diff --git a/src/index.ts b/src/index.ts
index 096a964..1f4b91d 100644
--- a/src/index.ts
+++ b/src/index.ts
@@ -1,6 +1 @@
-export {
-    getPrimitiveUnionMatcher,
-    getPrimitiveUnionMatcherPartial,
-    getPrimitiveUnionMatcherPartialW,
-    getPrimitiveUnionMatcherW,
-} from "./primitive.ts";
+export { strict, widened } from "./primitive.ts";
diff --git a/src/primitive.test.ts b/src/primitive.test.ts
index ee9f57e..6f86202 100644
--- a/src/primitive.test.ts
+++ b/src/primitive.test.ts
@@ -1,50 +1,49 @@
 /* oxlint-disable typescript/no-floating-promises -- expectTypeOf() is a sync type-assertion library that the type-aware linter misidentifies as a promise */
 import { strict as assert } from "node:assert";
+import path from "node:path";
 import { test } from "node:test";
 
 import { expectTypeOf } from "expect-type";
 
 import {
-    getPrimitiveUnionMatcher,
-    getPrimitiveUnionMatcherPartial,
-    getPrimitiveUnionMatcherPartialW,
-    getPrimitiveUnionMatcherW,
-} from "./primitive.ts";
+    type CompletionTarget,
+    LspSession,
+} from "#test-utils/lsp-completion.ts";
+
+import { strict, widened } from "./primitive.ts";
 
 // ============================================================================
-// API: getPrimitiveUnionMatcherW — ✔️ Exhaustive / ❌ ReturnsStrict
+// API: strict — ✔️ Exhaustive / ✔️ ReturnsStrict
 // ============================================================================
 
-test("getPrimitiveUnionMatcherW requires every literal key", () => {
+test("strict: exhaustive pattern infers one common return type", () => {
     // Arrange
-    const factory = getPrimitiveUnionMatcherW<"a" | "b">();
+    const factory = strict<"a" | "b">();
 
     // Act
     const matcher = factory({
-        a: (s) => {
+        a: (s): number => {
             expectTypeOf(s).toEqualTypeOf<"a">();
-            return 1 as const;
+            return 1;
         },
-        b: (s) => {
+        b: (s): 1 | 2 => {
             expectTypeOf(s).toEqualTypeOf<"b">();
-            return "two" as const;
+            return 2;
         },
     });
 
     // Assert
-    // ❌ ReturnsStrict: mixed handler returns widen to their union.
-    expectTypeOf(matcher).toEqualTypeOf<(shape: "a" | "b") => 1 | "two">();
-    // A pattern missing a key must not satisfy the parameter type.
-    expectTypeOf<{
-        a: () => number;
-    }>().not.toExtend<Parameters<typeof factory>[0]>();
+    // ✔️ ReturnsStrict: R is the best common return type, not a widening union.
+    expectTypeOf(matcher).toEqualTypeOf<(shape: "a" | "b") => number>();
+    // ❌ a value outside T must not be accepted by the matcher
+    expectTypeOf<"c">().not.toExtend<Parameters<typeof matcher>[0]>();
     assert.equal(matcher("a"), 1);
-    assert.equal(matcher("b"), "two");
+    assert.equal(matcher("b"), 2);
 });
 
-test("getPrimitiveUnionMatcherW dispatches on numeric literal keys", () => {
+test("strict: dispatches on numeric literal keys", () => {
     // Arrange
-    const factory = getPrimitiveUnionMatcherW<1 | 2>();
+    const factory = strict<1 | 2>();
 
     // Act
     const matcher = factory({
@@ -64,9 +63,150 @@ test("getPrimitiveUnionMatcherW dispatches on numeric literal keys", () => {
     assert.equal(matcher(2), 20);
 });
 
