diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 6be0ccd..f039bb2 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -122,6 +122,7 @@ namespace cpptrace {
         object_trace resolve_object_trace() const;
         stacktrace resolve() const;
         void clear();
+        bool empty() const noexcept;
         /* iterators exist for this object */
     };
 
@@ -141,6 +142,7 @@ namespace cpptrace {
         explicit object_trace(std::vector<object_frame>&& frames);
         stacktrace resolve() const;
         void clear();
+        bool empty() const noexcept;
         /* iterators exist for this object */
     };
 
@@ -155,17 +157,21 @@ namespace cpptrace {
         std::string symbol;
         bool operator==(const stacktrace_frame& other) const;
         bool operator!=(const stacktrace_frame& other) const;
+        std::string to_string() const;
+        /* operator<<(ostream, ..) and std::format support exist for this object */
     };
 
     struct stacktrace {
         std::vector<stacktrace_frame> frames;
+        explicit stacktrace();
         explicit stacktrace(std::vector<stacktrace_frame>&& frames);
         void print() const;
         void print(std::ostream& stream) const;
         void print(std::ostream& stream, bool color) const;
         std::string to_string() const;
         void clear();
-        /* iterators exist for this object */
+        bool empty() const noexcept;
+        /* operator<<(ostream, ..), std::format support, and iterators exist for this object */
     };
 
     /*
@@ -183,17 +189,29 @@ namespace cpptrace {
     // Traced exception class
     // Extending classes should call the exception constructor with a skip value of 1.
     class exception : public std::exception {
-        explicit exception(uint32_t skip)
+    protected:
+        mutable raw_trace trace;
+        mutable stacktrace resolved_trace;
+        mutable std::string resolved_what;
+        explicit exception(uint32_t skip) noexcept;
+        const stacktrace& get_resolved_trace() const noexcept;
+        virtual const std::string& get_resolved_what() const noexcept;
     public:
-        explicit exception();
+        explicit exception() noexcept;
         const char* what() const noexcept override;
+        const std::string& get_what() const noexcept; // what(), but not a C-string
+        const raw_trace& get_raw_trace() const noexcept;
+        const stacktrace& get_trace() const noexcept;
     };
 
     class exception_with_message : public exception {
-        explicit exception_with_message(std::string&& message_arg, uint32_t skip)
+        mutable std::string message;
+        explicit exception_with_message(std::string&& message_arg, uint32_t skip) noexcept;
+        const std::string& get_resolved_what() const noexcept override;
     public:
         explicit exception_with_message(std::string&& message_arg);
         const char* what() const noexcept override;
+        const std::string& get_message() const noexcept;
     };
 
     // All stdexcept errors have analogs here. Same constructor as exception_with_message.
diff --git a/include/cpptrace/cpptrace.hpp b/include/cpptrace/cpptrace.hpp
index 5b522e8..e1f12a3 100644
--- a/include/cpptrace/cpptrace.hpp
+++ b/include/cpptrace/cpptrace.hpp
@@ -7,6 +7,10 @@
 #include <string>
 #include <vector>
 
+#ifdef __cpp_lib_format
+#include <format>
+#endif
+
 #if defined(_WIN32) || defined(__CYGWIN__)
  #define CPPTRACE_API __declspec(dllexport)
 #else
@@ -23,6 +27,7 @@ namespace cpptrace {
         CPPTRACE_API object_trace resolve_object_trace() const;
         CPPTRACE_API stacktrace resolve() const;
         CPPTRACE_API void clear();
+        CPPTRACE_API bool empty() const noexcept;
 
         using iterator = std::vector<uintptr_t>::iterator;
         using const_iterator = std::vector<uintptr_t>::const_iterator;
@@ -44,6 +49,7 @@ namespace cpptrace {
         explicit object_trace(std::vector<object_frame>&& frames_) : frames(frames_) {}
         CPPTRACE_API stacktrace resolve() const;
         CPPTRACE_API void clear();
+        CPPTRACE_API bool empty() const noexcept;
 
