diff --git a/client.go b/client.go
index 40b3c45..748a007 100644
--- a/client.go
+++ b/client.go
@@ -99,8 +99,8 @@ func (c *Client) Call(ctx context.Context, service, method string, req, resp int
 		cresp = &Response{}
 	)
 
-	if headers, ok := GetHeaders(ctx); ok {
-		creq.Headers = headers
+	if metadata, ok := GetMetadata(ctx); ok {
+		creq.Metadata = metadata
 	}
 
 	if dl, ok := ctx.Deadline(); ok {
diff --git a/header.go b/header.go
deleted file mode 100644
index f27e8d3..0000000
--- a/header.go
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,86 +0,0 @@
-/*
-   Copyright The containerd Authors.
-
-   Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
-   you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
-   You may obtain a copy of the License at
-
-       http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
-
-   Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
-   distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
-   WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
-   See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
-   limitations under the License.
-*/
-
-package ttrpc
-
-import "context"
-
-// Headers represents the key-value pairs (similar to http.Header) to be passed to ttrpc server from a client.
-type Headers map[string]StringList
-
-// Get returns the headers for a given key when they exist.
-// If there are no headers, a nil slice and false are returned.
-func (h Headers) Get(key string) ([]string, bool) {
-	list, ok := h[key]
-	if !ok || len(list.List) == 0 {
-		return nil, false
-	}
-
-	return list.List, true
-}
-
-// Set sets the provided values for a given key.
-// The values will overwrite any existing values.
-// If no values provided, a key will be deleted.
-func (h Headers) Set(key string, values ...string) {
-	if len(values) == 0 {
-		delete(h, key)
-		return
-	}
-
-	h[key] = StringList{List: values}
-}
-
-// Append appends additional values to the given key.
-func (h Headers) Append(key string, values ...string) {
-	if len(values) == 0 {
-		return
-	}
-
-	list, ok := h[key]
-	if ok {
-		h.Set(key, append(list.List, values...)...)
-	} else {
-		h.Set(key, values...)
-	}
-}
-
-type headerKey struct{}
-
-// GetHeaders retrieves headers from context.Context (previously attached with WithHeaders)
-func GetHeaders(ctx context.Context) (Headers, bool) {
-	headers, ok := ctx.Value(headerKey{}).(Headers)
-	return headers, ok
-}
-
-// GetHeader gets a specific header value by name from context.Context
-func GetHeader(ctx context.Context, name string) (string, bool) {
-	headers, ok := GetHeaders(ctx)
-	if !ok {
-		return "", false
-	}
-
-	if list, ok := headers.Get(name); ok {
-		return list[0], true
-	}
-
-	return "", false
-}
-
-// WithHeaders attaches headers map to a context.Context
-func WithHeaders(ctx context.Context, headers Headers) context.Context {
-	return context.WithValue(ctx, headerKey{}, headers)
-}
diff --git a/header_test.go b/header_test.go
deleted file mode 100644
index 31e947a..0000000
--- a/header_test.go
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,108 +0,0 @@
-/*
-   Copyright The containerd Authors.
-
-   Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
-   you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
-   You may obtain a copy of the License at
-
-       http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
-
-   Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
-   distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
-   WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
-   See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
-   limitations under the License.
-*/
-
-package ttrpc
-
-import (
-	"context"
-	"testing"
-)
-
-func TestHeaders_Get(t *testing.T) {
-	hdr := make(Headers)
-	hdr.Set("foo", "1", "2")
-
-	if list, ok := hdr.Get("foo"); !ok {
-		t.Error("key not found")
-	} else if len(list) != 2 {
