diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index a3e3200..9b979a0 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -61,16 +61,27 @@ const {readExample, writeExample} = compile(proto);
 #### Custom Reading
 
 ```js
-const data = new PbfReader(buffer).readFields(readData, {});
-
-function readData(tag, data, pbf) {
-    if (tag === 1) data.name = pbf.readString();
-    else if (tag === 2) data.version = pbf.readVarint();
-    else if (tag === 3) data.layer = pbf.readMessage(readLayer, {});
+const pbf = new PbfReader(buffer);
+const data = readData(pbf);
+
+function readData(pbf, end) {
+    const data = {};
+    let field;
+    while ((field = pbf.nextField(end))) {
+        if (field === 1) data.name = pbf.readString();
+        else if (field === 2) data.version = pbf.readVarint();
+        else if (field === 3) data.layer = readLayer(pbf, pbf.readVarint() + pbf.pos);
+    }
+    return data;
 }
-function readLayer(tag, layer, pbf) {
-    if (tag === 1) layer.name = pbf.readString();
-    else if (tag === 3) layer.size = pbf.readVarint();
+function readLayer(pbf, end) {
+    const layer = {};
+    let field;
+    while ((field = pbf.nextField(end))) {
+        if (field === 1) layer.name = pbf.readString();
+        else if (field === 3) layer.size = pbf.readVarint();
+    }
+    return layer;
 }
 ```
 
@@ -137,29 +148,22 @@ pbf.pos; // current offset for reading or writing
 
 #### Reading
 
-Read a sequence of fields:
+Loop over a message's fields with `nextField` and dispatch on the field number. Unrecognized or unread fields are skipped automatically on the next iteration:
 
 ```js
-pbf.readFields((tag) => {
-    if (tag === 1) pbf.readVarint();
-    else if (tag === 2) pbf.readString();
-    else ...
-});
+let field;
+while ((field = pbf.nextField(end))) {
+    if (field === 1) obj.id = pbf.readVarint();
+    else if (field === 2) obj.name = pbf.readString();
+}
 ```
 
-It optionally accepts an object that will be passed to the reading function for easier construction of decoded data,
-and also passes the `PbfReader` object as a third argument:
+To read an embedded message, pass `pbf.readVarint() + pbf.pos` as `end` to a nested reader:
 
 ```js
-const result = pbf.readFields(readField, {})
-
-function readField(tag, result, pbf) {
-    if (tag === 1) result.id = pbf.readVarint();
-}
+const msg = readSubMessage(pbf, pbf.readVarint() + pbf.pos);
 ```
 
-To read an embedded message, use `pbf.readMessage(fn[, obj])` (in the same way as `read`).
-
 Read values:
 
 ```js
@@ -168,19 +172,21 @@ const str = pbf.readString();
 const numbers = pbf.readPackedVarint();
 ```
 
-For lazy or partial decoding, simply save the position instead of reading a value,
-then later set it back to the saved value and read:
+For lazy or partial decoding, save the position and come back to it later:
 
 ```js
-const fooPos = -1;
-pbf.readFields((tag) => {
-    if (tag === 1) fooPos = pbf.pos;
-});
+let fooPos = -1;
+let field;
+while ((field = pbf.nextField())) {
+    if (field === 1) fooPos = pbf.pos;
+}
 ...
 pbf.pos = fooPos;
-pbf.readMessage(readFoo);
+const foo = readFoo(pbf, pbf.readVarint() + pbf.pos);
 ```
 
+A callback-based `readFields(fn, obj, end)` is also available for backward compatibility, but new code should prefer the `nextField` loop — it's significantly faster.
+
 Scalar reading methods:
 
 * `readVarint(isSigned)` (pass `true` if you expect negative varints)
@@ -194,7 +200,11 @@ Scalar reading methods:
 * `readDouble()`
 * `readString()`
 * `readBytes()`
-* `skip(value)`
+
+Field iteration methods:
+
+* `nextField(end)` — returns the next field number, or `0` at end-of-message; skips the previous field's value if it wasn't consumed
+* `skip(value)` — skips a field given its raw tag varint
 
 Packed reading methods:
 
diff --git a/compile.js b/compile.js
index c0559d0..aaf6cc8 100644
--- a/compile.js
+++ b/compile.js
@@ -29,25 +29,33 @@ function writeMessage(ctx, options) {
 
     if (!options.noRead) {
         const readName = `read${ctx._name}`;
-        const hasPackable = fields.some(f => f.repeated && willSupportPacked(ctx, f));
 
