diff --git a/package-lock.json b/package-lock.json
index 82ea06f559..071f56418a 100644
--- a/package-lock.json
+++ b/package-lock.json
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
   "name": "svelte",
-  "version": "3.0.0-alpha1",
+  "version": "3.0.0-alpha3",
   "lockfileVersion": 1,
   "requires": true,
   "dependencies": {
diff --git a/src/compile/nodes/Element.ts b/src/compile/nodes/Element.ts
index 391194d004..b2405ce8a9 100644
--- a/src/compile/nodes/Element.ts
+++ b/src/compile/nodes/Element.ts
@@ -551,7 +551,7 @@ export default class Element extends Node {
 						message: `'${binding.name}' is not a valid binding on void elements like <${this.name}>. Use a wrapper element instead`
 					});
 				}
-			} else {
+			} else if (name !== 'this') {
 				component.error(binding, {
 					code: `invalid-binding`,
 					message: `'${binding.name}' is not a valid binding`
diff --git a/src/compile/render-dom/wrappers/Element/Binding.ts b/src/compile/render-dom/wrappers/Element/Binding.ts
index 318bf8ffe6..6b2f37cfb1 100644
--- a/src/compile/render-dom/wrappers/Element/Binding.ts
+++ b/src/compile/render-dom/wrappers/Element/Binding.ts
@@ -178,6 +178,10 @@ function getDomUpdater(
 		return null;
 	}
 
+	if (binding.node.name === 'this') {
+		return null;
+	}
+
 	if (node.name === 'select') {
 		return node.getStaticAttributeValue('multiple') === true ?
 			`@selectOptions(${element.var}, ${snippet})` :
@@ -259,6 +263,10 @@ function getValueFromDom(
 	const { node } = element;
 	const { name } = binding.node;
 
+	if (name === 'this') {
+		return `$$node`;
+	}
+
 	// <select bind:value='selected>
 	if (node.name === 'select') {
 		return node.getStaticAttributeValue('multiple') === true ?
diff --git a/src/compile/render-dom/wrappers/Element/index.ts b/src/compile/render-dom/wrappers/Element/index.ts
index 91bfc8e410..bd3baa3ad6 100644
--- a/src/compile/render-dom/wrappers/Element/index.ts
+++ b/src/compile/render-dom/wrappers/Element/index.ts
@@ -185,7 +185,6 @@ export default class ElementWrapper extends Wrapper {
 			if (node.classes.length > 0) this.parent.cannotUseInnerHTML();
 			if (node.intro || node.outro) this.parent.cannotUseInnerHTML();
 			if (node.handlers.length > 0) this.parent.cannotUseInnerHTML();
-			if (node.ref) this.parent.cannotUseInnerHTML();
 
 			if (this.node.name === 'option') this.parent.cannotUseInnerHTML();
 
@@ -300,7 +299,6 @@ export default class ElementWrapper extends Wrapper {
 
 		this.addBindings(block);
 		this.addEventHandlers(block);
-		if (this.node.ref) this.addRef(block);
 		this.addAttributes(block);
 		this.addTransitions(block);
 		this.addAnimation(block);
@@ -527,6 +525,23 @@ export default class ElementWrapper extends Wrapper {
 		});
 
 		this.initialUpdate = mungedBindings.map(binding => binding.initialUpdate).filter(Boolean).join('\n');
+
+		const this_binding = this.bindings.find(b => b.node.name === 'this');
+		if (this_binding) {
+			const name = renderer.component.getUniqueName(`${this.var}_binding`);
+			renderer.component.declarations.push(name);
+			renderer.component.template_references.add(name);
+
+			const { handler } = this_binding.munge(block);
+
+			renderer.component.partly_hoisted.push(deindent`
+				function ${name}($$node) {
+					${handler.mutation}
+				}
+			`);
+
+			block.builders.mount.addLine(`ctx.${name}(${this.var});`);
+		}
 	}
 
 	addAttributes(block: Block) {
@@ -597,21 +612,6 @@ export default class ElementWrapper extends Wrapper {
 		addEventHandlers(block, this.var, this.node.handlers);
 	}
 