-test("getPrimitiveUnionMatcherW dispatches on mixed string and numeric keys", () => {
+test("strict: dispatches on mixed string and numeric keys", () => {
     // Arrange
-    const factory = getPrimitiveUnionMatcherW<"a" | "b" | 1 | 2>();
+    const factory = strict<"a" | "b" | 1 | 2>();
+
+    // Act
+    const matcher = factory({
+        a: (s): number => {
+            expectTypeOf(s).toEqualTypeOf<"a">();
+            return 1;
+        },
+        b: (s): 1 | 2 => {
+            expectTypeOf(s).toEqualTypeOf<"b">();
+            return 2;
+        },
+        1: (n): number => {
+            expectTypeOf(n).toEqualTypeOf<1>();
+            return 10;
+        },
+        2: (n): number => {
+            expectTypeOf(n).toEqualTypeOf<2>();
+            return 20;
+        },
+    });
+
+    // Assert
+    expectTypeOf(matcher).toEqualTypeOf<(shape: "a" | "b" | 1 | 2) => number>();
+    assert.equal(matcher("a"), 1);
+    assert.equal(matcher("b"), 2);
+    assert.equal(matcher(1), 10);
+    assert.equal(matcher(2), 20);
+});
+
+// ============================================================================
+// API: strict — ❌ Exhaustive (fallback) / ✔️ ReturnsStrict
+// ============================================================================
+
+test("strict: a `_` fallback makes the universe keys optional", () => {
+    // Arrange
+    const factory = strict<"a" | "b" | "c">();
+
+    // Act
+    const matcher = factory({
+        a: (s): 1 | 2 => {
+            expectTypeOf(s).toEqualTypeOf<"a">();
+            return 1;
+        },
+        _: (s): 1 | 2 => {
+            // The fallback sees the whole union, not a single literal.
+            expectTypeOf(s).toEqualTypeOf<"a" | "b" | "c">();
+            return 2;
+        },
+    });
+
+    // Assert
+    expectTypeOf(matcher).toEqualTypeOf<(shape: "a" | "b" | "c") => 1 | 2>();
+    // ❌ a value outside T must not be accepted by the matcher
+    expectTypeOf<"d">().not.toExtend<Parameters<typeof matcher>[0]>();
+    assert.equal(matcher("a"), 1);
+    assert.equal(matcher("b"), 2);
+    assert.equal(matcher("c"), 2);
+});
+
+test("strict: a `_` fallback also accepts an exhaustive pattern", () => {
+    // Arrange
+    const factory = strict<"a" | "b">();
+
+    // Act
+    const matcher = factory({
+        a: (s) => {
+            expectTypeOf(s).toEqualTypeOf<"a">();
+            return "A";
+        },
+        b: (s) => {
+            expectTypeOf(s).toEqualTypeOf<"b">();
+            return "B";
+        },
+    });
+
+    // Assert
+    expectTypeOf(matcher).toEqualTypeOf<(shape: "a" | "b") => string>();
+    assert.equal(matcher("a"), "A");
+    assert.equal(matcher("b"), "B");
+});
+
+test("strict: a `_` fallback routes mixed string and numeric gaps", () => {
+    // Arrange
+    const factory = strict<"a" | "b" | 1 | 2>();
+
+    // Act
+    const matcher = factory({
+        a: (s): string => {
+            expectTypeOf(s).toEqualTypeOf<"a">();
+            return "A";
+        },
+        1: (n): string => {
+            expectTypeOf(n).toEqualTypeOf<1>();
+            return "one";
+        },
+        _: (s): string => {
+            expectTypeOf(s).toEqualTypeOf<"a" | "b" | 1 | 2>();
+            return "fallback";
+        },
+    });
+
+    // Assert
+    expectTypeOf(matcher).toEqualTypeOf<(shape: "a" | "b" | 1 | 2) => string>();
+    assert.equal(matcher("a"), "A");
+    assert.equal(matcher("b"), "fallback");
+    assert.equal(matcher(1), "one");
+    assert.equal(matcher(2), "fallback");
+});
+
+// ============================================================================
+// API: widened — ✔️ Exhaustive / ❌ ReturnsStrict
+// ============================================================================
+
+test("widened: exhaustive pattern widens to the union of handler returns", () => {
+    // Arrange
+    const factory = widened<"x" | "y">();
+
+    // Act
+    const matcher = factory({
+        x: (s) => {
+            expectTypeOf(s).toEqualTypeOf<"x">();
+            return 1 as const;
+        },
+        y: (s) => {
+            expectTypeOf(s).toEqualTypeOf<"y">();
+            return "two" as const;
+        },
+    });
+
+    // Assert
+    // ❌ ReturnsStrict: mixed handler returns widen to their union.
+    expectTypeOf(matcher).toEqualTypeOf<(shape: "x" | "y") => 1 | "two">();
+    // ❌ a value outside T must not be accepted by the matcher
+    expectTypeOf<"z">().not.toExtend<Parameters<typeof matcher>[0]>();
+    assert.equal(matcher("x"), 1);
+    assert.equal(matcher("y"), "two");
+});
+
+test("widened: dispatches on mixed string and numeric keys", () => {
+    // Arrange
+    const factory = widened<"a" | "b" | 1 | 2>();
 
