diff --git a/src/application/desktop/DesktopBuildActionLog.ts b/src/application/desktop/DesktopBuildActionLog.ts
index 6f530b2a7e..452e4e9a1e 100644
--- a/src/application/desktop/DesktopBuildActionLog.ts
+++ b/src/application/desktop/DesktopBuildActionLog.ts
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 import type { ComputerAction } from "../../domain/desktop/computerActions.js";
 import type { JsonValue } from "../../domain/jsonValue.js";
-import { boundedUtf8Text } from "../../process/boundedUtf8Text.js";
+import { utf8HeadExcerpt } from "../../domain/utf8HeadExcerpt.js";
 
 /** Bytes the log keeps of each string in an action's arguments, such as type's text. */
 export const LOGGED_TEXT_BYTES = 1024;
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ const bounded = (
   redact: Redact,
 ): { readonly value: JsonValue; readonly cut: boolean } => {
   if (typeof value === "string") {
-    const { text, truncated } = boundedUtf8Text(
+    const { text, truncated } = utf8HeadExcerpt(
       redact(value),
       LOGGED_TEXT_BYTES,
     );
diff --git a/src/application/environment/environmentReplay.ts b/src/application/environment/environmentReplay.ts
index 88f8d6ed1a..36bc105153 100644
--- a/src/application/environment/environmentReplay.ts
+++ b/src/application/environment/environmentReplay.ts
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@ import {
   type EnvironmentSource,
   type RecordedExchange,
 } from "./environmentSource.js";
+import { utf8HeadExcerpt } from "../../domain/utf8HeadExcerpt.js";
 
 /** Caller arguments as the MCP tool receives them. */
 export type ReplayArguments = Readonly<Record<string, unknown>>;
@@ -307,13 +308,6 @@ export const selectsRecordedLine = (
   return true;
 };
 
-/** The longest prefix of text whose UTF-8 encoding fits the byte limit, encoding only that prefix. */
-const utf8Prefix = (text: string, maxBytes: number): string => {
-  // encodeInto stops before the first character that does not fit, so `read` ends on a boundary.
-  const { read } = new TextEncoder().encodeInto(text, new Uint8Array(maxBytes));
-  return text.slice(0, read);
-};
-
 /** Base64 characters, in whole groups, whose bytes fit the replay limit. */
 const BASE64_LIMIT_CHARS = Math.floor(REPLAY_BODY_LIMIT_BYTES / 3) * 4;
 
@@ -334,7 +328,7 @@ const replayBody = (exchange: RecordedExchange): ReplayBody => {
         : { body: body.encoded.slice(0, BASE64_LIMIT_CHARS), truncated: true };
     case "cut":
       return {
-        body: utf8Prefix(body.text, REPLAY_BODY_LIMIT_BYTES),
+        body: utf8HeadExcerpt(body.text, REPLAY_BODY_LIMIT_BYTES).text,
         truncated: true,
       };
     case "json":
@@ -380,15 +374,18 @@ export const replayAnswer = (
   exact: boolean,
   { body, truncated }: ReplayBody = replayBody(exchange),
 ): ReplayResult => {
-  const recordedPath = utf8Prefix(exchange.path, REPLAY_METADATA_LIMIT_BYTES);
+  const recordedPath = utf8HeadExcerpt(
+    exchange.path,
+    REPLAY_METADATA_LIMIT_BYTES,
+  ).text;
   const recordedQuery =
     exchange.query === null
       ? null
-      : utf8Prefix(exchange.query, REPLAY_METADATA_LIMIT_BYTES);
+      : utf8HeadExcerpt(exchange.query, REPLAY_METADATA_LIMIT_BYTES).text;
   const contentType =
     exchange.contentType === null
       ? null
-      : utf8Prefix(exchange.contentType, REPLAY_METADATA_LIMIT_BYTES);
+      : utf8HeadExcerpt(exchange.contentType, REPLAY_METADATA_LIMIT_BYTES).text;
   return {
     status: exchange.status,
     content_type: contentType,
diff --git a/src/domain/artifactInspection.ts b/src/domain/artifactInspection.ts
index 4a23822874..dc3ca9a661 100644
--- a/src/domain/artifactInspection.ts
+++ b/src/domain/artifactInspection.ts
@@ -25,8 +25,8 @@ import { evidenceSchema, parseEvidence, type Evidence } from "./evidence.js";
 import { offsetText } from "./firmware/espImageStructures.js";
 import { jsonValueSchema } from "./jsonValue.js";
 import { prefixedDigestSchema } from "./../domain/digests.js";
+import { nonEmptyTextSchema } from "./textSchemas.js";
 
-const textSchema = z.string().min(1);
 const evidenceIdSchema = prefixedDigestSchema("ev");
 const artifactIdSchema = prefixedDigestSchema("art");
 
@@ -38,22 +38,22 @@ const inspectionObservationSchema = z.strictObject({
     "container-header",
     "reconstruction",
   ]),
-  subject: textSchema,
+  subject: nonEmptyTextSchema,
   value: jsonValueSchema,
   evidence_id: evidenceIdSchema,
 });
 
 const inspectionHypothesisSchema = z.strictObject({
   hypothesis_id: prefixedDigestSchema("aih"),
-  statement: textSchema,
+  statement: nonEmptyTextSchema,
   confidence: z.enum(["medium", "low"]),
   basis_evidence_ids: z.array(evidenceIdSchema).min(1),
-  limitation: textSchema,
+  limitation: nonEmptyTextSchema,
 });
 
 const inspectionContradictionBaseSchema = z.strictObject({
   contradiction_id: prefixedDigestSchema("aic"),
-  statement: textSchema,
+  statement: nonEmptyTextSchema,
   occurrence_id: prefixedDigestSchema("occ"),
 
   evidence_id: evidenceIdSchema,
@@ -66,8 +66,8 @@ const inspectionContradictionSchema = z.union([
 ]);
 
 const nextProbeSchema = z.strictObject({
-  operation: textSchema,
-  rationale: textSchema,
+  operation: nonEmptyTextSchema,
+  rationale: nonEmptyTextSchema,
   authority: z.enum([
     "artifact-bytes",
     "managed-static-analysis",
@@ -79,7 +79,7 @@ const nextProbeSchema = z.strictObject({
 const unexploredBranchSchema = z.strictObject({
   branch_id: prefixedDigestSchema("aib"),
   reason: z.enum(["format-specific-analysis-required", "unknown-format"]),
-  detail: textSchema,
+  detail: nonEmptyTextSchema,
   next_probe: nextProbeSchema.nullable(),
   evidence_id: evidenceIdSchema,
 });
@@ -91,7 +91,7 @@ export const artifactInspectionResultSchema = z.strictObject({
     manifest_id: prefixedDigestSchema("agm"),
     root_artifact_id: artifactIdSchema,
     root_sha256: z.string().regex(/^[a-f0-9]{64}$/u),
-    root_format: textSchema,
+    root_format: nonEmptyTextSchema,
   }),
   substeps: z
     .array(
@@ -125,7 +125,7 @@ export const artifactInspectionResultSchema = z.strictObject({
     next_probes_omitted: z.int().min(0),
   }),
   evidence_links: z.array(evidenceIdSchema).min(1),
-  limitations: z.array(textSchema),
+  limitations: z.array(nonEmptyTextSchema),
 });
 
 export type ArtifactInspectionResult = z.infer<
diff --git a/src/domain/javascript/javascriptApplicationEvidenceSchemas.ts b/src/domain/javascript/javascriptApplicationEvidenceSchemas.ts
index 57a7a14c76..29f13c54ca 100644
--- a/src/domain/javascript/javascriptApplicationEvidenceSchemas.ts
+++ b/src/domain/javascript/javascriptApplicationEvidenceSchemas.ts
@@ -1,9 +1,8 @@
 import { z } from "zod";
 import { javascriptSourceRangeSchema } from "./javascriptSourceCoordinates.js";
 import { digestSchema, prefixedDigestSchema } from "../digests.js";
+import { nonEmptyTextSchema } from "../textSchemas.js";
 
