icefox\DTO\Attributes\CastWith;
-use Icefox\DTO\DataObject;
-
-readonly class WithSpecificCaster
-{
-    use DataObject;
-
-    public function __construct(
-        #[CastWith(SimpleValueCaster::class)]
-        public SimpleValue $value,
-    ) {}
-}
diff --git a/tests/Casters/WithoutCaster.php b/tests/Casters/WithoutCaster.php
deleted file mode 100644
index 203b0ac..0000000
--- a/tests/Casters/WithoutCaster.php
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,16 +0,0 @@
-<?php
-
-declare(strict_types=1);
-
-namespace Tests\Casters;
-
-use Icefox\DTO\DataObject;
-
-readonly class WithoutCaster
-{
-    use DataObject;
-
-    public function __construct(
-        public SimpleValue $value,
-    ) {}
-}
diff --git a/tests/Classes/ArrayDataObject.php b/tests/Classes/ArrayDataObject.php
deleted file mode 100644
index 6da4819..0000000
--- a/tests/Classes/ArrayDataObject.php
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,16 +0,0 @@
-<?php
-
-declare(strict_types=1);
-
-namespace Tests\Classes;
-
-use Icefox\DTO\DataObject;
-
-readonly class ArrayDataObject
-{
-    use DataObject;
-    /**
-     * @param array<int,int> $values
-     */
-    public function __construct(public array $values) {}
-}
diff --git a/tests/Classes/CarbonPeriodMapper.php b/tests/Classes/CarbonPeriodMapper.php
deleted file mode 100644
index 4edee01..0000000
--- a/tests/Classes/CarbonPeriodMapper.php
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,22 +0,0 @@
-<?php
-
-namespace Tests\Classes;
-
-use Carbon\CarbonPeriodImmutable;
-use Illuminate\Support\Carbon;
-
-class CarbonPeriodMapper
-{
-    public function cast(mixed $data): CarbonPeriodImmutable
-    {
-        return new CarbonPeriodImmutable(Carbon::parse($data['start']), Carbon::parse($data['end']));
-    }
-
-    public static function rules(): array
-    {
-        return [
-            'start' => ['required', 'date'],
-            'end' => ['required', 'date'],
-        ];
-    }
-}
diff --git a/tests/Classes/CollectionDataObject.php b/tests/Classes/CollectionDataObject.php
deleted file mode 100644
index 711dbc7..0000000
--- a/tests/Classes/CollectionDataObject.php
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,17 +0,0 @@
-<?php
-
-declare(strict_types=1);
-
-namespace Tests\Classes;
-
-use Icefox\DTO\DataObject;
-use Illuminate\Support\Collection;
-
-readonly class CollectionDataObject
-{
-    use DataObject;
-    /**
-     * @param Collection<OptionalNullableData> $values
-     */
-    public function __construct(public Collection $values) {}
-}
diff --git a/tests/Classes/FailsReturnsDefault.php b/tests/Classes/FailsReturnsDefault.php
deleted file mode 100644
index 7fdba3a..0000000
--- a/tests/Classes/FailsReturnsDefault.php
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,23 +0,0 @@
-<?php
-
-declare(strict_types=1);
-
-namespace Tests\Classes;
-
-use Icefox\DTO\DataObject;
-use Illuminate\Validation\Validator;
-
-readonly class FailsReturnsDefault
-{
-    use DataObject;
-
-    public function __construct(
-        public string $string,
-        public int $int = 42,
-    ) {}
-
-    public static function fails(Validator $validator): ?static
-    {
-        return new self(string: 'default_value');
-    }
-}
diff --git a/tests/Classes/FailsReturnsNull.php b/tests/Classes/FailsReturnsNull.php
deleted file mode 100644
index 28e7e5b..0000000
--- a/tests/Classes/FailsReturnsNull.php
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,23 +0,0 @@
-<?php
-
-declare(strict_types=1);
-
-namespace Tests\Classes;
-
-use Icefox\DTO\DataObject;
-use Illuminate\Validation\Validator;
-
-readonly class FailsReturnsNull
-{
-    use DataObject;
-
-    public function __construct(
-        public string $string,
-        public int $int,
-    ) {}
-
-    public static function fails(Validator $validator): ?static
-    {
-        return null;
-    }
-}
diff --git a/tests/Classes/FailsWithHttpResponse.php b/tests/Classes/FailsWithHttpResponse.php
deleted file mode 100644
index 87e15ca..0000000
--- a/tests/Classes/FailsWithHttpResponse.php
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,26 +0,0 @@
-<?php
-
-declare(strict_types=1);
-
-namespace Tests\Classes;
-
-use Icefox\DTO\DataObject;
-use Illuminate\Http\Exceptions\HttpResponseException;
-use Illuminate\Validation\Validator;
-
-readonly class FailsWithHttpResponse
-{
-    use DataObject;
-
-    public function __construct(
-        public string $string,
-        public int $int,
-    ) {}
-
-    public static function fails(Validator $validator): ?static
-    {
-        throw new HttpResponseException(
-            response()->json(['errors' => $validator->errors()], 422)
-        );
-    }
-}
diff --git a/tests/Classes/FromInputObject.php b/tests/Classes/FromInputObject.php
deleted file mode 100644
index 575e44c..0000000
--- a/tests/Classes/FromInputObject.php
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,19 +0,0 @@
-<?php
-
-declare(strict_types=1);
-
-namespace Tests\Classes;
-
-use Icefox\DTO\Attributes\FromInput;
-use Icefox\DTO\DataObject;
-
-readonly class FromInputObject
-{
-    use DataObject;
-
-    public function __construct(
-        #[FromInput('other_name')]
-        public string $text,
-        public int $standard,
-    ) {}
-}
diff --git a/tests/Classes/ObjectWithoutMapper.php b/tests/Classes/ObjectWithoutMapper.php
deleted file mode 100644
index 82342e3..0000000
--- a/tests/Classes/ObjectWithoutMapper.php
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,17 +0,0 @@
-<?php
-
-declare(strict_types=1);
-
-namespace Tests\Classes;
-
-use Carbon\Carbon;
-use Icefox\DTO\DataObject;
-
-readonly class ObjectWithoutMapper
-{
-    use DataObject;
-
-    public function __construct(
-        public Carbon $date,
-    ) {}
-}
diff --git a/tests/Classes/OptionalData.php b/tests/Classes/OptionalData.php
deleted file mode 100644
index ff69b59..0000000
--- a/tests/Classes/OptionalData.php
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,19 +0,0 @@
-<?php
-
-declare(strict_types=1);
-
-namespace Tests\Classes;
-
-use Icefox\DTO\DataObject;
-
-readonly class OptionalData
-{
-    use DataObject;
-
-    public function __construct(
-        public string $string = 'xyz',
-        public float $float = 0.777,
-        public int $int = 3,
-        public bool $bool = false,
-    ) {}
-}
diff --git a/tests/Classes/OptionalNullableData.php b/tests/Classes/OptionalNullableData.php
deleted file mode 100644
index b12449f..0000000
--- a/tests/Classes/OptionalNullableData.php
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,19 +0,0 @@
-<?php
-
-declare(strict_types=1);
-
-namespace Tests\Classes;
-
-use Icefox\DTO\DataObject;
-
-readonly class OptionalNullableData
-{
-    use DataObject;
-
-    public function __construct(
-        public string $string,
-        public ?int $int,
-        public float $float = 0.999,
-        public bool $bool = false,
-    ) {}
-}
diff --git a/tests/Classes/PrimitiveData.php b/tests/Classes/PrimitiveData.php
deleted file mode 100644
index dc2ae5e..0000000
--- a/tests/Classes/PrimitiveData.php
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,19 +0,0 @@
-<?php
-
-declare(strict_types=1);
-
-namespace Tests\Classes;
-
-use Icefox\DTO\DataObject;
-
-readonly class PrimitiveData
-{
-    use DataObject;
-
-    public function __construct(
-        public string $string,
-        public int $int,
-        public float $float,
-        public bool $bool,
-    ) {}
-}
diff --git a/tests/Classes/RecursiveDataObject.php b/tests/Classes/RecursiveDataObject.php
deleted file mode 100644
index 9c97c87..0000000
--- a/tests/Classes/RecursiveDataObject.php
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,17 +0,0 @@
-<?php
-
-declare(strict_types=1);
-
-namespace Tests\Classes;
-
-use Icefox\DTO\DataObject;
-
-readonly class RecursiveDataObject
-{
-    use DataObject;
-
-    public function __construct(
-        public string $string,
-        public PrimitiveData $extra,
-    ) {}
-}
diff --git a/tests/Classes/WithMapperObject.php b/tests/Classes/WithMapperObject.php
deleted file mode 100644
index 899b8fe..0000000
--- a/tests/Classes/WithMapperObject.php
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,19 +0,0 @@
-<?php
-
-declare(strict_types=1);
-
-namespace Tests\Classes;
-
-use Carbon\CarbonPeriodImmutable;
-use Icefox\DTO\Attributes\CastWith;
-use Icefox\DTO\DataObject;
-
-readonly class WithMapperObject
-{
-    use DataObject;
-
-    public function __construct(
-        #[CastWith(CarbonPeriodMapper::class)]
-        public CarbonPeriodImmutable $period,
-    ) {}
-}
diff --git a/tests/DataObject/DataObjectTest.php b/tests/DataObject/DataObjectTest.php
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..c21ec8e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/DataObject/DataObjectTest.php
@@ -0,0 +1,400 @@
+<?php
+
+namespace Tests\DataObject;