     // Act
     const matcher = factory({
@@ -99,181 +239,12 @@ test("getPrimitiveUnionMatcherW dispatches on mixed string and numeric keys", ()
 });
 
 // ============================================================================
-// API: getPrimitiveUnionMatcher — ✔️ Exhaustive / ✔️ ReturnsStrict
+// API: widened — ❌ Exhaustive (fallback) / ❌ ReturnsStrict
 // ============================================================================
 
-test("getPrimitiveUnionMatcher infers a single return type shared by all handlers", () => {
+test("widened: a `_` fallback widens gaps into the union", () => {
     // Arrange
-    const factory = getPrimitiveUnionMatcher<"a" | "b">();
-
-    // Act
-    const matcher = factory({
-        a: (s): number => {
-            expectTypeOf(s).toEqualTypeOf<"a">();
-            return 1;
-        },
-        b: (s): 1 | 2 => {
-            expectTypeOf(s).toEqualTypeOf<"b">();
-            return 2;
-        },
-    });
-
-    // Assert
-    // ✔️ ReturnsStrict: R is the best common return type, not a widening union.
-    expectTypeOf(matcher).toEqualTypeOf<(shape: "a" | "b") => number>();
-    assert.equal(matcher("a"), 1);
-    assert.equal(matcher("b"), 2);
-});
-
-test("getPrimitiveUnionMatcher handlers receive the matched literal", () => {
-    // Arrange
-    const factory = getPrimitiveUnionMatcher<"on" | "off">();
-
-    // Act
-    const matcher = factory({
-        on: (s) => {
-            expectTypeOf(s).toEqualTypeOf<"on">();
-            return `handler ${s}`;
-        },
-        off: (s) => {
-            expectTypeOf(s).toEqualTypeOf<"off">();
-            return `handler ${s}`;
-        },
-    });
-
-    // Assert
-    expectTypeOf(matcher).toEqualTypeOf<(shape: "on" | "off") => string>();
-    assert.equal(matcher("on"), "handler on");
-    assert.equal(matcher("off"), "handler off");
-});
-
-test("getPrimitiveUnionMatcher infers one return type across mixed string and numeric keys", () => {
-    // Arrange
-    const factory = getPrimitiveUnionMatcher<"a" | "b" | 1 | 2>();
-
-    // Act
-    const matcher = factory({
-        a: (s): number => {
-            expectTypeOf(s).toEqualTypeOf<"a">();
-            return 1;
-        },
-        b: (s): 1 | 2 => {
-            expectTypeOf(s).toEqualTypeOf<"b">();
-            return 2;
-        },
-        1: (n): number => {
-            expectTypeOf(n).toEqualTypeOf<1>();
-            return 10;
-        },
-        2: (n): number => {
-            expectTypeOf(n).toEqualTypeOf<2>();
-            return 20;
-        },
-    });
-
-    // Assert
-    // ✔️ ReturnsStrict: R is the best common return type, not a widening union.
-    expectTypeOf(matcher).toEqualTypeOf<(shape: "a" | "b" | 1 | 2) => number>();
-    assert.equal(matcher("a"), 1);
-    assert.equal(matcher("b"), 2);
-    assert.equal(matcher(1), 10);
-    assert.equal(matcher(2), 20);
-});
-
-// ============================================================================
-// API: getPrimitiveUnionMatcherPartial — ❌ Exhaustive / ✔️ ReturnsStrict
-// ============================================================================
-
-test("getPrimitiveUnionMatcherPartial routes shapes without a handler to _", () => {
-    // Arrange
-    const factory = getPrimitiveUnionMatcherPartial<"a" | "b" | "c">();
-    // Two keys, so `{ a }` lacks only the `_` fallback, nothing else.
-    const sparseFactory = getPrimitiveUnionMatcherPartial<"a" | "b">();
-
-    // Act
-    const matcher = factory({
-        a: (s): 1 | 2 => {