-const boundedTextSchema = z.string().min(1);
-const boundedKeySchema = z.string().min(1);
 const unsafePathSegments = new Set(["", ".", ".."]);
 const isSafeRelativePath = (path: string): boolean => {
   if (path.startsWith("/")) return false;
@@ -63,7 +62,7 @@ const applicationUnavailableReasonSchema = z.enum([
 const unavailableFactSchema = z.strictObject({
   available: z.literal(false),
   reason: applicationUnavailableReasonSchema,
-  detail: boundedTextSchema,
+  detail: nonEmptyTextSchema,
 });
 
 const availableArtifactSchema = z
@@ -89,7 +88,7 @@ const applicationArtifactReferenceSchema = z.discriminatedUnion("available", [
 
 const sourceRangeSchema = javascriptSourceRangeSchema.safeExtend({
   kind: z.literal("source-range"),
-  source: boundedTextSchema,
+  source: nonEmptyTextSchema,
 });
 
 const fileOffsetRangeSchema = z
@@ -122,19 +121,19 @@ const applicationLocationSchema = z.discriminatedUnion("kind", [
   z.strictObject({
     kind: z.literal("runtime"),
     capture_sha256: digestSchema,
-    target_key: boundedKeySchema,
-    frame_key: boundedKeySchema.nullable(),
-    script_key: boundedKeySchema.nullable(),
+    target_key: nonEmptyTextSchema,
+    frame_key: nonEmptyTextSchema.nullable(),
+    script_key: nonEmptyTextSchema.nullable(),
   }),
   z.strictObject({
     kind: z.literal("native-address"),
-    address: boundedKeySchema,
-    symbol: boundedTextSchema.nullable(),
+    address: nonEmptyTextSchema,
+    symbol: nonEmptyTextSchema.nullable(),
   }),
   z.strictObject({
     kind: z.literal("package-export"),
-    package_name: boundedKeySchema,
-    export_path: boundedTextSchema,
+    package_name: nonEmptyTextSchema,
+    export_path: nonEmptyTextSchema,
   }),
 ]);
 
@@ -247,7 +246,7 @@ const applicationGraphEvidenceBaseSchema = z.strictObject({
   location: applicationGraphEvidenceLocationSchema,
   extractor: applicationExtractorSchema,
   coverage: applicationCoverageSchema,
-  limitations: z.array(boundedTextSchema),
+  limitations: z.array(nonEmptyTextSchema),
   evidence_ids: z.array(prefixedDigestSchema("ev")),
 });
 
@@ -439,7 +438,7 @@ export const applicationNodeIdentitySchema = z.discriminatedUnion("strategy", [
     strategy: z.literal("artifact-local-key"),
     stability: z.literal("artifact-version"),
     artifact_sha256: digestSchema,
-    namespace: boundedKeySchema,
+    namespace: nonEmptyTextSchema,
     // The exact artifact-local value, such as `""` from `fetch("")`.
     key: z.string(),
   }),
@@ -448,13 +447,13 @@ export const applicationNodeIdentitySchema = z.discriminatedUnion("strategy", [
     stability: z.literal("capture-only"),
     capture_evidence_id: prefixedDigestSchema("ev"),
     capture_sha256: digestSchema,
-    runtime_key: boundedTextSchema,
+    runtime_key: nonEmptyTextSchema,
   }),
   z.strictObject({
     strategy: z.literal("observation-fingerprint"),
     stability: z.literal("observation-only"),
     observation_sha256: digestSchema,
-    scope: boundedTextSchema,
+    scope: nonEmptyTextSchema,
   }),
 ]);
 
diff --git a/src/domain/javascript/javascriptApplicationGraphSchemas.ts b/src/domain/javascript/javascriptApplicationGraphSchemas.ts
index f97745a39b..f29062c8c1 100644
--- a/src/domain/javascript/javascriptApplicationGraphSchemas.ts
+++ b/src/domain/javascript/javascriptApplicationGraphSchemas.ts
@@ -8,8 +8,7 @@ import {
 } from "./javascriptApplicationEvidenceSchemas.js";
 import { jsonValueSchema } from "../jsonValue.js";
 import { prefixedDigestSchema } from "../digests.js";
-
-const boundedTextSchema = z.string().min(1);
+import { nonEmptyTextSchema } from "../textSchemas.js";
 
 /** An observed IPC channel match whose uniqueness is not established. */
 export const IPC_COVERAGE_LIMITED_PAIRING_BASIS =
@@ -148,7 +147,7 @@ export const javascriptApplicationGraphInputSchema = z.strictObject({
   nodes: z.array(applicationNodeSchema).min(1),
   edges: z.array(applicationEdgeSchema),
   coverage: applicationCoverageSchema,
-  limitations: z.array(boundedTextSchema),
+  limitations: z.array(nonEmptyTextSchema),
 });
 
 /** Strict stored shape for a JavaScript Application Graph. */
diff --git a/src/domain/javascript/javascriptApplicationVersionComparisonSchemas.ts b/src/domain/javascript/javascriptApplicationVersionComparisonSchemas.ts
index 772f2379cb..859ddaf286 100644
--- a/src/domain/javascript/javascriptApplicationVersionComparisonSchemas.ts
+++ b/src/domain/javascript/javascriptApplicationVersionComparisonSchemas.ts
@@ -8,10 +8,10 @@ import {
 } from "./javascriptApplicationGraph.js";
 import { JAVASCRIPT_APPLICATION_NODE_KINDS } from "./javascriptApplicationGraphSchemas.js";
 import { prefixedDigestSchema } from "../digests.js";
+import { nonEmptyTextSchema } from "../textSchemas.js";
 
 const evidenceIdSchema = prefixedDigestSchema("ev");
 const nodeIdSchema = prefixedDigestSchema("jag_node");
-const textSchema = z.string().min(1);
 
 /** Check paired version identities and per-side native identity uniqueness. */
 const validateApplicationVersionIdentities = (
@@ -128,7 +128,7 @@ const comparisonItemContextShape = {
     ]),
   ),
   evidence_links: z.array(evidenceIdSchema).min(2),
-  limitations: z.array(textSchema),
+  limitations: z.array(nonEmptyTextSchema),
 };
 
 const comparisonItemSchema = z.union([
@@ -212,7 +212,7 @@ export const applicationVersionComparisonResultSchema = z
     graph: javascriptApplicationGraphSchema,
     coverage: comparisonCoverageSchema,
     evidence_links: z.array(evidenceIdSchema).min(2),
-    limitations: z.array(textSchema),
+    limitations: z.array(nonEmptyTextSchema),
   })
   .superRefine((result, context) => {
     const sourceGraphsComplete =
diff --git a/src/domain/javascript/javascriptExportShapeComparisonSchemas.ts b/src/domain/javascript/javascriptExportShapeComparisonSchemas.ts
index b50690e703..028ee0540c 100644
--- a/src/domain/javascript/javascriptExportShapeComparisonSchemas.ts
+++ b/src/domain/javascript/javascriptExportShapeComparisonSchemas.ts
@@ -4,11 +4,11 @@ import { javascriptSourceRangeSchema } from "./javascriptSourceCoordinates.js";
 
 import { evidenceSchema } from "../evidence.js";
 import { prefixedDigestSchema } from "../digests.js";
+import { nonEmptyTextSchema } from "../textSchemas.js";
 
 const evidenceIdSchema = prefixedDigestSchema("ev");
 const graphIdSchema = prefixedDigestSchema("jag");
 const nodeIdSchema = prefixedDigestSchema("jag_node");
-const textSchema = z.string().min(1);
 const exportNameSchema = z.string();
 const semanticPrimitiveSchema = z.union([
   z.string(),
@@ -64,9 +64,9 @@ export const compareJavaScriptExportShapesInputSchema = z
   .strictObject({
     left: evidenceSchema,
     right: evidenceSchema,
-    left_module_path: textSchema,
+    left_module_path: nonEmptyTextSchema,
     left_export_name: exportNameSchema,
-    right_module_path: textSchema,
+    right_module_path: nonEmptyTextSchema,
     right_export_name: exportNameSchema,
   })
   .superRefine(validateJavaScriptExportShapeIdentities);
@@ -92,7 +92,7 @@ const projectedReturnFieldSchema = z.discriminatedUnion("state", [
     ...projectedReturnFieldShape,
     state: z.literal("unknown"),
     value: z.null(),
-    reason: textSchema,
+    reason: nonEmptyTextSchema,
   }),
 ]);
 export type ProjectedReturnField = z.infer<typeof projectedReturnFieldSchema>;
@@ -149,9 +149,9 @@ const projectedReturnShapeSchema = z
 export const projectedExportReturnShapesSchema = z
   .strictObject({
     semantic_role: z.literal("export-return-shapes"),
-    module_path: textSchema,
+    module_path: nonEmptyTextSchema,
     exported_name: exportNameSchema,
-    callable_id: textSchema,
+    callable_id: nonEmptyTextSchema,
     callable_kind: z.enum(["function", "class", "method"]),
     static_return_shapes: z.array(projectedReturnShapeSchema),
     return_shape_coverage: z.strictObject({
@@ -177,7 +177,7 @@ export const projectedExportReturnShapesSchema = z
 
