diff --git a/CHANGES.md b/CHANGES.md
index e669ae38..54c5bb06 100644
--- a/CHANGES.md
+++ b/CHANGES.md
@@ -8,6 +8,10 @@
 
 * Allow to set `peer_addr` for TestRequest #1074
 
+* Rename `App::register_data()` to `App::app_data()`
+
+* `HttpRequest::app_data<T>()` returns `Option<&T>` instead of `Option<&Data<T>>`
+
 ### Fixed
 
 * Fix `AppConfig::secure()` is always false. #1202
diff --git a/MIGRATION.md b/MIGRATION.md
index dd3a1b04..357a4e4c 100644
--- a/MIGRATION.md
+++ b/MIGRATION.md
@@ -1,5 +1,10 @@
 ## 2.0.0
 
+* `App::register_data()` renamed to `App::app_data()` and accepts any type `T: 'static`.
+  Stored data is available via `HttpRequest::app_data()` method at runtime.
+
+* Extractor configuration must be registered with `App::app_data()` instead of `App::data()`
+
 * Sync handlers has been removed. `.to_async()` method has been renamed to `.to()`
 
   replace `fn` with `async fn` to convert sync handler to async
diff --git a/src/app.rs b/src/app.rs
index ccf2e88e..962ff4b4 100644
--- a/src/app.rs
+++ b/src/app.rs
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ use std::marker::PhantomData;
 use std::rc::Rc;
 
 use actix_http::body::{Body, MessageBody};
+use actix_http::Extensions;
 use actix_service::boxed::{self, BoxServiceFactory};
 use actix_service::{
     apply, apply_fn_factory, IntoServiceFactory, ServiceFactory, Transform,
@@ -37,6 +38,7 @@ pub struct App<T, B> {
     data: Vec<Box<dyn DataFactory>>,
     data_factories: Vec<FnDataFactory>,
     external: Vec<ResourceDef>,
+    extensions: Extensions,
     _t: PhantomData<B>,
 }
 
@@ -52,6 +54,7 @@ impl App<AppEntry, Body> {
             default: None,
             factory_ref: fref,
             external: Vec::new(),
+            extensions: Extensions::new(),
             _t: PhantomData,
         }
     }
@@ -133,10 +136,15 @@ where
         self
     }
 
-    /// Set application data. Application data could be accessed
-    /// by using `Data<T>` extractor where `T` is data type.
-    pub fn register_data<U: 'static>(mut self, data: Data<U>) -> Self {
-        self.data.push(Box::new(data));
+    /// Set application level arbitrary data item.
+    ///
+    /// Application data stored with `App::app_data()` method is available
+    /// via `HttpRequest::app_data()` method at runtime.
+    ///
+    /// This method could be used for storing `Data<T>` as well, in that case
+    /// data could be accessed by using `Data<T>` extractor.
+    pub fn app_data<U: 'static>(mut self, ext: U) -> Self {
+        self.extensions.insert(ext);
         self
     }
 
@@ -370,6 +378,7 @@ where
             default: self.default,
             factory_ref: self.factory_ref,
             external: self.external,
+            extensions: self.extensions,
             _t: PhantomData,
         }
     }
@@ -431,6 +440,7 @@ where
             default: self.default,
             factory_ref: self.factory_ref,
             external: self.external,
+            extensions: self.extensions,
             _t: PhantomData,
         }
     }
@@ -456,6 +466,7 @@ where
             external: RefCell::new(self.external),
             default: self.default,
             factory_ref: self.factory_ref,
+            extensions: RefCell::new(Some(self.extensions)),
         }
     }
 }
@@ -539,6 +550,20 @@ mod tests {
         assert_eq!(resp.status(), StatusCode::INTERNAL_SERVER_ERROR);
     }
 
