diff --git a/build.gradle.kts b/build.gradle.kts
index 614495f46..9df5b7f98 100644
--- a/build.gradle.kts
+++ b/build.gradle.kts
@@ -44,6 +44,8 @@ plugins {
     // Without `apply false`, the plugin is automatically applied to the main "jar" task, which somehow interferes with
     // the "spotbugsMain" task, causing it to fail. Instead, we will create a separate task to generate the bundle info.
     id("biz.aQute.bnd.builder") version "6.4.0" apply false
+
+    id("me.champeau.jmh") version "0.7.2"
 }
 
 jacoco {
diff --git a/settings.gradle.kts b/settings.gradle.kts
index 054e32e32..89ea6b1f1 100644
--- a/settings.gradle.kts
+++ b/settings.gradle.kts
@@ -6,3 +6,4 @@ plugins {
 
 rootProject.name = "ion-java"
 include("ion-java-cli")
+include("jmh")
diff --git a/src/jmh/java/com/amazon/ion/IonValueGetTypeBenchmark.java b/src/jmh/java/com/amazon/ion/IonValueGetTypeBenchmark.java
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..518c0b9f0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/jmh/java/com/amazon/ion/IonValueGetTypeBenchmark.java
@@ -0,0 +1,101 @@
+// Copyright Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates. All Rights Reserved.
+// SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0
+package com.amazon.ion;
+
+
+import com.amazon.ion.system.IonSystemBuilder;
+import org.openjdk.jmh.annotations.Benchmark;
+import org.openjdk.jmh.annotations.BenchmarkMode;
+import org.openjdk.jmh.annotations.Fork;
+import org.openjdk.jmh.annotations.Measurement;
+import org.openjdk.jmh.annotations.Mode;
+import org.openjdk.jmh.annotations.OutputTimeUnit;
+import org.openjdk.jmh.annotations.Scope;
+import org.openjdk.jmh.annotations.Setup;
+import org.openjdk.jmh.annotations.State;
+import org.openjdk.jmh.annotations.Warmup;
+import org.openjdk.jmh.infra.Blackhole;
+
+import java.io.IOException;
+import java.nio.file.Paths;
+import java.util.concurrent.TimeUnit;
+
+@BenchmarkMode(Mode.AverageTime)
+@OutputTimeUnit(TimeUnit.NANOSECONDS)
+@Fork(1)
+@Warmup(iterations = 3, time = 10, timeUnit = TimeUnit.SECONDS)
+@Measurement(iterations = 5, time = 10, timeUnit = TimeUnit.SECONDS)
+@State(Scope.Benchmark)
+public class IonValueGetTypeBenchmark {
+
+    private static final IonSystem SYSTEM = IonSystemBuilder.standard().build();
+
+    private final IonBool bool = SYSTEM.newBool(false);
+    private final IonInt integer = SYSTEM.newInt(123);
+    private final IonNull ionNull = SYSTEM.newNull();
+    private final IonFloat ionFloat = SYSTEM.newFloat(42);
+    private final IonDecimal ionDecimal = SYSTEM.newDecimal(1.23);
+    private final IonString string = SYSTEM.newString("abc");
+    private final IonSymbol symbol = SYSTEM.newSymbol("def");
+    private final IonBlob blob = SYSTEM.newBlob(new byte[]{});
+    private final IonClob clob = SYSTEM.newClob(new byte[]{});
+    private final IonStruct struct = SYSTEM.newEmptyStruct();
+    private final IonList list = SYSTEM.newEmptyList();
+    private final IonSexp sexp = SYSTEM.newEmptySexp();
+    private final IonDatagram dg = SYSTEM.newDatagram();
+
+    @Benchmark
+    public int ionValueGetType() {
+        return integer.getType().ordinal() +
+            bool.getType().ordinal() +
+            ionNull.getType().ordinal() +
+            ionFloat.getType().ordinal() +
+            ionDecimal.getType().ordinal() +
+            string.getType().ordinal() +
+            symbol.getType().ordinal() +
+            blob.getType().ordinal() +
+            clob.getType().ordinal() +
+            struct.getType().ordinal() +
+            list.getType().ordinal() +
+            sexp.getType().ordinal() +
+            dg.getType().ordinal();
+    }
+
+    private final IonDatagram container;
+    private Blackhole bh;
+
+    public IonValueGetTypeBenchmark() {
+        try {
+            container = SYSTEM.getLoader().load(Paths.get("ion-tests/iontestdata/good/message2.ion").toFile());
+        } catch (IOException e) {
+            throw new RuntimeException(e);
+        }
+    }
+
+    @Setup
+    public void setup(Blackhole bh) {
+        this.bh = bh;
+    }
+
+    @Benchmark
+    public void getTypeContainer() {
+        getTypeRecursive(container);
+    }
+
+    public void getTypeRecursive(IonContainer container) {
+        bh.consume(container.getType());
+        for (IonValue child : container) {
+            IonType type = child.getType();
+            bh.consume(type);
+            switch (type) {
+                case STRUCT:
+                case LIST:
+                case SEXP:
+                    getTypeRecursive((IonContainer) child);
+                    break;
+                default:
+                    break;
+            }
+        }
+    }
+}
diff --git a/src/main/java/com/amazon/ion/impl/lite/IonBlobLite.java b/src/main/java/com/amazon/ion/impl/lite/IonBlobLite.java
index baffccb7e..bcab70da3 100644
--- a/src/main/java/com/amazon/ion/impl/lite/IonBlobLite.java
+++ b/src/main/java/com/amazon/ion/impl/lite/IonBlobLite.java
@@ -1,18 +1,5 @@
-/*
- * Copyright 2007-2019 Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates. All Rights Reserved.
- *
- * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License").
- * You may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
- * A copy of the License is located at
- *
- *     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
- *
- * or in the "license" file accompanying this file. This file 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.
- */
-
+// Copyright Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates. All Rights Reserved.
+// SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0
 package com.amazon.ion.impl.lite;
 