-	addRef(block: Block) {
-		const ref = `#component.$$.refs.${this.node.ref.name}`;
-
-		block.builders.mount.addLine(
-			`${ref} = ${this.var};`
-		);
-
-		block.builders.destroy.addLine(
-			`if (${ref} === ${this.var}) {
-				${ref} = null;
-				#component.$$.inject_refs(#component.$$.refs);
-			}`
-		);
-	}
-
 	addTransitions(
 		block: Block
 	) {
diff --git a/src/compile/render-dom/wrappers/InlineComponent/index.ts b/src/compile/render-dom/wrappers/InlineComponent/index.ts
index 0255a195fb..9bf8e89610 100644
--- a/src/compile/render-dom/wrappers/InlineComponent/index.ts
+++ b/src/compile/render-dom/wrappers/InlineComponent/index.ts
@@ -196,6 +196,32 @@ export default class InlineComponentWrapper extends Wrapper {
 		}
 
 		const munged_bindings = this.node.bindings.map(binding => {
+			if (binding.name === 'this') {
+				const fn = component.getUniqueName(`${this.var}_binding`);
+				component.declarations.push(fn);
+				component.template_references.add(fn);
+
+				let lhs;
+
+				if (binding.isContextual && binding.expression.node.type === 'Identifier') {
+					// bind:x={y} — we can't just do `y = x`, we need to
+					// to `array[index] = x;
+					const { name } = binding.expression.node;
+					const { object, property, snippet } = block.bindings.get(name)();
+					lhs = snippet;
+				} else {
+					lhs = component.source.slice(binding.expression.node.start, binding.expression.node.end).trim();
+				}
+
+				component.partly_hoisted.push(deindent`
+					function ${fn}($$component) {
+						${lhs} = $$component;
+					}
+				`);
+
+				return `ctx.${fn}(${this.var})`;
+			}
+
 			component.has_reactive_assignments = true;
 
 			const name = component.getUniqueName(`${this.var}_${binding.name}_binding`);
diff --git a/test/hydration/samples/element-ref/main.html b/test/hydration/samples/element-ref/main.html
index bf046f16b1..20aaa794fa 100644
--- a/test/hydration/samples/element-ref/main.html
+++ b/test/hydration/samples/element-ref/main.html
@@ -2,4 +2,4 @@
 	export let h1;
 </script>
 