         using iterator = std::vector<object_frame>::iterator;
         using const_iterator = std::vector<object_frame>::const_iterator;
@@ -69,16 +75,21 @@ namespace cpptrace {
         bool operator!=(const stacktrace_frame& other) const {
             return !operator==(other);
         }
+        CPPTRACE_API std::string to_string() const;
+        CPPTRACE_API friend std::ostream& operator<<(std::ostream& stream, const stacktrace_frame& frame);
     };
 
     struct stacktrace {
         std::vector<stacktrace_frame> frames;
+        explicit stacktrace() {}
         explicit stacktrace(std::vector<stacktrace_frame>&& frames_) : frames(frames_) {}
         CPPTRACE_API void print() const;
         CPPTRACE_API void print(std::ostream& stream) const;
         CPPTRACE_API void print(std::ostream& stream, bool color) const;
-        CPPTRACE_API std::string to_string() const;
         CPPTRACE_API void clear();
+        CPPTRACE_API bool empty() const noexcept;
+        CPPTRACE_API std::string to_string() const;
+        CPPTRACE_API friend std::ostream& operator<<(std::ostream& stream, const stacktrace& trace);
 
         using iterator = std::vector<stacktrace_frame>::iterator;
         using const_iterator = std::vector<stacktrace_frame>::const_iterator;
@@ -96,91 +107,150 @@ namespace cpptrace {
 
     // utilities:
     CPPTRACE_API std::string demangle(const std::string& name);
+    CPPTRACE_API void absorb_trace_exceptions(bool absorb);
+
+    namespace detail {
+        CPPTRACE_API bool should_absorb_trace_exceptions();
+    }
 
     class exception : public std::exception {
     protected:
         mutable raw_trace trace;
-        mutable std::string resolved_message;
-        explicit exception(uint32_t skip) : trace(generate_raw_trace(skip + 1)) {}
-        virtual const std::string& get_resolved_message() const {
-            if(resolved_message.empty()) {
-                resolved_message = "cpptrace::exception:\n" + trace.resolve().to_string();
-                trace.clear();
+        mutable stacktrace resolved_trace;
+        mutable std::string resolved_what;
+        explicit exception(uint32_t skip) noexcept
+            try : trace(generate_raw_trace(skip + 1)) {}
+            catch(const std::exception& e) {
+                if(!detail::should_absorb_trace_exceptions()) {
+                    std::rethrow_exception(std::current_exception());
+                }
             }
-            return resolved_message;
+        const stacktrace& get_resolved_trace() const noexcept {
+            // I think a non-empty raw trace can never resolve as empty, so this will accurately prevent resolving more
+            // than once. Either way the raw trace is cleared.
+            try {
+                if(resolved_trace.empty() && !trace.empty()) {
+                    resolved_trace = trace.resolve();
+                    trace.clear();
+                }
+            } catch(const std::exception& e) {
+                if(!detail::should_absorb_trace_exceptions()) {
+                    std::rethrow_exception(std::current_exception());
+                }
+            }
+            return resolved_trace;
+        }
+        virtual const std::string& get_resolved_what() const noexcept {
+            if(resolved_what.empty()) {
+                resolved_what = "cpptrace::exception:\n" + get_resolved_trace().to_string();
+            }
+            return resolved_what;
         }
     public:
-        explicit exception() : exception(1) {}
+        explicit exception() noexcept : exception(1) {}
         const char* what() const noexcept override {
-            return get_resolved_message().c_str();
+            return get_resolved_what().c_str();
+        }
+        // what(), but not a C-string
+        const std::string& get_what() const noexcept {
+            return resolved_what;
+        }
+        const raw_trace& get_raw_trace() const noexcept {
+            return trace;
+        }
+        const stacktrace& get_trace() const noexcept {
+            return resolved_trace;
         }
     };
 