 const exportCandidateSchema = z.strictObject({
   node_id: nodeIdSchema,
-  module_path: textSchema,
+  module_path: nonEmptyTextSchema,
   export_name: exportNameSchema,
   matches_requested_module: z.boolean(),
   matches_requested_export: z.boolean(),
@@ -186,7 +186,7 @@ const exportCandidateSchema = z.strictObject({
 const selectorResultShape = {
   evidence_id: evidenceIdSchema,
   graph_id: graphIdSchema,
-  requested_module_path: textSchema,
+  requested_module_path: nonEmptyTextSchema,
   requested_export_name: exportNameSchema,
   candidates: z.array(exportCandidateSchema),
   omitted_candidates: z.int().min(0),
@@ -221,7 +221,7 @@ const valueAvailabilitySchema = z.discriminatedUnion("availability", [
   }),
   z.strictObject({
     availability: z.literal("unknown"),
-    reason: textSchema,
+    reason: nonEmptyTextSchema,
   }),
 ]);
 
@@ -251,7 +251,7 @@ export const javaScriptExportShapeComparisonChangeSchema = z.strictObject({
   left_source_range: javascriptSourceRangeSchema.nullable(),
   right_source_range: javascriptSourceRangeSchema.nullable(),
   evidence_links: z.array(evidenceIdSchema).length(2),
-  limitations: z.array(textSchema),
+  limitations: z.array(nonEmptyTextSchema),
 });
 
 const inventoryPropertyCoverageSchema = z.strictObject({
@@ -311,7 +311,7 @@ export const javaScriptExportShapeComparisonResultSchema = z.strictObject({
     omitted_changes: z.int().min(0),
   }),
   evidence_links: z.array(evidenceIdSchema).length(2),
-  limitations: z.array(textSchema),
+  limitations: z.array(nonEmptyTextSchema),
 });
 
 export type ProjectedExportReturnShapes = z.output<
diff --git a/src/domain/javascript/javascriptFeatureTraceSchemas.ts b/src/domain/javascript/javascriptFeatureTraceSchemas.ts
index 46fcbcb73d..acc494c8b5 100644
--- a/src/domain/javascript/javascriptFeatureTraceSchemas.ts
+++ b/src/domain/javascript/javascriptFeatureTraceSchemas.ts
@@ -3,11 +3,11 @@ import { z } from "zod";
 import { evidenceSchema, providerSchema } from "../evidence.js";
 import { javascriptApplicationGraphSchema } from "./javascriptApplicationGraph.js";
 import { digestSchema, prefixedDigestSchema } from "../digests.js";
+import { nonEmptyTextSchema } from "../textSchemas.js";
 
 const evidenceIdSchema = prefixedDigestSchema("ev");
 const nodeIdSchema = prefixedDigestSchema("jag_node");
 const edgeIdSchema = prefixedDigestSchema("jag_edge");
-const boundedTextSchema = z.string().min(1);
 
 /** Matching mode for a literal seed: string seeds default to containment. */
 export const featureSeedMatchMode = (seed: {
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ export const featureSeedMatchMode = (seed: {
 const apiSeedSchema = z.union([
   z.strictObject({
     kind: z.literal("api"),
-    value: boundedTextSchema,
+    value: nonEmptyTextSchema,
     match: z.enum(["exact", "contains"]).nullable().default(null),
     case_sensitive: z.boolean().default(false),
   }),
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ const apiSeedSchema = z.union([
 const apiPathSeedSchema = z.union([
   z.strictObject({
     kind: z.literal("api"),
-    value: boundedTextSchema,
+    value: nonEmptyTextSchema,
     match: z.enum(["exact", "contains"]).nullable().default(null),
     case_sensitive: z.boolean().default(false),
     entry_path: z.array(z.string()).min(1),
@@ -63,7 +63,7 @@ export const applicationFeatureSeedSchema = z.union([
       "module",
       "native-export",
     ]),
-    value: boundedTextSchema,
+    value: nonEmptyTextSchema,
     match: z.enum(["exact", "contains"]).nullable().default(null),
     case_sensitive: z.boolean().default(false),
   }),
@@ -220,7 +220,7 @@ export const applicationFeatureTraceResultSchema = z.strictObject({
     total_seed_matches: z.int().min(0),
   }),
   evidence_links: z.array(evidenceIdSchema).min(1),
-  limitations: z.array(boundedTextSchema),
+  limitations: z.array(nonEmptyTextSchema),
 });
 
 export type TraceApplicationFeatureInput = z.infer<
diff --git a/src/domain/javascript/javascriptRuntimeReconciliationSchemas.ts b/src/domain/javascript/javascriptRuntimeReconciliationSchemas.ts
index 0d47a42b71..b678e67376 100644
--- a/src/domain/javascript/javascriptRuntimeReconciliationSchemas.ts
+++ b/src/domain/javascript/javascriptRuntimeReconciliationSchemas.ts
@@ -8,10 +8,10 @@ import { javascriptRuntimeUnresolvedLocationSchema } from "./javascriptRuntimeOb
 import { javascriptApplicationGraphSchema } from "./javascriptApplicationGraph.js";
 import { digestSchema, prefixedDigestSchema } from "../digests.js";
 import { urlDeclaresQueryOrFragment } from "../urlComponents.js";
+import { nonEmptyTextSchema } from "../textSchemas.js";
 
 const evidenceIdSchema = prefixedDigestSchema("ev");
 const nodeIdSchema = prefixedDigestSchema("jag_node");
-const boundedTextSchema = z.string().min(1);
 const safePrefixSchema = z
   .string()
   .refine(
@@ -171,7 +171,7 @@ const captureSummarySchema = z.strictObject({
   capture_sha256: digestSchema,
   kind: z.enum(["browser", "electron", "v8-inspector", "electron-active"]),
   target_node_id: nodeIdSchema,
-  target_key: boundedTextSchema,
+  target_key: nonEmptyTextSchema,
   target_location: z
     .string()
     .min(1)
@@ -282,7 +282,7 @@ export const javascriptRuntimeReconciliationResultSchema = z.strictObject({
     used_for_primary_matching: z.literal(false),
     static_layer_count: z.int().min(0),
     runtime_script_declarations: z.int().min(0),
-    limitation: boundedTextSchema,
+    limitation: nonEmptyTextSchema,
   }),
   coverage: z.strictObject({
     status: z.enum(["complete-within-inputs", "partial", "truncated"]),
@@ -293,7 +293,7 @@ export const javascriptRuntimeReconciliationResultSchema = z.strictObject({
     omitted_graph_items: z.int().min(0),
   }),
   evidence_links: z.array(evidenceIdSchema).min(2),
-  limitations: z.array(boundedTextSchema),
+  limitations: z.array(nonEmptyTextSchema),
 });
 
 export type ReconcileJavaScriptRuntimeInput = z.infer<
diff --git a/src/domain/javascript/javascriptSemanticGraphSchemas.ts b/src/domain/javascript/javascriptSemanticGraphSchemas.ts
index 78abf10781..f7020859e9 100644
--- a/src/domain/javascript/javascriptSemanticGraphSchemas.ts
+++ b/src/domain/javascript/javascriptSemanticGraphSchemas.ts
@@ -9,8 +9,8 @@ import {
 } from "./javascriptApplicationEvidenceSchemas.js";
 import { jsonValueSchema } from "../jsonValue.js";
 import { digestSchema, prefixedDigestSchema } from "../digests.js";
+import { nonEmptyTextSchema } from "../textSchemas.js";
 