+
+use Icefox\Data\Attributes\FromInput;
+use Icefox\Data\Attributes\FromRouteParameter;
+use Icefox\Data\Factories\DataObjectFactory;
+use Illuminate\Support\Collection;
+use Psr\Log\NullLogger;
+
+readonly class Element
+{
+    public function __construct(public int $value) {}
+}
+
+readonly class Node
+{
+    public function __construct(public Element $element) {}
+}
+
+test('basic nested object', function () {
+    $input = DataObjectFactory::mapInput(Node::class, ['element' => ['value' => 1 ] ], [], new NullLogger());
+    expect($input)->toBe(['element' => ['value' => 1]]);
+});
+
+readonly class MappedElement
+{
+    public function __construct(#[FromInput('name')] public int $value) {}
+}
+
+readonly class MappedNode
+{
+    public function __construct(public MappedElement $element) {}
+}
+
+test('basic nested input map', function () {
+    $input = DataObjectFactory::mapInput(MappedNode::class, ['element' => ['name' => 1 ] ], [], new NullLogger());
+    expect($input)->toBe(['element' => ['value' => 1]]);
+});
+
+readonly class MappedCollectionItem
+{
+    public function __construct(#[FromInput('id_item')] public int $idItem) {}
+}
+
+readonly class MappedCollectionRoot
+{
+    /**
+     * @param Collection<int, MappedCollectionItem> $items
+     */
+    public function __construct(public string $text, #[FromInput('data')] public Collection $items) {}
+}
+
+test('using from input nested', function () {
+    $mapped = DataObjectFactory::mapInput(MappedCollectionRoot::class, [
+        'text' => 'abc',
+        'data' => [
+            [ 'id_item' => 1 ],
+            [ 'id_item' => 2 ],
+            [ 'id_item' => 4 ],
+            [ 'id_item' => 8 ],
+        ],
+    ], [], new NullLogger());
+
+    expect($mapped)->toBe([
+        'text' => 'abc',
+        'items' => [
+            [ 'idItem' => 1 ],
+            [ 'idItem' => 2 ],
+            [ 'idItem' => 4 ],
+            [ 'idItem' => 8 ],
+        ],
+    ]);
+});
+
+readonly class CollectionRoot
+{
+    /**
+     * @param Collection<int, MappedCollectionItem> $items
+     */
+    public function __construct(public string $text, public Collection $items) {}
+}
+
+test('using from input', function () {
+    $mapped = DataObjectFactory::mapInput(MappedCollectionRoot::class, [
+        'text' => 'abc',
+        'items' => [
+            [ 'id_item' => 1 ],
+            [ 'id_item' => 2 ],
+            [ 'id_item' => 4 ],
+            [ 'id_item' => 8 ],
+        ],
+    ], [], new NullLogger());
+
+    expect($mapped)->toBe([
+        'text' => 'abc',
+        'items' => [
+            [ 'idItem' => 1 ],
+            [ 'idItem' => 2 ],
+            [ 'idItem' => 4 ],
+            [ 'idItem' => 8 ],
+        ],
+    ]);
+});
+
+readonly class AnnotatedArrayItem
+{
+    public function __construct(#[FromInput('name')] public float $value) {}
+}
+
+readonly class AnnotatedArray
+{
+    /**
+     * @param array<int,AnnotatedArrayItem> $items
+     */
+    public function __construct(public array $items) {}
+}
+
+test('annotated array', function () {
+    $mapped = DataObjectFactory::mapInput(
+        AnnotatedArray::class,
+        ['items' => [['name' => 1], ['name' => 2]]],
+        [],
+        new NullLogger(),
+    );
+
+    expect($mapped)->toBe(['items' => [['value' => 1], ['value' => 2]]]);
+});
+
+test('route parameter priority over from input', function () {
+    $dto = new class (123) {
+        public function __construct(
+            #[FromRouteParameter('user_id')]
+            #[FromInput('user_id')]
+            public int $id,
+        ) {}
+    };
+
+    $result = DataObjectFactory::mapInput(
+        $dto::class,
+        ['user_id' => 456],
+        ['user_id' => 123],
+        new \Psr\Log\NullLogger(),
+    );
+
+    expect($result['id'])->toBe(123);
+});
+
+test('multiple route parameters', function () {
+    $dto = new class (45, 89, 'A') {
+        public function __construct(
+            #[FromRouteParameter('course_id')]
+            public int $courseId,
+            #[FromRouteParameter('student_id')]
+            public int $studentId,
+            #[FromInput('grade')]
+            public string $grade,
+        ) {}
+    };
+
+    $result = DataObjectFactory::mapInput(
+        $dto::class,
+        ['grade' => 'A'],
+        ['course_id' => 45, 'student_id' => 89],
+        new \Psr\Log\NullLogger(),
+    );
+
+    expect($result['courseId'])->toBe(45)
+        ->and($result['studentId'])->toBe(89)
+        ->and($result['grade'])->toBe('A');
+});
+
+test('route parameter with nested object', function () {
+    $addressDto = new class ('Main St') {
+        public function __construct(public string $street) {}
+    };
+
+    $dto = new class (123, $addressDto) {
+        public function __construct(
+            #[FromRouteParameter('user_id')]
+            public int $userId,
+            public $address,
+        ) {}
+    };
+
+    $result = DataObjectFactory::mapInput(
+        $dto::class,
+        ['user_id' => 456, 'address' => ['street' => 'Main St']],
+        ['user_id' => 123],
+        new \Psr\Log\NullLogger(),
+    );
+
+    expect($result['userId'])->toBe(123)
+        ->and($result['address']['street'])->toBe('Main St');
+});
+
+readonly class SimpleWithDefaults
+{
+    public function __construct(
+        public string $name,
+        public int $age,
+        public string $city = 'Unknown',
+    ) {}
+
+    /**
+     * @return array<string,mixed>
+     */
+    public static function defaults(): array
+    {
+        return [
+            'city' => 'New York',
+            'age' => 25,
+        ];
+    }
+}
+
+test('defaults with fromArray - basic usage', function () {
+    $object = DataObjectFactory::fromArray(
+        SimpleWithDefaults::class,
+        ['name' => 'John'],
+        [],
+    );
+
+    expect($object->name)->toBe('John')
+        ->and($object->age)->toBe(25)
+        ->and($object->city)->toBe('New York');
+});
+
+readonly class NestedWithDefaults
+{
+    public function __construct(
+        public string $title,
+        public SimpleWithDefaults $user,
+    ) {}
+
+    /**
+     * @return array<string,array<string,mixed>>
+     */
+    public static function defaults(): array
+    {
+        return [
+            'user' => [
+                'name' => 'Default User',
+                'age' => 30,
+            ],
+        ];
+    }
+}
+
+test('defaults with nested objects', function () {
+    $object = DataObjectFactory::fromArray(
+        NestedWithDefaults::class,
+        ['title' => 'Admin Dashboard'],
+        [],
+    );
+
+    expect($object->title)->toBe('Admin Dashboard')
+        ->and($object->user->name)->toBe('Default User')
+        ->and($object->user->age)->toBe(30)
+        ->and($object->user->city)->toBe('Unknown');
+});
+
+test('defaults merged with input - input overrides defaults', function () {
+    $object = DataObjectFactory::fromArray(
+        SimpleWithDefaults::class,
+        ['name' => 'Alice', 'age' => 40, 'city' => 'Los Angeles'],
+        [],
+    );
+
+    expect($object->name)->toBe('Alice')
+        ->and($object->age)->toBe(40)
+        ->and($object->city)->toBe('Los Angeles');
+});
+
+
+test('defaults with simple nested structures', function () {
+    $object = DataObjectFactory::fromArray(
+        NestedWithDefaults::class,
+        ['title' => 'Simple Project'],
+        [],
+    );
+
+    expect($object->title)->toBe('Simple Project')
+        ->and($object->user->name)->toBe('Default User')
+        ->and($object->user->age)->toBe(30);
+});
+
+readonly class ArrayWithDefaults
+{
+    /**
+     * @param array<string,mixed> $settings
+     */
+    public function __construct(
+        public string $projectName,
+        public array $settings,
+    ) {}
+    /**
+     * @return array<string,array<string,mixed>>
+     */
+    public static function defaults(): array
+    {
+        return [
+            'settings' => [
+                'theme' => 'dark',
+                'notifications' => true,
+                'language' => 'en',
+            ],
+        ];
+    }
+}
+
+test('defaults with array structures', function () {
+    $object = DataObjectFactory::fromArray(
+        ArrayWithDefaults::class,
+        ['projectName' => 'New Project'],
+        [],
+    );
+
+    expect($object->projectName)->toBe('New Project')
+        ->and($object->settings)->toBe([
+            'theme' => 'dark',
+            'notifications' => true,
+            'language' => 'en',
+        ]);
+});
+
+test('defaults partially overridden by input', function () {
+    $object = DataObjectFactory::fromArray(
+        ArrayWithDefaults::class,
+        [
+            'projectName' => 'Custom Project',
+            'settings' => [
+                'theme' => 'light',
+                'language' => 'fr',
+            ],
+        ],
+        [],