     class exception_with_message : public exception {
     protected:
         mutable std::string message;
-        explicit exception_with_message(std::string&& message_arg, uint32_t skip)
+        explicit exception_with_message(std::string&& message_arg, uint32_t skip) noexcept
             : exception(skip + 1), message(std::move(message_arg)) {}
-        const std::string& get_resolved_message() const override {
-            if(resolved_message.empty()) {
-                resolved_message = message + "\n" + trace.resolve().to_string();
-                trace.clear();
-                message.clear();
+        const std::string& get_resolved_what() const noexcept override {
+            if(resolved_what.empty()) {
+                resolved_what = message + "\n" + get_resolved_trace().to_string();
             }
-            return resolved_message;
+            return resolved_what;
         }
     public:
-        explicit exception_with_message(std::string&& message_arg)
+        explicit exception_with_message(std::string&& message_arg) noexcept
             : exception_with_message(std::move(message_arg), 1) {}
-        const char* what() const noexcept override {
-            return get_resolved_message().c_str();
+        const std::string& get_message() const noexcept {
+            return message;
         }
     };
 
     class logic_error : public exception_with_message {
     public:
-        explicit logic_error(std::string&& message_arg) : exception_with_message(std::move(message_arg), 1) {}
+        explicit logic_error(std::string&& message_arg) noexcept
+            : exception_with_message(std::move(message_arg), 1) {}
     };
 
     class domain_error : public exception_with_message {
     public:
-        explicit domain_error(std::string&& message_arg) : exception_with_message(std::move(message_arg), 1) {}
+        explicit domain_error(std::string&& message_arg) noexcept
+            : exception_with_message(std::move(message_arg), 1) {}
     };
 
     class invalid_argument : public exception_with_message {
     public:
-        explicit invalid_argument(std::string&& message_arg) : exception_with_message(std::move(message_arg), 1) {}
+        explicit invalid_argument(std::string&& message_arg) noexcept
+            : exception_with_message(std::move(message_arg), 1) {}
     };
 
     class length_error : public exception_with_message {
     public:
-        explicit length_error(std::string&& message_arg) : exception_with_message(std::move(message_arg), 1) {}
+        explicit length_error(std::string&& message_arg) noexcept
+            : exception_with_message(std::move(message_arg), 1) {}
     };
 
     class out_of_range : public exception_with_message {
     public:
-        explicit out_of_range(std::string&& message_arg) : exception_with_message(std::move(message_arg), 1) {}
+        explicit out_of_range(std::string&& message_arg) noexcept
+            : exception_with_message(std::move(message_arg), 1) {}
     };
 
     class runtime_error : public exception_with_message {
     public:
-        explicit runtime_error(std::string&& message_arg) : exception_with_message(std::move(message_arg), 1) {}
+        explicit runtime_error(std::string&& message_arg) noexcept
+            : exception_with_message(std::move(message_arg), 1) {}
     };
 
     class range_error : public exception_with_message {
     public:
-        explicit range_error(std::string&& message_arg) : exception_with_message(std::move(message_arg), 1) {}
+        explicit range_error(std::string&& message_arg) noexcept
+            : exception_with_message(std::move(message_arg), 1) {}
     };
 
     class overflow_error : public exception_with_message {
     public:
-        explicit overflow_error(std::string&& message_arg) : exception_with_message(std::move(message_arg), 1) {}
+        explicit overflow_error(std::string&& message_arg) noexcept
+            : exception_with_message(std::move(message_arg), 1) {}
     };
 
     class underflow_error : public exception_with_message {
     public:
-        explicit underflow_error(std::string&& message_arg) : exception_with_message(std::move(message_arg), 1) {}
+        explicit underflow_error(std::string&& message_arg) noexcept
+            : exception_with_message(std::move(message_arg), 1) {}
     };
 }
 
 #endif
+
+#ifdef __cpp_lib_format
+template <>
+struct std::formatter<cpptrace::stacktrace_frame> : std::formatter<std::string> {
+    auto format(cpptrace::stacktrace_frame frame, format_context& ctx) const {
+        return formatter<string>::format(frame.to_string(), ctx);
+    }
+};
+
+template <>
+struct std::formatter<cpptrace::stacktrace> : std::formatter<std::string> {
+    auto format(cpptrace::stacktrace trace, format_context& ctx) const {
+        return formatter<string>::format(trace.to_string(), ctx);
+    }
+};
+#endif
diff --git a/src/cpptrace.cpp b/src/cpptrace.cpp
index 99b2b1f..e2d7a9e 100644
--- a/src/cpptrace.cpp
+++ b/src/cpptrace.cpp
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 #include <cpptrace/cpptrace.hpp>
 