-        code += `${writeFunctionExport(options, readName)}function ${readName}(pbf, end = pbf.length) {\n`;
-        code += `    const obj = ${compileDest(ctx)};\n`;
-        code += '    while (pbf.pos < end) {\n';
-        code += `        const tag = pbf.readVarint(), field = tag >>> 3${hasPackable ? '; pbf.type = tag & 7' : ''};\n`;
-
-        for (let i = 0; i < fields.length; i++) {
-            code += `        ${i ? 'else ' : ''}if (field === ${fields[i].tag}) ${compileFieldRead(ctx, fields[i])}\n`;
+        code += `${writeFunctionExport(options, readName)}function ${readName}(pbf, end) {\n`;
+        if (fields.length === 0) {
+            code += '    pbf.pos = end;\n    return {};\n';
+        } else {
+            code += `    const obj = ${compileDest(ctx)};\n`;
+            code += '    let field;\n';
+            code += '    while ((field = pbf.nextField(end))) {\n';
+
+            for (let i = 0; i < fields.length; i++) {
+                code += `        ${i ? 'else ' : ''}if (field === ${fields[i].tag}) ${compileFieldRead(ctx, fields[i])}\n`;
+            }
+            code += '    }\n    return obj;\n';
         }
-        code += `        ${fields.length ? 'else ' : ''}pbf.skip(tag);\n`;
-        code += '    }\n    return obj;\n}\n';
+        code += '}\n';
     }
 
     if (!options.noWrite) {
         const writeName = `write${ctx._name}`;
-        code += `${writeFunctionExport(options, writeName)}function ${writeName}(obj, pbf) {\n`;
-        for (const field of fields) code += compileFieldWriteLine(ctx, field);
-        code += '}\n';
+        code += `${writeFunctionExport(options, writeName)}function ${writeName}(obj, pbf) {`;
+        if (fields.length === 0) {
+            code += '}\n';
+        } else {
+            code += '\n';
+            for (const field of fields) code += compileFieldWriteLine(ctx, field);
+            code += '}\n';
+        }
     }
     return code;
 }
diff --git a/index.js b/index.js
index 2a623f7..a6b1a55 100644
--- a/index.js
+++ b/index.js
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@ export class PbfReader {
         this.dataView = new DataView(this.buf.buffer);
         this.pos = 0;
         this.type = 0;
+        this._valueStart = -1;
         this.length = this.buf.length;
     }
 
@@ -31,15 +32,9 @@ export class PbfReader {
      * @param {number} [end]
      */
     readFields(readField, result, end = this.length) {
-        while (this.pos < end) {
-            const val = this.readVarint(),
-                tag = val >> 3,
-                startPos = this.pos;
-
-            this.type = val & 0x7;
-            readField(tag, result, this);
-
-            if (this.pos === startPos) this.skip(val);
+        let field;
+        while ((field = this.nextField(end))) {
+            readField(field, result, this);
         }
         return result;
     }
@@ -200,6 +195,19 @@ export class PbfReader {
         return this.type === PBF_BYTES ? this.readVarint() + this.pos : this.pos + 1;
     }
 
+    /**
+     * Advance to the next field. Returns the field number, or 0 at end-of-message.
+     * @param {number} [end]
+     */
+    nextField(end = this.length) {
+        if (this.pos === this._valueStart) this.skip(this.type);
+        if (this.pos >= end) return 0;
+        const tag = this.readVarint();
+        this.type = tag & 0x7;
+        this._valueStart = this.pos;
+        return tag >>> 3;
+    }
+
     /** @param {number} val */
     skip(val) {
         const type = val & 0x7;
diff --git a/package-lock.json b/package-lock.json
index a7e9101..10f2500 100644
--- a/package-lock.json
+++ b/package-lock.json
@@ -1,12 +1,12 @@
 {
   "name": "pbf",
-  "version": "5.0.0",
+  "version": "5.1.0",
   "lockfileVersion": 3,
   "requires": true,
   "packages": {
     "": {
       "name": "pbf",
-      "version": "5.0.0",
+      "version": "5.1.0",
       "license": "BSD-3-Clause",
       "dependencies": {
         "resolve-protobuf-schema": "^2.1.0"
diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index bb9e97c..4a3b997 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
   "name": "pbf",
-  "version": "5.0.0",
+  "version": "5.1.0",
   "description": "a low-level, lightweight protocol buffers implementation in JavaScript",
   "main": "index.js",
   "type": "module",
diff --git a/test/fixtures/defaults.js b/test/fixtures/defaults.js
index 67946d6..41505c9 100644
--- a/test/fixtures/defaults.js
+++ b/test/fixtures/defaults.js
@@ -4,16 +4,15 @@ export const MessageType = {
     "GREETING": 1
 };
 