-const boundedTextSchema = z.string().min(1);
 const semanticNodeIdSchema = prefixedDigestSchema("jsrg_node");
 const semanticRelationIdSchema = z
   .string()
@@ -278,7 +278,7 @@ export const javaScriptSemanticUnknownInputSchema = z.strictObject({
   family: z.enum(JAVASCRIPT_SEMANTIC_RELATION_FAMILIES),
   relation_kinds: z.array(z.enum(JAVASCRIPT_SEMANTIC_RELATIONS)).min(1),
   reason: z.enum(JAVASCRIPT_SEMANTIC_UNKNOWN_REASONS),
-  detail: boundedTextSchema,
+  detail: nonEmptyTextSchema,
   candidate_node_ids: z.array(semanticNodeIdSchema),
   evidence: applicationGraphEvidenceSchema,
 });
@@ -315,7 +315,7 @@ export const javaScriptSemanticFingerprintInputSchema = z.strictObject({
   algorithm: z.literal("rea.javascript-semantic-function"),
   status: z.enum(["complete", "partial", "unavailable"]),
   components: fingerprintComponentsSchema,
-  limitations: z.array(boundedTextSchema),
+  limitations: z.array(nonEmptyTextSchema),
   evidence: applicationGraphEvidenceSchema,
 });
 
@@ -364,7 +364,7 @@ export const javaScriptSemanticGraphInputSchema = z.strictObject({
   fingerprints: z.array(javaScriptSemanticFingerprintSchema),
   unknowns: z.array(javaScriptSemanticUnknownSchema),
   coverage: graphCoverageSchema,
-  limitations: z.array(boundedTextSchema),
+  limitations: z.array(nonEmptyTextSchema),
 });
 
 /** Stored JavaScript Semantic Relation Graph. */
diff --git a/src/domain/javascript/sourceToBundleComparisonSchemas.ts b/src/domain/javascript/sourceToBundleComparisonSchemas.ts
index d90918fead..3a82413d2d 100644
--- a/src/domain/javascript/sourceToBundleComparisonSchemas.ts
+++ b/src/domain/javascript/sourceToBundleComparisonSchemas.ts
@@ -5,10 +5,10 @@ import { evidenceSchema } from "../evidence.js";
 import { JAVASCRIPT_APPLICATION_NODE_KINDS } from "./javascriptApplicationGraphSchemas.js";
 import { historicalSourceGraphSchema } from "../referenceSourceGraph.js";
 import { digestSchema, prefixedDigestSchema } from "../digests.js";
+import { nonEmptyTextSchema } from "../textSchemas.js";
 
 const evidenceIdSchema = prefixedDigestSchema("ev");
 const nodeIdSchema = prefixedDigestSchema("jag_node");
-const textSchema = z.string().min(1);
 
 export const SOURCE_TO_BUNDLE_SIGNAL_WEIGHTS = [
   ["exact-source-digest", 100],
@@ -39,8 +39,8 @@ export const compareSourceToBundleInputSchema = z.strictObject({
 const sourceToBundleSignalSchema = z.strictObject({
   kind: sourceToBundleSignalKindSchema,
   weight: z.int().min(1).max(100),
-  source_value: textSchema,
-  current_values: z.array(textSchema).min(1),
+  source_value: nonEmptyTextSchema,
+  current_values: z.array(nonEmptyTextSchema).min(1),
 });
 
 const sourceToBundleCandidateSchema = z.strictObject({
@@ -55,9 +55,9 @@ const sourceToBundleCandidateSchema = z.strictObject({
 
 const sourceToBundleItemSchema = z.strictObject({
   mapping_id: prefixedDigestSchema("stbc_item"),
-  source_path: textSchema,
+  source_path: nonEmptyTextSchema,
   source_sha256: digestSchema.nullable(),
-  source_language: textSchema.nullable(),
+  source_language: nonEmptyTextSchema.nullable(),
   status: z.enum([
     "unchanged",
     "modified",
@@ -70,7 +70,7 @@ const sourceToBundleItemSchema = z.strictObject({
   confidence: z.enum(["exact", "high", "medium", "unknown"]),
   current_node_ids: z.array(nodeIdSchema),
   candidates: z.array(sourceToBundleCandidateSchema),
-  limitations: z.array(textSchema),
+  limitations: z.array(nonEmptyTextSchema),
 });
 
 /** Deterministic, evidence-bearing historical-source to shipped-bundle comparison. */
@@ -120,7 +120,7 @@ export const sourceToBundleComparisonResultSchema = z.strictObject({
     candidate_evaluations: z.int().min(0),
   }),
   evidence_links: z.array(evidenceIdSchema).length(1),
-  limitations: z.array(textSchema),
+  limitations: z.array(nonEmptyTextSchema),
 });
 
 export type SourceToBundleComparisonResult = z.infer<
diff --git a/src/domain/managed/managedApplicationGraph.ts b/src/domain/managed/managedApplicationGraph.ts
index dc54b7e056..e0fbd1def3 100644
--- a/src/domain/managed/managedApplicationGraph.ts
+++ b/src/domain/managed/managedApplicationGraph.ts
@@ -42,9 +42,9 @@ import { AnalysisInputError } from "../analysisErrorCore.js";
 import type { EvidenceIntegrityError } from "../evidenceErrors.js";
 import { analysisInputErrorFromIssues } from "../inputIssueProjection.js";
 import { err, ok, type Result } from "../result.js";
+import { nonEmptyTextSchema } from "../textSchemas.js";
 
 const evidenceIdSchema = prefixedDigestSchema("ev");
-const textSchema = z.string().min(1);
 
 const managedApplicationGraphReferenceShape = z.strictObject({
   managed_artifact: evidenceInputSchema.optional(),
@@ -135,7 +135,7 @@ export const managedApplicationGraphResultSchema = z
       status: z.enum(["complete-within-inputs", "partial"]),
     }),
     evidence_links: z.array(evidenceIdSchema).min(1).max(3),
-    limitations: z.array(textSchema),
+    limitations: z.array(nonEmptyTextSchema),
   })
   .superRefine((result, context) => {
     const [rootId] = result.graph.root_node_ids;
diff --git a/src/domain/managed/managedMemberComparison.ts b/src/domain/managed/managedMemberComparison.ts
index 2023b523a0..b16f9753e7 100644
--- a/src/domain/managed/managedMemberComparison.ts
+++ b/src/domain/managed/managedMemberComparison.ts
@@ -25,9 +25,9 @@ import {
 import { keyMembers } from "./managedMemberComparisonMatch.js";
 import { hasSignatureResolution } from "./managedMemberSignatureIdentity.js";
 import { digestSchema, prefixedDigestSchema } from "../digests.js";
+import { nonEmptyTextSchema } from "../textSchemas.js";
 
 const evidenceIdSchema = prefixedDigestSchema("ev");
-const boundedTextSchema = z.string().min(1);
 
 const memberComparisonShape = <Source extends z.ZodType>(source: Source) => ({
   left: source,
@@ -133,7 +133,7 @@ const comparisonItemSchema = <
 
 const comparisonItemContextShape = {
   evidence_links: z.array(evidenceIdSchema).length(2),
-  limitations: z.array(boundedTextSchema),
+  limitations: z.array(nonEmptyTextSchema),
 };
 
 const methodComparisonItemSchema = comparisonItemSchema(
@@ -221,7 +221,7 @@ export const managedMemberComparisonResultSchema = z.strictObject({
     right_status: z.enum(["complete", "partial", "unavailable"]),
   }),
   evidence_links: z.array(evidenceIdSchema).length(2),
-  limitations: z.array(boundedTextSchema),
+  limitations: z.array(nonEmptyTextSchema),
 });
 
 export type ManagedMemberComparisonResult = z.infer<
diff --git a/src/domain/managed/managedNativeVerificationSchemas.ts b/src/domain/managed/managedNativeVerificationSchemas.ts
index b322552aad..0ea1489dff 100644
--- a/src/domain/managed/managedNativeVerificationSchemas.ts
+++ b/src/domain/managed/managedNativeVerificationSchemas.ts
@@ -7,9 +7,9 @@ import {
   managedNativeImportSchema,
 } from "./managedArtifact.js";
 import { digestSchema, prefixedDigestSchema } from "../digests.js";
+import { nonEmptyTextSchema } from "../textSchemas.js";
 
