diff --git a/Cargo.lock b/Cargo.lock
index e89ca45f..96602de7 100644
--- a/Cargo.lock
+++ b/Cargo.lock
@@ -1511,6 +1511,7 @@ dependencies = [
 name = "dora-node-api-c"
 version = "0.2.4"
 dependencies = [
+ "arrow-array",
  "dora-node-api",
  "eyre",
  "flume",
@@ -1594,6 +1595,7 @@ dependencies = [
 name = "dora-operator-api-types"
 version = "0.2.4"
 dependencies = [
+ "arrow",
  "safer-ffi",
 ]
 
@@ -4618,9 +4620,9 @@ checksum = "ef703b7cb59335eae2eb93ceb664c0eb7ea6bf567079d843e09420219668e072"
 
 [[package]]
 name = "safer-ffi"
-version = "0.1.0"
+version = "0.1.2"
 source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
-checksum = "62fd645a8c0b4a71f0883dce1bc48e358fcc02b99c83613f62ede5660b3572c1"
+checksum = "4f47f1d2f33598dab2baa9517fffa1cf722f2e3a30633f2a230f20f9da67c564"
 dependencies = [
  "inventory",
  "libc",
@@ -4635,9 +4637,9 @@ dependencies = [
 
 [[package]]
 name = "safer_ffi-proc_macros"
-version = "0.1.0"
+version = "0.1.2"
 source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
-checksum = "d39be56c8f7e5878594154dd0d2c03e2b12c66fa5a5ba3fe302412bd89bad774"
+checksum = "b08f58cf71a58bda5734758eb20051cdb66c06c9243badbc45092ced1be834df"
 dependencies = [
  "macro_rules_attribute",
  "prettyplease",
diff --git a/apis/c++/node/src/lib.rs b/apis/c++/node/src/lib.rs
index e953961a..16e27bad 100644
--- a/apis/c++/node/src/lib.rs
+++ b/apis/c++/node/src/lib.rs
@@ -92,7 +92,7 @@ pub struct OutputSender(dora_node_api::DoraNode);
 fn send_output(sender: &mut Box<OutputSender>, id: String, data: &[u8]) -> ffi::DoraResult {
     let result = sender
         .0
-        .send_output(id.into(), Default::default(), data.len(), |out| {
+        .send_output_raw(id.into(), Default::default(), data.len(), |out| {
             out.copy_from_slice(data)
         });
     let error = match result {
diff --git a/apis/c/node/Cargo.toml b/apis/c/node/Cargo.toml
index ec823543..22c03512 100644
--- a/apis/c/node/Cargo.toml
+++ b/apis/c/node/Cargo.toml
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@ tracing = ["dora-node-api/tracing"]
 eyre = "0.6.8"
 flume = "0.10.14"
 tracing = "0.1.33"
+arrow-array = "45.0.0"
 
 [dependencies.dora-node-api]
 workspace = true
diff --git a/apis/c/node/src/lib.rs b/apis/c/node/src/lib.rs
index 102d5eac..88a77675 100644
--- a/apis/c/node/src/lib.rs
+++ b/apis/c/node/src/lib.rs
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 #![deny(unsafe_op_in_unsafe_fn)]
 
-use dora_node_api::{DoraNode, Event, EventStream};
+use arrow_array::BinaryArray;
+use dora_node_api::{arrow::array::AsArray, DoraNode, Event, EventStream};
 use eyre::Context;
 use std::{ffi::c_void, ptr, slice};
 
@@ -170,9 +171,10 @@ pub unsafe extern "C" fn read_dora_input_data(
     let event: &Event = unsafe { &*event.cast() };
     match event {
         Event::Input { data, .. } => {
-            if let Ok(data) = data.as_byte_slice() {
-                let ptr = data.as_ptr();
-                let len = data.len();
+            let data: Option<&BinaryArray> = data.as_binary_opt();
+            if let Some(data) = data {
+                let ptr = data.value(0).as_ptr();
+                let len = data.value(0).len();
                 unsafe {
                     *out_ptr = ptr;
                     *out_len = len;
@@ -250,7 +252,7 @@ unsafe fn try_send_output(
     let data = unsafe { slice::from_raw_parts(data_ptr, data_len) };
     context
         .node
-        .send_output(output_id, Default::default(), data.len(), |out| {
+        .send_output_raw(output_id, Default::default(), data.len(), |out| {
             out.copy_from_slice(data);
         })
 }
diff --git a/apis/c/operator/operator_api.h b/apis/c/operator/operator_api.h
index 846fd3cb..24f57ab2 100644
--- a/apis/c/operator/operator_api.h
+++ b/apis/c/operator/operator_api.h
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ extern "C"
     EXPORT DoraResult_t dora_drop_operator(void *operator_context);
 
     EXPORT OnEventResult_t dora_on_event(
-        const RawEvent_t *event,
+        RawEvent_t *event,
         const SendOutput_t *send_output,
         void *operator_context);
 
diff --git a/apis/c/operator/operator_types.h b/apis/c/operator/operator_types.h
index 30585ca4..57c9dfd5 100644
--- a/apis/c/operator/operator_types.h
+++ b/apis/c/operator/operator_types.h
@@ -86,22 +86,7 @@ typedef struct OnEventResult {
 } OnEventResult_t;
 
 /** <No documentation available> */
-typedef struct Metadata {
-    /** <No documentation available> */
-    Vec_uint8_t open_telemetry_context;
-} Metadata_t;
-
-/** <No documentation available> */
-typedef struct Input {
-    /** <No documentation available> */
-    Vec_uint8_t id;
-
-    /** <No documentation available> */
-    Vec_uint8_t data;
-
-    /** <No documentation available> */
-    Metadata_t metadata;
-} Input_t;
+typedef struct Input Input_t;
 