-export function readEnvelope(pbf, end = pbf.length) {
+export function readEnvelope(pbf, end) {
     const obj = {type: 1, name: "test", flag: true, weight: 1.5, id: 1};
-    while (pbf.pos < end) {
-        const tag = pbf.readVarint(), field = tag >>> 3;
+    let field;
+    while ((field = pbf.nextField(end))) {
         if (field === 1) obj.type = pbf.readVarint();
         else if (field === 2) obj.name = pbf.readString();
         else if (field === 3) obj.flag = pbf.readBoolean();
         else if (field === 4) obj.weight = pbf.readFloat();
         else if (field === 5) obj.id = pbf.readVarint(true);
-        else pbf.skip(tag);
     }
     return obj;
 }
diff --git a/test/fixtures/defaults_implicit.js b/test/fixtures/defaults_implicit.js
index ba6ec02..b7d8a0c 100644
--- a/test/fixtures/defaults_implicit.js
+++ b/test/fixtures/defaults_implicit.js
@@ -4,21 +4,16 @@ export const MessageType = {
     "GREETING": 1
 };
 
-export function readCustomType(pbf, end = pbf.length) {
-    const obj = {};
-    while (pbf.pos < end) {
-        const tag = pbf.readVarint(), field = tag >>> 3;
-        pbf.skip(tag);
-    }
-    return obj;
-}
-export function writeCustomType(obj, pbf) {
+export function readCustomType(pbf, end) {
+    pbf.pos = end;
+    return {};
 }
+export function writeCustomType(obj, pbf) {}
 
-export function readEnvelope(pbf, end = pbf.length) {
+export function readEnvelope(pbf, end) {
     const obj = {type: 0, name: "", flag: false, weight: 0, id: 0, tags: [], numbers: [], bytes: undefined, custom: undefined, types: []};
-    while (pbf.pos < end) {
-        const tag = pbf.readVarint(), field = tag >>> 3; pbf.type = tag & 7;
+    let field;
+    while ((field = pbf.nextField(end))) {
         if (field === 1) obj.type = pbf.readVarint();
         else if (field === 2) obj.name = pbf.readString();
         else if (field === 3) obj.flag = pbf.readBoolean();
@@ -29,7 +24,6 @@ export function readEnvelope(pbf, end = pbf.length) {
         else if (field === 8) obj.bytes = pbf.readBytes();
         else if (field === 9) obj.custom = readCustomType(pbf, pbf.readVarint() + pbf.pos);
         else if (field === 10) pbf.readPackedVarint(obj.types);
-        else pbf.skip(tag);
     }
     return obj;
 }
diff --git a/test/fixtures/defaults_proto3.js b/test/fixtures/defaults_proto3.js
index 0827af1..2f0589f 100644
--- a/test/fixtures/defaults_proto3.js
+++ b/test/fixtures/defaults_proto3.js
@@ -4,16 +4,15 @@ export const MessageType = {
     "GREETING": 1
 };
 
-export function readEnvelope(pbf, end = pbf.length) {
+export function readEnvelope(pbf, end) {
     const obj = {type: 0, name: "", flag: false, weight: 0, id: 0};
-    while (pbf.pos < end) {
-        const tag = pbf.readVarint(), field = tag >>> 3;
+    let field;
+    while ((field = pbf.nextField(end))) {
         if (field === 1) obj.type = pbf.readVarint();
         else if (field === 2) obj.name = pbf.readString();
         else if (field === 3) obj.flag = pbf.readBoolean();
         else if (field === 4) obj.weight = pbf.readFloat();
         else if (field === 5) obj.id = pbf.readVarint(true);
-        else pbf.skip(tag);
     }
     return obj;
 }
diff --git a/test/fixtures/embedded_type.js b/test/fixtures/embedded_type.js
index 5ede605..ee9244a 100644
--- a/test/fixtures/embedded_type.js
+++ b/test/fixtures/embedded_type.js
@@ -1,12 +1,11 @@
 