+#include <atomic>
 #include <cstddef>
 #include <cstdint>
 #include <iomanip>
@@ -25,6 +26,10 @@
 #define CYAN    ESC "36m"
 
 namespace cpptrace {
+    namespace detail {
+        std::atomic_bool absorb_trace_exceptions = true;
+    }
+
     CPPTRACE_API
     object_trace raw_trace::resolve_object_trace() const {
         return object_trace(detail::get_frames_object_info(frames));
@@ -44,6 +49,11 @@ namespace cpptrace {
         frames.clear();
     }
 
+    CPPTRACE_API
+    bool raw_trace::empty() const noexcept {
+        return frames.empty();
+    }
+
     CPPTRACE_API
     stacktrace object_trace::resolve() const {
         return stacktrace(detail::resolve_frames(frames));
@@ -54,6 +64,41 @@ namespace cpptrace {
         frames.clear();
     }
 
+    CPPTRACE_API
+    bool object_trace::empty() const noexcept {
+        return frames.empty();
+    }
+
+    CPPTRACE_API std::string stacktrace_frame::to_string() const {
+        std::ostringstream oss;
+        oss << *this;
+        return std::move(oss).str();
+    }
+
+    CPPTRACE_API std::ostream& operator<<(std::ostream& stream, const stacktrace_frame& frame) {
+        stream
+            << std::hex
+            << "0x"
+            << std::setw(2 * sizeof(uintptr_t))
+            << std::setfill('0')
+            << frame.address
+            << std::dec
+            << std::setfill(' ')
+            << " in "
+            << frame.symbol
+            << " at "
+            << frame.filename;
+        if(frame.line != 0) {
+            stream
+                << ":"
+                << frame.line;
+            if(frame.column != UINT_LEAST32_MAX) {
+                stream << frame.column;
+            }
+        }
+        return stream;
+    }
+
     CPPTRACE_API
     void stacktrace::print() const {
         print(std::cerr, true);
@@ -113,11 +158,9 @@ namespace cpptrace {
                     << frame.line
                     << (color ? RESET : "");
                 if(frame.column != UINT_LEAST32_MAX) {
-                    stream << (
-                        frame.column > 0
-                            ? (color ? ":" BLUE : ":") + std::to_string(frame.column) + (color ? RESET : "")
-                            : ""
-                    );
+                    stream << (color ? ":" BLUE : ":")
+                           << std::to_string(frame.column)
+                           << (color ? RESET : "");
                 }
             }
             if(newline_at_end || &frame != &frames.back()) {
@@ -126,6 +169,16 @@ namespace cpptrace {
         }
     }
 
+    CPPTRACE_API
+    void stacktrace::clear() {
+        frames.clear();
+    }
+
+    CPPTRACE_API
+    bool stacktrace::empty() const noexcept {
+        return frames.empty();
+    }
+
     CPPTRACE_API
     std::string stacktrace::to_string() const {
         std::ostringstream oss;
@@ -133,9 +186,8 @@ namespace cpptrace {
         return std::move(oss).str();
     }
 
-    CPPTRACE_API
-    void stacktrace::clear() {
-        frames.clear();
+    CPPTRACE_API std::ostream& operator<<(std::ostream& stream, const stacktrace& trace) {
+        return stream << trace.to_string();
     }
 
     CPPTRACE_FORCE_NO_INLINE CPPTRACE_API
@@ -162,4 +214,14 @@ namespace cpptrace {
     std::string demangle(const std::string& name) {
         return detail::demangle(name);
     }
+
+    CPPTRACE_API void absorb_trace_exceptions(bool absorb) {
+        detail::absorb_trace_exceptions = absorb;
+    }
+
+    namespace detail {
+        CPPTRACE_API bool should_absorb_trace_exceptions() {
+            return detail::absorb_trace_exceptions;
+        }
+    }
 }