 
 #include <stdbool.h>
@@ -122,16 +107,7 @@ typedef struct RawEvent {
 } RawEvent_t;
 
 /** <No documentation available> */
-typedef struct Output {
-    /** <No documentation available> */
-    Vec_uint8_t id;
-
-    /** <No documentation available> */
-    Vec_uint8_t data;
-
-    /** <No documentation available> */
-    Metadata_t metadata;
-} Output_t;
+typedef struct Output Output_t;
 
 /** \brief
  *  `Arc<dyn Send + Sync + Fn(A1) -> Ret>`
@@ -159,9 +135,15 @@ typedef struct SendOutput {
 /** <No documentation available> */
 typedef struct DoraOnEvent {
     /** <No documentation available> */
-    OnEventResult_t (*on_event)(RawEvent_t const *, SendOutput_t const *, void *);
+    OnEventResult_t (*on_event)(RawEvent_t *, SendOutput_t const *, void *);
 } DoraOnEvent_t;
 
+/** <No documentation available> */
+typedef struct Metadata {
+    /** <No documentation available> */
+    Vec_uint8_t open_telemetry_context;
+} Metadata_t;
+
 
 #ifdef __cplusplus
 } /* extern \"C\" */
diff --git a/apis/python/node/src/lib.rs b/apis/python/node/src/lib.rs
index 2918527a..19f61264 100644
--- a/apis/python/node/src/lib.rs
+++ b/apis/python/node/src/lib.rs
@@ -3,9 +3,7 @@
 use arrow::pyarrow::{FromPyArrow, ToPyArrow};
 use dora_node_api::merged::{MergeExternalSend, MergedEvent};
 use dora_node_api::{DoraNode, EventStream};
-use dora_operator_api_python::{
-    copy_array_into_sample, pydict_to_metadata, required_data_size, PyEvent,
-};
+use dora_operator_api_python::{pydict_to_metadata, PyEvent};
 use dora_ros2_bridge_python::Ros2Subscription;
 use eyre::Context;
 use futures::{Stream, StreamExt};
@@ -100,14 +98,11 @@ impl Node {
                 .send_output_bytes(output_id.into(), parameters, data.len(), data)
                 .wrap_err("failed to send output")?;
         } else if let Ok(arrow_array) = arrow::array::ArrayData::from_pyarrow(data.as_ref(py)) {
-            let total_len = required_data_size(&arrow_array);
-
-            let mut sample = self.node.allocate_data_sample(total_len)?;
-            let type_info = copy_array_into_sample(&mut sample, &arrow_array)?;
-
-            self.node
-                .send_output_sample(output_id.into(), type_info, parameters, Some(sample))
-                .wrap_err("failed to send output")?;
+            self.node.send_output(
+                output_id.into(),
+                parameters,
+                arrow::array::make_array(arrow_array),
+            )?;
         } else {
             eyre::bail!("invalid `data` type, must by `PyBytes` or arrow array")
         }
diff --git a/apis/python/operator/src/lib.rs b/apis/python/operator/src/lib.rs
index d2e9644f..8858791c 100644
--- a/apis/python/operator/src/lib.rs
+++ b/apis/python/operator/src/lib.rs
@@ -1,22 +1,12 @@
-use std::sync::Arc;
-
-use arrow::{array::ArrayData, pyarrow::ToPyArrow};
-use dora_node_api::{
-    dora_core::message::{ArrowTypeInfo, BufferOffset},
-    merged::MergedEvent,
-    Data, Event, Metadata, MetadataParameters,
-};
+use arrow::{array::ArrayRef, pyarrow::ToPyArrow};
+use dora_node_api::{merged::MergedEvent, Event, Metadata, MetadataParameters};
 use eyre::{Context, Result};
-use pyo3::{
-    exceptions::PyLookupError,
-    prelude::*,
-    types::{PyBytes, PyDict},
-};
+use pyo3::{exceptions::PyLookupError, prelude::*, types::PyDict};
 
 #[pyclass]
 pub struct PyEvent {
     event: MergedEvent<PyObject>,
-    data: Option<Arc<Data>>,
+    data: Option<ArrayRef>,
 }
 
 #[pymethods]
@@ -34,7 +24,6 @@ impl PyEvent {
                 let value = match key {
                     "type" => Some(Self::ty(event).to_object(py)),
                     "id" => Self::id(event).map(|v| v.to_object(py)),
-                    "data" => self.data(py),
                     "value" => self.value(py)?,
                     "metadata" => Self::metadata(event, py),
                     "error" => Self::error(event).map(|v| v.to_object(py)),
@@ -77,21 +66,12 @@ impl PyEvent {
         }
     }
 