 import com.amazon.ion.IonBlob;
@@ -67,7 +54,7 @@ int scalarHashCode() {
     }
 
     @Override
-    public IonType getType()
+    public IonType getTypeSlow()
     {
         return IonType.BLOB;
     }
diff --git a/src/main/java/com/amazon/ion/impl/lite/IonBoolLite.java b/src/main/java/com/amazon/ion/impl/lite/IonBoolLite.java
index 2ceab4391..2429a72f7 100644
--- a/src/main/java/com/amazon/ion/impl/lite/IonBoolLite.java
+++ b/src/main/java/com/amazon/ion/impl/lite/IonBoolLite.java
@@ -1,18 +1,5 @@
-/*
- * Copyright 2007-2019 Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates. All Rights Reserved.
- *
- * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License").
- * You may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
- * A copy of the License is located at
- *
- *     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
- *
- * or in the "license" file accompanying this file. This file 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.
- */
-
+// Copyright Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates. All Rights Reserved.
+// SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0
 package com.amazon.ion.impl.lite;
 
 import com.amazon.ion.IonBool;
@@ -68,7 +55,7 @@ public IonBoolLite clone()
     }
 
     @Override
-    public IonType getType()
+    public IonType getTypeSlow()
     {
         return IonType.BOOL;
     }
diff --git a/src/main/java/com/amazon/ion/impl/lite/IonClobLite.java b/src/main/java/com/amazon/ion/impl/lite/IonClobLite.java
index aa55dd773..702d29f88 100644
--- a/src/main/java/com/amazon/ion/impl/lite/IonClobLite.java
+++ b/src/main/java/com/amazon/ion/impl/lite/IonClobLite.java
@@ -1,18 +1,5 @@
-/*
- * Copyright 2007-2019 Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates. All Rights Reserved.
- *
- * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License").
- * You may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
- * A copy of the License is located at
- *
- *     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
- *
- * or in the "license" file accompanying this file. This file 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.
- */
-
+// Copyright Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates. All Rights Reserved.
+// SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0
 package com.amazon.ion.impl.lite;
 