-		t.Errorf("unexpected number of values: %d", len(list))
-	} else if list[0] != "1" {
-		t.Errorf("invalid header value at 0: %s", list[0])
-	} else if list[1] != "2" {
-		t.Errorf("invalid header value at 1: %s", list[1])
-	}
-}
-
-func TestHeaders_GetInvalidKey(t *testing.T) {
-	hdr := make(Headers)
-	hdr.Set("foo", "1", "2")
-
-	if _, ok := hdr.Get("invalid"); ok {
-		t.Error("found invalid key")
-	}
-}
-
-func TestHeaders_Unset(t *testing.T) {
-	hdr := make(Headers)
-	hdr.Set("foo", "1", "2")
-	hdr.Set("foo")
-
-	if _, ok := hdr.Get("foo"); ok {
-		t.Error("key not deleted")
-	}
-}
-
-func TestHeader_Replace(t *testing.T) {
-	hdr := make(Headers)
-	hdr.Set("foo", "1", "2")
-	hdr.Set("foo", "3", "4")
-
-	if list, ok := hdr.Get("foo"); !ok {
-		t.Error("key not found")
-	} else if len(list) != 2 {
-		t.Errorf("unexpected number of values: %d", len(list))
-	} else if list[0] != "3" {
-		t.Errorf("invalid header value at 0: %s", list[0])
-	} else if list[1] != "4" {
-		t.Errorf("invalid header value at 1: %s", list[1])
-	}
-}
-
-func TestHeaders_Append(t *testing.T) {
-	hdr := make(Headers)
-	hdr.Set("foo", "1")
-	hdr.Append("foo", "2")
-	hdr.Append("bar", "3")
-
-	if list, ok := hdr.Get("foo"); !ok {
-		t.Error("key not found")
-	} else if len(list) != 2 {
-		t.Errorf("unexpected number of values: %d", len(list))
-	} else if list[0] != "1" {
-		t.Errorf("invalid header value at 0: %s", list[0])
-	} else if list[1] != "2" {
-		t.Errorf("invalid header value at 1: %s", list[1])
-	}
-
-	if list, ok := hdr.Get("bar"); !ok {
-		t.Error("key not found")
-	} else if list[0] != "3" {
-		t.Errorf("invalid value: %s", list[0])
-	}
-}
-
-func TestHeaders_Context(t *testing.T) {
-	hdr := make(Headers)
-	hdr.Set("foo", "bar")
-
-	ctx := WithHeaders(context.Background(), hdr)
-
-	if bar, ok := GetHeader(ctx, "foo"); !ok {
-		t.Error("header not found")
-	} else if bar != "bar" {
-		t.Errorf("invalid header value: %q", bar)
-	}
-}
diff --git a/metadata.go b/metadata.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..d036263
--- /dev/null
+++ b/metadata.go
@@ -0,0 +1,86 @@
+/*
+   Copyright The containerd Authors.
+
+   Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+   you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+   You may obtain a copy of the License at
+
+       http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+
+   Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+   distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+   WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+   See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+   limitations under the License.
+*/
+
+package ttrpc
+
+import "context"
+
+// Metadata represents the key-value pairs (similar to http.Header) to be passed to ttrpc server from a client.
+type Metadata map[string]StringList
+
+// Get returns the metadata for a given key when they exist.
+// If there is no metadata, a nil slice and false are returned.
+func (m Metadata) Get(key string) ([]string, bool) {
+	list, ok := m[key]
+	if !ok || len(list.List) == 0 {
+		return nil, false
+	}
+
+	return list.List, true
+}
+
+// Set sets the provided values for a given key.
+// The values will overwrite any existing values.
+// If no values provided, a key will be deleted.
+func (m Metadata) Set(key string, values ...string) {
+	if len(values) == 0 {
+		delete(m, key)
+		return
+	}
+
+	m[key] = StringList{List: values}
+}
+
+// Append appends additional values to the given key.
+func (m Metadata) Append(key string, values ...string) {
+	if len(values) == 0 {
+		return
+	}
+
+	list, ok := m[key]
+	if ok {
+		m.Set(key, append(list.List, values...)...)
+	} else {
+		m.Set(key, values...)
+	}
+}
+
+type metadataKey struct{}
+
+// GetMetadata retrieves metadata from context.Context (previously attached with WithMetadata)
+func GetMetadata(ctx context.Context) (Metadata, bool) {