 const evidenceIdSchema = prefixedDigestSchema("ev");
-const textSchema = z.string().min(1);
 
 const nativeSymbolSchema = z.strictObject({
   evidence_id: evidenceIdSchema,
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ const pinvokeVerificationContextShape = {
   item_id: prefixedDigestSchema("mnv_pinvoke"),
   managed: verifiedManagedDeclarationSchema,
   evidence_links: z.array(evidenceIdSchema).min(1),
-  limitations: z.array(textSchema),
+  limitations: z.array(nonEmptyTextSchema),
 };
 
 const observedCandidatesSchema = z
@@ -182,11 +182,11 @@ export const managedNativeVerificationResultSchema = z
     native_implementations: z.strictObject({
       runtime_provided: z.int().nonnegative().nullable().default(null),
       unresolved: z.int().min(0),
-      reason: textSchema,
+      reason: nonEmptyTextSchema,
     }),
     coverage: verificationCoverageSchema,
     evidence_links: z.array(evidenceIdSchema).min(2),
-    limitations: z.array(textSchema),
+    limitations: z.array(nonEmptyTextSchema),
   })
   .superRefine((result, context) => {
     const observedNativeCount =
diff --git a/src/domain/managed/managedReconstruction.ts b/src/domain/managed/managedReconstruction.ts
index 994c17dc4e..5b31d79952 100644
--- a/src/domain/managed/managedReconstruction.ts
+++ b/src/domain/managed/managedReconstruction.ts
@@ -17,13 +17,13 @@ import { readManagedInspectionEvidence } from "./managedInspectionEvidence.js";
 import { AnalysisInputError } from "../analysisErrorCore.js";
 import { EvidenceIntegrityError } from "../evidenceErrors.js";
 import { err, ok, type Result } from "../result.js";
+import { nonEmptyTextSchema } from "../textSchemas.js";
 
 const evidenceIdSchema = prefixedDigestSchema("ev");
-const textSchema = z.string().min(1);
 
 const decompilerSchema = z.strictObject({
-  name: textSchema,
-  version: textSchema.nullable().default(null),
+  name: nonEmptyTextSchema,
+  version: nonEmptyTextSchema.nullable().default(null),
   family: z.enum(["ilspy", "dnspy", "dnlib", "mono-cecil", "other"]),
   executable_sha256: digestSchema.nullable().default(null),
   options: z.array(z.string()).default([]),
@@ -36,9 +36,9 @@ const managedReconstructionMethodInputSchema = z.strictObject({
   reconstruction: z.strictObject({
     kind: z.enum(["decompiled-csharp", "decompiled-il", "semantic-pseudocode"]),
     language: z.enum(["csharp", "il", "pseudocode"]),
-    text: textSchema,
+    text: nonEmptyTextSchema,
     text_sha256: digestSchema.optional(),
-    source_path: textSchema.nullable().optional(),
+    source_path: nonEmptyTextSchema.nullable().optional(),
     start_line: z.int().min(1).nullable().optional(),
     end_line: z.int().min(1).nullable().optional(),
   }),
@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@ type ManagedReconstructionMethodInput = z.infer<
 const managedReconstructionImportRequestShape = {
   decompiler: decompilerSchema,
   methods: z.array(managedReconstructionMethodInputSchema).min(1),
-  notes: z.array(textSchema).default([]),
+  notes: z.array(nonEmptyTextSchema).default([]),
 };
 
 const reconstructionInput = <Source extends z.ZodType>(source: Source) =>
@@ -79,11 +79,11 @@ const importedMethodSchema = z.strictObject({
   reconstruction: z.strictObject({
     kind: z.enum(["decompiled-csharp", "decompiled-il", "semantic-pseudocode"]),
     language: z.enum(["csharp", "il", "pseudocode"]),
-    text: textSchema,
+    text: nonEmptyTextSchema,
     text_sha256: digestSchema,
     text_length: z.int().min(1),
     line_count: z.int().min(1),
-    source_path: textSchema.nullable(),
+    source_path: nonEmptyTextSchema.nullable(),
     start_line: z.int().min(1).nullable(),
     end_line: z.int().min(1).nullable(),
   }),
@@ -119,9 +119,9 @@ export const managedReconstructionImportResultSchema = z.strictObject({
     total_text_bytes: z.int().min(1),
   }),
   methods: z.array(importedMethodSchema).min(1),
-  notes: z.array(textSchema),
+  notes: z.array(nonEmptyTextSchema),
   evidence_links: z.array(evidenceIdSchema).length(1),
-  limitations: z.array(textSchema),
+  limitations: z.array(nonEmptyTextSchema),
 });
 
 export type ManagedReconstructionImportInput = z.infer<
diff --git a/src/domain/reconstructionCoverage.ts b/src/domain/reconstructionCoverage.ts
index b9d9b19030..daef9f6b92 100644
--- a/src/domain/reconstructionCoverage.ts
+++ b/src/domain/reconstructionCoverage.ts
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ const stableIdSchema = z
 export const reconstructionBoundaryIdSchema = stableIdSchema.describe(
   "Exact identifier of a boundary declared in the reconstruction coverage.",
 );
-const boundedTextSchema = z.string().trim().min(1);
+const trimmedTextSchema = z.string().trim().min(1);
 
 const authoritySchema = z.enum([
   "observed",
@@ -57,7 +57,7 @@ const surfaceSchema = z.strictObject({
   family: z.string().trim().min(1),
   artifact_id: stableIdSchema,
   occurrence_id: z.string().trim().min(1).nullable(),
-  location: boundedTextSchema,
+  location: trimmedTextSchema,
   authority: authoritySchema,
   dependency_surface_ids: z.array(stableIdSchema),
   evidence_ids: z.array(evidenceIdSchema).min(1),
@@ -65,7 +65,7 @@ const surfaceSchema = z.strictObject({
 
 const implementationOwnerSchema = z.strictObject({
   disposition: z.literal("implemented"),
-  owner_path: boundedTextSchema,
+  owner_path: trimmedTextSchema,
   owner_export: z.string().trim().min(1).nullable(),
   owner_sha256: digestSchema,
   path_state: z.enum(["present", "missing", "unknown"]),
@@ -75,7 +75,7 @@ const implementationOwnerSchema = z.strictObject({
 
 const externalOwnerSchema = z.strictObject({
   disposition: z.enum(["external", "non-goal"]),
-  rationale: boundedTextSchema,
+  rationale: trimmedTextSchema,
 });
 
 const ownerSchema = z.strictObject({
@@ -284,7 +284,7 @@ const closureReasonSchema = z.strictObject({
     "package-proof-unknown",
   ]),
   subject_id: stableIdSchema,
-  detail: boundedTextSchema,
+  detail: trimmedTextSchema,
 });
 
 export const reconstructionClosureResultSchema = z.strictObject({
@@ -300,7 +300,7 @@ export const reconstructionClosureResultSchema = z.strictObject({
     z.strictObject({
       operation: stableIdSchema,
       subject_id: stableIdSchema,
-      rationale: boundedTextSchema,
+      rationale: trimmedTextSchema,
     }),
   ),
   evidence_ids: z.array(evidenceIdSchema),
diff --git a/src/domain/referenceSourceGraph.ts b/src/domain/referenceSourceGraph.ts
index 6a3495e147..6812c2078b 100644
--- a/src/domain/referenceSourceGraph.ts
+++ b/src/domain/referenceSourceGraph.ts
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ import {
 } from "./referenceSourcePathIdentity.js";
 import { compareUnicodeCodePoints } from "./unicodeCodePointOrder.js";
 import { digestSchema, prefixedDigestSchema } from "./digests.js";
-const boundedTextSchema = z.string().min(1);
+import { nonEmptyTextSchema } from "./textSchemas.js";
 const relativePathSchema = z
   .string()
   .min(1)
@@ -38,9 +38,9 @@ const classificationSchema = z.enum([
 const entryBaseShape = {
   path: relativePathSchema,
   classifications: z.array(classificationSchema).min(1),
-  limitations: z.array(boundedTextSchema),
+  limitations: z.array(nonEmptyTextSchema),
   // Host presentation is retained evidence, separate from relocatable semantics.
-  local_diagnostics: z.array(boundedTextSchema).exactOptional(),
+  local_diagnostics: z.array(nonEmptyTextSchema).exactOptional(),
 };
 