+    #[actix_rt::test]
+    async fn test_extension() {
+        let mut srv = init_service(App::new().app_data(10usize).service(
+            web::resource("/").to(|req: HttpRequest| {
+                assert_eq!(*req.app_data::<usize>().unwrap(), 10);
+                HttpResponse::Ok()
+            }),
+        ))
+        .await;
+        let req = TestRequest::default().to_request();
+        let resp = srv.call(req).await.unwrap();
+        assert_eq!(resp.status(), StatusCode::OK);
+    }
+
     #[actix_rt::test]
     async fn test_wrap() {
         let mut srv = init_service(
diff --git a/src/app_service.rs b/src/app_service.rs
index 28e24522..ccfefbc6 100644
--- a/src/app_service.rs
+++ b/src/app_service.rs
@@ -39,6 +39,7 @@ where
     >,
 {
     pub(crate) endpoint: T,
+    pub(crate) extensions: RefCell<Option<Extensions>>,
     pub(crate) data: Rc<Vec<Box<dyn DataFactory>>>,
     pub(crate) data_factories: Rc<Vec<FnDataFactory>>,
     pub(crate) services: Rc<RefCell<Vec<Box<dyn AppServiceFactory>>>>,
@@ -114,6 +115,12 @@ where
             data: self.data.clone(),
             data_factories: Vec::new(),
             data_factories_fut: self.data_factories.iter().map(|f| f()).collect(),
+            extensions: Some(
+                self.extensions
+                    .borrow_mut()
+                    .take()
+                    .unwrap_or_else(Extensions::new),
+            ),
             config,
             rmap,
             _t: PhantomData,
@@ -134,6 +141,7 @@ where
     data: Rc<Vec<Box<dyn DataFactory>>>,
     data_factories: Vec<Box<dyn DataFactory>>,
     data_factories_fut: Vec<LocalBoxFuture<'static, Result<Box<dyn DataFactory>, ()>>>,
+    extensions: Option<Extensions>,
     _t: PhantomData<B>,
 }
 
@@ -172,7 +180,7 @@ where
 
         if this.endpoint.is_some() && this.data_factories_fut.is_empty() {
             // create app data container
-            let mut data = Extensions::new();
+            let mut data = this.extensions.take().unwrap();
             for f in this.data.iter() {
                 f.create(&mut data);
             }
diff --git a/src/data.rs b/src/data.rs
index e8928188..eaa2db38 100644
--- a/src/data.rs
+++ b/src/data.rs
@@ -56,7 +56,7 @@ pub(crate) trait DataFactory {
 ///
 ///     let app = App::new()
 ///         // Store `MyData` in application storage.
-///         .register_data(data.clone())
+///         .app_data(data.clone())
 ///         .service(
 ///             web::resource("/index.html").route(
 ///                 web::get().to(index)));
@@ -107,8 +107,8 @@ impl<T: 'static> FromRequest for Data<T> {
 
     #[inline]
     fn from_request(req: &HttpRequest, _: &mut Payload) -> Self::Future {
-        if let Some(st) = req.get_app_data::<T>() {
-            ok(st)
+        if let Some(st) = req.app_data::<Data<T>>() {
+            ok(st.clone())
         } else {
             log::debug!(
                 "Failed to construct App-level Data extractor. \
@@ -165,9 +165,9 @@ mod tests {
     }
 
     #[actix_rt::test]
-    async fn test_register_data_extractor() {
+    async fn test_app_data_extractor() {
         let mut srv =
-            init_service(App::new().register_data(Data::new(10usize)).service(
+            init_service(App::new().app_data(Data::new(10usize)).service(
                 web::resource("/").to(|_: web::Data<usize>| HttpResponse::Ok()),
             ))
             .await;
@@ -177,7 +177,7 @@ mod tests {
         assert_eq!(resp.status(), StatusCode::OK);
 
