diff --git a/include/sqnice/database.hh b/include/sqnice/database.hh
index f646fef..09acfe3 100644
--- a/include/sqnice/database.hh
+++ b/include/sqnice/database.hh
@@ -442,20 +442,20 @@ namespace sqnice {
         static const bool encryption_available;
 
         /// Unlocks an encrypted database, or makes a newly-created database encrypted,
-        /// by providing the key to use to encrypt/decrypt data.
+        /// by providing the password to use to encrypt/decrypt data.
         ///
         /// This should be called immediately after opening the database, since no data can be
         /// read from an encrypted database without the key, and encryption can't be enabled in
         /// a new database once data has been written to it.
         /// @note  This function requires SQLCipher or the SQLite Encryption Extension.
         ///        Otherwise it returns/throws status::error.
-        status use_encryption_key(std::span<const std::byte> key);
+        status use_password(std::string_view password);
 
-        /// Changes the encryption key of an already-encrypted database.
+        /// Changes the encryption password of an already-encrypted database.
         /// Will not encrypt an existing unencrypted database!
         /// @note  This function requires SQLCipher or the SQLite Encryption Extension.
         ///        Otherwise it returns/throws status::error.
-        status rekey(std::span<const std::byte> newKey);
+        status rekey(std::string_view newPassword);
 
 #pragma mark - LOGGING
 
diff --git a/src/database.cc b/src/database.cc
index 1dcbb7a..5c186e0 100644
--- a/src/database.cc
+++ b/src/database.cc
@@ -585,12 +585,12 @@ namespace sqnice {
 
     const bool database::encryption_available = true;
 
-    status database::use_encryption_key(std::span<const std::byte> key) {
-        return check(sqlite3_key(check_handle(), key.data(), int(key.size())));
+    status database::use_password(std::string_view password) {
+        return check(sqlite3_key(check_handle(), password.data(), int(password.size())));
     }
 
-    status database::rekey(std::span<const std::byte> newKey) {
-        return check(sqlite3_rekey(check_handle(), newKey.data(), int(newKey.size())));
+    status database::rekey(std::string_view newPassword) {
+        return check(sqlite3_rekey(check_handle(), newPassword.data(), int(newPassword.size())));
     }
 
 #else