-export function readEmbeddedType(pbf, end = pbf.length) {
+export function readEmbeddedType(pbf, end) {
     const obj = {value: "test", sub_field: undefined, sub_sub_field: undefined};
-    while (pbf.pos < end) {
-        const tag = pbf.readVarint(), field = tag >>> 3;
+    let field;
+    while ((field = pbf.nextField(end))) {
         if (field === 1) obj.value = pbf.readString();
         else if (field === 4) obj.sub_field = readEmbeddedTypeContainer(pbf, pbf.readVarint() + pbf.pos);
         else if (field === 5) obj.sub_sub_field = readEmbeddedTypeContainerInner(pbf, pbf.readVarint() + pbf.pos);
-        else pbf.skip(tag);
     }
     return obj;
 }
@@ -16,12 +15,11 @@ export function writeEmbeddedType(obj, pbf) {
     if (obj.sub_sub_field) pbf.writeMessage(5, writeEmbeddedTypeContainerInner, obj.sub_sub_field);
 }
 
-export function readEmbeddedTypeContainer(pbf, end = pbf.length) {
+export function readEmbeddedTypeContainer(pbf, end) {
     const obj = {values: []};
-    while (pbf.pos < end) {
-        const tag = pbf.readVarint(), field = tag >>> 3;
+    let field;
+    while ((field = pbf.nextField(end))) {
         if (field === 1) obj.values.push(readEmbeddedTypeContainerInner(pbf, pbf.readVarint() + pbf.pos));
-        else pbf.skip(tag);
     }
     return obj;
 }
@@ -29,12 +27,11 @@ export function writeEmbeddedTypeContainer(obj, pbf) {
     if (obj.values) for (const item of obj.values) pbf.writeMessage(1, writeEmbeddedTypeContainerInner, item);
 }
 
-export function readEmbeddedTypeContainerInner(pbf, end = pbf.length) {
+export function readEmbeddedTypeContainerInner(pbf, end) {
     const obj = {value: ""};
-    while (pbf.pos < end) {
-        const tag = pbf.readVarint(), field = tag >>> 3;
+    let field;
+    while ((field = pbf.nextField(end))) {
         if (field === 1) obj.value = pbf.readString();
-        else pbf.skip(tag);
     }
     return obj;
 }
diff --git a/test/fixtures/map.js b/test/fixtures/map.js
index 04b254b..6966a31 100644
--- a/test/fixtures/map.js
+++ b/test/fixtures/map.js
@@ -1,11 +1,10 @@
 
-export function readEnvelope(pbf, end = pbf.length) {
+export function readEnvelope(pbf, end) {
     const obj = {kv: {}, kn: {}};
-    while (pbf.pos < end) {
-        const tag = pbf.readVarint(), field = tag >>> 3;
+    let field;
+    while ((field = pbf.nextField(end))) {
         if (field === 1) { const {key, value} = readEnvelopeKvEntry(pbf, pbf.readVarint() + pbf.pos); obj.kv[key] = value; }
         else if (field === 2) { const {key, value} = readEnvelopeKnEntry(pbf, pbf.readVarint() + pbf.pos); obj.kn[key] = value; }
-        else pbf.skip(tag);
     }
     return obj;
 }
@@ -14,13 +13,12 @@ export function writeEnvelope(obj, pbf) {
     if (obj.kn) for (const key of Object.keys(obj.kn)) pbf.writeMessage(2, writeEnvelopeKnEntry, {key, value: obj.kn[key]});
 }
 
-export function readEnvelopeKvEntry(pbf, end = pbf.length) {
+export function readEnvelopeKvEntry(pbf, end) {
     const obj = {key: "", value: ""};
-    while (pbf.pos < end) {
-        const tag = pbf.readVarint(), field = tag >>> 3;
+    let field;
+    while ((field = pbf.nextField(end))) {
         if (field === 1) obj.key = pbf.readString();
         else if (field === 2) obj.value = pbf.readString();
-        else pbf.skip(tag);
     }
     return obj;
 }
@@ -29,13 +27,12 @@ export function writeEnvelopeKvEntry(obj, pbf) {
     if (obj.value) pbf.writeStringField(2, obj.value);
 }
 
-export function readEnvelopeKnEntry(pbf, end = pbf.length) {
+export function readEnvelopeKnEntry(pbf, end) {
     const obj = {key: "", value: 0};
-    while (pbf.pos < end) {
-        const tag = pbf.readVarint(), field = tag >>> 3;
+    let field;
+    while ((field = pbf.nextField(end))) {
         if (field === 1) obj.key = pbf.readString();
         else if (field === 2) obj.value = pbf.readVarint(true);
-        else pbf.skip(tag);
     }
     return obj;
 }
diff --git a/test/fixtures/map_collision.js b/test/fixtures/map_collision.js
index 2347a83..60c507e 100644
--- a/test/fixtures/map_collision.js
+++ b/test/fixtures/map_collision.js
@@ -1,13 +1,12 @@
 