         let mut srv =
-            init_service(App::new().register_data(Data::new(10u32)).service(
+            init_service(App::new().app_data(Data::new(10u32)).service(
                 web::resource("/").to(|_: web::Data<usize>| HttpResponse::Ok()),
             ))
             .await;
diff --git a/src/request.rs b/src/request.rs
index 46b8fe38..b5143895 100644
--- a/src/request.rs
+++ b/src/request.rs
@@ -8,7 +8,6 @@ use actix_router::{Path, Url};
 use futures::future::{ok, Ready};
 
 use crate::config::AppConfig;
-use crate::data::Data;
 use crate::error::UrlGenerationError;
 use crate::extract::FromRequest;
 use crate::info::ConnectionInfo;
@@ -207,25 +206,15 @@ impl HttpRequest {
         &self.0.config
     }
 
-    /// Get an application data stored with `App::data()` method during
+    /// Get an application data stored with `App::extension()` method during
     /// application configuration.
     pub fn app_data<T: 'static>(&self) -> Option<&T> {
-        if let Some(st) = self.0.app_data.get::<Data<T>>() {
+        if let Some(st) = self.0.app_data.get::<T>() {
             Some(&st)
         } else {
             None
         }
     }
-
-    /// Get an application data stored with `App::data()` method during
-    /// application configuration.
-    pub fn get_app_data<T: 'static>(&self) -> Option<Data<T>> {
-        if let Some(st) = self.0.app_data.get::<Data<T>>() {
-            Some(st.clone())
-        } else {
-            None
-        }
-    }
 }
 
 impl HttpMessage for HttpRequest {
@@ -467,8 +456,8 @@ mod tests {
     }
 
     #[actix_rt::test]
-    async fn test_app_data() {
-        let mut srv = init_service(App::new().data(10usize).service(
+    async fn test_data() {
+        let mut srv = init_service(App::new().app_data(10usize).service(
             web::resource("/").to(|req: HttpRequest| {
                 if req.app_data::<usize>().is_some() {
                     HttpResponse::Ok()
@@ -483,7 +472,7 @@ mod tests {
         let resp = call_service(&mut srv, req).await;
         assert_eq!(resp.status(), StatusCode::OK);
 
-        let mut srv = init_service(App::new().data(10u32).service(
+        let mut srv = init_service(App::new().app_data(10u32).service(
             web::resource("/").to(|req: HttpRequest| {
                 if req.app_data::<usize>().is_some() {
                     HttpResponse::Ok()
diff --git a/src/resource.rs b/src/resource.rs
index 41d663d3..8fc5973e 100644
--- a/src/resource.rs
+++ b/src/resource.rs
@@ -192,16 +192,13 @@ where
     /// }
     /// ```
     pub fn data<U: 'static>(self, data: U) -> Self {
-        self.register_data(Data::new(data))
+        self.app_data(Data::new(data))
     }
 
     /// Set or override application data.
     ///
-    /// This method has the same effect as [`Resource::data`](#method.data),
-    /// except that instead of taking a value of some type `T`, it expects a
-    /// value of type `Data<T>`. Use a `Data<T>` extractor to retrieve its
-    /// value.
-    pub fn register_data<U: 'static>(mut self, data: Data<U>) -> Self {
+    /// This method overrides data stored with [`App::app_data()`](#method.app_data)
+    pub fn app_data<U: 'static>(mut self, data: U) -> Self {
         if self.data.is_none() {
             self.data = Some(Extensions::new());
         }
@@ -754,11 +751,11 @@ mod tests {
             App::new()
                 .data(1.0f64)
                 .data(1usize)
-                .register_data(web::Data::new('-'))
+                .app_data(web::Data::new('-'))
                 .service(
                     web::resource("/test")
                         .data(10usize)
-                        .register_data(web::Data::new('*'))
+                        .app_data(web::Data::new('*'))
                         .guard(guard::Get())
                         .to(
                             |data1: web::Data<usize>,
diff --git a/src/scope.rs b/src/scope.rs
index 26ace689..5a965292 100644
--- a/src/scope.rs
+++ b/src/scope.rs
@@ -148,15 +148,13 @@ where
     /// }
     /// ```
     pub fn data<U: 'static>(self, data: U) -> Self {
-        self.register_data(Data::new(data))
+        self.app_data(Data::new(data))
     }
 