-    /// Returns the payload of an input event as a `PyBytes` object (if any).
-    fn data(&self, py: Python<'_>) -> Option<PyObject> {
-        self.data.as_ref().map(|data| PyBytes::new(py, data).into())
-    }
-
     /// Returns the payload of an input event as an arrow array (if any).
     fn value(&self, py: Python<'_>) -> PyResult<Option<PyObject>> {
         match (&self.event, &self.data) {
-            (MergedEvent::Dora(Event::Input { metadata, .. }), Some(data)) => {
-                let array = data
-                    .clone()
-                    .into_arrow_array(&metadata.type_info)
-                    .context("Could not create arrow array")?;
+            (MergedEvent::Dora(Event::Input { .. }), Some(data)) => {
                 // TODO: Does this call leak data?
-                let array_data = array.to_pyarrow(py)?;
+                let array_data = data.to_data().to_pyarrow(py)?;
                 Ok(Some(array_data))
             }
             _ => Ok(None),
@@ -122,7 +102,7 @@ impl From<Event> for PyEvent {
 impl From<MergedEvent<PyObject>> for PyEvent {
     fn from(mut event: MergedEvent<PyObject>) -> Self {
         let data = if let MergedEvent::Dora(Event::Input { data, .. }) = &mut event {
-            data.take().map(Arc::new)
+            Some(data.clone())
         } else {
             None
         };
@@ -166,61 +146,3 @@ pub fn metadata_to_pydict<'a>(metadata: &'a Metadata, py: Python<'a>) -> &'a PyD
     .unwrap();
     dict
 }
-
-pub fn copy_array_into_sample(
-    target_buffer: &mut [u8],
-    arrow_array: &ArrayData,
-) -> eyre::Result<ArrowTypeInfo> {
-    let mut next_offset = 0;
-    copy_array_into_sample_inner(target_buffer, &mut next_offset, arrow_array)
-}
-
-fn copy_array_into_sample_inner(
-    target_buffer: &mut [u8],
-    next_offset: &mut usize,
-    arrow_array: &ArrayData,
-) -> eyre::Result<ArrowTypeInfo> {
-    let mut buffer_offsets = Vec::new();
-    for buffer in arrow_array.buffers().iter() {
-        let len = buffer.len();
-        assert!(
-            target_buffer[*next_offset..].len() >= len,
-            "target buffer too small (total_len: {}, offset: {}, required_len: {len})",
-            target_buffer.len(),
-            *next_offset,
-        );
-        target_buffer[*next_offset..][..len].copy_from_slice(buffer.as_slice());
-        buffer_offsets.push(BufferOffset {
-            offset: *next_offset,
-            len,
-        });
-        *next_offset += len;
-    }
-
-    let mut child_data = Vec::new();
-    for child in arrow_array.child_data() {
-        let child_type_info = copy_array_into_sample_inner(target_buffer, next_offset, child)?;
-        child_data.push(child_type_info);
-    }
-
-    Ok(ArrowTypeInfo {
-        data_type: arrow_array.data_type().clone(),
-        len: arrow_array.len(),
-        null_count: arrow_array.null_count(),
-        validity: arrow_array.nulls().map(|b| b.validity().to_owned()),
-        offset: arrow_array.offset(),
-        buffer_offsets,
-        child_data,
-    })
-}
-
-pub fn required_data_size(array: &ArrayData) -> usize {
-    let mut size = 0;
-    for buffer in array.buffers() {
-        size += buffer.len();
-    }
-    for child in array.child_data() {
-        size += required_data_size(child);
-    }
-    size
-}
diff --git a/apis/rust/node/src/event_stream/event.rs b/apis/rust/node/src/event_stream/event.rs
index bc90a2bc..bd5fdd62 100644
--- a/apis/rust/node/src/event_stream/event.rs
+++ b/apis/rust/node/src/event_stream/event.rs
@@ -1,11 +1,10 @@
 use std::{ptr::NonNull, sync::Arc};
 
-use arrow_schema::DataType;
 use dora_core::{
     config::{DataId, OperatorId},
     message::{ArrowTypeInfo, BufferOffset, Metadata},
 };
-use eyre::{Context, ContextCompat, Result};
+use eyre::{Context, Result};
 use shared_memory_extended::{Shmem, ShmemConf};
 
 #[derive(Debug)]
@@ -18,7 +17,7 @@ pub enum Event {
     Input {
         id: DataId,
         metadata: Metadata,
-        data: ArrowData,
+        data: arrow::array::ArrayRef,
     },
     InputClosed {
         id: DataId,
@@ -26,56 +25,6 @@ pub enum Event {
     Error(String),
 }
 
-#[derive(Debug)]
-pub struct ArrowData(arrow::array::ArrayData);
-
-impl ArrowData {
-    pub(super) fn new(data: Option<Data>, metadata: &Metadata) -> eyre::Result<ArrowData> {
-        let raw_data = Arc::new(data.unwrap_or(Data::Vec(Vec::new())));
-        raw_data.into_arrow_array(&metadata.type_info).map(Self)
-    }
-
-    pub fn as_byte_slice(&self) -> eyre::Result<&[u8]> {
-        let first_buffer = self.0.buffers().iter().next().context("no buffers")?;
-        if self.0.buffers().len() != 1 {
-            eyre::bail!(
-                "must have exactly one buffer, has {} buffers",
-                self.0.buffers().len()
-            );
-        }
-        if !self.0.child_data().is_empty() {
-            eyre::bail!(
-                "should have no child data, has {}",
-                self.0.child_data().len()
-            );
-        }
-
-        if !matches!(self.0.data_type(), DataType::UInt8) {
-            eyre::bail!("should have DataType::UInt8, has {}", self.0.data_type());
-        }
-        if self.0.len() != first_buffer.len() {
-            eyre::bail!(
-                "len ({}) should match len of first buffer ({})",
-                self.0.len(),
-                first_buffer.len()
-            );
-        }
-
-        if self.0.null_count() != 0 {
-            eyre::bail!("should have no nulls, has {}", self.0.null_count());
-        }
-
-        if self.0.offset() != 0 {
-            eyre::bail!(
-                "should start at offset 0, starts at offset {}",
-                self.0.offset()
-            );
-        }
-
-        Ok(first_buffer.as_slice())
-    }
-}
-
 pub(super) enum Data {
     Vec(Vec<u8>),
     SharedMemory {
diff --git a/apis/rust/node/src/event_stream/mod.rs b/apis/rust/node/src/event_stream/mod.rs
index 198711aa..f4b8d4c3 100644
--- a/apis/rust/node/src/event_stream/mod.rs
+++ b/apis/rust/node/src/event_stream/mod.rs
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 use std::sync::Arc;
 