 const sourceFileBaseShape = {
@@ -129,7 +129,7 @@ const sourceRelationshipSchema = z.strictObject({
 const parseFailureSchema = z.strictObject({
   path: relativePathSchema,
   parser: z.string().min(1),
-  reason: boundedTextSchema,
+  reason: nonEmptyTextSchema,
 });
 
 const exclusionSchema = z.discriminatedUnion("reason", [
@@ -144,7 +144,7 @@ const exclusionSchema = z.discriminatedUnion("reason", [
       "default-ignored",
       "caller-excluded",
     ]),
-    pattern: boundedTextSchema,
+    pattern: nonEmptyTextSchema,
   }),
   z.strictObject({
     path: relativePathSchema,
@@ -196,7 +196,7 @@ const graphShape = {
       .min(1)
       .regex(/^[\w .:@\x2f+\x2d]+$/u),
   }),
-  limitations: z.array(boundedTextSchema),
+  limitations: z.array(nonEmptyTextSchema),
 };
 
 const historicalSourceGraphStructureSchema = z
diff --git a/src/domain/textSchemas.ts b/src/domain/textSchemas.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..eb1838f2c0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/domain/textSchemas.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+import { z } from "zod";
+
+/**
+ * A string with at least one UTF-16 code unit. It bounds nothing else: apply a
+ * real length limit where a format, protocol or resource requires one.
+ */
+export const nonEmptyTextSchema = z.string().min(1);
diff --git a/src/domain/utf8HeadExcerpt.test.ts b/src/domain/utf8HeadExcerpt.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..4fc837c6ff
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/domain/utf8HeadExcerpt.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,61 @@
+import { expect, it } from "vitest";
+
+import { utf8HeadExcerpt } from "./utf8HeadExcerpt.js";
+
+it("keeps text within the budget unchanged", () => {
+  expect(utf8HeadExcerpt("abc", 3)).toEqual({
+    text: "abc",
+    bytes: 3,
+    truncated: false,
+  });
+  expect(utf8HeadExcerpt("", 0)).toEqual({
+    text: "",
+    bytes: 0,
+    truncated: false,
+  });
+});
+
+it("keeps the start and never splits a character", () => {
+  // "é" is 2 bytes, "€" 3 and "😀" 4 (a surrogate pair).
+  expect(utf8HeadExcerpt("aé€z", 5)).toEqual({
+    text: "aé",
+    bytes: 3,
+    truncated: true,
+  });
+  expect(utf8HeadExcerpt("aé€z", 6)).toEqual({
+    text: "aé€",
+    bytes: 6,
+    truncated: true,
+  });
+  expect(utf8HeadExcerpt("😀x", 3)).toEqual({
+    text: "",
+    bytes: 0,
+    truncated: true,
+  });
+  expect(utf8HeadExcerpt("😀x", 4)).toEqual({
+    text: "😀",
+    bytes: 4,
+    truncated: true,
+  });
+});
+
+it("charges a lone surrogate as its 3-byte replacement and keeps the source unit", () => {
+  expect(utf8HeadExcerpt("\uD800ab", 4)).toEqual({
+    text: "\uD800a",
+    bytes: 4,
+    truncated: true,
+  });
+});
+
+it("returns nothing for a non-positive budget", () => {
+  expect(utf8HeadExcerpt("abc", 0)).toEqual({
+    text: "",
+    bytes: 0,
+    truncated: true,
+  });
+  expect(utf8HeadExcerpt("abc", -1)).toEqual({
+    text: "",
+    bytes: 0,
+    truncated: true,
+  });
+});
diff --git a/src/domain/utf8HeadExcerpt.ts b/src/domain/utf8HeadExcerpt.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..554c33ae2d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/domain/utf8HeadExcerpt.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,28 @@
+/**
+ * The longest prefix of `text` whose UTF-8 encoding fits `maximumBytes`,
+ * never splitting a character. `text` is a slice of the source, `bytes` its
+ * UTF-8 length, and `truncated` says whether any of the end was dropped. Only
+ * the retained prefix is encoded.
+ */
+export const utf8HeadExcerpt = (
+  text: string,
+  maximumBytes: number,
+): {
+  readonly text: string;
+  readonly bytes: number;
+  readonly truncated: boolean;
+} => {
+  if (maximumBytes <= 0)
+    return { text: "", bytes: 0, truncated: text.length > 0 };
+  // A UTF-16 code unit encodes to at most three UTF-8 bytes, and encodeInto
+  // stops before the first character that does not fit.
+  const { read, written } = new TextEncoder().encodeInto(
+    text,
+    new Uint8Array(Math.min(maximumBytes, text.length * 3)),
+  );
+  return {
+    text: text.slice(0, read),
+    bytes: written,
+    truncated: read < text.length,
+  };
+};
diff --git a/src/gdb/GdbSessionManager.ts b/src/gdb/GdbSessionManager.ts
index 8c515f4979..cc01fe8e98 100644
--- a/src/gdb/GdbSessionManager.ts
+++ b/src/gdb/GdbSessionManager.ts
@@ -57,6 +57,7 @@ import {
   type ProcessStartTimeReader,
   verifyOwnedInferiorsEnded,
 } from "../process/ownedDebuggerSession.js";
+import { utf8HeadExcerpt } from "../domain/utf8HeadExcerpt.js";
 
 const STARTUP_TIMEOUT_MS = 10_000;
 
@@ -194,15 +195,7 @@ const truncateUtf8RecordPrefix = (line: string): string => {
   const budget =
     MAX_RECENT_MI_LINE_BYTES -
     Buffer.byteLength(RECENT_RECORD_TRUNCATION_MARKER, "utf8");
-  let prefix = "";
-  let retainedBytes = 0;
-  for (const codePoint of line) {
-    const codePointBytes = Buffer.byteLength(codePoint, "utf8");
-    if (retainedBytes + codePointBytes > budget) break;
-    prefix += codePoint;
-    retainedBytes += codePointBytes;
-  }
-  return `${prefix}${RECENT_RECORD_TRUNCATION_MARKER}`;
+  return `${utf8HeadExcerpt(line, budget).text}${RECENT_RECORD_TRUNCATION_MARKER}`;
 };
 