-<h1 ref:h1>Hello world!</h1>
\ No newline at end of file
+<h1 bind:this={h1}>Hello world!</h1>
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/test/parser/samples/css-ref-selector/input.html b/test/parser/samples/css-ref-selector/input.html
deleted file mode 100644
index 696075f93f..0000000000
--- a/test/parser/samples/css-ref-selector/input.html
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,7 +0,0 @@
-<div ref:foo/>
-
-<style>
-	ref:foo {
-		color: red;
-	}
-</style>
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/test/parser/samples/css-ref-selector/output.json b/test/parser/samples/css-ref-selector/output.json
deleted file mode 100644
index e7c6e984c5..0000000000
--- a/test/parser/samples/css-ref-selector/output.json
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,99 +0,0 @@
-{
-	"html": {
-		"start": 0,
-		"end": 14,
-		"type": "Fragment",
-		"children": [
-			{
-				"start": 0,
-				"end": 14,
-				"type": "Element",
-				"name": "div",
-				"attributes": [
-					{
-						"start": 5,
-						"end": 12,
-						"type": "Ref",
-						"name": "foo",
-						"modifiers": [],
-						"expression": null
-					}
-				],
-				"children": []
-			},
-			{
-				"start": 14,
-				"end": 16,
-				"type": "Text",
-				"data": "\n\n"
-			}
-		]
-	},
-	"css": [
-		{
-			"start": 16,
-			"end": 60,
-			"attributes": [],
-			"children": [
-				{
-					"type": "Rule",
-					"selector": {
-						"type": "SelectorList",
-						"children": [
-							{
-								"type": "Selector",
-								"children": [
-									{
-										"type": "RefSelector",
-										"start": 25,
-										"end": 32,
-										"name": "foo"
-									}
-								],
-								"start": 25,
-								"end": 32
-							}
-						],
-						"start": 25,
-						"end": 32
-					},
-					"block": {
-						"type": "Block",
-						"children": [
-							{
-								"type": "Declaration",
-								"important": false,
-								"property": "color",
-								"value": {
-									"type": "Value",
-									"children": [
-										{
-											"type": "Identifier",
-											"name": "red",
-											"start": 44,
-											"end": 47
-										}
-									],
-									"start": 43,
-									"end": 47
-								},
-								"start": 37,
-								"end": 47
-							}
-						],
-						"start": 33,
-						"end": 51
-					},
-					"start": 25,
-					"end": 51
-				}
-			],
-			"content": {
-				"start": 23,
-				"end": 52,
-				"styles": "\n\tref:foo {\n\t\tcolor: red;\n\t}\n"
-			}
-		}
-	],
-	"js": []
-}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/test/parser/samples/refs/input.html b/test/parser/samples/refs/input.html
index fccbae2690..8db9a2bcfc 100644
--- a/test/parser/samples/refs/input.html
+++ b/test/parser/samples/refs/input.html
@@ -1 +1 @@
-<canvas ref:foo></canvas>
\ No newline at end of file
+<canvas bind:this={foo}></canvas>
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/test/parser/samples/refs/output.json b/test/parser/samples/refs/output.json
index f91ada05ca..3cd6c4d9fa 100644
--- a/test/parser/samples/refs/output.json
+++ b/test/parser/samples/refs/output.json
@@ -1,22 +1,27 @@
 {
 	"html": {
 		"start": 0,
-		"end": 25,
+		"end": 33,
 		"type": "Fragment",
 		"children": [
 			{
 				"start": 0,
-				"end": 25,
+				"end": 33,
 				"type": "Element",
 				"name": "canvas",
 				"attributes": [
 					{
 						"start": 8,
-						"end": 15,
-						"type": "Ref",
-						"name": "foo",
+						"end": 23,
+						"type": "Binding",
+						"name": "this",
 						"modifiers": [],
-						"expression": null
+						"expression": {
+							"type": "Identifier",
+							"start": 19,
+							"end": 22,
+							"name": "foo"
+						}
 					}
 				],
 				"children": []
diff --git a/test/runtime/samples/after-render-triggers-update/main.html b/test/runtime/samples/after-render-triggers-update/main.html
index 59235aef12..6e4673202e 100644
--- a/test/runtime/samples/after-render-triggers-update/main.html
+++ b/test/runtime/samples/after-render-triggers-update/main.html
@@ -11,5 +11,5 @@
 	});
 </script>
 
-<p ref:a>{value}</p>
-<p ref:b></p>
\ No newline at end of file
+<p bind:this={a}>{value}</p>
+<p bind:this={b}></p>
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/test/runtime/samples/autofocus/main.html b/test/runtime/samples/autofocus/main.html
index 3912dcda74..561596e9cf 100644
--- a/test/runtime/samples/autofocus/main.html
+++ b/test/runtime/samples/autofocus/main.html
@@ -4,5 +4,5 @@
 </script>
 