-pub use event::{ArrowData, Event, MappedInputData};
+pub use event::{Event, MappedInputData};
 use futures::{Stream, StreamExt};
 
 use self::{
@@ -134,7 +134,12 @@ impl EventStream {
                             })
                         },
                     };
-                    let data = data.and_then(|data| ArrowData::new(data, &metadata));
+                    let data = data.and_then(|data| {
+                        let raw_data = Arc::new(data.unwrap_or(Data::Vec(Vec::new())));
+                        raw_data
+                            .into_arrow_array(&metadata.type_info)
+                            .map(arrow::array::make_array)
+                    });
                     match data {
                         Ok(data) => Event::Input { id, metadata, data },
                         Err(err) => Event::Error(format!("{err:?}")),
diff --git a/apis/rust/node/src/lib.rs b/apis/rust/node/src/lib.rs
index 96350bff..c53f72d0 100644
--- a/apis/rust/node/src/lib.rs
+++ b/apis/rust/node/src/lib.rs
@@ -13,11 +13,12 @@
 //! dora new project_xyz --kind dataflow
 //! ```
 //!
+pub use arrow;
 pub use dora_core;
 pub use dora_core::message::{uhlc, Metadata, MetadataParameters};
-pub use event_stream::{merged, ArrowData, Event, EventStream, MappedInputData};
+pub use event_stream::{merged, Event, EventStream, MappedInputData};
 pub use flume::Receiver;
-pub use node::{DataSample, DoraNode, ZERO_COPY_THRESHOLD};
+pub use node::{arrow_utils, DataSample, DoraNode, ZERO_COPY_THRESHOLD};
 
 mod daemon_connection;
 mod event_stream;
diff --git a/apis/rust/node/src/node/arrow_utils.rs b/apis/rust/node/src/node/arrow_utils.rs
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..765b2052
--- /dev/null
+++ b/apis/rust/node/src/node/arrow_utils.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,60 @@
+use arrow::array::ArrayData;
+use dora_core::message::{ArrowTypeInfo, BufferOffset};
+
+pub fn required_data_size(array: &ArrayData) -> usize {
+    let mut size = 0;
+    for buffer in array.buffers() {
+        size += buffer.len();
+    }
+    for child in array.child_data() {
+        size += required_data_size(child);
+    }
+    size
+}
+
+pub fn copy_array_into_sample(
+    target_buffer: &mut [u8],
+    arrow_array: &ArrayData,
+) -> eyre::Result<ArrowTypeInfo> {
+    let mut next_offset = 0;
+    copy_array_into_sample_inner(target_buffer, &mut next_offset, arrow_array)
+}
+
+fn copy_array_into_sample_inner(
+    target_buffer: &mut [u8],
+    next_offset: &mut usize,
+    arrow_array: &ArrayData,
+) -> eyre::Result<ArrowTypeInfo> {
+    let mut buffer_offsets = Vec::new();
+    for buffer in arrow_array.buffers().iter() {
+        let len = buffer.len();
+        assert!(
+            target_buffer[*next_offset..].len() >= len,
+            "target buffer too small (total_len: {}, offset: {}, required_len: {len})",
+            target_buffer.len(),
+            *next_offset,
+        );
+        target_buffer[*next_offset..][..len].copy_from_slice(buffer.as_slice());
+        buffer_offsets.push(BufferOffset {
+            offset: *next_offset,
+            len,
+        });
+        *next_offset += len;
+    }
+
+    let mut child_data = Vec::new();
+    for child in arrow_array.child_data() {
+        let child_type_info = copy_array_into_sample_inner(target_buffer, next_offset, child)?;
+        child_data.push(child_type_info);
+    }
+
+    Ok(ArrowTypeInfo {
+        data_type: arrow_array.data_type().clone(),
+        len: arrow_array.len(),
+        null_count: arrow_array.null_count(),
+        validity: arrow_array.nulls().map(|b| b.validity().to_owned()),
+        offset: arrow_array.offset(),
+        buffer_offsets,
+        child_data,
+    })
+}
diff --git a/apis/rust/node/src/node/mod.rs b/apis/rust/node/src/node/mod.rs
index bc91e581..ce3279a5 100644
--- a/apis/rust/node/src/node/mod.rs
+++ b/apis/rust/node/src/node/mod.rs
@@ -1,6 +1,11 @@
 use crate::EventStream;
 
-use self::{control_channel::ControlChannel, drop_stream::DropStream};
+use self::{
+    arrow_utils::{copy_array_into_sample, required_data_size},
+    control_channel::ControlChannel,
+    drop_stream::DropStream,
+};
+use arrow::array::Array;
 use dora_core::{
     config::{DataId, NodeId, NodeRunConfig},
     daemon_messages::{Data, DropToken, NodeConfig},
@@ -19,6 +24,7 @@ use std::{
 #[cfg(feature = "tracing")]
 use dora_tracing::set_up_tracing;
 
+pub mod arrow_utils;
 mod control_channel;
 mod drop_stream;
 
@@ -117,7 +123,7 @@ impl DoraNode {
     ///     }).expect("Could not send output");
     /// ```
     ///
-    pub fn send_output<F>(
+    pub fn send_output_raw<F>(
         &mut self,
         output_id: DataId,
         parameters: MetadataParameters,
@@ -135,6 +141,25 @@ impl DoraNode {
         self.send_output_sample(output_id, type_info, parameters, Some(sample))
     }
 