 /** Bound parser memory when a capped MI record contains extreme nesting. */
diff --git a/src/ghidra/GhidraJavaProbe.ts b/src/ghidra/GhidraJavaProbe.ts
index e28e68649b..80d58109ba 100644
--- a/src/ghidra/GhidraJavaProbe.ts
+++ b/src/ghidra/GhidraJavaProbe.ts
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ import {
   prepareOwnedCommand,
 } from "../process/OwnedCommand.js";
 import type { ProviderProcessSnapshot } from "../process/ProviderProcess.js";
-import { boundedUtf8Text } from "../process/boundedUtf8Text.js";
+import { utf8HeadExcerpt } from "../domain/utf8HeadExcerpt.js";
 import { constants, accessSync, statSync } from "node:fs";
 import { posix, win32 } from "node:path";
 import { err, ok, type Result } from "../domain/result.js";
@@ -87,11 +87,11 @@ const JAVA_DIAGNOSTIC_STREAM_BYTES = 8192;
 const capturedProbeOutput = (
   observed: ProviderProcessSnapshot,
 ): AnalysisCapturedOutput => {
-  const stdout = boundedUtf8Text(
+  const stdout = utf8HeadExcerpt(
     observed.stdout.text,
     JAVA_DIAGNOSTIC_STREAM_BYTES,
   );
-  const stderr = boundedUtf8Text(
+  const stderr = utf8HeadExcerpt(
     observed.stderr.text,
     JAVA_DIAGNOSTIC_STREAM_BYTES,
   );
diff --git a/src/ghidra/GhidraLauncher.ts b/src/ghidra/GhidraLauncher.ts
index cbc2456018..ef3420d26e 100644
--- a/src/ghidra/GhidraLauncher.ts
+++ b/src/ghidra/GhidraLauncher.ts
@@ -41,7 +41,7 @@ import {
   execFileOutputFailure,
   execFileFailureCapturedOutput,
 } from "../process/ExecFileOutput.js";
-import { boundedUtf8Text } from "../process/boundedUtf8Text.js";
+import { utf8HeadExcerpt } from "../domain/utf8HeadExcerpt.js";
 import { redactCapturedTransportCredential } from "../process/ProviderDiagnosticRedaction.js";
 import {
   cleanupOwnedProcessGroup,
@@ -522,7 +522,7 @@ export class GhidraHeadlessLauncher implements GhidraLauncher {
             session.token,
             "[REDACTED]",
           );
-          const bounded = boundedUtf8Text(
+          const bounded = utf8HeadExcerpt(
             redacted,
             GHIDRA_LAUNCH_COMMAND_OUTPUT_BYTES,
           );
diff --git a/src/ghidra/GhidraSessionError.ts b/src/ghidra/GhidraSessionError.ts
index ce18daf02c..c76184e22b 100644
--- a/src/ghidra/GhidraSessionError.ts
+++ b/src/ghidra/GhidraSessionError.ts
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ import {
 } from "../domain/analysisErrorBase.js";
 import type { JsonValue } from "../domain/jsonValue.js";
 import { DarwinProcessOwnershipInspectionError } from "../process/DarwinProcessRunTokenReader.js";
-import { boundedUtf8Text } from "../process/boundedUtf8Text.js";
+import { utf8HeadExcerpt } from "../domain/utf8HeadExcerpt.js";
 import type { GhidraDiagnosticsScope } from "./GhidraDiagnostics.js";
 import { isGhidraByteSearchCursorMismatch } from "./GhidraByteSearchCursorFailure.js";
 import { ghidraFileOffsetOutcome } from "./GhidraFileOffsetFailure.js";
@@ -264,7 +264,7 @@ const describeCause = (
     return describeErrorCause(cause, redact, depth);
   }
   if (typeof cause === "string") {
-    const message = boundedUtf8Text(redact(cause), MAX_CAUSE_MESSAGE_BYTES);
+    const message = utf8HeadExcerpt(redact(cause), MAX_CAUSE_MESSAGE_BYTES);
     return {
       type: "string",
       message: message.text,
@@ -283,11 +283,11 @@ const describeErrorCause = (
   redact: (value: string, incomplete?: boolean) => string,
   depth: number,
 ): JsonValue => {
-  const message = boundedUtf8Text(
+  const message = utf8HeadExcerpt(
     redact(cause.message),
     MAX_CAUSE_MESSAGE_BYTES,
   );
-  const name = boundedUtf8Text(redact(cause.name), MAX_CAUSE_FIELD_BYTES);
+  const name = utf8HeadExcerpt(redact(cause.name), MAX_CAUSE_FIELD_BYTES);
   return {
     name: name.text,
     ...(name.truncated ? { name_truncated: true } : {}),
@@ -311,11 +311,11 @@ const causeCommandOutcome = (
   if (!(cause instanceof GhidraLaunchSupportError)) return {};
   const outcome = cause.outcome;
   if (outcome === undefined) return {};
-  const stdout = boundedUtf8Text(
+  const stdout = utf8HeadExcerpt(
     redact(outcome.stdout, outcome.outputTruncated !== false),
     MAX_COMMAND_OUTPUT_BYTES,
   );
-  const stderr = boundedUtf8Text(
+  const stderr = utf8HeadExcerpt(
     redact(outcome.stderr, outcome.outputTruncated !== false),
     MAX_COMMAND_OUTPUT_BYTES,
   );
@@ -345,7 +345,7 @@ const causeAdmissionDetail = (
       detail[key] = value;
       continue;
     }
-    const bounded = boundedUtf8Text(redact(value), MAX_CAUSE_FIELD_BYTES);
+    const bounded = utf8HeadExcerpt(redact(value), MAX_CAUSE_FIELD_BYTES);
     detail[key] = bounded.text;
   }
   return { detail };
@@ -357,7 +357,7 @@ const causeCode = (
 ): Record<string, JsonValue> => {
   const code = "code" in cause ? cause.code : undefined;
   if (typeof code === "string") {
-    const bounded = boundedUtf8Text(redact(code), MAX_CAUSE_FIELD_BYTES);
+    const bounded = utf8HeadExcerpt(redact(code), MAX_CAUSE_FIELD_BYTES);
     return {
       code: bounded.text,
       ...(bounded.truncated ? { code_truncated: true } : {}),
@@ -373,7 +373,7 @@ const causeSignal = (
 ): Record<string, JsonValue> => {
   const signal = "signal" in cause ? cause.signal : undefined;
   if (typeof signal === "string") {
-    const bounded = boundedUtf8Text(redact(signal), MAX_CAUSE_FIELD_BYTES);
+    const bounded = utf8HeadExcerpt(redact(signal), MAX_CAUSE_FIELD_BYTES);
     return {
       signal: bounded.text,
       ...(bounded.truncated ? { signal_truncated: true } : {}),
@@ -390,7 +390,7 @@ const causeCompilerOutcome = (
   if (!(cause instanceof DarwinProcessOwnershipInspectionError)) return {};
   const outcome = cause.compilerOutcome;
   if (outcome === undefined) return {};
-  const stderr = boundedUtf8Text(
+  const stderr = utf8HeadExcerpt(
     redact(outcome.stderr),
     MAX_COMPILER_STDERR_BYTES,
   );
@@ -414,7 +414,7 @@ const boundedCompilerField = (
   redact: (value: string, incomplete?: boolean) => string,
 ): { readonly value: string | number | null; readonly truncated: boolean } => {
   if (typeof value !== "string") return { value, truncated: false };
-  const bounded = boundedUtf8Text(redact(value), MAX_CAUSE_FIELD_BYTES);
+  const bounded = utf8HeadExcerpt(redact(value), MAX_CAUSE_FIELD_BYTES);
   return { value: bounded.text, truncated: bounded.truncated };
 };
 