-export function readEnvelope(pbf, end = pbf.length) {
+export function readEnvelope(pbf, end) {
     const obj = {kv: {}, kn: {}, sibling: undefined, flag: 0};
-    while (pbf.pos < end) {
-        const tag = pbf.readVarint(), field = tag >>> 3;
+    let field;
+    while ((field = pbf.nextField(end))) {
         if (field === 1) { const {key, value} = readEnvelopeKvEntry$(pbf, pbf.readVarint() + pbf.pos); obj.kv[key] = value; }
         else if (field === 2) { const {key, value} = readEnvelopeKnEntry$(pbf, pbf.readVarint() + pbf.pos); obj.kn[key] = value; }
         else if (field === 3) obj.sibling = readEnvelopeKvEntry(pbf, pbf.readVarint() + pbf.pos);
         else if (field === 4) obj.flag = pbf.readVarint();
-        else pbf.skip(tag);
     }
     return obj;
 }
@@ -23,12 +22,11 @@ export const EnvelopeKnEntry = {
     "ONE": 1
 };
 
-export function readEnvelopeKvEntry(pbf, end = pbf.length) {
+export function readEnvelopeKvEntry(pbf, end) {
     const obj = {marker: 0};
-    while (pbf.pos < end) {
-        const tag = pbf.readVarint(), field = tag >>> 3;
+    let field;
+    while ((field = pbf.nextField(end))) {
         if (field === 1) obj.marker = pbf.readVarint(true);
-        else pbf.skip(tag);
     }
     return obj;
 }
@@ -36,13 +34,12 @@ export function writeEnvelopeKvEntry(obj, pbf) {
     if (obj.marker) pbf.writeVarintField(1, obj.marker);
 }
 
-export function readEnvelopeKvEntry$(pbf, end = pbf.length) {
+export function readEnvelopeKvEntry$(pbf, end) {
     const obj = {key: "", value: ""};
-    while (pbf.pos < end) {
-        const tag = pbf.readVarint(), field = tag >>> 3;
+    let field;
+    while ((field = pbf.nextField(end))) {
         if (field === 1) obj.key = pbf.readString();
         else if (field === 2) obj.value = pbf.readString();
-        else pbf.skip(tag);
     }
     return obj;
 }
@@ -51,13 +48,12 @@ export function writeEnvelopeKvEntry$(obj, pbf) {
     if (obj.value) pbf.writeStringField(2, obj.value);
 }
 
-export function readEnvelopeKnEntry$(pbf, end = pbf.length) {
+export function readEnvelopeKnEntry$(pbf, end) {
     const obj = {key: "", value: 0};
-    while (pbf.pos < end) {
-        const tag = pbf.readVarint(), field = tag >>> 3;
+    let field;
+    while ((field = pbf.nextField(end))) {
         if (field === 1) obj.key = pbf.readString();
         else if (field === 2) obj.value = pbf.readVarint(true);
-        else pbf.skip(tag);
     }
     return obj;
 }
diff --git a/test/fixtures/oneof.js b/test/fixtures/oneof.js
index ec8502b..5ac7bb1 100644
--- a/test/fixtures/oneof.js
+++ b/test/fixtures/oneof.js
@@ -1,13 +1,12 @@
 
-export function readEnvelope(pbf, end = pbf.length) {
+export function readEnvelope(pbf, end) {
     const obj = {id: 0, int: 0, value: undefined, float: 0, string: ""};
-    while (pbf.pos < end) {
-        const tag = pbf.readVarint(), field = tag >>> 3;
+    let field;
+    while ((field = pbf.nextField(end))) {
         if (field === 1) obj.id = pbf.readVarint(true);
         else if (field === 2) { obj.int = pbf.readVarint(true); obj.value = "int"; }
         else if (field === 3) { obj.float = pbf.readFloat(); obj.value = "float"; }
         else if (field === 4) { obj.string = pbf.readString(); obj.value = "string"; }
-        else pbf.skip(tag);
     }
     return obj;
 }
diff --git a/test/fixtures/packed.js b/test/fixtures/packed.js
index d8ce77e..1e6a7f0 100644
--- a/test/fixtures/packed.js
+++ b/test/fixtures/packed.js
@@ -1,11 +1,10 @@
 
