diff --git a/include/ircd/db/column.h b/include/ircd/db/column.h
index 592203b3c..5db6d3e06 100644
--- a/include/ircd/db/column.h
+++ b/include/ircd/db/column.h
@@ -23,10 +23,12 @@ namespace ircd::db
 	size_t bytes(const column &);
 
 	// Get property data of a db column. R can optionally be uint64_t for some
-	// values. Refer to RocksDB documentation for more info.
-	template<class R = std::string> R property(const column &, const string_view &name);
-	template<> std::string property(const column &, const string_view &name);
-	template<> uint64_t property(const column &, const string_view &name);
+	// values; we typedef that as prop_int for templating purposes. R can also
+	// be an std::string which we typedef as prop_str. Refer to RocksDB
+	// documentation for more info.
+	template<class R = prop_str> R property(const column &, const string_view &name);
+	template<> prop_str property(const column &, const string_view &name);
+	template<> prop_int property(const column &, const string_view &name);
 
 	// [GET] Tests if key exists
 	bool has(column &, const string_view &key, const gopts & = {});
diff --git a/include/ircd/db/database/database.h b/include/ircd/db/database/database.h
index d92485cda..611783187 100644
--- a/include/ircd/db/database/database.h
+++ b/include/ircd/db/database/database.h
@@ -15,11 +15,17 @@ namespace ircd::db
 {
 	struct database;
 
-	template<class R = uint64_t> R property(const database &, const string_view &name);
-	template<> uint64_t property(const database &, const string_view &name);
+	// General information
 	const std::string &name(const database &);
 	uint64_t sequence(const database &); // Latest sequence number
 
+	// Property information interface
+	using prop_int = uint64_t;
+	using prop_str = std::string;
+	template<class R = prop_int> R property(const database &, const string_view &name);
+	template<> prop_int property(const database &, const string_view &name);
+
+	// Control panel
 	void checkpoint(database &, const string_view &dir);
 	void flush(database &, const bool &blocking = true);
 	void sync(database &);
diff --git a/ircd/db.cc b/ircd/db.cc
index 5258fdd1e..412942a46 100644
--- a/ircd/db.cc
+++ b/ircd/db.cc
@@ -172,7 +172,7 @@ ircd::db::sequence(const database &cd)
 }
 
 template<>
-uint64_t
+ircd::db::prop_int
 ircd::db::property(const database &cd,
                    const string_view &name)
 {
@@ -3588,7 +3588,7 @@ ircd::db::read(column &column,
 }
 
 template<>
-std::string
+ircd::db::prop_str
 ircd::db::property(const column &column,
                    const string_view &name)
 {
@@ -3600,7 +3600,7 @@ ircd::db::property(const column &column,
 }
 
 template<>
-uint64_t
+ircd::db::prop_int
 ircd::db::property(const column &column,
                    const string_view &name)
 {