 import com.amazon.ion.IonClob;
@@ -70,7 +57,7 @@ int scalarHashCode() {
     }
 
     @Override
-    public IonType getType()
+    public IonType getTypeSlow()
     {
         return IonType.CLOB;
     }
diff --git a/src/main/java/com/amazon/ion/impl/lite/IonDatagramLite.java b/src/main/java/com/amazon/ion/impl/lite/IonDatagramLite.java
index 4f37ec801..6edf35a66 100644
--- a/src/main/java/com/amazon/ion/impl/lite/IonDatagramLite.java
+++ b/src/main/java/com/amazon/ion/impl/lite/IonDatagramLite.java
@@ -1,18 +1,5 @@
-/*
- * Copyright 2007-2019 Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates. All Rights Reserved.
- *
- * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License").
- * You may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
- * A copy of the License is located at
- *
- *     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
- *
- * or in the "license" file accompanying this file. This file 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.
- */
-
+// Copyright Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates. All Rights Reserved.
+// SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0
 package com.amazon.ion.impl.lite;
 
 import static com.amazon.ion.SystemSymbols.ION_1_0;
@@ -386,7 +373,7 @@ public IonSystemLite getSystem()
     }
 
     @Override
-    public IonType getType()
+    public IonType getTypeSlow()
     {
         return IonType.DATAGRAM;
     }
diff --git a/src/main/java/com/amazon/ion/impl/lite/IonDecimalLite.java b/src/main/java/com/amazon/ion/impl/lite/IonDecimalLite.java
index 395c016a5..0358a0f06 100644
--- a/src/main/java/com/amazon/ion/impl/lite/IonDecimalLite.java
+++ b/src/main/java/com/amazon/ion/impl/lite/IonDecimalLite.java
@@ -1,18 +1,5 @@
-/*
- * Copyright 2007-2019 Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates. All Rights Reserved.
- *
- * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License").
- * You may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
- * A copy of the License is located at
- *
- *     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
- *
- * or in the "license" file accompanying this file. This file 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.
- */
-
+// Copyright Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates. All Rights Reserved.
+// SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0
 package com.amazon.ion.impl.lite;
 
 import com.amazon.ion.Decimal;
@@ -105,7 +92,7 @@ int scalarHashCode()
     }
 
     @Override
-    public IonType getType()
+    public IonType getTypeSlow()
     {
         return IonType.DECIMAL;
     }
diff --git a/src/main/java/com/amazon/ion/impl/lite/IonFloatLite.java b/src/main/java/com/amazon/ion/impl/lite/IonFloatLite.java
index 829a0c3a6..61a98b97f 100644
--- a/src/main/java/com/amazon/ion/impl/lite/IonFloatLite.java
+++ b/src/main/java/com/amazon/ion/impl/lite/IonFloatLite.java
@@ -1,18 +1,5 @@
-/*
- * Copyright 2007-2019 Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates. All Rights Reserved.
- *
- * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License").
- * You may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
- * A copy of the License is located at
- *
- *     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
- *
- * or in the "license" file accompanying this file. This file 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.
- */
-
+// Copyright Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates. All Rights Reserved.
+// SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0
 package com.amazon.ion.impl.lite;
 
 import com.amazon.ion.Decimal;
@@ -76,7 +63,7 @@ int scalarHashCode()
     }
 
     @Override
-    public IonType getType()
+    public IonType getTypeSlow()
     {
         return IonType.FLOAT;
     }
diff --git a/src/main/java/com/amazon/ion/impl/lite/IonIntLite.java b/src/main/java/com/amazon/ion/impl/lite/IonIntLite.java
index 37b290074..ec3cdc93d 100644
--- a/src/main/java/com/amazon/ion/impl/lite/IonIntLite.java
+++ b/src/main/java/com/amazon/ion/impl/lite/IonIntLite.java
@@ -1,18 +1,5 @@
-/*
- * Copyright 2007-2019 Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates. All Rights Reserved.
- *
- * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License").
- * You may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
- * A copy of the License is located at
- *
- *     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
- *
- * or in the "license" file accompanying this file. This file 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.
- */
-
+// Copyright Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates. All Rights Reserved.
+// SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0
 package com.amazon.ion.impl.lite;
 
 import com.amazon.ion.IntegerSize;
@@ -107,7 +94,7 @@ int scalarHashCode()
     }
 