+    );
+
+    expect($object->projectName)->toBe('Custom Project')
+        ->and($object->settings)->toBe([
+            'theme' => 'light',
+            'notifications' => true, // From defaults
+            'language' => 'fr',
+        ]);
+});
+
+readonly class WithInputMappingAndDefaults
+{
+    public function __construct(
+        #[FromInput('full_name')]
+        public string $name,
+        #[FromInput('user_age')]
+        public int $age,
+        public string $role = 'user',
+    ) {}
+    /**
+     * @return array<string,mixed>
+     */
+    public static function defaults(): array
+    {
+        return [
+            'name' => 'Default Name',
+            'role' => 'admin',
+            'age' => 18,
+        ];
+    }
+}
+
+test('defaults work with FromInput attribute mapping', function () {
+    $object = DataObjectFactory::fromArray(
+        WithInputMappingAndDefaults::class,
+        ['full_name' => 'John Doe'],
+        [],
+    );
+
+    expect($object->name)->toBe('John Doe') // From input mapping
+        ->and($object->age)->toBe(18) // From defaults
+        ->and($object->role)->toBe('admin'); // From defaults
+});
+
+test('array_merge_recursive behavior with nested arrays', function () {
+    $object = DataObjectFactory::fromArray(
+        ArrayWithDefaults::class,
+        [
+            'projectName' => 'Test Project',
+            'settings' => [
+                'new_setting' => 'custom_value',
+            ],
+        ],
+        [],
+    );
+
+    expect($object->settings)->toBe([
+        'theme' => 'dark', // From defaults
+        'notifications' => true, // From defaults
+        'language' => 'en', // From defaults
+        'new_setting' => 'custom_value', // From input
+    ]);
+});
diff --git a/tests/DataObjectTest.php b/tests/DataObjectTest.php
deleted file mode 100644
index b68a4b7..0000000
--- a/tests/DataObjectTest.php
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,212 +0,0 @@
-<?php
-
-namespace Tests;
-
-use Icefox\DTO\Log;
-use Icefox\DTO\Support\RuleFactory;
-use Illuminate\Validation\ValidationException;
-use Tests\Classes\ArrayDataObject;
-use Tests\Classes\CollectionDataObject;
-use Tests\Classes\FromInputObject;
-use Tests\Classes\OptionalData;
-use Tests\Classes\OptionalNullableData;
-use Tests\Classes\PrimitiveData;
-use Tests\Classes\RecursiveDataObject;
-use Tests\Classes\WithMapperObject;
-
-describe('primitive data test', function () {
-    it('creates required rules', function () {
-        $rules = (new RuleFactory(new Log()))->make(PrimitiveData::class);
-        expect($rules)->toMatchArray([
-            'string' => ['required'],
-            'int' => ['required', 'numeric'],
-            'float' => ['required', 'numeric'],
-            'bool' => ['required', 'boolean'],
-        ]);
-    });
-
-    it('creates object with all required properties', function () {
-        $object = PrimitiveData::fromArray([
-            'string' => 'abc',
-            'int' => 0,
-            'float' => 3.14,
-            'bool' => true,
-        ]);
-        expect($object)->toBeInstanceOf(PrimitiveData::class);
-        expect($object->string)->toBe('abc');
-        expect($object->int)->toBe(0);
-        expect($object->float)->toEqualWithDelta(3.14, 0.0001);
-        expect($object->bool)->toBeTrue();
-    });
-});
-
-describe('optional data', function () {
-    it('creates optional rules', function () {
-        $rules = (new RuleFactory(new Log()))->make(OptionalData::class);
-        expect($rules)->toMatchArray([
-            'string' => ['sometimes'],
-            'int' => ['sometimes', 'numeric'],
-            'float' => ['sometimes', 'numeric'],
-            'bool' => ['sometimes', 'boolean'],
-        ]);
-    });
-
-    it('creates object with default values', function () {
-        $object = OptionalData::fromArray([]);
-        expect($object)->toBeInstanceOf(OptionalData::class);
-        expect($object->string)->toBe('xyz');
-        expect($object->int)->toBe(3);
-        expect($object->float)->toEqualWithDelta(0.777, 0.0001);
-        expect($object->bool)->toBeFalse();
-    });
-});
-
-describe('nullable data', function () {
-    it('creates nullable rules', function () {
-        $rules = (new RuleFactory(new Log()))->make(OptionalNullableData::class);
-        expect($rules)->toMatchArray([
-            'string' => ['required'],
-            'int' => ['nullable', 'numeric'],
-            'float' => ['sometimes', 'numeric'],
-            'bool' => ['sometimes', 'boolean'],
-        ]);
-    });
-
-    it('accepts explicit null', function () {
-        $object = OptionalNullableData::fromArray([
-            'string' => 'ijk',
-            'int' => null,
-        ]);
-        expect($object)->toBeInstanceOf(OptionalNullableData::class);
-        expect($object->string)->toBe('ijk');
-        expect($object->int)->toBeNull();
-    });
-
-    it('accepts implicit null', function () {
-        $object = OptionalNullableData::fromArray(['string' => 'dfg']);
-        expect($object)->toBeInstanceOf(OptionalNullableData::class);
-        expect($object->string)->toBe('dfg');
-        expect($object->int)->toBeNull();
-    });
-});
-
-describe('reference other DataObject', function () {
-
-    it('creates recursive rules', function () {
-        $rules = (new RuleFactory(new Log()))->make(RecursiveDataObject::class);
-        expect($rules)->toMatchArray([
-            'string' => ['required'],
-            'extra.string' => ['required'],
-            'extra.int' => ['required', 'numeric'],
-            'extra.float' => ['required', 'numeric'],
-            'extra.bool' => ['required', 'boolean'],
-        ]);
-    });
-});
-
-describe('primitive array', function () {
-    it('creates array rules', function () {
-        $rules = (new RuleFactory(new Log()))->make(ArrayDataObject::class);
-        expect($rules)->toMatchArray([
-            'values' => ['required', 'array'],
-            'values.*' => ['required', 'numeric'],
-        ]);
-    });
-});
-
-
-describe('object array', function () {
-    it('creates array rules', function () {
-        $rules = (new RuleFactory(new Log()))->make(CollectionDataObject::class);
-        expect($rules)->toMatchArray([
-            'values' => ['required', 'array'],
-            'values.*' => ['required'],
-            'values.*.string' => ['required'],
-            'values.*.int' => ['nullable', 'numeric'],
-            'values.*.float' => ['sometimes', 'numeric'],
-            'values.*.bool' => ['sometimes', 'boolean'],
-        ]);
-    });
-});
-
-describe('can map input names', function () {
-
-    it('creates rules with property names', function () {
-
-        $rules = (new RuleFactory(new Log()))->make(FromInputObject::class);
-        expect($rules)->toMatchArray([
-            'text' => ['required' ],
-            'standard' => ['required', 'numeric'],
-        ]);
-    });
-
-    it('maps input name', function () {
-        $object = FromInputObject::fromArray([
-            'other_name' => 'xyz',
-            'standard' => 1,
-        ]);
-        expect($object->text)->toBe('xyz');
-        expect($object->standard)->toBe(1);
-    });
-
-    it('prioritizes the mapped input', function () {
-        $object = FromInputObject::fromArray([
-            'other_name' => 'xyz',
-            'text' => 'abc',
-            'standard' => 1,
-        ]);
-        expect($object->text)->toBe('xyz');
-        expect($object->standard)->toBe(1);
-    });
-});
-
-describe('with mapper object', function () {
-    it('uses mapper', function () {
-        $object = WithMapperObject::fromArray([
-            'period' => [
-                'start' => '1980-01-01',
-                'end' => '1990-01-01',
-            ],
-            'standard' => 1,
-        ]);
-        expect($object->period->startsAt('1980-01-01'))->toBeTrue();
-        expect($object->period->endsAt('1990-01-01'))->toBeTrue();
-    });
-
-    it('uses mapper as validator', function () {
-        $object = WithMapperObject::fromArray([
-            'period' => [
-                'end' => '1990-01-01',
-            ],
-            'standard' => 1,
-        ]);
-    })->throws(ValidationException::class);
-});
-
-test('failed validation throws ValidationException', function () {
-    $object = PrimitiveData::fromArray([
-        'int' => 0,
-        'float' => 3.14,
-        'bool' => true,
-    ]);
-})->throws(ValidationException::class);
-
-
-test('creates collection', function () {
-    $object = CollectionDataObject::fromArray([
-        'values' => [
-            [
-                'string' => 'x',
-                'int' => 1,
-                'float' => 3.3,
-            ],
-            [
-                'string' => 'y',
-                'int' => null,
-            ],
-        ],
-    ]);
-    expect($object->values->count())->toBe(2);
