diff --git a/internal/extgen/classparser_test.go b/internal/extgen/classparser_test.go
index be3795c4..cedf01f9 100644
--- a/internal/extgen/classparser_test.go
+++ b/internal/extgen/classparser_test.go
@@ -1,12 +1,12 @@
 package extgen
 
 import (
-	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
 	"os"
 	"path/filepath"
 	"testing"
 
 	"github.com/stretchr/testify/assert"
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
 )
 
 func TestClassParser(t *testing.T) {
@@ -138,7 +138,7 @@ func SetUserAge(u *UserStruct, age int64) {
 }
 
 //export_php:method User::getInfo(string $prefix = "User"): string
-func GetUserInfo(u UserStruct, prefix *C.zend_string) unsafe.Pointer {
+func GetUserInfo(u UserStruct, prefix unsafe.Pointer) unsafe.Pointer {
 	return nil
 }`)
 
@@ -432,7 +432,7 @@ type TestClass struct {
 }
 
 //export_php:method TestClass::arrayReturn(string $name): array
-func (tc *TestClass) arrayReturn(name *C.zend_string) any {
+func (tc *TestClass) arrayReturn(name unsafe.Pointer) any {
 	return []string{"result"}
 }`,
 			expectedClasses: 1,
@@ -449,7 +449,7 @@ type TestClass struct {
 }
 
 //export_php:method TestClass::objectReturn(string $name): object
-func (tc *TestClass) objectReturn(name *C.zend_string) any {
+func (tc *TestClass) objectReturn(name unsafe.Pointer) any {
 	return map[string]any{"key": "value"}
 }`,
 			expectedClasses: 1,
@@ -466,7 +466,7 @@ type TestClass struct {
 }
 
 //export_php:method TestClass::validMethod(string $name, int $count, float $rate, bool $active): string
-func validMethod(tc *TestClass, name *C.zend_string, count int64, rate float64, active bool) unsafe.Pointer {
+func validMethod(tc *TestClass, name unsafe.Pointer, count int64, rate float64, active bool) unsafe.Pointer {
 	return nil
 }`,
 			expectedClasses: 1,
@@ -483,7 +483,7 @@ type TestClass struct {
 }
 
 //export_php:method TestClass::voidMethod(string $message): void
-func voidMethod(tc *TestClass, message *C.zend_string) {
+func voidMethod(tc *TestClass, message unsafe.Pointer) {
 	// Do something
 }`,
 			expectedClasses: 1,
@@ -528,7 +528,7 @@ type TestClass struct {
 }
 
 //export_php:method TestClass::countMismatch(string $name, int $count): string
-func (tc *TestClass) countMismatch(name *C.zend_string) unsafe.Pointer {
+func (tc *TestClass) countMismatch(name unsafe.Pointer) unsafe.Pointer {
 	return nil
 }`,
 			expectedClasses: 1,
@@ -545,7 +545,7 @@ type TestClass struct {
 }
 
 //export_php:method TestClass::typeMismatch(string $name, int $count): string
-func (tc *TestClass) typeMismatch(name *C.zend_string, count string) unsafe.Pointer {
+func (tc *TestClass) typeMismatch(name unsafe.Pointer, count string) unsafe.Pointer {
 	return nil
 }`,
 			expectedClasses: 1,
@@ -562,7 +562,7 @@ type TestClass struct {
 }
 
 //export_php:method TestClass::returnMismatch(string $name): int
-func (tc *TestClass) returnMismatch(name *C.zend_string) string {
+func (tc *TestClass) returnMismatch(name unsafe.Pointer) string {
 	return ""
 }`,
 			expectedClasses: 1,
@@ -579,7 +579,7 @@ type TestClass struct {
 }
 
 //export_php:method TestClass::validMatch(string $name, int $count): string
-func validMatch(tc *TestClass, name *C.zend_string, count int64) unsafe.Pointer {
+func validMatch(tc *TestClass, name unsafe.Pointer, count int64) unsafe.Pointer {
 	return nil
 }`,
 			expectedClasses: 1,
diff --git a/internal/extgen/funcparser_test.go b/internal/extgen/funcparser_test.go
index 74da5538..8898b93c 100644
--- a/internal/extgen/funcparser_test.go
+++ b/internal/extgen/funcparser_test.go
@@ -1,12 +1,12 @@
 package extgen
 
 import (
-	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
 	"os"
 	"path/filepath"
 	"testing"
 
 	"github.com/stretchr/testify/assert"
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
 )
 
 func TestFunctionParser(t *testing.T) {
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ func TestFunctionParser(t *testing.T) {
 			input: `package main
 
 //export_php:function testFunc(string $name): string
-func testFunc(name *C.zend_string) unsafe.Pointer {
+func testFunc(name unsafe.Pointer) unsafe.Pointer {
 	return String("Hello " + CStringToGoString(name))
 }`,
 			expected: 1,
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ func func1(a int64) int64 {
 }
 
 //export_php:function func2(string $b): string  
-func func2(b *C.zend_string) unsafe.Pointer {
+func func2(b unsafe.Pointer) unsafe.Pointer {
 	return String("processed: " + CStringToGoString(b))
 }`,
 			expected: 2,
@@ -54,7 +54,7 @@ func regularFunc() {
 			input: `package main
 