+    pub fn send_output(
+        &mut self,
+        output_id: DataId,
+        parameters: MetadataParameters,
+        data: impl Array,
+    ) -> eyre::Result<()> {
+        let arrow_array = data.to_data();
+
+        let total_len = required_data_size(&arrow_array);
+
+        let mut sample = self.allocate_data_sample(total_len)?;
+        let type_info = copy_array_into_sample(&mut sample, &arrow_array)?;
+
+        self.send_output_sample(output_id, type_info, parameters, Some(sample))
+            .wrap_err("failed to send output")?;
+
+        Ok(())
+    }
+
     pub fn send_output_bytes(
         &mut self,
         output_id: DataId,
@@ -142,7 +167,7 @@ impl DoraNode {
         data_len: usize,
         data: &[u8],
     ) -> eyre::Result<()> {
-        self.send_output(output_id, parameters, data_len, |sample| {
+        self.send_output_raw(output_id, parameters, data_len, |sample| {
             sample.copy_from_slice(data)
         })
     }
diff --git a/apis/rust/operator/macros/src/lib.rs b/apis/rust/operator/macros/src/lib.rs
index 2af1687d..8b5384f6 100644
--- a/apis/rust/operator/macros/src/lib.rs
+++ b/apis/rust/operator/macros/src/lib.rs
@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@ fn register_operator_impl(item: &TokenStream2) -> syn::Result<TokenStream2> {
     let on_event = quote! {
         #[no_mangle]
         pub unsafe extern "C" fn dora_on_event(
-            event: &dora_operator_api::types::RawEvent,
+            event: &mut dora_operator_api::types::RawEvent,
             send_output: &dora_operator_api::types::SendOutput,
             operator_context: *mut std::ffi::c_void,
         ) -> dora_operator_api::types::OnEventResult {
diff --git a/apis/rust/operator/src/lib.rs b/apis/rust/operator/src/lib.rs
index a8707a5c..3542a061 100644
--- a/apis/rust/operator/src/lib.rs
+++ b/apis/rust/operator/src/lib.rs
@@ -21,14 +21,21 @@
 pub use dora_operator_api_macros::register_operator;
 pub use dora_operator_api_types as types;
 pub use types::DoraStatus;
-use types::{Metadata, Output, SendOutput};
+use types::{
+    arrow::{
+        self,
+        array::{Array, ArrayRef},
+    },
+    Metadata, Output, SendOutput,
+};
 
 pub mod raw;
 
 #[derive(Debug)]
 #[non_exhaustive]
 pub enum Event<'a> {
-    Input { id: &'a str, data: &'a [u8] },
+    Input { id: &'a str, data: ArrayRef },
+    InputParseError { id: &'a str, error: String },
     InputClosed { id: &'a str },
     Stop,
 }
@@ -48,10 +55,13 @@ impl DoraOutputSender<'_> {
     ///  Send an output from the operator:
     ///  - `id` is the `output_id` as defined in your dataflow.
     ///  - `data` is the data that should be sent
-    pub fn send(&mut self, id: String, data: Vec<u8>) -> Result<(), String> {
+    pub fn send(&mut self, id: String, data: impl Array) -> Result<(), String> {
+        let (data_array, schema) =
+            arrow::ffi::to_ffi(&data.into_data()).map_err(|err| err.to_string())?;
         let result = self.0.send_output.call(Output {
             id: id.into(),
-            data: data.into(),
+            data_array,
+            schema,
             metadata: Metadata {
                 open_telemetry_context: String::new().into(), // TODO
             },
diff --git a/apis/rust/operator/src/raw.rs b/apis/rust/operator/src/raw.rs
index c3db60e4..7041fba0 100644
--- a/apis/rust/operator/src/raw.rs
+++ b/apis/rust/operator/src/raw.rs
@@ -1,5 +1,7 @@
 use crate::{DoraOperator, DoraOutputSender, DoraStatus, Event};
-use dora_operator_api_types::{DoraInitResult, DoraResult, OnEventResult, RawEvent, SendOutput};
+use dora_operator_api_types::{
+    arrow, DoraInitResult, DoraResult, OnEventResult, RawEvent, SendOutput,
+};
 use std::ffi::c_void;
 
 pub type OutputFnRaw = unsafe extern "C" fn(
@@ -27,7 +29,7 @@ pub unsafe fn dora_drop_operator<O>(operator_context: *mut c_void) -> DoraResult
 }
 
 pub unsafe fn dora_on_event<O: DoraOperator>(
-    event: &RawEvent,
+    event: &mut RawEvent,
     send_output: &SendOutput,
     operator_context: *mut std::ffi::c_void,
 ) -> OnEventResult {
@@ -35,11 +37,24 @@ pub unsafe fn dora_on_event<O: DoraOperator>(
 
     let operator: &mut O = unsafe { &mut *operator_context.cast() };
 