-    expect($object->values[0]->string)->toBe('x');
-    expect($object->values[1]->int)->toBeNull();
-});
diff --git a/tests/FailedValidation/FailsMethodTest.php b/tests/FailedValidation/FailsMethodTest.php
deleted file mode 100644
index 11b2ca1..0000000
--- a/tests/FailedValidation/FailsMethodTest.php
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,108 +0,0 @@
-<?php
-
-namespace Tests\FailedValidation;
-
-use Illuminate\Validation\ValidationException;
-use Tests\Classes\FailsReturnsDefault;
-use Tests\Classes\FailsReturnsNull;
-use Tests\Classes\FailsWithHttpResponse;
-use Tests\Classes\PrimitiveData;
-
-describe('fails method behavior', function () {
-
-    it('throws ValidationException when class does not implement fails()', function () {
-        expect(function () {
-            PrimitiveData::fromArray([
-                'int' => 0,
-                'float' => 3.14,
-                'bool' => true,
-            ]);
-        })->toThrow(ValidationException::class);
-    });
-
-    it('returns null when fails() returns null', function () {
-        $result = FailsReturnsNull::fromArray([
-            'int' => 0,
-        ]);
-
-        expect($result)->toBeNull();
-    });
-
-    it('returns static instance when fails() returns an object', function () {
-        $result = FailsReturnsDefault::fromArray([
-            'int' => 0,
-        ]);
-
-        expect($result)->toBeInstanceOf(FailsReturnsDefault::class);
-        expect($result->string)->toBe('default_value');
-        expect($result->int)->toBe(42);
-    });
-});
-
-describe('HTTP request handling', function () {
-
-    beforeEach(function () {
-        \Illuminate\Support\Facades\Route::post('/test-validation-exception', function () {
-            PrimitiveData::fromArray([
-                'int' => 0,
-                'float' => 3.14,
-                'bool' => true,
-            ]);
-            return response()->json(['success' => true]);
-        });
-
-        \Illuminate\Support\Facades\Route::post('/test-http-response-exception', function () {
-            FailsWithHttpResponse::fromArray([
-                'int' => 0,
-            ]);
-            return response()->json(['success' => true]);
-        });
-
-        \Illuminate\Support\Facades\Route::post('/test-validation-exception-html', function () {
-            PrimitiveData::fromArray([
-                'int' => 0,
-                'float' => 3.14,
-                'bool' => true,
-            ]);
-            return response('success');
-        });
-    });
-
-    it('returns 422 with errors when ValidationException is thrown in JSON request', function () {
-        $response = $this->postJson('/test-validation-exception', [
-            'int' => 0,
-            'float' => 3.14,
-            'bool' => true,
-        ]);
-
-        $response->assertStatus(422);
-        $response->assertJsonValidationErrors(['string']);
-    });
-
-    it('returns custom JSON response when HttpResponseException is thrown', function () {
-        $response = $this->postJson('/test-http-response-exception', [
-            'int' => 0,
-        ]);
-
-        $response->assertStatus(422);
-        $response->assertJsonStructure(['errors']);
-        $response->assertJsonFragment([
-            'errors' => [
-                'string' => ['The string field is required.'],
-            ],
-        ]);
-    });
-
-    it('redirects back with session errors when ValidationException is thrown in text/html request', function () {
-        $response = $this->post('/test-validation-exception-html', [
-            'int' => 0,
-            'float' => 3.14,
-            'bool' => true,
-        ], [
-            'Accept' => 'text/html',
-        ]);
-
-        $response->assertRedirect();
-        $response->assertSessionHasErrors(['string']);
-    });
-});
diff --git a/tests/Http/RequestTest.php b/tests/Http/RequestTest.php
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..d0713e3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/Http/RequestTest.php
@@ -0,0 +1,107 @@
+<?php
+
+namespace Tests\Http;
+
+use Icefox\Data\IData;
+use Illuminate\Http\Exceptions\HttpResponseException;
+use Illuminate\Support\Facades\Route;
+use Illuminate\Support\Facades\Validator as ValidatorFacade;
+use Illuminate\Validation\Validator;
+
+readonly class Basic implements IData
+{
+    public string $reply;
+    public function __construct(string $message)
+    {
+        $this->reply = $message == 'ping' ? 'pong' : 'unknown';
+    }
+}
+
+test('injects data object', function () {
+    Route::post('/', fn(Basic $object) => ['reply' => $object->reply]);
+
+    /** @var \Tests\TestCase $this */
+    $this->postJson('/', ['message' => 'ping'])->assertJson(['reply' => 'pong']);
+});
+
+test('fails on validation error', function () {
+    Route::post('/', fn(Basic $object) => ['reply' => $object->reply]);
+    /** @var \Tests\TestCase $this */
+    $resp = $this->postJson('/', [])
+        ->assertStatus(422)
+        ->assertJson([
+            'message' =>  'The message field is required.',
+            'errors' => ['message' => ['The message field is required.']],
+        ]);
+});
+
+readonly class WithCustomValidator implements IData
+{
+    public string $reply;
+    public function __construct(string $message)
+    {
+        $this->reply = $message == 'ping' ? 'pong' : 'unknown';
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * @param array<string,mixed> $data
+     * @param array<string,mixed> $rules
+     */
+    public static function withValidator(array $data, array $rules): Validator
+    {
+        return ValidatorFacade::make($data, $rules, $messages = [
+            'message.required' => 'the known message is pong',
+        ]);
+    }
+}
+
+test('replies with custom validator', function () {
+    Route::post('/', fn(WithCustomValidator $object) => []);
+    /** @var \Tests\TestCase $this */
+    $this->postJson('/', [])
+        ->assertStatus(422)
+        ->assertJson([
+            'message' =>  'the known message is pong',
+            'errors' => ['message' => ['the known message is pong']],
+        ]);
+});
+
+readonly class WithCustomFailure implements IData
+{
+    public function __construct(public bool $flag) {}
+
+    public static function fails(Validator $validator): void
+    {
+        throw new HttpResponseException(
+            response(['result' => 'invalid, but that is ok' ], 202),
+        );
+    }
+}
+
+test('uses custom response', function () {
+    Route::post('/', fn(WithCustomFailure $object) => response('', 204));
+
+    /** @var \Tests\TestCase $this */
+    $this->postJson('/', [])
+        ->assertStatus(202)
+        ->assertJson(['result' => 'invalid, but that is ok']);
+});
+
+readonly class WithDefaultObjectOnFailure implements IData
+{
+    public function __construct(public bool $flag) {}
+
+    public static function fails(): self
+    {
+        return new self(false);
+    }
+}
+
+test('uses default object on failure', function () {
+    Route::post('/', fn(WithDefaultObjectOnFailure $object) => response(['flag' => $object->flag], 200));
+
+    /** @var \Tests\TestCase $this */
+    $this->postJson('/', [])
+        ->assertStatus(200)
+        ->assertJson(['flag' => false]);
+});
diff --git a/tests/Logging/CustomLogger.php b/tests/Logging/CustomLogger.php
deleted file mode 100644
index c4bff3d..0000000
--- a/tests/Logging/CustomLogger.php
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,36 +0,0 @@
-<?php
-
-declare(strict_types=1);
-
-namespace Tests\Logging;
-
-use Psr\Log\AbstractLogger;
-
-class CustomLogger extends AbstractLogger
-{
-    public array $logs = [];
-
-    public function log($level, string|\Stringable $message, array $context = []): void
-    {
-        $this->logs[] = [
-            'level' => $level,
-            'message' => $message,
-            'context' => $context,
-        ];
-    }
-
-    public function hasLog(string $level, string $contains): bool
-    {
-        foreach ($this->logs as $log) {
-            if ($log['level'] === $level && str_contains($log['message'], $contains)) {
-                return true;
-            }
-        }
-        return false;
-    }
-
-    public function clear(): void
-    {
-        $this->logs = [];
-    }
-}
diff --git a/tests/Logging/LogTest.php b/tests/Logging/LogTest.php
deleted file mode 100644
index 6847938..0000000
--- a/tests/Logging/LogTest.php
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,281 +0,0 @@
-<?php
-
-declare(strict_types=1);
-
-namespace Tests\Logging;
-
-use Icefox\DTO\Log;
-use Psr\Log\LogLevel;
-use Psr\Log\NullLogger;
-use Tests\Classes\PrimitiveData;
-use Tests\TestCase;
-
-describe('logger resolution', function () {
-
-    afterEach(function () {
-        config()->set('dto.log.logger', NullLogger::class);
-    });
-