+	metadata, ok := ctx.Value(metadataKey{}).(Metadata)
+	return metadata, ok
+}
+
+// GetMetadataValue gets a specific metadata value by name from context.Context
+func GetMetadataValue(ctx context.Context, name string) (string, bool) {
+	metadata, ok := GetMetadata(ctx)
+	if !ok {
+		return "", false
+	}
+
+	if list, ok := metadata.Get(name); ok {
+		return list[0], true
+	}
+
+	return "", false
+}
+
+// WithMetadata attaches metadata map to a context.Context
+func WithMetadata(ctx context.Context, headers Metadata) context.Context {
+	return context.WithValue(ctx, metadataKey{}, headers)
+}
diff --git a/metadata_test.go b/metadata_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..c334e05
--- /dev/null
+++ b/metadata_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,108 @@
+/*
+   Copyright The containerd Authors.
+
+   Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+   you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+   You may obtain a copy of the License at
+
+       http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+
+   Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+   distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+   WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+   See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+   limitations under the License.
+*/
+
+package ttrpc
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"testing"
+)
+
+func TestMetadata_Get(t *testing.T) {
+	metadata := make(Metadata)
+	metadata.Set("foo", "1", "2")
+
+	if list, ok := metadata.Get("foo"); !ok {
+		t.Error("key not found")
+	} else if len(list) != 2 {
+		t.Errorf("unexpected number of values: %d", len(list))
+	} else if list[0] != "1" {
+		t.Errorf("invalid metadata value at 0: %s", list[0])
+	} else if list[1] != "2" {
+		t.Errorf("invalid metadata value at 1: %s", list[1])
+	}
+}
+
+func TestMetadata_GetInvalidKey(t *testing.T) {
+	metadata := make(Metadata)
+	metadata.Set("foo", "1", "2")
+
+	if _, ok := metadata.Get("invalid"); ok {
+		t.Error("found invalid key")
+	}
+}
+
+func TestMetadata_Unset(t *testing.T) {
+	metadata := make(Metadata)
+	metadata.Set("foo", "1", "2")
+	metadata.Set("foo")
+
+	if _, ok := metadata.Get("foo"); ok {
+		t.Error("key not deleted")
+	}
+}
+
+func TestMetadata_Replace(t *testing.T) {
+	metadata := make(Metadata)
+	metadata.Set("foo", "1", "2")
+	metadata.Set("foo", "3", "4")
+
+	if list, ok := metadata.Get("foo"); !ok {
+		t.Error("key not found")
+	} else if len(list) != 2 {
+		t.Errorf("unexpected number of values: %d", len(list))
+	} else if list[0] != "3" {
+		t.Errorf("invalid metadata value at 0: %s", list[0])
+	} else if list[1] != "4" {
+		t.Errorf("invalid metadata value at 1: %s", list[1])
+	}
+}
+
+func TestMetadata_Append(t *testing.T) {
+	metadata := make(Metadata)
+	metadata.Set("foo", "1")
+	metadata.Append("foo", "2")
+	metadata.Append("bar", "3")
+
+	if list, ok := metadata.Get("foo"); !ok {
+		t.Error("key not found")
+	} else if len(list) != 2 {
+		t.Errorf("unexpected number of values: %d", len(list))
+	} else if list[0] != "1" {
+		t.Errorf("invalid metadata value at 0: %s", list[0])
+	} else if list[1] != "2" {
+		t.Errorf("invalid metadata value at 1: %s", list[1])
+	}
+
+	if list, ok := metadata.Get("bar"); !ok {
+		t.Error("key not found")
+	} else if list[0] != "3" {
+		t.Errorf("invalid value: %s", list[0])
+	}
+}
+
+func TestMetadata_Context(t *testing.T) {
+	metadata := make(Metadata)
+	metadata.Set("foo", "bar")
+
+	ctx := WithMetadata(context.Background(), metadata)
+
+	if bar, ok := GetMetadataValue(ctx, "foo"); !ok {
+		t.Error("metadata not found")
+	} else if bar != "bar" {
+		t.Errorf("invalid metadata value: %q", bar)
+	}
+}
diff --git a/server.go b/server.go
index a6d9ef0..595a69a 100644
--- a/server.go
+++ b/server.go
@@ -466,8 +466,8 @@ func (c *serverConn) run(sctx context.Context) {
 var noopFunc = func() {}
 