     /// Set or override application data.
     ///
-    /// This method has the same effect as [`Scope::data`](#method.data), except
-    /// that instead of taking a value of some type `T`, it expects a value of
-    /// type `Data<T>`. Use a `Data<T>` extractor to retrieve its value.
-    pub fn register_data<U: 'static>(mut self, data: Data<U>) -> Self {
+    /// This method overrides data stored with [`App::app_data()`](#method.app_data)
+    pub fn app_data<U: 'static>(mut self, data: U) -> Self {
         if self.data.is_none() {
             self.data = Some(Extensions::new());
         }
@@ -1122,21 +1120,17 @@ mod tests {
     }
 
     #[actix_rt::test]
-    async fn test_override_register_data() {
-        let mut srv = init_service(
-            App::new().register_data(web::Data::new(1usize)).service(
-                web::scope("app")
-                    .register_data(web::Data::new(10usize))
-                    .route(
-                        "/t",
-                        web::get().to(|data: web::Data<usize>| {
-                            assert_eq!(*data, 10);
-                            let _ = data.clone();
-                            HttpResponse::Ok()
-                        }),
-                    ),
+    async fn test_override_app_data() {
+        let mut srv = init_service(App::new().app_data(web::Data::new(1usize)).service(
+            web::scope("app").app_data(web::Data::new(10usize)).route(
+                "/t",
+                web::get().to(|data: web::Data<usize>| {
+                    assert_eq!(*data, 10);
+                    let _ = data.clone();
+                    HttpResponse::Ok()
+                }),
             ),
-        )
+        ))
         .await;
 
         let req = TestRequest::with_uri("/app/t").to_request();
diff --git a/src/test.rs b/src/test.rs
index 4113a7c1..a10490fd 100644
--- a/src/test.rs
+++ b/src/test.rs
@@ -451,6 +451,13 @@ impl TestRequest {
         self
     }
 
+    /// Set application data. This is equivalent of `App::app_data()` method
+    /// for testing purpose.
+    pub fn app_data<T: 'static>(mut self, data: T) -> Self {
+        self.app_data.insert(data);
+        self
+    }
+
     #[cfg(test)]
     /// Set request config
     pub(crate) fn rmap(mut self, rmap: ResourceMap) -> Self {
@@ -964,6 +971,7 @@ mod tests {
             .set(header::Date(SystemTime::now().into()))
             .param("test", "123")
             .data(10u32)
+            .app_data(20u64)
             .peer_addr("127.0.0.1:8081".parse().unwrap())
             .to_http_request();
         assert!(req.headers().contains_key(header::CONTENT_TYPE));
@@ -974,14 +982,13 @@ mod tests {
         );
         assert_eq!(&req.match_info()["test"], "123");
         assert_eq!(req.version(), Version::HTTP_2);
-        let data = req.get_app_data::<u32>().unwrap();
-        assert!(req.get_app_data::<u64>().is_none());
-        assert_eq!(*data, 10);
+        let data = req.app_data::<Data<u32>>().unwrap();
+        assert!(req.app_data::<Data<u64>>().is_none());
         assert_eq!(*data.get_ref(), 10);
 
-        assert!(req.app_data::<u64>().is_none());
-        let data = req.app_data::<u32>().unwrap();
-        assert_eq!(*data, 10);
+        assert!(req.app_data::<u32>().is_none());
+        let data = req.app_data::<u64>().unwrap();
+        assert_eq!(*data, 20);
     }
 