 {#if visible}
-	<input ref:input autofocus>
+	<input bind:this={input} autofocus>
 {/if}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/test/runtime/samples/await-then-catch-event/main.html b/test/runtime/samples/await-then-catch-event/main.html
index 7ed2719e7b..087affb1ad 100644
--- a/test/runtime/samples/await-then-catch-event/main.html
+++ b/test/runtime/samples/await-then-catch-event/main.html
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@
 {#await thePromise}
 	<p>loading...</p>
 {:then theValue}
-	<button ref:button on:click='{() => clicked = theValue}'>click me</button>
+	<button bind:this={button} on:click='{() => clicked = theValue}'>click me</button>
 {:catch theError}
 	<p>oh no! {theError.message}</p>
 {/await}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/test/runtime/samples/before-render-chain/main.html b/test/runtime/samples/before-render-chain/main.html
index 8156f7e8a5..e194fe786a 100644
--- a/test/runtime/samples/before-render-chain/main.html
+++ b/test/runtime/samples/before-render-chain/main.html
@@ -4,4 +4,4 @@
 	import List from './List.html';
 </script>
 
-<List ref:list/>
+<List bind:this={list}/>
diff --git a/test/runtime/samples/binding-select-in-yield/main.html b/test/runtime/samples/binding-select-in-yield/main.html
index 38304fba80..cb1499e1c7 100644
--- a/test/runtime/samples/binding-select-in-yield/main.html
+++ b/test/runtime/samples/binding-select-in-yield/main.html
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@
 	export let letters = ['a', 'b', 'c'];
 </script>
 
-<Modal ref:modal>
+<Modal bind:this={modal}>
 	<span>{letter}</span>
 	<select bind:value={letter}>
 		{#each letters as letter}
diff --git a/test/runtime/samples/bindings-before-onmount/main.html b/test/runtime/samples/bindings-before-onmount/main.html
index 6bb20cc3fe..efb36a208e 100644
--- a/test/runtime/samples/bindings-before-onmount/main.html
+++ b/test/runtime/samples/bindings-before-onmount/main.html
@@ -4,4 +4,4 @@
 	export let one;
 </script>
 
-<One ref:one/>
\ No newline at end of file
+<One bind:this={one}/>
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/test/runtime/samples/bindings-coalesced/main.html b/test/runtime/samples/bindings-coalesced/main.html
index 820c1812e9..cf0b85491a 100644
--- a/test/runtime/samples/bindings-coalesced/main.html
+++ b/test/runtime/samples/bindings-coalesced/main.html
@@ -8,5 +8,5 @@
 	export let baz;
 </script>
 
-<Foo ref:foo bind:bar bind:baz/>
-<p ref:p>{bar + baz}</p>
\ No newline at end of file
+<Foo bind:this={foo} bind:bar bind:baz/>
+<p bind:this={p}>{bar + baz}</p>
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/test/runtime/samples/component-nested-deep/main.html b/test/runtime/samples/component-nested-deep/main.html
index 1469743659..57e4fc02b1 100644
--- a/test/runtime/samples/component-nested-deep/main.html
+++ b/test/runtime/samples/component-nested-deep/main.html
@@ -4,4 +4,4 @@
 	export let l1;
 </script>
 
-<Level1 ref:l1 />
\ No newline at end of file
+<Level1 bind:this={l1} />
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/test/runtime/samples/component-ref/main.html b/test/runtime/samples/component-ref/main.html
index 9101d58566..a91173c5af 100644
--- a/test/runtime/samples/component-ref/main.html
+++ b/test/runtime/samples/component-ref/main.html
@@ -4,5 +4,5 @@
 </script>
 
 <div>
-	<Widget ref:widget/>
+	<Widget bind:this={widget}/>
 </div>
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/test/runtime/samples/component-slot-dynamic/main.html b/test/runtime/samples/component-slot-dynamic/main.html
index b969fe6bec..ad952b38bb 100644
--- a/test/runtime/samples/component-slot-dynamic/main.html
+++ b/test/runtime/samples/component-slot-dynamic/main.html
@@ -4,6 +4,6 @@
 	export let nested;
 </script>
 
-<Nested ref:nested>
+<Nested bind:this={nested}>
 	<p>override default slot</p>
 </Nested>
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/test/runtime/samples/component-yield-if/main.html b/test/runtime/samples/component-yield-if/main.html
index 2dab85e36e..768993e064 100644
--- a/test/runtime/samples/component-yield-if/main.html
+++ b/test/runtime/samples/component-yield-if/main.html
@@ -6,5 +6,5 @@
 </script>
 