 func getRequestContext(ctx context.Context, req *Request) (retCtx context.Context, cancel func()) {
-	if req.Headers != nil {
-		ctx = WithHeaders(ctx, req.Headers)
+	if req.Metadata != nil {
+		ctx = WithMetadata(ctx, req.Metadata)
 	}
 
 	cancel = noopFunc
diff --git a/server_test.go b/server_test.go
index 88e9919..d76ece1 100644
--- a/server_test.go
+++ b/server_test.go
@@ -61,7 +61,7 @@ func (tc *testingClient) Test(ctx context.Context, req *testPayload) (*testPaylo
 type testPayload struct {
 	Foo      string `protobuf:"bytes,1,opt,name=foo,proto3"`
 	Deadline int64  `protobuf:"varint,2,opt,name=deadline,proto3"`
-	Hdr      string `protobuf:"bytes,3,opt,name=hdr,proto3"`
+	Metadata string `protobuf:"bytes,3,opt,name=metadata,proto3"`
 }
 
 func (r *testPayload) Reset()         { *r = testPayload{} }
@@ -77,8 +77,8 @@ func (s *testingServer) Test(ctx context.Context, req *testPayload) (*testPayloa
 		tp.Deadline = dl.UnixNano()
 	}
 
-	if v, ok := GetHeader(ctx, "foo"); ok {
-		tp.Hdr = v
+	if v, ok := GetMetadataValue(ctx, "foo"); ok {
+		tp.Metadata = v
 	}
 
 	return tp, nil
@@ -546,7 +546,7 @@ func roundTrip(ctx context.Context, t *testing.T, client *testingClient, value s
 		}
 	)
 
-	ctx = WithHeaders(ctx, Headers{"foo": makeStringList("bar")})
+	ctx = WithMetadata(ctx, Metadata{"foo": makeStringList("bar")})
 
 	resp, err := client.Test(ctx, tp)
 	if err != nil {
@@ -555,7 +555,7 @@ func roundTrip(ctx context.Context, t *testing.T, client *testingClient, value s
 
 	results <- callResult{
 		input:    tp,
-		expected: &testPayload{Foo: strings.Repeat(tp.Foo, 2), Hdr: "bar"},
+		expected: &testPayload{Foo: strings.Repeat(tp.Foo, 2), Metadata: "bar"},
 		received: resp,
 	}
 }
diff --git a/types.go b/types.go
index bebc123..c8ecb38 100644
--- a/types.go
+++ b/types.go
@@ -23,11 +23,11 @@ import (
 )
 
 type Request struct {
-	Service     string  `protobuf:"bytes,1,opt,name=service,proto3"`
-	Method      string  `protobuf:"bytes,2,opt,name=method,proto3"`
-	Payload     []byte  `protobuf:"bytes,3,opt,name=payload,proto3"`
-	TimeoutNano int64   `protobuf:"varint,4,opt,name=timeout_nano,proto3"`
-	Headers     Headers `protobuf:"bytes,5,opt,name=headers,proto3" protobuf_key:"bytes,1,opt,name=key,proto3" protobuf_val:"bytes,2,opt,name=value,proto3"`
+	Service     string   `protobuf:"bytes,1,opt,name=service,proto3"`
+	Method      string   `protobuf:"bytes,2,opt,name=method,proto3"`
+	Payload     []byte   `protobuf:"bytes,3,opt,name=payload,proto3"`
+	TimeoutNano int64    `protobuf:"varint,4,opt,name=timeout_nano,proto3"`
+	Metadata    Metadata `protobuf:"bytes,5,opt,name=metadata,proto3" protobuf_key:"bytes,1,opt,name=key,proto3" protobuf_val:"bytes,2,opt,name=value,proto3"`
 }
 
 func (r *Request) Reset()         { *r = Request{} }