     #[actix_rt::test]
diff --git a/src/types/form.rs b/src/types/form.rs
index 756d5fcc..333ecbd6 100644
--- a/src/types/form.rs
+++ b/src/types/form.rs
@@ -190,7 +190,7 @@ impl<T: Serialize> Responder for Form<T> {
 ///     let app = App::new().service(
 ///         web::resource("/index.html")
 ///             // change `Form` extractor configuration
-///             .data(
+///             .app_data(
 ///                 web::Form::<FormData>::configure(|cfg| cfg.limit(4097))
 ///             )
 ///             .route(web::get().to(index))
diff --git a/src/types/json.rs b/src/types/json.rs
index 03c4a2db..adb425cd 100644
--- a/src/types/json.rs
+++ b/src/types/json.rs
@@ -224,17 +224,18 @@ where
 ///
 /// fn main() {
 ///     let app = App::new().service(
-///         web::resource("/index.html").data(
-///             // change json extractor configuration
-///             web::Json::<Info>::configure(|cfg| {
-///                 cfg.limit(4096)
-///                    .content_type(|mime| {  // <- accept text/plain content type
-///                         mime.type_() == mime::TEXT && mime.subtype() == mime::PLAIN
-///                    })
-///                    .error_handler(|err, req| {  // <- create custom error response
-///                         error::InternalError::from_response(
-///                             err, HttpResponse::Conflict().finish()).into()
-///                    })
+///         web::resource("/index.html")
+///             .app_data(
+///                 // change json extractor configuration
+///                 web::Json::<Info>::configure(|cfg| {
+///                     cfg.limit(4096)
+///                        .content_type(|mime| {  // <- accept text/plain content type
+///                            mime.type_() == mime::TEXT && mime.subtype() == mime::PLAIN
+///                        })
+///                        .error_handler(|err, req| {  // <- create custom error response
+///                           error::InternalError::from_response(
+///                               err, HttpResponse::Conflict().finish()).into()
+///                        })
 ///             }))
 ///             .route(web::post().to(index))
 ///     );
@@ -462,7 +463,7 @@ mod tests {
                 header::HeaderValue::from_static("16"),
             )
             .set_payload(Bytes::from_static(b"{\"name\": \"test\"}"))
-            .data(JsonConfig::default().limit(10).error_handler(|err, _| {
+            .app_data(JsonConfig::default().limit(10).error_handler(|err, _| {
                 let msg = MyObject {
                     name: "invalid request".to_string(),
                 };
@@ -514,7 +515,7 @@ mod tests {
                 header::HeaderValue::from_static("16"),
             )
             .set_payload(Bytes::from_static(b"{\"name\": \"test\"}"))
-            .data(JsonConfig::default().limit(10))
+            .app_data(JsonConfig::default().limit(10))
             .to_http_parts();
 
         let s = Json::<MyObject>::from_request(&req, &mut pl).await;
@@ -531,7 +532,7 @@ mod tests {
                 header::HeaderValue::from_static("16"),
             )
             .set_payload(Bytes::from_static(b"{\"name\": \"test\"}"))
-            .data(
+            .app_data(
                 JsonConfig::default()
                     .limit(10)
                     .error_handler(|_, _| JsonPayloadError::ContentType.into()),
@@ -604,7 +605,7 @@ mod tests {
             header::HeaderValue::from_static("16"),
         )
         .set_payload(Bytes::from_static(b"{\"name\": \"test\"}"))
-        .data(JsonConfig::default().limit(4096))
+        .app_data(JsonConfig::default().limit(4096))
         .to_http_parts();
 