     @Override
-    public IonType getType()
+    public IonType getTypeSlow()
     {
         return IonType.INT;
     }
diff --git a/src/main/java/com/amazon/ion/impl/lite/IonListLite.java b/src/main/java/com/amazon/ion/impl/lite/IonListLite.java
index 0a1dc088a..c14b64474 100644
--- a/src/main/java/com/amazon/ion/impl/lite/IonListLite.java
+++ b/src/main/java/com/amazon/ion/impl/lite/IonListLite.java
@@ -1,18 +1,5 @@
-/*
- * Copyright 2007-2019 Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates. All Rights Reserved.
- *
- * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License").
- * You may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
- * A copy of the License is located at
- *
- *     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
- *
- * or in the "license" file accompanying this file. This file 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.
- */
-
+// Copyright Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates. All Rights Reserved.
+// SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0
 package com.amazon.ion.impl.lite;
 
 import com.amazon.ion.ContainedValueException;
@@ -81,7 +68,7 @@ int hashSignature() {
     }
 
     @Override
-    public IonType getType()
+    public IonType getTypeSlow()
     {
         return IonType.LIST;
     }
diff --git a/src/main/java/com/amazon/ion/impl/lite/IonNullLite.java b/src/main/java/com/amazon/ion/impl/lite/IonNullLite.java
index bb959b4f7..0d9211669 100644
--- a/src/main/java/com/amazon/ion/impl/lite/IonNullLite.java
+++ b/src/main/java/com/amazon/ion/impl/lite/IonNullLite.java
@@ -1,18 +1,5 @@
-/*
- * Copyright 2007-2019 Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates. All Rights Reserved.
- *
- * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License").
- * You may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
- * A copy of the License is located at
- *
- *     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
- *
- * or in the "license" file accompanying this file. This file 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.
- */
-
+// Copyright Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates. All Rights Reserved.
+// SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0
 package com.amazon.ion.impl.lite;
 
 import com.amazon.ion.IonNull;
@@ -58,7 +45,7 @@ public IonNullLite clone()
     }
 
     @Override
-    public IonType getType()
+    public IonType getTypeSlow()
     {
         return IonType.NULL;
     }
diff --git a/src/main/java/com/amazon/ion/impl/lite/IonSexpLite.java b/src/main/java/com/amazon/ion/impl/lite/IonSexpLite.java
index e9d61233a..4da7c77d3 100644
--- a/src/main/java/com/amazon/ion/impl/lite/IonSexpLite.java
+++ b/src/main/java/com/amazon/ion/impl/lite/IonSexpLite.java
@@ -1,18 +1,5 @@
-/*
- * Copyright 2007-2019 Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates. All Rights Reserved.
- *
- * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License").
- * You may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
- * A copy of the License is located at
- *
- *     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
- *
- * or in the "license" file accompanying this file. This file 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.
- */
-
+// Copyright Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates. All Rights Reserved.
+// SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0
 package com.amazon.ion.impl.lite;
 
 import com.amazon.ion.ContainedValueException;
@@ -75,7 +62,7 @@ int hashSignature() {
     }
 
     @Override
-    public IonType getType()
+    public IonType getTypeSlow()
     {
         return IonType.SEXP;
     }
diff --git a/src/main/java/com/amazon/ion/impl/lite/IonStringLite.java b/src/main/java/com/amazon/ion/impl/lite/IonStringLite.java
index 99d3d227a..199eb1872 100644
--- a/src/main/java/com/amazon/ion/impl/lite/IonStringLite.java
+++ b/src/main/java/com/amazon/ion/impl/lite/IonStringLite.java
@@ -1,18 +1,5 @@
-/*
- * Copyright 2007-2019 Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates. All Rights Reserved.
- *
- * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License").
- * You may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
- * A copy of the License is located at
- *
- *     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
- *
- * or in the "license" file accompanying this file. This file 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.
- */
-
+// Copyright Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates. All Rights Reserved.
+// SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0
 package com.amazon.ion.impl.lite;
 
 import com.amazon.ion.IonString;
@@ -70,7 +57,7 @@ int scalarHashCode()
     }
 
     @Override
-    public IonType getType()
+    public IonType getTypeSlow()
     {
         return IonType.STRING;
     }
diff --git a/src/main/java/com/amazon/ion/impl/lite/IonStructLite.java b/src/main/java/com/amazon/ion/impl/lite/IonStructLite.java
index 2bd4f1715..f72b73434 100644
--- a/src/main/java/com/amazon/ion/impl/lite/IonStructLite.java
+++ b/src/main/java/com/amazon/ion/impl/lite/IonStructLite.java
@@ -1,18 +1,5 @@
-/*
- * Copyright 2007-2019 Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates. All Rights Reserved.
- *
- * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License").
- * You may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
- * A copy of the License is located at
- *
- *     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
- *
- * or in the "license" file accompanying this file. This file 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.
- */
-
+// Copyright Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates. All Rights Reserved.
+// SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0
 package com.amazon.ion.impl.lite;
 
 import com.amazon.ion.ContainedValueException;
@@ -345,7 +332,7 @@ else if (_children == null) {
 