-    let event_variant = if let Some(input) = &event.input {
-        let data = input.data.as_ref().as_slice();
-        Event::Input {
-            id: &input.id,
-            data,
+    let event_variant = if let Some(input) = &mut event.input {
+        let Some(data_array) = input.data_array.take() else {
+            return OnEventResult {
+                result: DoraResult { error: Some("data already taken".to_string().into()) },
+                status: DoraStatus::Continue,
+            };
+         };
+        let data = arrow::ffi::from_ffi(data_array, &input.schema);
+
+        match data {
+            Ok(data) => Event::Input {
+                id: &input.id,
+                data: arrow::array::make_array(data),
+            },
+            Err(err) => Event::InputParseError {
+                id: &input.id,
+                error: format!("{err}"),
+            },
         }
     } else if let Some(input_id) = &event.input_closed {
         Event::InputClosed { id: input_id }
diff --git a/apis/rust/operator/types/Cargo.toml b/apis/rust/operator/types/Cargo.toml
index 6ee7b7f5..cb90e30f 100644
--- a/apis/rust/operator/types/Cargo.toml
+++ b/apis/rust/operator/types/Cargo.toml
@@ -8,6 +8,9 @@ license.workspace = true
 
 # See more keys and their definitions at https://doc.rust-lang.org/cargo/reference/manifest.html
 
+[dependencies]
+arrow = { version = "45.0.0", features = ["ffi"] }
+
 [dependencies.safer-ffi]
-version = "0.1.0-rc1"
+version = "0.1.2"
 features = ["headers"]
diff --git a/apis/rust/operator/types/src/lib.rs b/apis/rust/operator/types/src/lib.rs
index fd2715b5..2ab39c4c 100644
--- a/apis/rust/operator/types/src/lib.rs
+++ b/apis/rust/operator/types/src/lib.rs
@@ -1,6 +1,9 @@
 #![deny(elided_lifetimes_in_paths)] // required for safer-ffi
 
+pub use arrow;
 pub use safer_ffi;
+
+use arrow::ffi::{FFI_ArrowArray, FFI_ArrowSchema};
 use safer_ffi::{closure::ArcDynFn1, derive_ReprC, ffi_export};
 use std::path::Path;
 
@@ -46,7 +49,7 @@ pub struct DoraOnEvent {
 #[repr(transparent)]
 pub struct OnEventFn(
     pub  unsafe extern "C" fn(
-        event: &RawEvent,
+        event: &mut RawEvent,
         send_output: &SendOutput,
         operator_context: *mut std::ffi::c_void,
     ) -> OnEventResult,
@@ -64,12 +67,12 @@ pub struct RawEvent {
 }
 
 #[derive_ReprC]
-#[ffi_export]
-#[repr(C)]
+#[repr(opaque)]
 #[derive(Debug)]
 pub struct Input {
     pub id: safer_ffi::String,
-    pub data: safer_ffi::Vec<u8>,
+    pub data_array: Option<FFI_ArrowArray>,
+    pub schema: FFI_ArrowSchema,
     pub metadata: Metadata,
 }
 
@@ -89,12 +92,12 @@ pub struct SendOutput {
 }
 
 #[derive_ReprC]
-#[ffi_export]
-#[repr(C)]
+#[repr(opaque)]
 #[derive(Debug)]
 pub struct Output {
     pub id: safer_ffi::String,
-    pub data: safer_ffi::Vec<u8>,
+    pub data_array: FFI_ArrowArray,
+    pub schema: FFI_ArrowSchema,
     pub metadata: Metadata,
 }
 
diff --git a/binaries/cli/src/template/c/operator/operator-template.c b/binaries/cli/src/template/c/operator/operator-template.c
index 3ba7fd5d..7639cfc6 100644
--- a/binaries/cli/src/template/c/operator/operator-template.c
+++ b/binaries/cli/src/template/c/operator/operator-template.c
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ DoraResult_t dora_drop_operator(void *operator_context)
 }
 
 OnEventResult_t dora_on_event(
-    const RawEvent_t *event,
+    RawEvent_t *event,
     const SendOutput_t *send_output,
     void *operator_context)
 {
diff --git a/binaries/runtime/Cargo.toml b/binaries/runtime/Cargo.toml
index 04d95046..ecacef96 100644
--- a/binaries/runtime/Cargo.toml
+++ b/binaries/runtime/Cargo.toml
@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@ clap = { version = "4.0.3", features = ["derive"] }
 tracing-opentelemetry = { version = "0.18.0", optional = true }
 pythonize = { version = "0.19.0", optional = true }
 arrow-schema = "45.0.0"
-arrow = { version = "45.0.0" }
+arrow = { version = "45.0.0", features = ["ffi"] }
 