         let s = Json::<MyObject>::from_request(&req, &mut pl).await;
@@ -622,7 +623,7 @@ mod tests {
             header::HeaderValue::from_static("16"),
         )
         .set_payload(Bytes::from_static(b"{\"name\": \"test\"}"))
-        .data(JsonConfig::default().content_type(|mime: mime::Mime| {
+        .app_data(JsonConfig::default().content_type(|mime: mime::Mime| {
             mime.type_() == mime::TEXT && mime.subtype() == mime::PLAIN
         }))
         .to_http_parts();
@@ -642,7 +643,7 @@ mod tests {
             header::HeaderValue::from_static("16"),
         )
         .set_payload(Bytes::from_static(b"{\"name\": \"test\"}"))
-        .data(JsonConfig::default().content_type(|mime: mime::Mime| {
+        .app_data(JsonConfig::default().content_type(|mime: mime::Mime| {
             mime.type_() == mime::TEXT && mime.subtype() == mime::PLAIN
         }))
         .to_http_parts();
diff --git a/src/types/path.rs b/src/types/path.rs
index d1a5f1fb..9af5a0b9 100644
--- a/src/types/path.rs
+++ b/src/types/path.rs
@@ -212,7 +212,7 @@ where
 /// fn main() {
 ///     let app = App::new().service(
 ///         web::resource("/messages/{folder}")
-///             .data(PathConfig::default().error_handler(|err, req| {
+///             .app_data(PathConfig::default().error_handler(|err, req| {
 ///                 error::InternalError::from_response(
 ///                     err,
 ///                     HttpResponse::Conflict().finish(),
@@ -358,7 +358,7 @@ mod tests {
     #[actix_rt::test]
     async fn test_custom_err_handler() {
         let (req, mut pl) = TestRequest::with_uri("/name/user1/")
-            .data(PathConfig::default().error_handler(|err, _| {
+            .app_data(PathConfig::default().error_handler(|err, _| {
                 error::InternalError::from_response(
                     err,
                     HttpResponse::Conflict().finish(),
diff --git a/src/types/payload.rs b/src/types/payload.rs
index 7cb714a8..dd7a84f3 100644
--- a/src/types/payload.rs
+++ b/src/types/payload.rs
@@ -176,7 +176,7 @@ impl FromRequest for Bytes {
 /// fn main() {
 ///     let app = App::new().service(
 ///         web::resource("/index.html")
-///             .data(String::configure(|cfg| {  // <- limit size of the payload
+///             .app_data(String::configure(|cfg| {  // <- limit size of the payload
 ///                 cfg.limit(4096)
 ///             }))
 ///             .route(web::get().to(index))  // <- register handler with extractor params
diff --git a/src/types/query.rs b/src/types/query.rs
index 9d62f31c..696e10b9 100644
--- a/src/types/query.rs
+++ b/src/types/query.rs
@@ -185,7 +185,7 @@ where
 ///
 /// fn main() {
 ///     let app = App::new().service(
-///         web::resource("/index.html").data(
+///         web::resource("/index.html").app_data(
 ///             // change query extractor configuration
 ///             web::Query::<Info>::configure(|cfg| {
 ///                 cfg.error_handler(|err, req| {  // <- create custom error response
@@ -273,7 +273,7 @@ mod tests {
     #[actix_rt::test]
     async fn test_custom_error_responder() {
         let req = TestRequest::with_uri("/name/user1/")
-            .data(QueryConfig::default().error_handler(|e, _| {
+            .app_data(QueryConfig::default().error_handler(|e, _| {
                 let resp = HttpResponse::UnprocessableEntity().finish();
                 InternalError::from_response(e, resp).into()
             }))
diff --git a/tests/test_server.rs b/tests/test_server.rs
index 5019157e..1916b372 100644
--- a/tests/test_server.rs
+++ b/tests/test_server.rs
@@ -675,7 +675,7 @@ async fn test_brotli_encoding_large() {
     let srv = test::start_with(test::config().h1(), || {
         App::new().service(
             web::resource("/")
-                .data(web::PayloadConfig::new(320_000))
+                .app_data(web::PayloadConfig::new(320_000))
                 .route(web::to(move |body: Bytes| {
                     HttpResponse::Ok().streaming(TestBody::new(body, 10240))
                 })),