-            expectTypeOf(s).toEqualTypeOf<"a">();
-            return 1;
-        },
-        _: (s): 1 | 2 => {
-            // The fallback sees the whole union, not a single literal.
-            expectTypeOf(s).toEqualTypeOf<"a" | "b" | "c">();
-            return 2;
-        },
-    });
-
-    // Assert
-    expectTypeOf(matcher).toEqualTypeOf<(shape: "a" | "b" | "c") => 1 | 2>();
-    // ❌ Exhaustive: gaps are allowed, but only with a `_` fallback.
-    expectTypeOf<{
-        a: () => number;
-    }>().not.toExtend<Parameters<typeof sparseFactory>[0]>();
-    assert.equal(matcher("a"), 1);
-    assert.equal(matcher("b"), 2);
-    assert.equal(matcher("c"), 2);
-});
-
-test("getPrimitiveUnionMatcherPartial also accepts an exhaustive pattern", () => {
-    // Arrange
-    const factory = getPrimitiveUnionMatcherPartial<"a" | "b">();
-
-    // Act
-    const matcher = factory({
-        a: (s) => {
-            expectTypeOf(s).toEqualTypeOf<"a">();
-            return "A";
-        },
-        b: (s) => {
-            expectTypeOf(s).toEqualTypeOf<"b">();
-            return "B";
-        },
-    });
-
-    // Assert
-    expectTypeOf(matcher).toEqualTypeOf<(shape: "a" | "b") => string>();
-    assert.equal(matcher("a"), "A");
-    assert.equal(matcher("b"), "B");
-});
-
-test("getPrimitiveUnionMatcherPartial routes mixed string and numeric keys, gaps go to _", () => {
-    // Arrange
-    const factory = getPrimitiveUnionMatcherPartial<"a" | "b" | 1 | 2>();
-
-    // Act
-    const matcher = factory({
-        a: (s): string => {
-            expectTypeOf(s).toEqualTypeOf<"a">();
-            return "A";
-        },
-        1: (n): string => {
-            expectTypeOf(n).toEqualTypeOf<1>();
-            return "one";
-        },
-        _: (s): string => {
-            // The fallback sees the whole union, not a single literal.
-            expectTypeOf(s).toEqualTypeOf<"a" | "b" | 1 | 2>();
-            return "fallback";
-        },
-    });
-
-    // Assert
-    expectTypeOf(matcher).toEqualTypeOf<(shape: "a" | "b" | 1 | 2) => string>();
-    assert.equal(matcher("a"), "A");
-    assert.equal(matcher("b"), "fallback");
-    assert.equal(matcher(1), "one");
-    assert.equal(matcher(2), "fallback");
-});
-
-// ============================================================================
-// API: getPrimitiveUnionMatcherPartialW — ❌ Exhaustive / ❌ ReturnsStrict
-// ============================================================================
-
-test("getPrimitiveUnionMatcherPartialW allows gaps and widens to the union of handler returns", () => {
-    // Arrange
-    const factory = getPrimitiveUnionMatcherPartialW<"x" | "y" | "z">();
-    // Two keys, so `{ x }` lacks only the `_` fallback, nothing else.
-    const sparseFactory = getPrimitiveUnionMatcherPartialW<"x" | "y">();
+    const factory = widened<"x" | "y" | "z">();
 
     // Act
     const matcher = factory({
@@ -292,18 +263,16 @@ test("getPrimitiveUnionMatcherPartialW allows gaps and widens to the union of ha
     expectTypeOf(matcher).toEqualTypeOf<
         (shape: "x" | "y" | "z") => 1 | "fallback"
     >();
-    // ❌ Exhaustive: gaps are allowed, but only with a `_` fallback.
-    expectTypeOf<{
-        x: () => number;
-    }>().not.toExtend<Parameters<typeof sparseFactory>[0]>();
+    // ❌ a value outside T must not be accepted by the matcher
+    expectTypeOf<"w">().not.toExtend<Parameters<typeof matcher>[0]>();
     assert.equal(matcher("x"), 1);
     assert.equal(matcher("y"), "fallback");
     assert.equal(matcher("z"), "fallback");
 });
 