 <div>
-	<Widget ref:widget>{data}</Widget>
+	<Widget bind:this={widget}>{data}</Widget>
 </div>
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/test/runtime/samples/deconflict-component-refs/main.html b/test/runtime/samples/deconflict-component-refs/main.html
index 0906135414..3f19098676 100644
--- a/test/runtime/samples/deconflict-component-refs/main.html
+++ b/test/runtime/samples/deconflict-component-refs/main.html
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@
 	{#each components as component}
 		<li>
 			{#if component.edit}
-				<input ref:name bind:value={component.name} />
+				<input bind:this={name} bind:value={component.name} />
 			{:else}
 				{component.name}
 			{/if}
diff --git a/test/runtime/samples/dynamic-component-ref/main.html b/test/runtime/samples/dynamic-component-ref/main.html
index cd7b34ed54..fe9c52cab6 100644
--- a/test/runtime/samples/dynamic-component-ref/main.html
+++ b/test/runtime/samples/dynamic-component-ref/main.html
@@ -4,4 +4,4 @@
 	export let test;
 </script>
 
-<svelte:component this={Foo} ref:test/>
+<svelte:component this={Foo} bind:this={test}/>
diff --git a/test/runtime/samples/event-handler-removal/main.html b/test/runtime/samples/event-handler-removal/main.html
index 4589640ec6..29c7e32567 100644
--- a/test/runtime/samples/event-handler-removal/main.html
+++ b/test/runtime/samples/event-handler-removal/main.html
@@ -5,5 +5,5 @@
 </script>
 
 {#if visible}
-	<input ref:input on:blur='{() => blurred = true}'>
+	<input bind:this={input} on:blur='{() => blurred = true}'>
 {/if}
diff --git a/test/runtime/samples/immutable-nested/main.html b/test/runtime/samples/immutable-nested/main.html
index f036cbdfc3..aa8efa9ebc 100644
--- a/test/runtime/samples/immutable-nested/main.html
+++ b/test/runtime/samples/immutable-nested/main.html
@@ -5,5 +5,5 @@
 </script>
 
 <div>
-  <Nested ref:nested />
+  <Nested bind:this={nested} />
 </div>
diff --git a/test/runtime/samples/nested-transition-detach-if-false/main.html b/test/runtime/samples/nested-transition-detach-if-false/main.html
index 41429fca38..d52c56c5cf 100644
--- a/test/runtime/samples/nested-transition-detach-if-false/main.html
+++ b/test/runtime/samples/nested-transition-detach-if-false/main.html
@@ -4,4 +4,4 @@
 	import Folder from './Folder.html';
 </script>
 
-<Folder ref:folder dir="a"/>
\ No newline at end of file
+<Folder bind:this={folder} dir="a"/>
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/test/runtime/samples/ondestroy-before-cleanup/Top.html b/test/runtime/samples/ondestroy-before-cleanup/Top.html
index a0a3549ef4..273b89d836 100644
--- a/test/runtime/samples/ondestroy-before-cleanup/Top.html
+++ b/test/runtime/samples/ondestroy-before-cleanup/Top.html
@@ -9,4 +9,4 @@
 	});
 </script>
 
-<div ref:element></div>
+<div bind:this={element}></div>
diff --git a/test/runtime/samples/ondestroy-before-cleanup/main.html b/test/runtime/samples/ondestroy-before-cleanup/main.html
index 15da7a5cba..34053dd613 100644
--- a/test/runtime/samples/ondestroy-before-cleanup/main.html
+++ b/test/runtime/samples/ondestroy-before-cleanup/main.html
@@ -6,5 +6,5 @@
 </script>
 