 //export_php:function phpFunc(string $data): string
-func phpFunc(data *C.zend_string) unsafe.Pointer {
+func phpFunc(data unsafe.Pointer) unsafe.Pointer {
 	return String("PHP: " + CStringToGoString(data))
 }
 
@@ -73,7 +73,7 @@ func anotherPhpFunc(num int64) int64 {
 			input: `package main
 
 //export_php function phpFunc(data string): string
-func phpFunc(data *C.zend_string) unsafe.Pointer {
+func phpFunc(data unsafe.Pointer) unsafe.Pointer {
 	return String("PHP: " + CStringToGoString(data))
 }`,
 			expected: 0,
@@ -83,7 +83,7 @@ func phpFunc(data *C.zend_string) unsafe.Pointer {
 			input: `package main
 
 //export_php:function my_php_function(string $name): string
-func myGoFunction(name *C.zend_string) unsafe.Pointer {
+func myGoFunction(name unsafe.Pointer) unsafe.Pointer {
 	return String("Hello " + CStringToGoString(name))
 }
 
@@ -339,7 +339,7 @@ func mixedFunc(value any) unsafe.Pointer {
 			input: `package main
 
 //export_php:function arrayReturnFunc(string $name): array
-func arrayReturnFunc(name *C.zend_string) any {
+func arrayReturnFunc(name unsafe.Pointer) any {
 	return []string{"result"}
 }`,
 			expected:   0,
@@ -350,7 +350,7 @@ func arrayReturnFunc(name *C.zend_string) any {
 			input: `package main
 
 //export_php:function objectReturnFunc(string $name): object
-func objectReturnFunc(name *C.zend_string) any {
+func objectReturnFunc(name unsafe.Pointer) any {
 	return map[string]any{"key": "value"}
 }`,
 			expected:   0,
@@ -361,7 +361,7 @@ func objectReturnFunc(name *C.zend_string) any {
 			input: `package main
 
 //export_php:function validFunc(string $name, int $count, float $rate, bool $active): string
-func validFunc(name *C.zend_string, count int64, rate float64, active bool) unsafe.Pointer {
+func validFunc(name unsafe.Pointer, count int64, rate float64, active bool) unsafe.Pointer {
 	return nil
 }`,
 			expected:   1,
@@ -372,7 +372,7 @@ func validFunc(name *C.zend_string, count int64, rate float64, active bool) unsa
 			input: `package main
 
 //export_php:function voidFunc(string $message): void
-func voidFunc(message *C.zend_string) {
+func voidFunc(message unsafe.Pointer) {
 	// Do something
 }`,
 			expected:   1,
@@ -407,7 +407,7 @@ func TestFunctionParserGoTypeMismatch(t *testing.T) {
 			input: `package main
 
 //export_php:function countMismatch(string $name, int $count): string
-func countMismatch(name *C.zend_string) unsafe.Pointer {
+func countMismatch(name unsafe.Pointer) unsafe.Pointer {
 	return nil
 }`,
 			expected:   0,
@@ -418,7 +418,7 @@ func countMismatch(name *C.zend_string) unsafe.Pointer {
 			input: `package main
 
 //export_php:function typeMismatch(string $name, int $count): string
-func typeMismatch(name *C.zend_string, count string) unsafe.Pointer {
+func typeMismatch(name unsafe.Pointer, count string) unsafe.Pointer {
 	return nil
 }`,
 			expected:   0,
@@ -429,7 +429,7 @@ func typeMismatch(name *C.zend_string, count string) unsafe.Pointer {
 			input: `package main
 
 //export_php:function returnMismatch(string $name): int
-func returnMismatch(name *C.zend_string) string {
+func returnMismatch(name unsafe.Pointer) string {
 	return ""
 }`,
 			expected:   0,
@@ -440,7 +440,7 @@ func returnMismatch(name *C.zend_string) string {
 			input: `package main
 