 [features]
 default = ["tracing"]
diff --git a/binaries/runtime/src/lib.rs b/binaries/runtime/src/lib.rs
index 841a8f6a..37ecdc1b 100644
--- a/binaries/runtime/src/lib.rs
+++ b/binaries/runtime/src/lib.rs
@@ -218,7 +218,7 @@ async fn run(
                     }
                     OperatorEvent::Output {
                         output_id,
-                        type_info: type_info,
+                        type_info,
                         parameters,
                         data,
                     } => {
diff --git a/binaries/runtime/src/operator/python.rs b/binaries/runtime/src/operator/python.rs
index 7d9ee39d..53e67be4 100644
--- a/binaries/runtime/src/operator/python.rs
+++ b/binaries/runtime/src/operator/python.rs
@@ -271,10 +271,11 @@ mod callback_impl {
     use super::SendOutputCallback;
     use arrow::{array::ArrayData, pyarrow::FromPyArrow};
     use dora_core::message::ArrowTypeInfo;
-    use dora_node_api::ZERO_COPY_THRESHOLD;
-    use dora_operator_api_python::{
-        copy_array_into_sample, pydict_to_metadata, required_data_size,
+    use dora_node_api::{
+        arrow_utils::{copy_array_into_sample, required_data_size},
+        ZERO_COPY_THRESHOLD,
     };
+    use dora_operator_api_python::pydict_to_metadata;
     use eyre::{eyre, Context, Result};
     use pyo3::{
         pymethods,
diff --git a/binaries/runtime/src/operator/shared_lib.rs b/binaries/runtime/src/operator/shared_lib.rs
index 7ada6eee..cdef0156 100644
--- a/binaries/runtime/src/operator/shared_lib.rs
+++ b/binaries/runtime/src/operator/shared_lib.rs
@@ -3,10 +3,12 @@ use dora_core::{
     adjust_shared_library_path,
     config::{DataId, NodeId, OperatorId},
     descriptor::source_is_url,
-    message::ArrowTypeInfo,
 };
 use dora_download::download_file;
-use dora_node_api::{Event, MetadataParameters};
+use dora_node_api::{
+    arrow_utils::{copy_array_into_sample, required_data_size},
+    Event, MetadataParameters,
+};
 use dora_operator_api_types::{
     safer_ffi::closure::ArcDynFn1, DoraDropOperator, DoraInitOperator, DoraInitResult, DoraOnEvent,
     DoraResult, DoraStatus, Metadata, OnEventResult, Output, SendOutput,
@@ -110,7 +112,8 @@ impl<'lib> SharedLibraryOperator<'lib> {
         let send_output_closure = Arc::new(move |output: Output| {
             let Output {
                 id: output_id,
-                data,
+                data_array,
+                schema,
                 metadata: Metadata {
                     open_telemetry_context,
                 },
@@ -120,11 +123,31 @@ impl<'lib> SharedLibraryOperator<'lib> {
                 ..Default::default()
             };
 
+            let arrow_array = match arrow::ffi::from_ffi(data_array, &schema) {
+                Ok(a) => a,
+                Err(err) => {
+                    return DoraResult {
+                        error: Some(err.to_string().into()),
+                    }
+                }
+            };
+
+            let total_len = required_data_size(&arrow_array);
+            let mut sample = vec![0; total_len];
+            let type_info = match copy_array_into_sample(&mut sample, &arrow_array) {
+                Ok(t) => t,
+                Err(err) => {
+                    return DoraResult {
+                        error: Some(err.to_string().into()),
+                    }
+                }
+            };
+
             let event = OperatorEvent::Output {
                 output_id: DataId::from(String::from(output_id)),
-                type_info: ArrowTypeInfo::byte_array(data.len()),
+                type_info,
                 parameters,
-                data: Some(data.to_owned().into()),
+                data: Some(sample.into()),
             };
 
             let result = self
@@ -168,7 +191,7 @@ impl<'lib> SharedLibraryOperator<'lib> {
                 metadata.parameters.open_telemetry_context = string_cx;
             }
 
-            let operator_event = match event {
+            let mut operator_event = match event {
                 Event::Stop => dora_operator_api_types::RawEvent {
                     input: None,
                     input_closed: None,
@@ -180,14 +203,12 @@ impl<'lib> SharedLibraryOperator<'lib> {
                     metadata,
                     data,
                 } => {
+                    let (data_array, schema) = arrow::ffi::to_ffi(&data.to_data())?;
+
                     let operator_input = dora_operator_api_types::Input {
                         id: String::from(input_id).into(),
-                        data: data
-                            .as_byte_slice()
-                            .map(|d| d.to_vec())
-                            // TODO: don't silence error
-                            .unwrap_or_default()
-                            .into(),
+                        data_array: Some(data_array),
+                        schema,
                         metadata: Metadata {
                             open_telemetry_context: metadata
                                 .parameters
@@ -232,7 +253,7 @@ impl<'lib> SharedLibraryOperator<'lib> {
                 status,
             } = unsafe {
                 (self.bindings.on_event.on_event)(
-                    &operator_event,
+                    &mut operator_event,
                     &send_output,
                     operator_context.raw,
                 )
diff --git a/examples/benchmark/node/src/main.rs b/examples/benchmark/node/src/main.rs
index 2ec10cad..9080bbc5 100644
--- a/examples/benchmark/node/src/main.rs
+++ b/examples/benchmark/node/src/main.rs
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ fn main() -> eyre::Result<()> {
                 .sample_iter(rand::distributions::Standard)
                 .take(size)
                 .collect();
-            node.send_output(latency.clone(), Default::default(), data.len(), |out| {
+            node.send_output_raw(latency.clone(), Default::default(), data.len(), |out| {
                 out.copy_from_slice(&data);
             })?;
 
@@ -50,7 +50,7 @@ fn main() -> eyre::Result<()> {
                 .sample_iter(rand::distributions::Standard)
                 .take(size)
                 .collect();
-            node.send_output(throughput.clone(), Default::default(), data.len(), |out| {
+            node.send_output_raw(throughput.clone(), Default::default(), data.len(), |out| {
                 out.copy_from_slice(&data);
             })?;
         }
diff --git a/examples/c++-dataflow/operator-c-api/operator.cc b/examples/c++-dataflow/operator-c-api/operator.cc
index 7c9fd299..c48f49e2 100644
--- a/examples/c++-dataflow/operator-c-api/operator.cc
+++ b/examples/c++-dataflow/operator-c-api/operator.cc
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ extern "C" DoraResult_t dora_drop_operator(void *operator_context)
 }
 
 extern "C" OnEventResult_t dora_on_event(
-    const RawEvent_t *event,
+    RawEvent_t *event,
     const SendOutput_t *send_output,
     void *operator_context)
 {
diff --git a/examples/c-dataflow/operator.c b/examples/c-dataflow/operator.c
index ba64e8e3..d3cc01ca 100644
--- a/examples/c-dataflow/operator.c
+++ b/examples/c-dataflow/operator.c
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ DoraResult_t dora_drop_operator(void *operator_context)
 }
 