-test("getPrimitiveUnionMatcherPartialW widens mixed string and numeric key returns to their union", () => {
+test("widened: a `_` fallback widens mixed string and numeric returns", () => {
     // Arrange
-    const factory = getPrimitiveUnionMatcherPartialW<"a" | "b" | 1 | 2>();
+    const factory = widened<"a" | "b" | 1 | 2>();
 
     // Act
     const matcher = factory({
@@ -316,7 +285,6 @@ test("getPrimitiveUnionMatcherPartialW widens mixed string and numeric key retur
             return 10 as const;
         },
         _: (s) => {
-            // The fallback sees the whole union, not a single literal.
             expectTypeOf(s).toEqualTypeOf<"a" | "b" | 1 | 2>();
             return "fallback" as const;
         },
@@ -333,9 +301,9 @@ test("getPrimitiveUnionMatcherPartialW widens mixed string and numeric key retur
     assert.equal(matcher(2), "fallback");
 });
 
-test("getPrimitiveUnionMatcherPartialW also accepts an exhaustive pattern", () => {
+test("widened: a `_` fallback also accepts an exhaustive pattern", () => {
     // Arrange
-    const factory = getPrimitiveUnionMatcherPartialW<"x" | "y">();
+    const factory = widened<"x" | "y">();
 
     // Act
     const matcher = factory({
@@ -350,8 +318,140 @@ test("getPrimitiveUnionMatcherPartialW also accepts an exhaustive pattern", () =
     });
 
     // Assert
-    // ❌ ReturnsStrict: mixed handler returns widen to their union.
     expectTypeOf(matcher).toEqualTypeOf<(shape: "x" | "y") => 1 | "two">();
     assert.equal(matcher("x"), 1);
     assert.equal(matcher("y"), "two");
 });
+
+// ============================================================================
+// Factory contracts — calls that must not compile
+// ============================================================================
+
+test("strict factory rejects patterns outside its contract", () => {
+    // Arrange
+    const factory = strict<"a" | "b">();
+
+    // Act / Assert — the calls below must not compile.
+    // `Parameters<typeof factory>[0]` resolves only the *last* overload, so it
+    // is not a sound "rejected" oracle (an accepted partial pattern does not
+    // extend it either); the call sites are the oracle instead.
+    factory({
+        a: () => 1,
+        b: () => 2,
+        // @ts-expect-error `c` is not part of the universe `"a" | "b"`
+        c: () => 3,
+    });
+    // @ts-expect-error a gap without `_` is not exhaustive
+    factory({ a: () => 1 });
+});
+
+test("widened factory rejects patterns outside its contract", () => {
+    // Arrange
+    const factory = widened<"x" | "y">();
+
+    // Act / Assert — the calls below must not compile
+    // @ts-expect-error `z` is not part of the universe `"x" | "y"`
+    factory({
+        x: () => 1 as const,
+        y: () => 2 as const,
+        z: () => 3 as const,
+    });
+    // @ts-expect-error a gap without `_` is not exhaustive
+    factory({ x: () => 1 as const });
+});
+
+// ============================================================================
+// Autocomplete — the language server is the oracle, not the type system
+// ============================================================================
+
+// Completion is a contextual-type property that the type system cannot observe,
+// so the cases below read the popup from the repo's language server (via the
+// test helper) rather than pairing `expectTypeOf` with `assert` — see
+// development/testing.md § Autocomplete. They probe the *matcher's* overloads,
+// which is why they live with the matcher and not with the helper.
+const REPO_ROOT = path.resolve(import.meta.dirname, "..");
+const UNIVERSE = `"a" | "b" | "c"`;
+
+// One session per probe: the tests share no language-server state (open
+// documents, project membership), so they pass in any order.
+const labelsFor = (
+    name: string,
+    factory: "strict" | "widened",
+    body: string,
+): Promise<readonly string[]> => {
+    const session = new LspSession(REPO_ROOT);
+    const target: CompletionTarget = {
+        file: `src/__autocomplete_${name}.ts`,
+        source: [
+            `import { ${factory} } from "./primitive.ts";`,
+            `const m = ${factory}<${UNIVERSE}>()({`,
+            body,
+            "});",
+            "",
+        ].join("\n"),
+    };
+    return session
+        .completionLabelsAt(target)
+        .then((result) => result.labels)
+        .finally(() => session.close());
+};
+
+test("autocomplete: an exhaustive pattern requires the universe, `_` optional", () => {
+    // Arrange
+    const name = "strict_fresh";
+
+    // Act
+    const labels = labelsFor(name, "strict", "    /*COMPLETE*/");
+
+    // Assert
+    return labels.then((result) => {
+        assert.deepEqual([...result], ["_?", "a", "b", "c"]);
+    });
+});
+
+test("autocomplete: handled keys drop out of the popup", () => {
+    // Arrange
+    const name = "strict_after_key";
+
+    // Act
+    const labels = labelsFor(
+        name,
+        "strict",
+        "    a: () => 1,\n    /*COMPLETE*/",
+    );
+
+    // Assert
+    return labels.then((result) => {
+        assert.deepEqual([...result], ["_?", "b", "c"]);
+    });
+});
+
+test("autocomplete: `_` makes the remaining keys optional", () => {
+    // Arrange
+    const name = "strict_after_fallback";
+
+    // Act
+    const labels = labelsFor(
+        name,
+        "strict",
+        "    _: () => 0,\n    /*COMPLETE*/",
+    );
+
+    // Assert
+    return labels.then((result) => {
+        assert.deepEqual([...result], ["a?", "b?", "c?"]);
+    });
+});
+
+test("autocomplete: `widened` offers the same popup as `strict`", () => {
+    // Arrange
+    const name = "widened_fresh";
+
+    // Act
+    const labels = labelsFor(name, "widened", "    /*COMPLETE*/");
+
+    // Assert
+    return labels.then((result) => {
+        assert.deepEqual([...result], ["_?", "a", "b", "c"]);
+    });
+});
diff --git a/src/primitive.ts b/src/primitive.ts
index 5046949..b5a8f55 100644
--- a/src/primitive.ts
+++ b/src/primitive.ts
@@ -1,71 +1,79 @@
-import type { Simplify, ValueOf } from "type-fest";
+import type { ValueOf } from "type-fest";
 
