diff --git a/include/ircd/string_view.h b/include/ircd/string_view.h
index 290db69ee..66972a167 100644
--- a/include/ircd/string_view.h
+++ b/include/ircd/string_view.h
@@ -37,6 +37,7 @@ namespace ircd
 
 	template<int (&test)(int) = std::isprint> auto ctype(const string_view &s);
 
+	size_t size(const string_view &);
 	bool operator!(const string_view &);
 	bool defined(const string_view &);
 	bool null(const string_view &);
@@ -319,6 +320,12 @@ ircd::defined(const string_view &str)
 	return str.defined();
 }
 
+inline size_t
+ircd::size(const string_view &str)
+{
+	return str.size();
+}
+
 template<int (&test)(int)>
 auto
 ircd::ctype(const string_view &s)