 OnEventResult_t dora_on_event(
-    const RawEvent_t *event,
+    RawEvent_t *event,
     const SendOutput_t *send_output,
     void *operator_context)
 {
diff --git a/examples/multiple-daemons/node/src/main.rs b/examples/multiple-daemons/node/src/main.rs
index c52e4618..23602e84 100644
--- a/examples/multiple-daemons/node/src/main.rs
+++ b/examples/multiple-daemons/node/src/main.rs
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ fn main() -> eyre::Result<()> {
                     let random: u64 = rand::random();
                     println!("tick {i}, sending {random:#x}");
                     let data: &[u8] = &random.to_le_bytes();
-                    node.send_output(output.clone(), metadata.parameters, data.len(), |out| {
+                    node.send_output_raw(output.clone(), metadata.parameters, data.len(), |out| {
                         out.copy_from_slice(data);
                     })?;
                 }
diff --git a/examples/rust-dataflow/node/src/main.rs b/examples/rust-dataflow/node/src/main.rs
index c52e4618..b90ed47e 100644
--- a/examples/rust-dataflow/node/src/main.rs
+++ b/examples/rust-dataflow/node/src/main.rs
@@ -1,4 +1,9 @@
-use dora_node_api::{self, dora_core::config::DataId, DoraNode, Event};
+use dora_node_api::{
+    self,
+    arrow::{array::PrimitiveBuilder, datatypes::UInt64Type},
+    dora_core::config::DataId,
+    DoraNode, Event,
+};
 
 fn main() -> eyre::Result<()> {
     println!("hello");
@@ -22,10 +27,12 @@ fn main() -> eyre::Result<()> {
                 "tick" => {
                     let random: u64 = rand::random();
                     println!("tick {i}, sending {random:#x}");
-                    let data: &[u8] = &random.to_le_bytes();
-                    node.send_output(output.clone(), metadata.parameters, data.len(), |out| {
-                        out.copy_from_slice(data);
-                    })?;
+                    let data = {
+                        let mut builder: PrimitiveBuilder<UInt64Type> = PrimitiveBuilder::new();
+                        builder.append_value(random);
+                        builder.finish()
+                    };
+                    node.send_output(output.clone(), metadata.parameters, data)?;
                 }
                 other => eprintln!("Ignoring unexpected input `{other}`"),
             },
diff --git a/examples/rust-dataflow/operator/src/lib.rs b/examples/rust-dataflow/operator/src/lib.rs
index 81a1a1f0..fe544049 100644
--- a/examples/rust-dataflow/operator/src/lib.rs
+++ b/examples/rust-dataflow/operator/src/lib.rs
@@ -1,6 +1,13 @@
 #![warn(unsafe_op_in_unsafe_fn)]
 
-use dora_operator_api::{register_operator, DoraOperator, DoraOutputSender, DoraStatus, Event};
+use dora_operator_api::{
+    register_operator,
+    types::arrow::{
+        array::{AsArray, PrimitiveArray, StringBuilder},
+        datatypes::UInt64Type,
+    },
+    DoraOperator, DoraOutputSender, DoraStatus, Event,
+};
 
 register_operator!(ExampleOperator);
 
@@ -21,16 +28,20 @@ impl DoraOperator for ExampleOperator {
                     self.ticks += 1;
                 }
                 "random" => {
-                    let parsed = {
-                        let data: [u8; 8] =
-                            (*data).try_into().map_err(|_| "unexpected random data")?;
-                        u64::from_le_bytes(data)
-                    };
+                    let primitive_array: &PrimitiveArray<UInt64Type> =
+                        data.as_primitive_opt().ok_or("expected primitive array")?;
+                    let value = primitive_array.value(0);
+
                     let output = format!(
-                        "operator received random value {parsed:#x} after {} ticks",
+                        "operator received random value {value:#x} after {} ticks",
                         self.ticks
                     );
-                    output_sender.send("status".into(), output.into_bytes())?;
+                    let output_data = {
+                        let mut builder = StringBuilder::new();
+                        builder.append_value(output);
+                        builder.finish()
+                    };
+                    output_sender.send("status".into(), output_data)?;
                 }
                 other => eprintln!("ignoring unexpected input {other}"),
             },
diff --git a/examples/rust-dataflow/sink/src/main.rs b/examples/rust-dataflow/sink/src/main.rs
index 674deacf..b75709a5 100644
--- a/examples/rust-dataflow/sink/src/main.rs
+++ b/examples/rust-dataflow/sink/src/main.rs
@@ -1,5 +1,9 @@
-use dora_node_api::{self, DoraNode, Event};
-use eyre::{bail, Context};
+use dora_node_api::{
+    self,
+    arrow::array::{AsArray, StringArray},
+    DoraNode, Event,
+};
+use eyre::{bail, ContextCompat};
 
 fn main() -> eyre::Result<()> {
     let (_node, mut events) = DoraNode::init_from_env()?;
@@ -8,8 +12,10 @@ fn main() -> eyre::Result<()> {
         match event {
             Event::Input { id, metadata, data } => match id.as_str() {
                 "message" => {
-                    let received_string = std::str::from_utf8(data.as_byte_slice()?)
+                    let string_array: &StringArray = data
+                        .as_string_opt()
                         .wrap_err("received message was not utf8-encoded")?;
+                    let received_string = string_array.value(0);
                     println!("sink received message: {}", received_string);
                     if !received_string.starts_with("operator received random value ") {
                         bail!("unexpected message format (should start with 'operator received random value')")