 //export_php:function validMatch(string $name, int $count): string
-func validMatch(name *C.zend_string, count int64) unsafe.Pointer {
+func validMatch(name unsafe.Pointer, count int64) unsafe.Pointer {
 	return nil
 }`,
 			expected:   1,
diff --git a/internal/extgen/validator.go b/internal/extgen/validator.go
index 44fd1380..169be421 100644
--- a/internal/extgen/validator.go
+++ b/internal/extgen/validator.go
@@ -195,16 +195,14 @@ func (v *Validator) validateGoFunctionSignatureWithOptions(phpFunc phpFunction,
 func (v *Validator) phpTypeToGoType(t phpType, isNullable bool) string {
 	var baseType string
 	switch t {
-	case phpString:
-		baseType = "*C.zend_string"
 	case phpInt:
 		baseType = "int64"
 	case phpFloat:
 		baseType = "float64"
 	case phpBool:
 		baseType = "bool"
-	case phpArray, phpMixed:
-		baseType = "*C.zval"
+	case phpString, phpArray, phpMixed:
+		baseType = "unsafe.Pointer"
 	default:
 		baseType = "any"
 	}
@@ -238,15 +236,13 @@ func (v *Validator) phpReturnTypeToGoType(phpReturnType phpType) string {
 	switch phpReturnType {
 	case phpVoid:
 		return ""
-	case phpString:
-		return "unsafe.Pointer"
 	case phpInt:
 		return "int64"
 	case phpFloat:
 		return "float64"
 	case phpBool:
 		return "bool"
-	case phpArray:
+	case phpString, phpArray:
 		return "unsafe.Pointer"
 	default:
 		return "any"
diff --git a/internal/extgen/validator_test.go b/internal/extgen/validator_test.go
index bfd232a1..49cad928 100644
--- a/internal/extgen/validator_test.go
+++ b/internal/extgen/validator_test.go
@@ -555,7 +555,7 @@ func TestValidateGoFunctionSignature(t *testing.T) {
 					{Name: "name", PhpType: phpString},
 					{Name: "count", PhpType: phpInt},
 				},
-				GoFunction: `func testFunc(name *C.zend_string, count int64) unsafe.Pointer {
+				GoFunction: `func testFunc(name unsafe.Pointer, count int64) unsafe.Pointer {
 	return nil
 }`,
 			},
@@ -569,7 +569,7 @@ func TestValidateGoFunctionSignature(t *testing.T) {
 				Params: []phpParameter{
 					{Name: "message", PhpType: phpString},
 				},
-				GoFunction: `func voidFunc(message *C.zend_string) {
+				GoFunction: `func voidFunc(message unsafe.Pointer) {
 	// Do something
 }`,
 			},
@@ -595,7 +595,7 @@ func TestValidateGoFunctionSignature(t *testing.T) {
 					{Name: "param1", PhpType: phpString},
 					{Name: "param2", PhpType: phpInt},
 				},
-				GoFunction: `func countMismatch(param1 *C.zend_string) unsafe.Pointer {
+				GoFunction: `func countMismatch(param1 unsafe.Pointer) unsafe.Pointer {
 	return nil
 }`,
 			},
@@ -611,7 +611,7 @@ func TestValidateGoFunctionSignature(t *testing.T) {
 					{Name: "name", PhpType: phpString},
 					{Name: "count", PhpType: phpInt},
 				},
-				GoFunction: `func typeMismatch(name *C.zend_string, count string) unsafe.Pointer {
+				GoFunction: `func typeMismatch(name unsafe.Pointer, count string) unsafe.Pointer {
 	return nil
 }`,
 			},
@@ -626,7 +626,7 @@ func TestValidateGoFunctionSignature(t *testing.T) {
 				Params: []phpParameter{
 					{Name: "value", PhpType: phpString},
 				},
-				GoFunction: `func returnMismatch(value *C.zend_string) string {
+				GoFunction: `func returnMismatch(value unsafe.Pointer) string {
 	return ""
 }`,
 			},
@@ -669,7 +669,7 @@ func TestValidateGoFunctionSignature(t *testing.T) {
 				Params: []phpParameter{
 					{Name: "items", PhpType: phpArray},
 				},
-				GoFunction: `func arrayFunc(items *C.zval) unsafe.Pointer {
+				GoFunction: `func arrayFunc(items unsafe.Pointer) unsafe.Pointer {
 	return nil
 }`,
 			},
@@ -684,7 +684,7 @@ func TestValidateGoFunctionSignature(t *testing.T) {
 					{Name: "items", PhpType: phpArray, IsNullable: true},
 					{Name: "name", PhpType: phpString},
 				},
-				GoFunction: `func nullableArrayFunc(items *C.zval, name *C.zend_string) unsafe.Pointer {
+				GoFunction: `func nullableArrayFunc(items unsafe.Pointer, name unsafe.Pointer) unsafe.Pointer {
 	return nil
 }`,
 			},
@@ -700,7 +700,7 @@ func TestValidateGoFunctionSignature(t *testing.T) {
 					{Name: "filter", PhpType: phpString},
 					{Name: "limit", PhpType: phpInt},
 				},
-				GoFunction: `func mixedFunc(data *C.zval, filter *C.zend_string, limit int64) unsafe.Pointer {
+				GoFunction: `func mixedFunc(data unsafe.Pointer, filter unsafe.Pointer, limit int64) unsafe.Pointer {
 	return nil
 }`,
 			},
@@ -729,16 +729,16 @@ func TestPhpTypeToGoType(t *testing.T) {
 		isNullable bool
 		expected   string
 	}{
-		{"string", false, "*C.zend_string"},
-		{"string", true, "*C.zend_string"},
+		{"string", false, "unsafe.Pointer"},
+		{"string", true, "unsafe.Pointer"},
 		{"int", false, "int64"},
 		{"int", true, "*int64"},
 		{"float", false, "float64"},
 		{"float", true, "*float64"},
 		{"bool", false, "bool"},
 		{"bool", true, "*bool"},
-		{"array", false, "*C.zval"},
-		{"array", true, "*C.zval"},
+		{"array", false, "unsafe.Pointer"},
+		{"array", true, "unsafe.Pointer"},
 		{"unknown", false, "any"},
 	}