@@ -440,13 +440,13 @@ const causeLaunchRollback = (
       },
     };
   const result = rollback.result;
-  const reason = boundedUtf8Text(
+  const reason = utf8HeadExcerpt(
     redact(result.reason),
     MAX_CAUSE_MESSAGE_BYTES,
   );
   const diagnostic = (value: string | undefined): Record<string, JsonValue> => {
     if (value === undefined) return {};
-    const bounded = boundedUtf8Text(redact(value), MAX_CAUSE_MESSAGE_BYTES);
+    const bounded = utf8HeadExcerpt(redact(value), MAX_CAUSE_MESSAGE_BYTES);
     return {
       diagnostic: bounded.text,
       ...(bounded.truncated ? { diagnostic_truncated: true } : {}),
@@ -533,11 +533,11 @@ const causeLaunchOutcome = (
   if (cause.cause instanceof GhidraLaunchSupportError) return launchSupport;
   const output = cause.capturedOutput;
   if (output === undefined) return launchSupport;
-  const stdout = boundedUtf8Text(
+  const stdout = utf8HeadExcerpt(
     redact(output.stdout),
     GHIDRA_LAUNCH_COMMAND_OUTPUT_BYTES,
   );
-  const stderr = boundedUtf8Text(
+  const stderr = utf8HeadExcerpt(
     redact(output.stderr),
     GHIDRA_LAUNCH_COMMAND_OUTPUT_BYTES,
   );
diff --git a/src/native/CommandRunner.ts b/src/native/CommandRunner.ts
index a9a46c3a59..aed9d2c9cd 100644
--- a/src/native/CommandRunner.ts
+++ b/src/native/CommandRunner.ts
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ import type {
   ProviderProcessSupervisor,
   SpawnedOwnedProviderProcess,
 } from "../process/ProviderProcess.js";
-import { boundedUtf8Text } from "../process/boundedUtf8Text.js";
+import { utf8HeadExcerpt } from "../domain/utf8HeadExcerpt.js";
 import { DEFAULT_NATIVE_COMMAND_TIMEOUT_MS } from "../domain/native/nativeDeadlines.js";
 import {
   selectArtifactCommandPath,
@@ -482,11 +482,11 @@ export const failureCapture = (
   capture: ProcessCapture,
   truncated: boolean,
 ): NativeCommandFailureCapture => {
-  const stdout = boundedUtf8Text(
+  const stdout = utf8HeadExcerpt(
     capture.stdout,
     NATIVE_FAILURE_DIAGNOSTIC_BYTES,
   );
-  const stderr = boundedUtf8Text(
+  const stderr = utf8HeadExcerpt(
     capture.stderr,
     NATIVE_FAILURE_DIAGNOSTIC_BYTES,
   );
diff --git a/src/process/DarwinProcessRunTokenReader.ts b/src/process/DarwinProcessRunTokenReader.ts
index 97373bd3ad..1687843934 100644
--- a/src/process/DarwinProcessRunTokenReader.ts
+++ b/src/process/DarwinProcessRunTokenReader.ts
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ import type {
 } from "../domain/analysisErrorBase.js";
 import { analysisErrorWithCleanupFailure } from "../domain/analysisErrorCleanup.js";
 import { safeParseJson } from "../domain/safeJson.js";
-import { boundedUtf8Text } from "./boundedUtf8Text.js";
+import { utf8HeadExcerpt } from "../domain/utf8HeadExcerpt.js";
 import { createDarwinHelperCache } from "./DarwinHelperCache.js";
 import { snapshotEnvironment } from "./snapshotEnvironment.js";
 import {
@@ -266,8 +266,8 @@ const compilerFailureFacts = (
   | undefined => {
   const failure = execFileOutputFailure(cause);
   if (failure === undefined) return undefined;
-  const stderr = boundedUtf8Text(failure.stderr, MAX_COMPILER_OUTPUT_BYTES);
-  const stdout = boundedUtf8Text(failure.stdout, MAX_COMPILER_OUTPUT_BYTES);
+  const stderr = utf8HeadExcerpt(failure.stderr, MAX_COMPILER_OUTPUT_BYTES);
+  const stdout = utf8HeadExcerpt(failure.stdout, MAX_COMPILER_OUTPUT_BYTES);
   const outcome =
     failure.code === "ETIMEDOUT"
       ? "timed_out"
@@ -336,7 +336,7 @@ const compilerInspectionError = (
     code === "ENOENT"
       ? `macOS process ownership inspection requires the Apple Swift compiler via ${launcher}`
       : `macOS process ownership helper compilation failed via ${launcher}`;
-  const stderr = boundedUtf8Text(outcome?.stderr ?? "", STDERR_EXCERPT_LIMIT);
+  const stderr = utf8HeadExcerpt(outcome?.stderr ?? "", STDERR_EXCERPT_LIMIT);
   const diagnostics = stderr.text.trim();
   const truncated =
     stderr.truncated ||
diff --git a/src/process/boundedUtf8Text.ts b/src/process/boundedUtf8Text.ts
deleted file mode 100644
index 5915beb65f..0000000000
--- a/src/process/boundedUtf8Text.ts
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,16 +0,0 @@
-/** Keep a UTF-8 string within a byte budget without cutting a code point. */
-export const boundedUtf8Text = (
-  value: string,
-  maximumBytes: number,
-): { readonly text: string; readonly truncated: boolean } => {
-  let bytes = 0;
-  let end = 0;
-  for (const codePoint of value) {
-    const codePointBytes = Buffer.byteLength(codePoint, "utf8");
-    if (bytes + codePointBytes > maximumBytes)
-      return { text: value.slice(0, end), truncated: true };
-    bytes += codePointBytes;
-    end += codePoint.length;
-  }
-  return { text: value, truncated: false };
-};
diff --git a/src/rizin/RizinDebugSessionManager.ts b/src/rizin/RizinDebugSessionManager.ts
index 5dc1335797..5578507e7b 100644
--- a/src/rizin/RizinDebugSessionManager.ts
+++ b/src/rizin/RizinDebugSessionManager.ts
@@ -62,6 +62,7 @@ import {
 } from "../process/ownedDebuggerSession.js";
 import { absoluteCallerPath } from "../filesystem/callerPath.js";
 import { ABORTED, waitForAbortable } from "../process/AbortablePromise.js";
+import { utf8HeadExcerpt } from "../domain/utf8HeadExcerpt.js";
 
 const CLEANUP_COMMAND_TIMEOUT_MS = 1_000;
 const STARTUP_TIMEOUT_MS = 30_000;
@@ -1287,7 +1288,7 @@ export class RizinDebugSessionManager {
     const protocolOutput = [...session.history, partialFrame]
       .filter((frame) => frame.length > 0)
       .join("\n");
-    const stdout = truncateUtf8(protocolOutput, MAX_DIAGNOSTIC_BYTES);
+    const stdout = utf8HeadExcerpt(protocolOutput, MAX_DIAGNOSTIC_BYTES).text;
     return {
       stdout,
       stderr: output.stderr.text,
@@ -1317,7 +1318,10 @@ export class RizinDebugSessionManager {
         synchronization.resolve();
       return;
     }
-    const historyPrefix = truncateUtf8(frame.text, MAX_RECENT_FRAME_BYTES);
+    const historyPrefix = utf8HeadExcerpt(
+      frame.text,
+      MAX_RECENT_FRAME_BYTES,
+    ).text;
     const historyTruncated =
       historyPrefix.length < frame.text.length || frame.truncated;
     if (historyTruncated) session.historyTruncated = true;
@@ -1906,7 +1910,7 @@ const waitForCommandFrames = async (
     const bytes = Buffer.byteLength(text, "utf8");
     if (bytes > remaining) {
       noteLimit("command_output_bytes");
-      const retained = truncateUtf8(text, remaining);
+      const retained = utf8HeadExcerpt(text, remaining).text;
       if (retained.length > 0) output.push(retained);
       outputBytes = maxCommandOutputBytes;
     } else {
@@ -2012,15 +2016,6 @@ const waitForCommandFrames = async (
   }
 };
 
-const truncateUtf8 = (value: string, maximumBytes: number): string => {
-  if (maximumBytes <= 0) return "";
-  // A UTF-16 code unit needs at most three UTF-8 bytes. Buffer.write stops
-  // before a partial character; only decode bytes it actually initialized.
-  const bytes = Buffer.allocUnsafe(Math.min(value.length * 3, maximumBytes));
-  const written = bytes.write(value, "utf8");
-  return bytes.toString("utf8", 0, written);
-};
-
 const waitForFrame = (
   session: RizinDebugSession,
   timeoutMs: number,
diff --git a/src/wasm/WabtFailures.ts b/src/wasm/WabtFailures.ts
index ba981e725a..e5fbea54b2 100644
--- a/src/wasm/WabtFailures.ts
+++ b/src/wasm/WabtFailures.ts
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ import {
   artifactFilePrimaryFacts,
   bindArtifactFileCleanup,
 } from "../artifacts/ArtifactFileOperation.js";
-import { boundedUtf8Text } from "../process/boundedUtf8Text.js";
+import { utf8HeadExcerpt } from "../domain/utf8HeadExcerpt.js";
 import type { ProviderProcessSnapshot } from "../process/ProviderProcess.js";
 import {
   AnalysisError,
@@ -88,9 +88,9 @@ export const wabtConfigurationRecoveryAction = (cause?: unknown): string => {
 };
 /** Past the output budget, retained text is a prefix of an oversized stream; keep a bounded excerpt of each. */
 const outputLimitExcerpt = (snapshot: ProviderProcessSnapshot) => ({
-  stdout: boundedUtf8Text(snapshot.stdout.text, OUTPUT_LIMIT_EXCERPT_BYTES)
+  stdout: utf8HeadExcerpt(snapshot.stdout.text, OUTPUT_LIMIT_EXCERPT_BYTES)
     .text,
-  stderr: boundedUtf8Text(snapshot.stderr.text, OUTPUT_LIMIT_EXCERPT_BYTES)
+  stderr: utf8HeadExcerpt(snapshot.stderr.text, OUTPUT_LIMIT_EXCERPT_BYTES)
     .text,
   // The command reports output-limit only after retention was truncated.
   truncated: true,