 type UnaryFn<T, R> = (shape: T) => R;
 
-// ============================================================================
-// ✔️ Exhaustive
-// ❌ ReturnsStrict
-// ============================================================================
-type PatternPrimitiveUnion<R, T extends string | number> = {
-    [K in T]: UnaryFn<K, R>;
+// `Extract` drops optional handlers (`undefined`) so `PatternReturns` also works
+// when `P`'s constraint has optional keys.
+type PatternReturns<P> = ReturnType<
+    Extract<ValueOf<P>, (...args: never[]) => unknown>
+>;
+
+type Handlers<R, T extends string | number> = { [K in T]: UnaryFn<K, R> };
+
+// Fallback form: `_` is a required key, the T-keys are optional.
+type Fallback<R, T extends string | number> = Partial<Handlers<R, T>> & {
+    _: UnaryFn<T, R>;
 };
 
-type PatternReturns<
-    P extends Record<string | number, UnaryFn<never, unknown>>,
-> = ReturnType<ValueOf<P>>;
+// Completion form: T-keys required, `_` optional. Overload #1, because
+// TypeScript takes the *first* overload as the contextual type for the popup.
+type ExhaustiveLoose<R, T extends string | number> = Handlers<R, T> & {
+    _?: UnaryFn<T, R>;
+};
 
-export const getPrimitiveUnionMatcherW: <T extends string | number>() => <
-    P extends PatternPrimitiveUnion<unknown, T>,
->(
-    pattern: Simplify<P>,
-) => UnaryFn<T, PatternReturns<P>> = () => (pattern) => (shape) =>
-    // Rewrite not to use any is possible, was evaluated and solutions were
-    // more complex than the current solution.
+// The `P`-constraints are deliberately *closed* (no index signature): that is
+// what makes the excess-property check reject keys outside `T`/`_`.
+type ExhaustiveShape<T extends string | number> = Handlers<unknown, T> & {
+    _?: UnaryFn<T, unknown>;
+};
+type FallbackShape<T extends string | number> = Partial<
+    Handlers<unknown, T>
+> & {
+    _: UnaryFn<T, unknown>;
+};
 