-export function readNotPacked(pbf, end = pbf.length) {
+export function readNotPacked(pbf, end) {
     const obj = {value: [], types: []};
-    while (pbf.pos < end) {
-        const tag = pbf.readVarint(), field = tag >>> 3; pbf.type = tag & 7;
+    let field;
+    while ((field = pbf.nextField(end))) {
         if (field === 1) pbf.readPackedVarint(obj.value, true);
         else if (field === 2) pbf.readPackedVarint(obj.types, true);
-        else pbf.skip(tag);
     }
     return obj;
 }
@@ -14,13 +13,12 @@ export function writeNotPacked(obj, pbf) {
     if (obj.types) for (const item of obj.types) pbf.writeVarintField(2, item);
 }
 
-export function readFalsePacked(pbf, end = pbf.length) {
+export function readFalsePacked(pbf, end) {
     const obj = {value: [], types: []};
-    while (pbf.pos < end) {
-        const tag = pbf.readVarint(), field = tag >>> 3; pbf.type = tag & 7;
+    let field;
+    while ((field = pbf.nextField(end))) {
         if (field === 1) pbf.readPackedVarint(obj.value, true);
         else if (field === 2) pbf.readPackedVarint(obj.types, true);
-        else pbf.skip(tag);
     }
     return obj;
 }
@@ -29,13 +27,12 @@ export function writeFalsePacked(obj, pbf) {
     if (obj.types) for (const item of obj.types) pbf.writeVarintField(2, item);
 }
 
-export function readPacked(pbf, end = pbf.length) {
+export function readPacked(pbf, end) {
     const obj = {value: [], types: []};
-    while (pbf.pos < end) {
-        const tag = pbf.readVarint(), field = tag >>> 3; pbf.type = tag & 7;
+    let field;
+    while ((field = pbf.nextField(end))) {
         if (field === 1) pbf.readPackedVarint(obj.value, true);
         else if (field === 2) pbf.readPackedVarint(obj.types, true);
-        else pbf.skip(tag);
     }
     return obj;
 }
diff --git a/test/fixtures/packed_proto3.js b/test/fixtures/packed_proto3.js
index e14a56e..9935d32 100644
--- a/test/fixtures/packed_proto3.js
+++ b/test/fixtures/packed_proto3.js
@@ -4,13 +4,12 @@ export const MessageType = {
     "GREETING": 1
 };
 
-export function readNotPacked(pbf, end = pbf.length) {
+export function readNotPacked(pbf, end) {
     const obj = {value: [], types: []};
-    while (pbf.pos < end) {
-        const tag = pbf.readVarint(), field = tag >>> 3; pbf.type = tag & 7;
+    let field;
+    while ((field = pbf.nextField(end))) {
         if (field === 1) pbf.readPackedVarint(obj.value, true);
         else if (field === 2) pbf.readPackedVarint(obj.types);
-        else pbf.skip(tag);
     }
     return obj;
 }
@@ -19,13 +18,12 @@ export function writeNotPacked(obj, pbf) {
     if (obj.types) pbf.writePackedVarint(2, obj.types);
 }
 
-export function readFalsePacked(pbf, end = pbf.length) {
+export function readFalsePacked(pbf, end) {
     const obj = {value: [], types: []};
-    while (pbf.pos < end) {
-        const tag = pbf.readVarint(), field = tag >>> 3; pbf.type = tag & 7;
+    let field;
+    while ((field = pbf.nextField(end))) {
         if (field === 1) pbf.readPackedVarint(obj.value, true);
         else if (field === 2) pbf.readPackedVarint(obj.types);
-        else pbf.skip(tag);
     }
     return obj;
 }
@@ -34,12 +32,11 @@ export function writeFalsePacked(obj, pbf) {
     if (obj.types) for (const item of obj.types) pbf.writeVarintField(2, item);
 }
 
-export function readPacked(pbf, end = pbf.length) {
+export function readPacked(pbf, end) {
     const obj = {value: []};
-    while (pbf.pos < end) {
-        const tag = pbf.readVarint(), field = tag >>> 3; pbf.type = tag & 7;
+    let field;
+    while ((field = pbf.nextField(end))) {
         if (field === 16) pbf.readPackedVarint(obj.value, true);
-        else pbf.skip(tag);
     }
     return obj;
 }
@@ -47,12 +44,11 @@ export function writePacked(obj, pbf) {
     if (obj.value) pbf.writePackedVarint(16, obj.value);
 }
 