 
     @Override
-    public IonType getType()
+    public IonType getTypeSlow()
     {
         return IonType.STRUCT;
     }
diff --git a/src/main/java/com/amazon/ion/impl/lite/IonSymbolLite.java b/src/main/java/com/amazon/ion/impl/lite/IonSymbolLite.java
index 15bbd3e68..b9d38554e 100644
--- a/src/main/java/com/amazon/ion/impl/lite/IonSymbolLite.java
+++ b/src/main/java/com/amazon/ion/impl/lite/IonSymbolLite.java
@@ -1,18 +1,5 @@
-/*
- * Copyright 2007-2019 Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates. All Rights Reserved.
- *
- * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License").
- * You may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
- * A copy of the License is located at
- *
- *     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
- *
- * or in the "license" file accompanying this file. This file 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.
- */
-
+// Copyright Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates. All Rights Reserved.
+// SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0
 package com.amazon.ion.impl.lite;
 
 import static com.amazon.ion.SymbolTable.UNKNOWN_SYMBOL_ID;
@@ -124,7 +111,7 @@ int scalarHashCode()
     }
 
     @Override
-    public IonType getType()
+    public IonType getTypeSlow()
     {
         return IonType.SYMBOL;
     }
diff --git a/src/main/java/com/amazon/ion/impl/lite/IonTimestampLite.java b/src/main/java/com/amazon/ion/impl/lite/IonTimestampLite.java
index 2eb8b4d79..b6c286e46 100644
--- a/src/main/java/com/amazon/ion/impl/lite/IonTimestampLite.java
+++ b/src/main/java/com/amazon/ion/impl/lite/IonTimestampLite.java
@@ -64,7 +64,7 @@ int scalarHashCode() {
     }
 
     @Override
-    public IonType getType()
+    public IonType getTypeSlow()
     {
         return IonType.TIMESTAMP;
     }
diff --git a/src/main/java/com/amazon/ion/impl/lite/IonValueLite.java b/src/main/java/com/amazon/ion/impl/lite/IonValueLite.java
index e80b54833..08fd6661f 100644
--- a/src/main/java/com/amazon/ion/impl/lite/IonValueLite.java
+++ b/src/main/java/com/amazon/ion/impl/lite/IonValueLite.java
@@ -1,18 +1,5 @@
-/*
- * Copyright 2007-2019 Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates. All Rights Reserved.
- *
- * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License").
- * You may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
- * A copy of the License is located at
- *
- *     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
- *
- * or in the "license" file accompanying this file. This file 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.
- */
-
+// Copyright Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates. All Rights Reserved.
+// SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0
 package com.amazon.ion.impl.lite;
 
 import static com.amazon.ion.SymbolTable.UNKNOWN_SYMBOL_ID;
@@ -842,11 +829,27 @@ public IonSystemLite getSystem()
         return _context.getSystem();
     }
 
-    public IonType getType()
+    public final IonType getType()
     {
-        throw new UnsupportedOperationException("this type "+this.getClass().getSimpleName()+" should not be instantiated, there is not IonType associated with it");
+        Class<?> clazz = this.getClass();
+        // IonStructLite is chosen for the fast path because it is the most commonly used container type as well as
+        // one of the most common of all types. This is important because internal usages of IonValue.getType() occur
+        // on container values much more often than on scalars. Do not remove or add special case branches here without
+        // a thorough study of the performance implications.
+        if (clazz == IonStructLite.class) {
+            return IonType.STRUCT;
+        }
+        return getTypeSlow();
     }
 
+    /**
+     * @see #getType()
+     * This variant is considered "slow" because it is an abstract method with 14 implementations, meaning that it
+     * is invoked using a vtable lookup.
+     * @return the value's type.
+     */
+    abstract IonType getTypeSlow();
+
     public SymbolToken[] getTypeAnnotationSymbols()
     {
         return getTypeAnnotationSymbols(new LazySymbolTableProvider(this));