-    it('uses NullLogger as fallback when logger config is null', function () {
-        config()->set('dto.log.logger', null);
-        $log = new Log();
-        expect($log->logger)->toBeInstanceOf(NullLogger::class);
-    });
-
-    it('uses NullLogger as fallback when logger config is invalid', function () {
-        config()->set('dto.log.logger', 'NonExistentLoggerClass');
-        $log = new Log();
-        expect($log->logger)->toBeInstanceOf(NullLogger::class);
-    });
-
-    it('instantiates logger from class name via Laravel container', function () {
-        config()->set('dto.log.logger', CustomLogger::class);
-        $log = new Log();
-        expect($log->logger)->toBeInstanceOf(CustomLogger::class);
-    });
-
-    it('uses logger object directly when provided', function () {
-        $customLogger = new CustomLogger();
-        config()->set('dto.log.logger', $customLogger);
-        $log = new Log();
-        expect($log->logger)->toBe($customLogger);
-    });
-
-    it('invokes callable to get logger instance', function () {
-        config()->set('dto.log.logger', function () {
-            return new CustomLogger();
-        });
-
-        $log = new Log();
-
-        expect($log->logger)->toBeInstanceOf(CustomLogger::class);
-    });
-});
-
-describe('log level configuration', function () {
-
-    beforeEach(function () {
-        $this->customLogger = new CustomLogger();
-        config()->set('dto.log.logger', $this->customLogger);
-    });
-
-    afterEach(function () {
-        config()->set('dto.log.logger', NullLogger::class);
-        config()->set('dto.log.rules', LogLevel::DEBUG);
-        config()->set('dto.log.input', LogLevel::DEBUG);
-        config()->set('dto.log.raw_input', LogLevel::DEBUG);
-        config()->set('dto.log.validation_errors', LogLevel::INFO);
-    });
-
-    it('logs rules at configured level', function () {
-        config()->set('dto.log.rules', LogLevel::INFO);
-
-        $log = new Log();
-        $log->rules(['field' => ['required']]);
-
-        expect($this->customLogger->hasLog(LogLevel::INFO, 'field'))->toBeTrue();
-    });
-
-    it('logs input at configured level', function () {
-        config()->set('dto.log.input', LogLevel::INFO);
-
-        $log = new Log();
-        $log->input(['field' => 'value']);
-
-        expect($this->customLogger->hasLog(LogLevel::INFO, 'value'))->toBeTrue();
-    });
-
-    it('logs raw input at configured level', function () {
-        config()->set('dto.log.raw_input', LogLevel::ERROR);
-
-        $log = new Log();
-        $log->inputRaw(['field' => 'raw_value']);
-
-        expect($this->customLogger->hasLog(LogLevel::ERROR, 'raw_value'))->toBeTrue();
-    });
-
-    it('logs validation errors at configured level', function () {
-        config()->set('dto.log.validation_errors', LogLevel::ERROR);
-
-        $log = new Log();
-        $log->validationErrors(['field' => ['The field is required.']]);
-
-        expect($this->customLogger->hasLog(LogLevel::ERROR, 'required'))->toBeTrue();
-    });
-
-    it('allows different log levels for each log type', function () {
-        config()->set('dto.log.rules', LogLevel::DEBUG);
-        config()->set('dto.log.input', LogLevel::INFO);
-        config()->set('dto.log.raw_input', LogLevel::INFO);
-
-        $log = new Log();
-
-        $log->rules(['rules_field' => ['required']]);
-        $log->input(['input_field' => 'value']);
-        $log->inputRaw(['raw_field' => 'raw_value']);
-
-        expect($this->customLogger->hasLog(LogLevel::DEBUG, 'rules_field'))->toBeTrue();
-        expect($this->customLogger->hasLog(LogLevel::INFO, 'input_field'))->toBeTrue();
-        expect($this->customLogger->hasLog(LogLevel::INFO, 'raw_field'))->toBeTrue();
-    });
-
-    it('defaults to DEBUG level when not configured', function () {
-        config()->set('dto.log.rules', null);
-        config()->set('dto.log.input', null);
-        config()->set('dto.log.raw_input', null);
-
-        $customLogger = new CustomLogger();
-        config()->set('dto.log.logger', $customLogger);
-
-        $log = new Log();
-
-        $log->rules(['field' => ['required']]);
-        $log->input(['field' => 'value']);
-        $log->inputRaw(['field' => 'raw_value']);
-
-        expect(count($customLogger->logs))->toBe(3);
-        expect($customLogger->logs[0]['level'])->toBe(LogLevel::DEBUG);
-        expect($customLogger->logs[1]['level'])->toBe(LogLevel::DEBUG);
-        expect($customLogger->logs[2]['level'])->toBe(LogLevel::DEBUG);
-    });
-});
-
-describe('integration with DataObject', function () {
-
-    beforeEach(function () {
-        $this->customLogger = new CustomLogger();
-        config()->set('dto.log.logger', $this->customLogger);
-        config()->set('dto.log.rules', LogLevel::DEBUG);
-        config()->set('dto.log.input', LogLevel::DEBUG);
-        config()->set('dto.log.raw_input', LogLevel::DEBUG);
-    });
-
-    afterEach(function () {
-        config()->set('dto.log.logger', NullLogger::class);
-    });
-
-    it('logs raw input during fromArray execution', function () {
-        PrimitiveData::fromArray([
-            'string' => 'test',
-            'int' => 42,
-            'float' => 3.14,
-            'bool' => true,
-        ]);
-
-        expect($this->customLogger->hasLog(LogLevel::DEBUG, 'raw_input'))->toBeFalse();
-        expect($this->customLogger->hasLog(LogLevel::DEBUG, 'string'))->toBeTrue();
-        expect($this->customLogger->hasLog(LogLevel::DEBUG, '42'))->toBeTrue();
-    });
-
-    it('logs rules during fromArray execution', function () {
-        PrimitiveData::fromArray([
-            'string' => 'test',
-            'int' => 42,
-            'float' => 3.14,
-            'bool' => true,
-        ]);
-
-        expect($this->customLogger->hasLog(LogLevel::DEBUG, 'required'))->toBeTrue();
-    });
-
-    it('logs processed input during fromArray execution', function () {
-        PrimitiveData::fromArray([
-            'string' => 'test',
-            'int' => 42,
-            'float' => 3.14,
-            'bool' => true,
-        ]);
-
-        expect($this->customLogger->hasLog(LogLevel::DEBUG, 'test'))->toBeTrue();
-    });
-
-    it('captures all three log types during successful fromArray', function () {
-        PrimitiveData::fromArray([
-            'string' => 'integration_test',
-            'int' => 123,
-            'float' => 9.99,
-            'bool' => false,
-        ]);
-
-        $rawInputLogged = false;
-        $rulesLogged = false;
-        $inputLogged = false;
-
-        foreach ($this->customLogger->logs as $log) {
-            if (str_contains($log['message'], 'string')) {
-                $rawInputLogged = true;
-            }
-            if (str_contains($log['message'], 'required')) {
-                $rulesLogged = true;
-            }
-            if (str_contains($log['message'], 'integration_test')) {
-                $inputLogged = true;
-            }
-        }
-
-        expect($rawInputLogged)->toBeTrue('Raw input should be logged');
-        expect($rulesLogged)->toBeTrue('Rules should be logged');
-        expect($inputLogged)->toBeTrue('Processed input should be logged');
-    });
-
-    it('logs even when validation fails', function () {
-        try {
-            PrimitiveData::fromArray([
-                'int' => 42,
-                'float' => 3.14,
-                'bool' => true,
-            ]);
-        } catch (\Illuminate\Validation\ValidationException $e) {
-            // Expected
-        }
-
-        expect($this->customLogger->hasLog(LogLevel::DEBUG, 'required'))->toBeTrue();
-        expect($this->customLogger->hasLog(LogLevel::DEBUG, '42'))->toBeTrue();
-    });
-
-    it('logs validation errors when validation fails', function () {
-        config()->set('dto.log.validation_errors', LogLevel::ERROR);
-
-        try {
-            PrimitiveData::fromArray([
-                'int' => 42,
-                'float' => 3.14,
-                'bool' => true,
-            ]);
-        } catch (\Illuminate\Validation\ValidationException $e) {
-            // Expected
-        }
-
-        expect($this->customLogger->hasLog(LogLevel::ERROR, 'string'))->toBeTrue();
-        expect($this->customLogger->hasLog(LogLevel::ERROR, 'required'))->toBeTrue();
-    });
-});
-
-describe('logging with NullLogger', function () {
-
-    it('does not throw when logging with NullLogger', function () {
-        config()->set('dto.log.logger', NullLogger::class);
-
-        $log = new Log();
-
-        expect(function () use ($log) {
-            $log->rules(['field' => ['required']]);
-            $log->input(['field' => 'value']);
-            $log->inputRaw(['field' => 'raw_value']);
-        })->not->toThrow(\Throwable::class);
-    });
-
-    it('does not affect DataObject behavior when using NullLogger', function () {