 {#if visible}
-	<Top ref:top></Top>
+	<Top bind:this={top}></Top>
 {/if}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/test/runtime/samples/onmount-fires-when-ready-nested/Widget.html b/test/runtime/samples/onmount-fires-when-ready-nested/Widget.html
index 80c2dad6c5..a935dcf337 100644
--- a/test/runtime/samples/onmount-fires-when-ready-nested/Widget.html
+++ b/test/runtime/samples/onmount-fires-when-ready-nested/Widget.html
@@ -10,4 +10,4 @@
 	});
 </script>
 
-<p ref:x>{inDocument}</p>
+<p bind:this={x}>{inDocument}</p>
diff --git a/test/runtime/samples/onmount-fires-when-ready/Widget.html b/test/runtime/samples/onmount-fires-when-ready/Widget.html
index 80c2dad6c5..a935dcf337 100644
--- a/test/runtime/samples/onmount-fires-when-ready/Widget.html
+++ b/test/runtime/samples/onmount-fires-when-ready/Widget.html
@@ -10,4 +10,4 @@
 	});
 </script>
 
-<p ref:x>{inDocument}</p>
+<p bind:this={x}>{inDocument}</p>
diff --git a/test/runtime/samples/refs-no-innerhtml/main.html b/test/runtime/samples/refs-no-innerhtml/main.html
index e2f7740f2b..014fac9221 100644
--- a/test/runtime/samples/refs-no-innerhtml/main.html
+++ b/test/runtime/samples/refs-no-innerhtml/main.html
@@ -2,4 +2,4 @@
 	export let foo;
 </script>
 
-<div><canvas ref:foo></canvas></div>
+<div><canvas bind:this={foo}></canvas></div>
diff --git a/test/runtime/samples/refs-unset/main.html b/test/runtime/samples/refs-unset/main.html
index 6dc6d654da..9345408945 100644
--- a/test/runtime/samples/refs-unset/main.html
+++ b/test/runtime/samples/refs-unset/main.html
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
 </script>
 
 {#if x}
-	<canvas ref:foo data-x='true'></canvas>
+	<canvas bind:this={foo} data-x='true'></canvas>
 {:else}
-	<canvas ref:foo data-x='false'></canvas>
+	<canvas bind:this={foo} data-x='false'></canvas>
 {/if}
diff --git a/test/runtime/samples/refs/main.html b/test/runtime/samples/refs/main.html
index 68b013377d..9f71ec0a6b 100644
--- a/test/runtime/samples/refs/main.html
+++ b/test/runtime/samples/refs/main.html
@@ -2,4 +2,4 @@
 	export let foo;
 </script>
 
-<canvas ref:foo></canvas>
+<canvas bind:this={foo}></canvas>
diff --git a/test/runtime/samples/transition-js-if-block-outro-timeout/main.html b/test/runtime/samples/transition-js-if-block-outro-timeout/main.html
index 2e819c79ab..8b77998a94 100644
--- a/test/runtime/samples/transition-js-if-block-outro-timeout/main.html
+++ b/test/runtime/samples/transition-js-if-block-outro-timeout/main.html
@@ -13,5 +13,5 @@
 </script>
 
 {#if visible}
-	<div out:fade style="opacity: 1;" ref:div>yes</div>
+	<div out:fade style="opacity: 1;" bind:this={div}>yes</div>
 {/if}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/test/runtime/samples/transition-js-if-else-block-dynamic-outro/main.html b/test/runtime/samples/transition-js-if-else-block-dynamic-outro/main.html
index 41809bd664..3fba1c9830 100644
--- a/test/runtime/samples/transition-js-if-else-block-dynamic-outro/main.html
+++ b/test/runtime/samples/transition-js-if-else-block-dynamic-outro/main.html
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@
 </script>
 
 {#if x}
-	<div ref:yes out:foo>{z}</div>
+	<div bind:this={yes} out:foo>{z}</div>
 {:else}
-	<div ref:no out:foo>{z}</div>
+	<div bind:this={no} out:foo>{z}</div>
 {/if}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/test/runtime/samples/transition-js-if-else-block-intro/main.html b/test/runtime/samples/transition-js-if-else-block-intro/main.html
index 117f2ba8ee..d25cbb0412 100644
--- a/test/runtime/samples/transition-js-if-else-block-intro/main.html
+++ b/test/runtime/samples/transition-js-if-else-block-intro/main.html
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@
 </script>
 