-export function readPackedFixed(pbf, end = pbf.length) {
+export function readPackedFixed(pbf, end) {
     const obj = {value: []};
-    while (pbf.pos < end) {
-        const tag = pbf.readVarint(), field = tag >>> 3; pbf.type = tag & 7;
+    let field;
+    while ((field = pbf.nextField(end))) {
         if (field === 1) pbf.readPackedSFixed64(obj.value);
-        else pbf.skip(tag);
     }
     return obj;
 }
diff --git a/test/fixtures/type_string.js b/test/fixtures/type_string.js
index d8a4228..236adac 100644
--- a/test/fixtures/type_string.js
+++ b/test/fixtures/type_string.js
@@ -1,15 +1,14 @@
 
-export function readTypeString(pbf, end = pbf.length) {
+export function readTypeString(pbf, end) {
     const obj = {int: "0", long: "0", boolVal: false, float: "0", default_implicit: "0", default_explicit: "42"};
-    while (pbf.pos < end) {
-        const tag = pbf.readVarint(), field = tag >>> 3;
+    let field;
+    while ((field = pbf.nextField(end))) {
         if (field === 1) obj.int = pbf.readVarint(true).toString();
         else if (field === 2) obj.long = pbf.readVarint(true).toString();
         else if (field === 3) obj.boolVal = pbf.readBoolean();
         else if (field === 4) obj.float = pbf.readFloat().toString();
         else if (field === 5) obj.default_implicit = pbf.readVarint(true).toString();
         else if (field === 6) obj.default_explicit = pbf.readVarint(true).toString();
-        else pbf.skip(tag);
     }
     return obj;
 }
@@ -22,15 +21,14 @@ export function writeTypeString(obj, pbf) {
     if (obj.default_explicit != null && obj.default_explicit !== "42") pbf.writeVarintField(6, parseInt(obj.default_explicit, 10));
 }
 
-export function readTypeNotString(pbf, end = pbf.length) {
+export function readTypeNotString(pbf, end) {
     const obj = {int: 0, long: 0, boolVal: false, float: 0};
-    while (pbf.pos < end) {
-        const tag = pbf.readVarint(), field = tag >>> 3;
+    let field;
+    while ((field = pbf.nextField(end))) {
         if (field === 1) obj.int = pbf.readVarint(true);
         else if (field === 2) obj.long = pbf.readVarint(true);
         else if (field === 3) obj.boolVal = pbf.readBoolean();
         else if (field === 4) obj.float = pbf.readFloat();
-        else pbf.skip(tag);
     }
     return obj;
 }
diff --git a/test/fixtures/varint.js b/test/fixtures/varint.js
index 5f23f34..9592b6c 100644
--- a/test/fixtures/varint.js
+++ b/test/fixtures/varint.js
@@ -1,13 +1,12 @@
 
-export function readEnvelope(pbf, end = pbf.length) {
+export function readEnvelope(pbf, end) {
     const obj = {int: 0, uint: 0, long: 0, ulong: 0};
-    while (pbf.pos < end) {
-        const tag = pbf.readVarint(), field = tag >>> 3;
+    let field;
+    while ((field = pbf.nextField(end))) {
         if (field === 1) obj.int = pbf.readVarint(true);
         else if (field === 2) obj.uint = pbf.readVarint();
         else if (field === 3) obj.long = pbf.readVarint(true);
         else if (field === 4) obj.ulong = pbf.readVarint();
-        else pbf.skip(tag);
     }
     return obj;
 }
diff --git a/test/fixtures/vector_tile.js b/test/fixtures/vector_tile.js
index 4bb2377..fd91b4a 100644
--- a/test/fixtures/vector_tile.js
+++ b/test/fixtures/vector_tile.js
@@ -1,10 +1,9 @@
 
-export function readTile(pbf, end = pbf.length) {
+export function readTile(pbf, end) {
     const obj = {layers: []};
-    while (pbf.pos < end) {
-        const tag = pbf.readVarint(), field = tag >>> 3;
+    let field;
+    while ((field = pbf.nextField(end))) {
         if (field === 3) obj.layers.push(readTileLayer(pbf, pbf.readVarint() + pbf.pos));
-        else pbf.skip(tag);
     }
     return obj;
 }
@@ -19,10 +18,10 @@ export const TileGeomType = {
     "POLYGON": 3
 };
 