-        config()->set('dto.log.logger', NullLogger::class);
-
-        $object = PrimitiveData::fromArray([
-            'string' => 'test',
-            'int' => 42,
-            'float' => 3.14,
-            'bool' => true,
-        ]);
-
-        expect($object)->toBeInstanceOf(PrimitiveData::class);
-        expect($object->string)->toBe('test');
-    });
-});
diff --git a/tests/Rules/RulesTest.php b/tests/Rules/RulesTest.php
index 5f7ed9f..f902d73 100644
--- a/tests/Rules/RulesTest.php
+++ b/tests/Rules/RulesTest.php
@@ -4,97 +4,208 @@ declare(strict_types=1);
 
 namespace Tests\Rules;
 
-use Icefox\DTO\Log;
-use Icefox\DTO\ReflectionHelper;
-use Icefox\DTO\Support\RuleFactory;
-use Illuminate\Validation\ValidationException;
-use Tests\Rules\WithEmptyOverwriteRules;
-use Tests\Rules\WithMergedRules;
-use Tests\Rules\WithOverwriteRules;
+use Icefox\Data\Attributes\Flat;
+use Icefox\Data\Attributes\Overwrite;
+use Icefox\Data\Factories\RuleFactory;
+use Illuminate\Support\Collection;
 
-describe('rules array shape', function () {
-    it('returns inferred rules shape from RuleFactory::infer (inferred only)', function () {
-        $parameters = ReflectionHelper::getParametersMeta(WithMergedRules::class);
-        $rules = RuleFactory::infer($parameters, '');
+readonly class BasicPrimitives
+{
+    public function __construct(
+        public string $text,
+        public int $number,
+        public bool $flag,
+        public ?array $items,
+        public float $floating = 0.0,
+    ) {}
+}
 
-        expect($rules)->toBe([
-            'value' => ['required', 'numeric'],
-        ]);
-    });
-
-    it('returns inferred rules shape regardless of OverwriteRules attribute', function () {
-        $parameters = ReflectionHelper::getParametersMeta(WithOverwriteRules::class);
-        $rules = RuleFactory::infer($parameters, '');
-
-        expect($rules)->toBe([
-            'value' => ['required', 'numeric'],
-        ]);
-    });
+test('required rules', function () {
+    expect(RuleFactory::instance()->make(BasicPrimitives::class))->toBe([
+        'text' => ['required'],
+        'number' => ['required', 'numeric'],
+        'flag' => ['required', 'boolean'],
+        'items' => ['nullable', 'array'],
+        'floating' => ['sometimes', 'numeric'],
+    ]);
 });
 
-describe('getRules method', function () {
-    it('returns merged rules from DataObject::getRules()', function () {
-        $rules = (new RuleFactory(new Log()))->make(WithMergedRules::class);
-
-        expect($rules)->toBe([
-            'value' => ['required', 'numeric', 'max:20'],
-        ]);
-    });
-
-    it('returns only custom rules from DataObject::getRules() with OverwriteRules', function () {
-        $rules = (new RuleFactory(new Log()))->make(WithOverwriteRules::class);
-
-        expect($rules)->toBe([
-            'value' => ['numeric', 'max:20'],
-        ]);
-    });
-
-    it('returns empty rules from DataObject::getRules() with OverwriteRules and no custom rules', function () {
-        $rules = (new RuleFactory(new Log()))->make(WithEmptyOverwriteRules::class);
-
-        expect($rules)->toBe([]);
-    });
+readonly class AnnotatedArray
+{
+    /**
+     * @param array<int,float> $items
+     */
+    public function __construct(public array $items) {}
+}
+test('annotated array', function () {
+    expect(RuleFactory::instance()->make(AnnotatedArray::class))->toBe([
+        'items' => ['required', 'array'],
+        'items.*' => ['required', 'numeric'],
+    ]);
 });
 
-describe('rules merging', function () {
-    it('merges custom rules with inferred rules by default', function () {
-        $object = WithMergedRules::fromArray([
-            'value' => 10,
-        ]);
-
-        expect($object->value)->toBe(10);
-    });
-
-    it('fails validation when merged rule is violated', function () {
-        expect(fn() => WithMergedRules::fromArray([
-            'value' => 25,
-        ]))->toThrow(ValidationException::class);
-    });
-
-    it('fails validation when required rule is violated (inferred)', function () {
-        expect(fn() => WithMergedRules::fromArray([
-        ]))->toThrow(ValidationException::class);
-    });
+readonly class AnnotatedArrayNullableValue
+{
+    /**
+     * @param array<?float> $items
+     */
+    public function __construct(public array $items) {}
+}
+test('annotated array with nullable items', function () {
+    expect(RuleFactory::instance()->make(AnnotatedArrayNullableValue::class))->toBe([
+        'items' => ['required', 'array'],
+        'items.*' => ['nullable', 'numeric'],
+    ]);
 });
 
-describe('rules overwrite', function () {
-    it('uses only custom rules when OverwriteRules attribute is present', function () {
-        $object = WithOverwriteRules::fromArray([
-            'value' => 10,
-        ]);
+readonly class PlainLeaf
+{
+    public function __construct(public string $name) {}
+}
+readonly class PlainRoot
+{
+    public function __construct(public int $value, public PlainLeaf $leaf) {}
+}
 
-        expect($object->value)->toBe(10);
-    });
-
-    it('fails validation when custom rule is violated', function () {
-        expect(fn() => WithOverwriteRules::fromArray([
-            'value' => 25,
-        ]))->toThrow(ValidationException::class);
-    });
-
-    it('does not enforce inferred required rule when overwritten', function () {
-        $rules = WithOverwriteRules::rules();
-        expect($rules)->toHaveKey('value');
-        expect($rules['value'])->toBe(['numeric', 'max:20']);
-    });
+test('plain nesting', function () {
+    expect(RuleFactory::instance()->make(PlainRoot::class))->toBe([
+        'value' => ['required', 'numeric'],
+        'leaf' => ['required'],
+        'leaf.name' => ['required'],
+    ]);
+});
+
+
+readonly class AnnotatedArrayItem
+{
+    public function __construct(public int $value) {}
+}
+
+readonly class AnnotatedArrayObject
+{
+    /**
+     * @param ?array<AnnotatedArrayItem> $items
+     */
+    public function __construct(public ?array $items) {}
+}
+
+test('annotated array with object', function () {
+    expect(RuleFactory::instance()->make(AnnotatedArrayObject::class))->toBe([
+        'items' => ['nullable', 'array'],
+        'items.*' => ['required'],
+        'items.*.value' => ['required', 'numeric'],
+    ]);
+});
+
+readonly class FlattenedLeaf
+{
+    public function __construct(public ?bool $flag) {}
+}
+
+readonly class NotFlattenedLeaf
+{
+    public function __construct(public string $description) {}
+}
+
+readonly class FlattenedNode
+{
+    public function __construct(
+        public string $id,
+        public NotFlattenedLeaf $leaf,
+        #[Flat]
+        public FlattenedLeaf $squish,
+        public int $level = 1,
+    ) {}
+}
+
+readonly class FlattenedRoot
+{
+    public function __construct(
+        public int $value,
+        #[Flat]
+        public FlattenedNode $node,
+    ) {}
+}
+
+test('flattened basic', function () {
+    expect(RuleFactory::instance()->make(FlattenedRoot::class))->toBe([
+        'value' => ['required', 'numeric'],
+        'id' => ['required' ],
+        'leaf' => ['required'],
+        'leaf.description' => ['required'],
+        'flag' => ['nullable', 'boolean'],
+        'level' => ['sometimes', 'numeric'],
+    ]);
+});
+
+readonly class AnnotatedCollectionItem
+{
+    public function __construct(public int $value) {}
+}
+
+readonly class AnnotatedCollection
+{
+    /**
+     * @param Collection<AnnotatedCollectionItem> $group
+     */
+    public function __construct(public Collection $group) {}
+}
+
+test('annotated collection', function () {
+    expect(RuleFactory::instance()->make(AnnotatedCollection::class))->toBe([
+        'group' => ['required', 'array'],
+        'group.*' => ['required'],
+        'group.*.value' => ['required', 'numeric'],
+    ]);
+});
+
+
+readonly class MergedRules
+{
+    public function __construct(public int $value, public string $text) {}
+
+    /**
+     * @return array<string,array<int,string>>
+     */
+    public static function rules(): array
+    {
+        // only customized fields need to be provided
+        return [
+            'value' => ['min:20'],
+        ];
+    }
+}
+
+test('merging rules', function () {
+    expect(RuleFactory::instance()->make(MergedRules::class))->toBe([
+        'value' => ['required', 'numeric', 'min:20'],
+        'text' => ['required'],
+    ]);
+});
+
+readonly class OverwriteRules
+{
+    // union types are not supported, generated rules are undefined
+    public function __construct(public int|bool $value, public string $text) {}
+
+    /**
+     * @return array<string,array<int,mixed>>
+     */
+    #[Overwrite]
+    public static function rules(): array
+    {
+        // when overwriting, all fields must be provided with all rules, disables rules inference.