 {#if x}
-	<div ref:yes in:foo>yes</div>
+	<div bind:this={yes} in:foo>yes</div>
 {:else}
-	<div ref:no in:foo>no</div>
+	<div bind:this={no} in:foo>no</div>
 {/if}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/test/runtime/samples/transition-js-if-else-block-outro/main.html b/test/runtime/samples/transition-js-if-else-block-outro/main.html
index ba5c762146..c0c20e3c87 100644
--- a/test/runtime/samples/transition-js-if-else-block-outro/main.html
+++ b/test/runtime/samples/transition-js-if-else-block-outro/main.html
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@
 </script>
 
 {#if x}
-	<div ref:yes out:foo>yes</div>
+	<div bind:this={yes} out:foo>yes</div>
 {:else}
-	<div ref:no out:foo>no</div>
+	<div bind:this={no} out:foo>no</div>
 {/if}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/test/runtime/samples/transition-js-if-elseif-block-outro/main.html b/test/runtime/samples/transition-js-if-elseif-block-outro/main.html
index ca4e4301da..462e073bd7 100644
--- a/test/runtime/samples/transition-js-if-elseif-block-outro/main.html
+++ b/test/runtime/samples/transition-js-if-elseif-block-outro/main.html
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@
 </script>
 
 {#if x}
-	<div ref:yes out:foo>yes</div>
+	<div bind:this={yes} out:foo>yes</div>
 {:elseif y}
-	<div ref:no out:foo>no</div>
+	<div bind:this={no} out:foo>no</div>
 {/if}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/test/server-side-rendering/samples/component-refs-and-attributes/main.html b/test/server-side-rendering/samples/component-refs-and-attributes/main.html
index 86b3ddf1a9..8192bdf402 100644
--- a/test/server-side-rendering/samples/component-refs-and-attributes/main.html
+++ b/test/server-side-rendering/samples/component-refs-and-attributes/main.html
@@ -6,4 +6,4 @@
 	export let foo = 42;
 </script>
 
-<div><Widget ref:widget foo='{foo}'/></div>
+<div><Widget bind:this={widget} foo='{foo}'/></div>
diff --git a/test/server-side-rendering/samples/component-refs/main.html b/test/server-side-rendering/samples/component-refs/main.html
index 55d2abc4cd..96b3d15de4 100644
--- a/test/server-side-rendering/samples/component-refs/main.html
+++ b/test/server-side-rendering/samples/component-refs/main.html
@@ -4,4 +4,4 @@
 	import Widget from './Widget.html';
 </script>
 
-<div><Widget ref:widget/></div>
+<div><Widget bind:this={widget}/></div>
diff --git a/test/validator/samples/reference-must-be-valid-name/errors.json b/test/validator/samples/reference-must-be-valid-name/errors.json
deleted file mode 100644
index eb1c92d6d2..0000000000
--- a/test/validator/samples/reference-must-be-valid-name/errors.json
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,15 +0,0 @@
-[{
-  "message": "Reference name 'foo-bar' is invalid — must be a valid identifier such as foo_bar",
-  "start": {
-    "line": 1,
-    "column": 5,
-    "character": 5 
-  },
-  "end": {
-    "line": 1,
-    "column": 16,
-    "character": 16
-  },
-  "pos": 5,
-  "code": "invalid-reference-name"
-}]
diff --git a/test/validator/samples/reference-must-be-valid-name/input.html b/test/validator/samples/reference-must-be-valid-name/input.html
deleted file mode 100644
index a995bd8e6e..0000000000
--- a/test/validator/samples/reference-must-be-valid-name/input.html
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,8 +0,0 @@
-<div ref:foo-bar>
-</div>
-
-<style>
-	ref:foo-bar {
-		display: flex;
-	}
-</style>