-export function readTileValue(pbf, end = pbf.length) {
+export function readTileValue(pbf, end) {
     const obj = {string_value: "", float_value: 0, double_value: 0, int_value: 0, uint_value: 0, sint_value: 0, bool_value: false};
-    while (pbf.pos < end) {
-        const tag = pbf.readVarint(), field = tag >>> 3;
+    let field;
+    while ((field = pbf.nextField(end))) {
         if (field === 1) obj.string_value = pbf.readString();
         else if (field === 2) obj.float_value = pbf.readFloat();
         else if (field === 3) obj.double_value = pbf.readDouble();
@@ -30,7 +29,6 @@ export function readTileValue(pbf, end = pbf.length) {
         else if (field === 5) obj.uint_value = pbf.readVarint();
         else if (field === 6) obj.sint_value = pbf.readSVarint();
         else if (field === 7) obj.bool_value = pbf.readBoolean();
-        else pbf.skip(tag);
     }
     return obj;
 }
@@ -44,15 +42,14 @@ export function writeTileValue(obj, pbf) {
     if (obj.bool_value) pbf.writeBooleanField(7, obj.bool_value);
 }
 
-export function readTileFeature(pbf, end = pbf.length) {
+export function readTileFeature(pbf, end) {
     const obj = {id: 0, tags: [], type: 0, geometry: []};
-    while (pbf.pos < end) {
-        const tag = pbf.readVarint(), field = tag >>> 3; pbf.type = tag & 7;
+    let field;
+    while ((field = pbf.nextField(end))) {
         if (field === 1) obj.id = pbf.readVarint();
         else if (field === 2) pbf.readPackedVarint(obj.tags);
         else if (field === 3) obj.type = pbf.readVarint();
         else if (field === 4) pbf.readPackedVarint(obj.geometry);
-        else pbf.skip(tag);
     }
     return obj;
 }
@@ -63,17 +60,16 @@ export function writeTileFeature(obj, pbf) {
     if (obj.geometry) pbf.writePackedVarint(4, obj.geometry);
 }
 
-export function readTileLayer(pbf, end = pbf.length) {
+export function readTileLayer(pbf, end) {
     const obj = {version: 1, name: "", features: [], keys: [], values: [], extent: 4096};
-    while (pbf.pos < end) {
-        const tag = pbf.readVarint(), field = tag >>> 3;
+    let field;
+    while ((field = pbf.nextField(end))) {
         if (field === 15) obj.version = pbf.readVarint();
         else if (field === 1) obj.name = pbf.readString();
         else if (field === 2) obj.features.push(readTileFeature(pbf, pbf.readVarint() + pbf.pos));
         else if (field === 3) obj.keys.push(pbf.readString());
         else if (field === 4) obj.values.push(readTileValue(pbf, pbf.readVarint() + pbf.pos));
         else if (field === 5) obj.extent = pbf.readVarint();
-        else pbf.skip(tag);
     }
     return obj;
 }
diff --git a/test/pbf.test.js b/test/pbf.test.js
index ce4a020..0ff128c 100644
--- a/test/pbf.test.js
+++ b/test/pbf.test.js
@@ -444,3 +444,40 @@ test('write a raw message > 0x10000000', () => {
     // Then the message itself. Verify that the first few bytes match the marker.
     assert.deepEqual(bytes.subarray(encodedSize.length, encodedSize.length + markerSize), encodedMarker);
 });
+
+test('nextField implicitly skips unread fields', () => {
+    // Encode three fields: varint #1 = 42, string #2 = "hi", varint #3 = 7.
+    const w = new PbfWriter();
+    w.writeVarintField(1, 42);
+    w.writeStringField(2, 'hi');
+    w.writeVarintField(3, 7);
+    const buf = w.finish();
+
+    // Reader that only knows field 1 and field 3 — field 2 is skipped implicitly.
+    const pbf = new PbfReader(buf);
+    const seen = {};
+    let field;
+    while ((field = pbf.nextField())) {
+        if (field === 1) seen.a = pbf.readVarint();
+        else if (field === 3) seen.b = pbf.readVarint();
+    }
+    assert.deepEqual(seen, {a: 42, b: 7});
+    assert.equal(pbf.pos, buf.length);
+
+    // nextField returns 0 at end-of-message.
+    assert.equal(pbf.nextField(), 0);
+});
+
+test('nextField sets pbf.type for packed reads', () => {
+    // A packed varint field encodes as wire-type 2 (BYTES). readPackedVarint relies on
+    // pbf.type to distinguish packed vs unpacked encodings; nextField must set it.
+    const w = new PbfWriter();
+    w.writePackedVarint(1, [1, 2, 3]);
+    const buf = w.finish();
+
+    const pbf = new PbfReader(buf);
+    const field = pbf.nextField();
+    assert.equal(field, 1);
+    assert.equal(pbf.type, 2); // PBF_BYTES
+    assert.deepEqual(pbf.readPackedVarint(), [1, 2, 3]);
+});