+        return [
+            'value' => ['required', function ($attribute, $value, $fail) {
+                if (!is_int($value) && !is_bool($value)) {
+                    $fail("$attribute must be an integer or an array.");
+                }
+            }],
+            'text' => ['required'],
+        ];
+    }
+}
+
+test('overwriting rules', function () {
+    expect(RuleFactory::instance()->make(OverwriteRules::class))->toHaveKeys(['value', 'text']);
 });
diff --git a/tests/Rules/WithEmptyOverwriteRules.php b/tests/Rules/WithEmptyOverwriteRules.php
deleted file mode 100644
index e743bed..0000000
--- a/tests/Rules/WithEmptyOverwriteRules.php
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,23 +0,0 @@
-<?php
-
-declare(strict_types=1);
-
-namespace Tests\Rules;
-
-use Icefox\DTO\Attributes\OverwriteRules;
-use Icefox\DTO\DataObject;
-
-readonly class WithEmptyOverwriteRules
-{
-    use DataObject;
-
-    public function __construct(
-        public int $value,
-    ) {}
-
-    #[OverwriteRules]
-    public static function rules(): array
-    {
-        return [];
-    }
-}
diff --git a/tests/Rules/WithMergedRules.php b/tests/Rules/WithMergedRules.php
deleted file mode 100644
index 9fd98b1..0000000
--- a/tests/Rules/WithMergedRules.php
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,23 +0,0 @@
-<?php
-
-declare(strict_types=1);
-
-namespace Tests\Rules;
-
-use Icefox\DTO\DataObject;
-
-readonly class WithMergedRules
-{
-    use DataObject;
-
-    public function __construct(
-        public int $value,
-    ) {}
-
-    public static function rules(): array
-    {
-        return [
-            'value' => ['max:20'],
-        ];
-    }
-}
diff --git a/tests/Rules/WithOverwriteRules.php b/tests/Rules/WithOverwriteRules.php
deleted file mode 100644
index 21b2145..0000000
--- a/tests/Rules/WithOverwriteRules.php
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,25 +0,0 @@
-<?php
-
-declare(strict_types=1);
-
-namespace Tests\Rules;
-
-use Icefox\DTO\Attributes\OverwriteRules;
-use Icefox\DTO\DataObject;
-
-readonly class WithOverwriteRules
-{
-    use DataObject;
-
-    public function __construct(
-        public int $value,
-    ) {}
-
-    #[OverwriteRules]
-    public static function rules(): array
-    {
-        return [
-            'value' => ['numeric', 'max:20'],
-        ];
-    }
-}
diff --git a/tests/RulesTest.php b/tests/RulesTest.php
deleted file mode 100644
index 8ffeff5..0000000
--- a/tests/RulesTest.php
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,161 +0,0 @@
-<?php
-
-declare(strict_types=1);
-
-namespace Tests;
-
-use Icefox\DTO\Attributes\Flat;
-use Icefox\DTO\Support\RuleFactory;
-use Illuminate\Support\Collection;
-use Illuminate\Support\Facades\Log;
-use Illuminate\Support\Facades\Validator;
-
-readonly class BasicPrimitives
-{
-    public function __construct(
-        public string $text,
-        public int $number,
-        public bool $flag,
-        public ?array $items,
-        public float $floating = 0.0,
-    ) {}
-}
-
-test('required rules', function () {
-    expect(RuleFactory::instance()->make(BasicPrimitives::class))->toBe([
-        'text' => ['required'],
-        'number' => ['required', 'numeric'],
-        'flag' => ['required', 'boolean'],
-        'items' => ['nullable', 'array'],
-        'floating' => ['sometimes', 'numeric'],
-    ]);
-});
-
-readonly class AnnotatedArray
-{
-    /**
-     * @param array<int,float> $items
-     */
-    public function __construct(public array $items) {}
-}
-test('annotated array', function () {
-    expect(RuleFactory::instance()->make(AnnotatedArray::class))->toBe([
-        'items' => ['required', 'array'],
-        'items.*' => ['required', 'numeric'],
-    ]);
-});
-
-readonly class AnnotatedArrayNullableValue
-{
-    /**
-     * @param array<?float> $items
-     */
-    public function __construct(public array $items) {}
-}
-test('annotated array with nullable items', function () {
-    expect(RuleFactory::instance()->make(AnnotatedArrayNullableValue::class))->toBe([
-        'items' => ['required', 'array'],
-        'items.*' => ['nullable', 'numeric'],
-    ]);
-});
-
-readonly class PlainLeaf
-{
-    public function __construct(public string $name) {}
-}
-readonly class PlainRoot
-{
-    public function __construct(public int $value, public PlainLeaf $leaf) {}
-}
-
-test('plain nesting', function () {
-    expect(RuleFactory::instance()->make(PlainRoot::class))->toBe([
-        'value' => ['required', 'numeric'],
-        'leaf' => ['required'],
-        'leaf.name' => ['required'],
-    ]);
-});
-
-
-readonly class AnnotatedArrayItem
-{
-    public function __construct(public int $value) {}
-}
-
-readonly class AnnotatedArrayObject
-{
-    /**
-     * @param ?array<AnnotatedArrayItem> $items
-     */
-    public function __construct(public ?array $items) {}
-}
-
-test('annotated array with object', function () {
-    expect(RuleFactory::instance()->make(AnnotatedArrayObject::class))->toBe([
-        'items' => ['nullable', 'array'],
-        'items.*' => ['required'],
-        'items.*.value' => ['required', 'numeric'],
-    ]);
-});
-
-readonly class FlattenedLeaf
-{
-    public function __construct(public ?bool $flag) {}
-}
-
-readonly class NotFlattenedLeaf
-{
-    public function __construct(public string $description) {}
-}
-
-readonly class FlattenedNode
-{
-    public function __construct(
-        public string $id,
-        public NotFlattenedLeaf $leaf,
-        #[Flat]
-        public FlattenedLeaf $squish,
-        public int $level = 1,
-    ) {}
-}
-
-readonly class FlattenedRoot
-{
-    public function __construct(
-        public int $value,
-        #[Flat]
-        public FlattenedNode $node,
-    ) {}
-}
-
-test('flattened basic', function () {
-    expect(RuleFactory::instance()->make(FlattenedRoot::class))->toBe([
-        'value' => ['required', 'numeric'],
-        'id' => ['required' ],
-        'leaf' => ['required'],
-        'leaf.description' => ['required'],
-        'flag' => ['nullable', 'boolean'],
-        'level' => ['sometimes', 'numeric'],
-    ]);
-});
-
-readonly class AnnotatedCollectionItem
-{
-    public function __construct(public int $value) {}
-}
-
-readonly class AnnotatedCollection
-{
-    /**
-     * @param Collection<AnnotatedCollectionItem> $group
-     */
-    public function __construct(public Collection $group) {}
-}
-
-test('annotated collection', function () {
-    expect(RuleFactory::instance()->make(AnnotatedCollection::class))->toBe([
-        'group' => ['required', 'array'],
-        'group.*' => ['required'],
-        'group.*.value' => ['required', 'numeric'],
-    ]);
-});
diff --git a/tests/Values/ValuesTest.php b/tests/Values/ValuesTest.php
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e592d17
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/Values/ValuesTest.php
@@ -0,0 +1,273 @@
+<?php
+
+declare(strict_types=1);
+
+namespace Tests\Values;
+
+use Carbon\CarbonPeriod;
+use Icefox\Data\Attributes\CastWith;
+use Icefox\Data\Factories\ValueFactory;
+use Illuminate\Support\Carbon;
+use Illuminate\Support\Collection;
+
+readonly class BasicPrimitives
+{
+    public function __construct(
+        public string $text,
+        public int $number,
+        public bool $flag,
+        public ?array $items,
+        public float $floating = 4.7,
+    ) {}
+}
+
+test('basic creation works', function () {
+    $object = ValueFactory::make(BasicPrimitives::class, [
+        'text' => 'abc',
+        'number' => 42,
+        'flag' => true,
+        'items' => ['a', 2, false],
+        'floating' => 32.6,
+    ]);
+
+    expect($object->text)->toBe('abc');
+    expect($object->number)->toBe(42);
+    expect($object->flag)->toBe(true);
+    expect($object->items)->toBe(['a', 2, false]);