-    // oxlint-disable-next-line typescript/no-explicit-any typescript/no-unsafe-type-assertion
-    (pattern[shape] as any)(shape);
+// Strict returns: one common `R`. Overload order is load-bearing:
+//   #1 ExhaustiveLoose -> autocomplete `_?, a, b`
+//   #2 Fallback        -> accepts a partial pattern
+//   #3 Handlers (last) -> "Property 'b' is missing" is the reported error
+interface StrictFn<T extends string | number> {
+    <R>(pattern: ExhaustiveLoose<R, T>): UnaryFn<T, R>;
+    <R>(pattern: Fallback<R, T>): UnaryFn<T, R>;
+    <R>(pattern: Handlers<R, T>): UnaryFn<T, R>;
+}
 
-// ============================================================================
-// ✔️ Exhaustive
-// ✔️ ReturnsStrict
-// ============================================================================
-export const getPrimitiveUnionMatcher: <T extends string | number>() => <R>(
-    pattern: Simplify<PatternPrimitiveUnion<R, T>>,
-) => UnaryFn<T, R> = getPrimitiveUnionMatcherW;
+// Widened returns: the union of every handler's return type. `P` is the whole
+// parameter (not an intersection), so its closed constraint both supplies the
+// contextual/autocomplete type and enforces the excess-property check.
+interface WidenedFn<T extends string | number> {
+    <P extends ExhaustiveShape<T>>(
+        pattern: P & (keyof P extends T | "_" ? unknown : never),
+    ): UnaryFn<T, PatternReturns<P>>;
+    <P extends FallbackShape<T>>(
+        pattern: P & (keyof P extends T | "_" ? unknown : never),
+    ): UnaryFn<T, PatternReturns<P>>;
+    <P extends Handlers<unknown, T>>(
+        pattern: P & (keyof P extends T | "_" ? unknown : never),
+    ): UnaryFn<T, PatternReturns<P>>;
+}
 
-// ============================================================================
-// ❌ Exhaustive
-// ✔️ ReturnsStrict
-// ============================================================================
-type PatternPrimitiveUnionPartial<R, T extends string | number> =
-    | PatternPrimitiveUnion<R, T>
-    | (Partial<PatternPrimitiveUnion<R, T>> & {
-          _: UnaryFn<T, R>;
-      });
+type HandlerMap = Record<string | number, UnaryFn<never, unknown> | undefined>;
 
-export const getPrimitiveUnionMatcherPartial: <T extends string | number>() => <
-    R,
->(
-    pattern: Simplify<PatternPrimitiveUnionPartial<R, T>>,
-) => UnaryFn<T, R> = () => (pattern) => (shape) =>
-    // Rewrite not to use any is possible, was evaluated and solutions were
-    // more complex than the current solution.
+const dispatch =
+    (pattern: HandlerMap) =>
+    (shape: string | number): unknown => {
+        const handler = pattern[shape] ?? pattern["_"];
+        return handler === undefined
+            ? undefined
+            : Reflect.apply(handler, undefined, [shape]);
+    };
 
-    // oxlint-disable-next-line typescript/no-explicit-any typescript/no-unsafe-type-assertion
-    (pattern[shape] ?? (pattern as any)["_"])(shape);
+export const strict =
+    <T extends string | number>(): StrictFn<T> =>
+    (pattern: HandlerMap) =>
+        dispatch(pattern);
 
-// ============================================================================
-// ❌ Exhaustive
-// ❌ ReturnsStrict
-// ============================================================================
-export const getPrimitiveUnionMatcherPartialW: <
-    T extends string | number,
->() => <P extends PatternPrimitiveUnionPartial<unknown, T>>(
-    // `Simplify<P>` is the inference hook: callers infer `P` from the argument.
-    // the second half pins the impl parameter's `R` to `PatternReturns<P>`.
-    // that makes the `= getPrimitiveUnionMatcherPartial` assignment type-check.
-    // neither half works alone.
-    // without the witness the union's `_` arm demands `_ ∈ keyof P`.
-    // without `Simplify<P>` the parameter types do not compare.
-    pattern: Simplify<P> & PatternPrimitiveUnionPartial<PatternReturns<P>, T>,
-) => UnaryFn<T, PatternReturns<P>> = getPrimitiveUnionMatcherPartial;
+export const widened =
+    <T extends string | number>(): WidenedFn<T> =>
+    (pattern: HandlerMap) =>
+        dispatch(pattern);