+    expect($object->floating)->toBe(32.6);
+});
+
+test('uses default values', function () {
+    $object = ValueFactory::make(BasicPrimitives::class, [
+        'text' => 'abc',
+        'number' => 42,
+        'flag' => true,
+        'items' => ['a', 2, false],
+    ]);
+
+    expect($object->text)->toBe('abc');
+    expect($object->number)->toBe(42);
+    expect($object->flag)->toBe(true);
+    expect($object->items)->toBe(['a', 2, false]);
+    expect($object->floating)->toBe(4.7);
+});
+
+test('uses default when null and not nullable', function () {
+    $object = ValueFactory::make(BasicPrimitives::class, [
+        'text' => 'abc',
+        'number' => 42,
+        'flag' => true,
+        'items' => ['a', 2, false],
+        'floating' => null,
+    ]);
+
+    expect($object->text)->toBe('abc');
+    expect($object->number)->toBe(42);
+    expect($object->flag)->toBe(true);
+    expect($object->items)->toBe(['a', 2, false]);
+    expect($object->floating)->toBe(4.7);
+});
+
+test('accepts null when nullable', function () {
+    $object = ValueFactory::make(BasicPrimitives::class, [
+        'text' => 'abc',
+        'number' => 42,
+        'flag' => true,
+        'items' => null,
+    ]);
+
+    expect($object->text)->toBe('abc');
+    expect($object->number)->toBe(42);
+    expect($object->flag)->toBe(true);
+    expect($object->items)->toBe(null);
+    expect($object->floating)->toBe(4.7);
+});
+
+test('accepts missing as null when nullable', function () {
+    $object = ValueFactory::make(BasicPrimitives::class, [
+        'text' => 'abc',
+        'number' => 42,
+        'flag' => true,
+    ]);
+
+    expect($object->text)->toBe('abc');
+    expect($object->number)->toBe(42);
+    expect($object->flag)->toBe(true);
+    expect($object->items)->toBe(null);
+    expect($object->floating)->toBe(4.7);
+});
+
+readonly class NestedLeaf
+{
+    public function __construct(public bool $flag) {}
+}
+
+readonly class RootWithNestedLeaf
+{
+    public function __construct(public int $value, public NestedLeaf $leaf) {}
+}
+
+test('creates nested object', function () {
+    $root = ValueFactory::make(RootWithNestedLeaf::class, [
+        'value' => 42,
+        'leaf' => [
+            'flag' => true,
+        ],
+    ]);
+
+    expect($root->value)->toBe(42);
+    expect($root->leaf->flag)->toBe(true);
+});
+
+
+readonly class CollectionItem
+{
+    public function __construct(public int $value) {}
+}
+
+readonly class CollectionRoot
+{
+    /**
+     * @param Collection<int, CollectionItem> $items
+     */
+    public function __construct(public string $text, public Collection $items) {}
+}
+
+test('creates collection object', function () {
+    $root = ValueFactory::make(CollectionRoot::class, [
+        'text' => 'abc',
+        'items' => [
+            [ 'value' => 1 ],
+            [ 'value' => 2 ],
+            [ 'value' => 4 ],
+            [ 'value' => 8 ],
+        ],
+    ]);
+
+    expect($root->text)->toBe('abc');
+    expect($root->items)->toBeInstanceOf(Collection::class);
+    expect($root->items->count())->toBe(4);
+    expect($root->items[0]->value)->toBe(1);
+    expect($root->items[1]->value)->toBe(2);
+    expect($root->items[2]->value)->toBe(4);
+    expect($root->items[3]->value)->toBe(8);
+});
+
+readonly class DoubleCast
+{
+    public static function cast(int $data): int
+    {
+        return $data * 2;
+    }
+}
+
+readonly class WithExplicitCast
+{
+    public function __construct(
+        #[CastWith(DoubleCast::class)]
+        public int $value,
+    ) {}
+}
+
+readonly class WithNestedCast
+{
+    /**
+     * @param array<int,WithExplicitCast> $items
+     */
+    public function __construct(public array $items) {}
+}
+
+test('with explicit cast', function () {
+    $object = ValueFactory::make(WithExplicitCast::class, ['value' => 32]);
+    expect($object->value)->toBe(64);
+});
+
+test('with nested cast', function () {
+    $object = ValueFactory::make(WithNestedCast::class, ['items' => [ ['value' => 2], ['value' => 3], ['value' => 5]]]);
+
+    expect($object->items[0]->value)->toBe(4);
+    expect($object->items[1]->value)->toBe(6);
+    expect($object->items[2]->value)->toBe(10);
+});
+
+readonly class CarbonPeriodCast
+{
+    /**
+     * @param array<int,mixed> $data
+     */
+    public static function cast(array $data): CarbonPeriod
+    {
+        return new CarbonPeriod(Carbon::parse($data['start']), Carbon::parse($data['end']));
+    }
+}
+
+readonly class WithObjectCast
+{
+    public function __construct(
+        #[CastWith(CarbonPeriodCast::class)]
+        public CarbonPeriod $period,
+    ) {}
+}
+
+test('with object cast', function () {
+    $object = ValueFactory::make(WithObjectCast::class, ['period' => ['start' => '1980-10-01', 'end' => '1990-06-01']]);
+
+    expect($object->period)->toBeInstanceOf(CarbonPeriod::class);
+    expect($object->period->start->format('Y-m-d'))->toBe('1980-10-01');
+    expect($object->period->end->format('Y-m-d'))->toBe('1990-06-01');
+});
+
+enum Status: string
+{
+    case ACTIVE = 'active';
+    case INACTIVE = 'inactive';
+    case PENDING = 'pending';
+}
+
+readonly class TaskDTOWithEnum
+{
+    public function __construct(
+        public string $title,
+        public Status $status,
+    ) {}
+}
+
+readonly class TaskDTOWithNullableEnum
+{
+    public function __construct(
+        public string $title,
+        public ?Status $status,
+    ) {}
+}
+
+test('backed enum properly cast from validated data', function () {
+    $object = ValueFactory::make(TaskDTOWithEnum::class, [
+        'title' => 'Task 1',
+        'status' => 'active',
+    ]);
+
+    expect($object->title)->toBe('Task 1')
+        ->and($object->status)->toBeInstanceOf(Status::class)
+        ->and($object->status)->toBe(Status::ACTIVE);
+});
+
+test('nullable backed enum with null', function () {
+    $object = ValueFactory::make(TaskDTOWithNullableEnum::class, [
+        'title' => 'Task 1',
+        'status' => null,
+    ]);
+
+    expect($object->title)->toBe('Task 1')
+        ->and($object->status)->toBeNull();
+});
+
+test('nullable backed enum with valid value', function () {
+    $object = ValueFactory::make(TaskDTOWithNullableEnum::class, [
+        'title' => 'Task 1',
+        'status' => 'pending',
+    ]);
+
+    expect($object->title)->toBe('Task 1')
+        ->and($object->status)->toBeInstanceOf(Status::class)
+        ->and($object->status)->toBe(Status::PENDING);
+});
diff --git a/workbench/config/dto.php b/workbench/config/dto.php
index c89046d..ecf8413 100644
--- a/workbench/config/dto.php
+++ b/workbench/config/dto.php
@@ -1,8 +1,13 @@
 <?php
 
+use Icefox\Data\CustomHandlers;
+use Illuminate\Support\Collection;
 use Psr\Log\LogLevel;
 
 return [
+    'rules' => [
+        Collection::class => CustomHandlers::class . "::CollectionRules",
+    ],
     'logging' => [
         'channel' => 'dto',
         'context' => [
@@ -12,4 +17,7 @@ return [
             'internals' => LogLevel::DEBUG,
         ],
     ],
+    'listTypes' => [
+        Collection::class,
+    ],
 ];
diff --git a/workbench/phpunit.xml b/workbench/phpunit.xml
deleted file mode 100644
index 0788ab5..0000000
--- a/workbench/phpunit.xml
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,17 +0,0 @@
-<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
-<phpunit xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance"
-         xsi:noNamespaceSchemaLocation="vendor/phpunit/phpunit/phpunit.xsd"
-         bootstrap="vendor/autoload.php"
-         colors="true"
->
-    <testsuites>
-        <testsuite name="root">
-            <directory>tests</directory>
-        </testsuite>
-    </testsuites>
-    <source>
-        <include>
-            <directory>app</directory>
-        </include>
-    </source>
-</phpunit>